A guide to upholstery fabric types
Cotton
Cotton is incredibly soft and versatile, making it one of the most popular upholstery fabrics out there. Here’s why so many people choose cotton as their fabric of choice:
1) Breathable and comfortable all year round
2) Available in a wide range of plain, printed, and woven designs
3) It’s very affordable, but there are still high-quality options available
4) Great for a huge range of interior design schemes
Cotton can be prone to creasing and it may require regular stain protection, especially in busy family homes. However, its comfort and versatility far outweighs the downsides. Explore our range of cotton upholstery fabrics here.
Linen
Linen upholstery gives an elegant face lift to any piece of furniture, with its slubby texture adding visual interest to both modern and traditional homes. Here’s what makes linen perfect for upholstery:
1) Grows softer with age
2) It has a beautifully distinctive natural texture
3) Made up of strong, durable fibres
4) Breathable and eco-friendly
Like cotton, pure linen can also crease – but there are lots of linen-mix materials out there that are more durable and easier to maintain, without compromising the classic look of pure linen. Explore our range of linen upholstery fabrics here.
Velvet
If you’re looking for a fabric that’s rich, tactile, and offers exceptional depth of colour, velvet is hard to beat. Today’s velvets are far more robust than their historical counterparts – here’s why velvet is the perfect upholstery fabric:
1) Offers a glamorous look that elevates any room
2) It has a soft and inviting texture
3) Ideal for both traditional and contemporary homes
Performance velvet fabrics are exceptionally durable and offer impressive stain resistance, making them perfect for adding a touch of luxury to your interiors. Explore our range of velvet upholstery fabrics here.
Chenille
Chenille has skyrocketed in popularity recently, and for good reason. Its distinctive yarns create a cushioned softness that works across many different interior styles. Here’s why chenille is such a popular choice:
1) Very soft with subtle texture
2) Warm and comfortable
3) Offers great durability when woven densely
4) Works beautifully for sofas, armchairs, and footstools
Chenille is the perfect choice if you want a tactile sofa that you can sink into at the end of a long day, without losing out on performance or durability. Explore our range of chenille upholstery fabrics here.
Synthetic performance fabrics
Performance fabrics such as polyester mixes, acrylics, and FR-treated materials are ideal for busy households, offering peace of mind that your upholstery will stand the test of time. Performance fabrics offer a number of benefits such as:
1) Excellent stain and fade resistance
2) Strong durability for high-traffic rooms
3) Easy to clean and maintain
4) Budget-friendly while still being high-quality
Performance fabrics work particularly well for corner sofas, rental properties, and furniture in family TV rooms that see a lot of daily use. Explore our range of fire retardant upholstery fabrics here.
Wool
Wool is incredibly warm and robust, and is also totally resistant to stains. It’s ideal for cosy spaces and more classic interior design styles. Here’s why wool should be your go-to choice for furniture upholstery:
1) Naturally fire-retardant
2) Resists piling and creasing
3) Contains durable, long-lasting fibres
4) Warm and cosy
Wool-blend upholstery fabrics work exceptionally well on armchairs, footstools, and more traditional-style furniture. Explore our range of wool upholstery fabrics here.
How to choose the best upholstery fabric for your home
When weighing up which upholstery fabric is right for your home, it’s important to consider the following:
1) How the furniture will be used – is it an everyday family sofa, or a statement chair for occasional use?
2) Your lifestyle – if your furniture experiences heavy use from pets or children, or is frequently exposed to sunlight, then you may need to choose a more durable upholstery material.
3) Your interior style – cotton and synthetic fabrics can work with all interior design schemes, whereas velvets and linens are more of a style statement.
4) Martindale rub content – look for 20,000+ for general use furniture or 30,000+ for heavy domestic upholstery. We list the Martindale durability ratings on every product page, so you can see which fabric is best for your space.
5) Colour and pattern – it’s important that you choose the right fabric design for your room. We offer up to 5 free fabric samples, so you can try out different colours and textures before ordering a full length of fabric.
Looking for the perfect fabric for your next upholstery project?
Just Fabric offers a fantastic selection of upholstery fabrics that are perfect for bringing your old armchairs, sofas, dining chairs, or footstools back to life. If you’re still not sure which fabric to choose – don’t worry! Read our helpful guide on how to choose upholstery fabric, or check out our YouTube videos or step-by-step tutorials to learn how to craft your dream upholstered furniture. We can’t wait to see what you create!
