Couch Looking Old? 4 Types Of Upholstery Fabric You Can Use To Make It Look New Again
If you have a couch that is looking old, instead of purchasing a new couch, you can purchase upholstery fabric to cover it. When purchasing upholstery fabric, you will find there are many types to choose from. Below are four of these types to help you make the right choice.
Cotton Upholstery Fabric
Cotton is a natural fiber that works great with heavy use. This is because cotton holds up well to pilling, fading, and wearing. The main drawback to cotton is it is easy to wrinkle and soil. Because of this you will find many manufacturers blend cotton with other types of fibers to make it more durable. You will find some cotton fabric that looks well in formal areas, while there are others that look casual, such as canvas sailcloth.
If you choose to cotton, you should consider having a stain-resistant finish applied to the fabric if the couch will be heavily used. This is especially true if you have children who will be eating or drinking while sitting on the couch.
Linen Upholstery Fabric
Linen upholstery fabric is best used in rooms that are not used a lot, such as formal living rooms. This is because linen pills and fades easily, as well as not hold up well with heavy use. If the linen upholstery fabric is soiled, you would have to have it professionally cleaned.
Linen is comfortable to sit on, as this fabric is soft and smooth. In many cases, linen is blended with cotton to make it more durable.
Nylon Upholstery Fabric
Nylon is often blended with other types of fibers to make it one of the most durable and strongest fabrics available. If you purchase nylon fabric that is blended, it will work well with heavy use.
This type of upholstery fabric does not wrinkle or soil easily. You should know, however, that nylon will pill and fade over time, especially with heavy use. Because of this, you should consider only putting nylon on couches that are not used a lot.
Leather Upholstery Fabric
Leather upholstery fabric varies in quality and price. The price depends on the grade of the leather. There is full-grain leather, which is the most expensive. This type of leather is the thickest available, which makes it durable and high quality.
There is also top-grain leather that is not as expensive. This type does not use the whole animal's hide, but instead, only the first few layers. Top-grain leather looks great but is not as high quality when compared to full-grain leather.
Leather is comfortable to sit on and looks great in dens or less formal living rooms. Make sure what you purchase is high quality. You should also put a treatment on the leather to help prevent scratching, especially if you have pets.
Before you go to a store to purchase the upholstery fabric, look online as you will find discount upholstery fabric. This can save you a substantial amount of money.