Today we will talk about clothes for your sofa - about the best upholstery materials for upholstered furniture.
What upholstery to choose for a sofa?
- For sofas in the living room usually choose upholstery from skin or fabrics with a clear pattern (tapestry, jacquard). These materials best reflect the style of the owners of the house.
- For a sofa in the kitchen would be good upholstery out faux leather (easy to care, does not absorb odors).
- For furniture in the nursery not too expensive upholstery materials are recommended - with a calm pattern, resistant to dirt (flock, chenille, artificial leather). It is important that children's furniture can be easily cleaned.
- For the house where there is Pets, suitable material that is difficult to leave hooks and holes. And care should be easy. Example: flock. If you really want another upholstery (for example, leather), you will need to cover the sofa with a cover.
- For offices suitable materials that are resistant to abrasion. Best - natural or artificial leather.
- For rooms where smokematerials that easily absorb odors are not suitable. Well behaved in smoky rooms chenille and leather.
Here we will tell about these materials in our review. In addition to the above, in the upholstered sofas are used such materials:
- boucle (fabric with a boucle thread, has an uneven surface)
- matting (thick fabric, a type of chenille)
- suede
- microfiber and some others.
To improve the properties furniture fabrics are treated protective impregnation (teflon, scotchgard and etc.). Such processing:
- increases the life of the upholstery
- makes the surface resistant to moisture and dirt (including fat),
- facilitates care.
The liquid will just roll off the couch. The problem of stubborn stains (oil, tea, coffee, juice, etc.) will also be solved.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the buyer cannot outwardly distinguish the fabric with Teflon from the fabric without Teflon. In order not to buy "a cat in a bag", ask for documents, certificates from the seller. The usual advice - to buy furniture in large salons from well-known manufacturers - is also appropriate here.
Table 1: The best upholstery for sofas
|
Upholstery type |
Description |
Nomination |
|
Flock |
Furniture fabric with velvet surface |
The optimal price / quality ratio. Universal material |
|
Chenille |
Soft, slightly fluffy furniture fabric |
The best upholstery for children's furniture |
|
Jacquard |
Durable tough furniture fabric with intricate patterned weaves |
The best upholstery for elegant interiors |
|
Velours |
Knitted upholstery fabric with nap |
The best upholstery for furniture with cover |
|
Tapestry |
Durable upholstery material with a wide variety of patterns. |
Best Country Style Living Room Upholstery |
|
Leather |
Natural upholstery |
The best upholstery for luxury furniture, for business interior |
|
Artificial leather (leatherette) |
Genuine Leather Replacement |
The best upholstery for kitchen sofas, for office and children's furniture |
1. The best universal upholstery for sofas - flock
Furniture flock
Sofa, upholstery - flock
Flock - the most common material for sofa upholstery. Furniture with flock you will find in different price categories (and budget, and luxury options).
Flock is produced by applying a nylon pile on the base under the action of an electrostatic field (this process is called flocking). The composition of the base - cotton and polyester. Flock imitate other upholstery materials - externally it can be similar to velor, suede, chenille. This effect is achieved through the use of a different pile. Flock is hard to break, so he almost not afraid of cat claws. Stains are easily removed. with soap and water. Flock is often treated with protective impregnations.
It is impossible to use alcohol and strong solvents when cleaning the sofa from the flock (the surface is half-thick).
Sofa with upholstery from flock well suitable for almost any situation - for families with small children, for the house where there are animals, for living rooms, nurseries, bedrooms, dining rooms. It is suitable even for furniture that will stand on a loggia or a veranda (it will not “die” when cooled). Does not fit flock except for kitchen sofas and for rooms where they smoke (easily absorbs odors). If there is a choice, it is better not to take a flock for transforming furniture (it is wiped at the joints of the parts).
From reviews about sofas upholstered in flock:
“When I needed a sofa, they advised me to take it from the flock. Now he is over 3 years old. What are the conclusions? No need for bedding and capes, resistant to abrasion. His cat, and the truth, does not fight (tried, did not like, stopped). But I do not advise taking pillows from the flock, rather harshly. ”
Pluses pluses:
- lasting;
- water resistant;
- pleasant to the touch;
- easy to clean, not “salted”;
- hard to tear, not cling;
- resistant to temperature changes;
- dust and wool sticks a little;
- a large palette of colors and patterns
Flock cons:
- absorbs odors;
- the surface is wiped off over time.
2. The best upholstery for children's furniture - chenille
Furniture shenill
Sofa, upholstery - chenille
Chenille - very practical upholstery. It feels like velvet, but softer and more pleasant to touch. Often used for children's furniture. Not suitable for pet owners.
From reviews of the sofas upholstered in Chenille:
“Our little daughter is not at all. She managed to paint a green sofa with a green felt-tip pen. Of course, I was very upset. But she wiped with the usual dish detergent and was pleasantly surprised - everything was washed off without a trace. Conclusion: the quality of the upholstery material is good. ”
The advantages of chenille:
- lasting;
- wear resistant;
- pleasant to the touch;
- does not cause allergies;
- does not absorb odors;
- color is well preserved, a little fade;
- not subject to deformation, not stretched.
Cons chenille:
- high price;
- absorbs moisture;
- traces of cat claws will be clearly visible.
3. The best upholstery for elegant interiors - Jacquard
Furniture jacquard
Sofa, upholstery - Jacquard
Very dense (even tough) upholstery fabric with a wide variety of patterns. It does not fade in the sun, it is wear-resistant, it lasts a long time, therefore it is ideal for a sofa in the living room. Absolutely not suitable for the house where there is a cat (from claws there will be puffs).
From reviews about sofas upholstered in jacquard:
“For a long time we chose a sofa. I wanted a classic, jacquard upholstery and good quality. And they found Ashley Isabel Silver Leaf sofa. The color and pattern of the upholstery completely coincided with the photo on the site. The quality of the upholstery material is also beyond praise. Fabric - Jacquard polyester, very dense, does not leave any clues and any other troubles on itself. All pillows on zippers, if desired, pillowcases easy to wash. "
Pros jacquard:
- strength;
- rigidity;
- wear resistance;
- resistance to sunlight (does not fade);
- long service life;
- pleasant to the touch;
- a wide range of patterns and colors;
Cons of jacquard:
- sensitive to moisture;
- complex care (only dry cleaning is allowed);
- Slippery surface on all like.
4. The best material for furniture with a cover - velor
Furniture velor
Sofa, upholstery - velor
Velor furniture has a beautiful velvety tide. It looks very impressive in the living room. Wet cleaning of such furniture is permissible. It is also necessary to regularly clean the surface with a vacuum cleaner (nozzle for furniture, with soft bristles). The lack of velor - the tendency to abrasion. This problem can be solved by covering the sofa with a special cover from which you can see certain areas that are not subjected to heavy loads. Velor is suitable for sofa upholstery in the living room or bedroom. It is difficult to imagine a house where there are children and never stains and spilled tea. Therefore, a velor sofa for families with children is not suitable.
From reviews of sofas upholstered in velor:
“Yesterday, Cormac's sofa, beige and white, brought us. Finishes combined, white leather and beige velor. The combination is very unusual and whimsical.However, if you have a washing vacuum cleaner at home, it will be a matter of 5 minutes. Velor fabric is normal in strength, it is clear that it will not be erased into dust with time, like on Chinese chairs. ”
Pros velor:
- spectacular appearance;
- soft;
- pleasant to the touch;
- passes air ("breathes");
- does not stretch
Cons velor:
- short-lived;
- very capricious, picky about care;
- stains are very difficult to wash off;
- the nap wears off over time.
5. Best Country Style Living Room Upholstery - Tapestry
Furniture tapestry
Sofa, upholstery - tapestry
Tapestry - This is a natural material with the addition of synthetic threads. The tapestry fabric has a high cotton content (up to 100%). But naturalness has a downside. The greater the proportion of cotton in the tapestry fabric, the more the surface of the sofa will be subject to abrasion. Suitable for rooms decorated in a rustic, homely style. Not suitable for families with pets (as is the case with Jacquard, it is very easy to pull a thread out of the tapestry surface).
From reviews of upholstered sofas tapestry:
"Very pleased. The tapestry sofa gave the living room a luxurious look. ”
Advantages of tapestry:
- expensive appearance ("wealth effect");
- naturalness (a large percentage of cotton);
- strength;
- durability;
- resistant to wet cleaning;
- a wide range of patterns and colors.
Cons tapestry:
- surface may wear out.
6. The best upholstery for luxury furniture - genuine leather
Leather furniture
Sofa, leather upholstery
The price of sofas with upholstery made of genuine leather is high. And for good reason. Leather sofa will serve you long. This is partly why skin is chosen for office space, for executive offices, for expensive hotels and conference rooms, for home libraries. The second reason for this choice is prestige. Leather sofa immediately indicates a high status of the owner.
Care behind the leather sofa is simple: just wipe the surface with a damp cloth. There are special tools for the care of leather furniture that will help you maintain the look of the sofa.
Remember - a good leather sofa should not be cheap! Low price and speaks of poor quality leather or paint. With a limited budget, it is better to buy leatherette.
Tip: Choose a leather sofa with separate pillows. If the surface is still worn out and loses appearance, it will be possible to start simply to replace the pillows.
From reviews of sofas upholstered in genuine leather:
“I wanted to rest on the pillows, sheathed in soft leather, and not“ oak ”leatherette. Chose Marseille 2. The sofa is great! Ergonomics is perfect. Everything is very thought out to provide comfort. Beautiful natural skin of white-cream color is warm and very soft. Elementary washes! "
The advantages of natural leather:
- luxurious, expensive appearance;
- natural;
- durable;
- durable;
- moisture resistant;
- easy to care for.
Cons of genuine leather:
- high price;
- afraid of fire (including cigarettes);
- the range of colors is much smaller than that of woven materials;
- may seem cold to the touch;
- "Stick" to unprotected human skin;
- may crack with time (especially with improper care).
7. The best material for the kitchen sofa - artificial leather (leatherette)
Furniture imitation leather
Sofa, upholstery - imitation leather
Leatherette - ideal for those who need a leather surface (or just really want it!), But not enough money. Perfectly faux leather for kitchen furniture and for children's sofas, because it does not absorb odors and is easy to clean. Yes, the pattern of artificial leather is not as diverse as, for example, tapestries. But if you don't like simple colors and a classic interior, you can throw a few on a solid-colored sofa. colored pillows - and there were no problems.
From reviews of sofas upholstered in artificial leather:
“On the New Year we made a gift for ourselves, bought the sofa Atlanta. Material took leatherette, leather was 2 times more expensive. The cat first tried to tear the claws about the sofa, the claw holes remained, but he was “explained” and he stopped.Now wiped with a damp cloth and a sofa as good as new! And if they took a tissue, as they first thought, then in a month it would be stained. The child draws - paint fly. Either the juice will spill, or the cat will begin to shed wool. For us personally, this is salvation. ”
Advantages of artificial leather:
- cheaper than genuine leather;
- soft, pleasant to the touch;
- moisture resistant;
- very resistant to abrasion;
- easy to clean;
- No animals were injured in its production.
Cons of artificial skin:
- the surface is prone to scratches, it may crack with time;
- to the unprotected human skin "sticks";
- afraid of fire.
Summary
Whatever upholstery for the sofa you choose, remember the following general rules of care. They are simple, but if you follow them, even a cheap upholstery will last you a long time. What to say about dear! So:
- do not place the sofa close to the heat source (battery), do not place heaters nearby;
- do not use for cleaning products that are not intended for furniture (especially with bleach);
- take care of the sofa regularly and try not to spill anything on it (even if the upholstery is declared waterproof).
And - a pleasant stay on your new couch!
