By Shop Grand Central
Believe it or not, selecting upholstery that works for your home requires putting your lifestyle and design taste into perspective. In fact, here are some helpful questions you should ask yourself before choosing suitable fabric for your furniture:
Will it be
exposed to sunlight?
Can it sustain
heavy wear caused by children, pets & high traffic?
Is it spill
& stain proof?
For the purpose of practicality
and durability, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of natural fabrics vs.
man-made or engineered fabrics.
Natural Fabrics:
|
Fabric
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cotton
|
Durable & easy to clean
|
Not as resistant to soiling & wrinkling
|
|
Leather
|
Forgiving & easy to clean
|
Develops more character with age
|
|
Linen
|
Stays clean & absorbs moisture
|
Does not resist piling & fading
|
|
Wool
|
Water repellent & durable
|
Blended with a synthetic fiber for cleaning purposes
|
|
Hemp
|
Durable
|
Wrinkles easily
|
Man-made Fabrics:
|
Fabric
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Acrylic
|
Resists wear & lightweight
|
Low-quality will pill in high-wear situations
|
|
Microfiber
|
Durable & easy to clean
|
Electrostatically charged; can pick up dust & lint
|
|
Olefin
|
Durable & fashionable
|
Low moisture absorption
|
|
Rayon
|
Durable
|
Wrinkles easily
|
|
Vinyl
|
Easy care & less expensive than leather
|
May crack with time
|
Now that you have your upholstery
choice down pat, don’t be afraid to opt for a vibrant color. To inspire
yourself with this year’s color trends, you can refer to Pantone’s color
palette. Also, choosing a pattern will definitely add some visual interest.
Besides adding depth to your space, it just may help camouflage spills and
other mishaps that are inevitable with children and pets. Choosing durable
upholstery is wise for sofas, dining chairs and rugs, especially in high
traffic areas. The idea is to achieve bulletproof decorating. Now you can get
your desired look that meets all of your needs.
