What fabric is better for sofa upholstery, types of upholstery, choose material

Today, when choosing sofas, it is possible to take into account not only the dimensions of the product, functionality and build quality, but also the quality of fabrics, upholstery, covering the thing. Depending on the purpose of the sofa and its place in the interior of the apartment, we choose the optimal type of fabric.

Upholstery: great variety

Modern technology allows you to create a large number of attractive aesthetically, wear-resistant options. How to navigate among many species and choose your own?

Skin and its "relatives"

Leather upholstery is a rather old invention. Luxuriously looking, matte glittering leather sofas are invariably associated with the classic interior. Advantages of the skin are well known:

reliability and durability (will last for years);
respectable "appearance";
ease of cleaning (walk with a damp cloth or sponge - and the thing "shines" like new).

But there are also disadvantages:

if the skin is of poor quality, it will soon affect the appearance: it is rubbed, goes ugly cracks;
the gamut of colors of manufactured products is not wide, and the color of a thing may not fit into the style and color scheme of your interior;
high cost, not practical.

Imitation leather (leatherette) looks almost no different from the real one, is sold in a huge number of options and has its advantages. It:

wear resistance comparable to genuine leather, more practical than real;
moisture resistance;
non-absorbency of odors, dirt (that is why leatherette is often used in public buildings);
with high quality it also looks expensive and respectable;
pleasant to the touch.

Minuses:

if the quality is doubtful - it may crack;
usually plain;
subject to burnout as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
combustible.

IMPORTANT. A product upholstered in leatherette, there is nothing to do near fireplaces and heating appliances with an open spiral - fire hazard!

Faux leather is similar in characteristics to natural, but created using a porous polymer deposited on a cotton base. Her advantages:

resistant to wear;
"breathes" - lets air through;
has high environmental qualities.

Arpatek is a type of leatherette often used to decorate car interiors. Also similar to the "original":

serves for a long time;
easy to clean - dirt can be removed with a simple soapy solution, and it is advisable to purchase special care products for the leather interior of a car;
glides less by touch and as if more “warm”.

Cons are the same as leatherette, and the main one - may crack.

IMPORTANT. Do not use chlorine compounds to clean your arpatek and do not get carried away with alcohol cleaners. A categorical "no" - to acetone and bleach!

Luxurious triad: tapestry, jacquard, chenille

These materials, because of their high cost and "pathos" appearance, are preferred by people who want to make a certain impression on friends and guests.

The tapestry has a diverse range of colors and an extensive assortment of drawings and ornaments. This is a plastic fabric suitable for furniture of any, most intricate form.

Tapestry Advantages:

elegance and style suitable for creating original interior solutions;
good deformation resistance;
environmental friendliness;
simplicity in leaving - the spots are simply washed away, the stubborn ones are cleaned with detergents (but not acidic and alkaline!), chemical cleaning is possible.

Disadvantages:

no need to test the strength of too frequent severe loads;
Do not overdo it with wet cleaning.
a product upholstered in a tapestry should be protected from ultraviolet radiation.

IMPORTANT. The lower the content of cotton components in the fabric (it can be from 40% to 100) - the longer it will last. But if you or relatives are allergic, you should choose a material with a maximum of natural fibers.

Jacquard is a “compound” fabric, it is based on the most complex plexus of high-strength fibers, but an excellent result is evident: a variety of design, rich colors. Jacquard Pros:

luxurious appearance;
sophistication
excellent wear resistance.

But "beauty requires sacrifice." Minuses:

the furniture covered with jacquard is more decorative than practical - it is not too pleasant to sleep on it: the jacquard is hard, “scratching”, cold;
no wet and intensive cleaning - only dry, otherwise the canvas will lose color and presentability.

Chenill resembles a tapestry, but is created using a slightly different technology. It is exquisite, attractive, but not too diverse in terms of color shades. By its advantages, it is again close to a tapestry:

looks respectable;
not deformed;
differs in wear resistance;
environmentally friendly;
dust can be removed using a conventional vacuum cleaner.

Disadvantages:

if chenille is not created on a fabric basis, but on a glued basis, it must be protected from moisture, it is easily absorbed, and dries for a long time, and dampness affects the appearance not in the best way;
can suffer from the claws of your pets - the threads are pulled out.

Scotchguard and Thermo-Jacquard

These are optimized jacquard versions that are more resistant to wear and dirt. Scotchguard is subjected to impregnation with a transparent protective composition, thermal seal is obtained by applying an ornament to the base under the influence of high temperatures. These varieties of jacquard are designed for heavy use:

they have a long service life;
they are less polluted;
they can be washed gently with soap and a soft cloth, water with a temperature of no more than + 40 ° C, then cleaned dry with a vacuum cleaner.

IMPORTANT. Do not use abrasives, solvents or bleaches for cleaning. Any aggressive solvent may damage the fabric.

Flock and courtesan

Flock, very similar to velvet, is extremely popular, and not surprising: it is soft, pleasant, and is produced in a wide range of colors and shades. It has many advantages:

not prone to deformation;
long retains the brilliance and brightness of shades;
resistant to rough influences (it is difficult to tear and pierce, he is not afraid of the uncut claws of pets);
moisture resistance and, therefore, ease of care - it is easy to wash;
environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity;
does not fade from the sun.

Disadvantages are also available:

susceptible to rapid abrasion - with active use will soon require replacement;
perfectly absorbs odors.

A courtesan, or teflon flock is a very recent invention, an improved version of flock. The fibers of the fabric are protected with Teflon - and it:

has increased resistance to mechanical damage;
antistatic;
resistant to high temperatures;
water repellent.

Stains - even from ink and coffee - easily leave the courtesan, you can wash it with a sponge and soapy water, and clean it with a vacuum cleaner.

Velor and eco-velor

Velor - cozy, very beautiful, varied in color and pleasant to the touch, besides natural in composition - cotton-wool. Undoubted advantages:

environmental friendliness;
strength - velor does not deform;
high thermal conductivity;
excellent ventilability ("breathes");
softness.

But the cons are undoubted:

quickly wiped;
requires caution - strong impurities are well absorbed and cannot be removed on their own;
absorbs odors

Eco-Velor is an improved version of the "big brother". It is stronger and less worn, does not stretch or sag, has water-repellent impregnation and does not fade.

"Washing" can be done at a temperature not exceeding 30 ° C, cleaned with a dry soft brush.

IMPORTANT. Do not clean eco-velor with aggressive chemicals!

Cotton

A simple, natural origin upholstery fabric, often with a protective impregnation that prevents the abrasion of the paint and extends the life of the product. Pros:

environmental friendliness;
excellent ventilation.

One minus is a short service life.

Boucle

Adorable "wing" material with a surface consisting of small dense nodules. Advantages:

comfortable view;
increased "decorativeness";
low price.

Disadvantages:

susceptibility to damage - any sharp object will leave a puff on the surface;
light contamination due to porosity;
difficulty in cleaning - stains cannot be scrubbed so as not to damage the upholstery, only try to clean with soapy water with a soft sponge. It is possible that it will not succeed.

You can vacuum and wash with non-aggressive detergents. No dry cleaning!

Microfiber

It is made mostly from combinations of polyester with cotton. Advantages:

hygroscopic - well resists dirt, absorption of moisture and smells;
resistant to wiping, tear resistant;
perfectly ventilated;
"calmly" refers to the bright sun - does not fade, does not fade;
hypoallergenic.

One of the varieties of microfiber is a "micro-velor" called forest.

The disadvantage is not easy maintenance: special detergents for washing, drying is only natural, "air". It is permissible to vacuum, carry out a careful wet cleaning.

To eliminate stains, baking soda is acceptable. Fat can be removed with detergent, it is possible to use alcohol solutions, vodka.

IMPORTANT. Do not use solvents! Also, do not iron the microfiber.

Choose upholstery in different categories of rooms

The key to the good preservation of upholstered furniture is its choice, taking into account the characteristics of the room. It is clear that each room in the house has its own purpose, and sofas will experience various loads and effects. So which fabric is most suitable?

To the living room

For the living room, it is worth choosing upholstery material, based on the lifestyle of the owners: if you spend relatively little time there and you have almost no guests, they’ll fit:

jacquard;
tapestry;
velours;
Boucle;
shenill.

If the living room is used for its intended purpose - for the reception of numerous relatives, friends, colleagues, and the sofa will be actively exploited, your choice:

skin or any of its "relatives";
thermoacchard;
scotchguard;
flock.

In the nursery

The choice for a children's room depends on the age and gender of the child. For babies without gender differences, a soft, but not afraid of damage and pollution surface is better: flock and chenille are very good. If in the future it is planned hauling furniture, cotton will do.

For tidy girls fit velor, eco-velor, boucle, microfiber.

For active and violent boys, the best is artificial leather.

To the kitchen

The upholstery of the kitchen sofa should not absorb odors, why do you need an interior item that smells of several (separately quite fragrant) dishes at once - and not be afraid of pollution (even if you are neat and well coordinated - everything happens in the kitchen, splashes from cooked products and gas plaque are inevitable )