If you are buying new furniture or upholstering old favourites, fabric quality is the most important decision you will make. The right fabric can make a difference as it can transform the way any design will look. With a huge range of different fabric designs, textures, and colours, it can be slightly overwhelming when deciding which 'type' is the right choice for your furniture and your lifestyle. To help stop you from making first time fabric fails, we have created the ultimate guide, so that you can learn everything you need to know before choosing the correct material for your next project.
Chenille
Chenille fabric is known for its soft touch and durability, therefore is one of the most popular upholstery materials. Whether it is a soft cushion or curtain you are looking to create Chenille fits all. It is a woven fabric that can be made from a variety of different fibres, including cotton, silk, wool, and rayon.
Today, Chenille is crafted by taking short lengths of yarn between two core yarns, twisting them together and then cutting them to achieve a pile effect. This thick pile makes chenille especially luxurious, with a beautiful sheen to finish that looks and feels incredible.
However, due to its thick pile, chenille absorbs spills and stains quite easily and can be found difficult to clean. In the case of spills, we recommend putting a towel immediately on it to absorb the liquid. A common mistake would be to vigorously rub the stain, which will result in damaging the fabric. If you are thinking about using chenille for your next project, please consider that it may not be very pet friendly, as sharp claws can easily dig into the fabric and cause irreparable damage.
We stock an extensive range of beautiful chenille fabrics, including our Alassio, Nadia, Sorrento, Sigma and Galway ranges
Click here to see all Chenille fabrics.
Sigma Fabric Range
Velvet
Known for its super sleek and super soft qualities, velvet is a man- made fabric constructed of polyester, rayon, and silk. The best part about velvet furniture and accent decor is how soft touch it is, making it ideal for pieces that will be in close contact to the skin- perfect for cosy cushions.
Aside from giving a soft and warm sense, velvet also can create definition and depth to interior. Colours seem to look more vibrant and intense in velvet than other materials, due to its deep pile. Its sheen finish reflects the light, making velvet furniture brighten up the room- ideal for small spaces.
Aside from its stunning looks and feel, velvet is also an extremely durable fabric. If treated with the right care, velvet can last years. We recommend using a handheld nozzle of a vacuum cleaner to remove any crumbs or dirt from velvet furniture. When cleaning up any spills, use a damp towel when it is still wet and dab the fabric. Make sre to then dry the area, brushing in the direction of the pile.
To view all velvet fabrics click here.
Wool
Wool is perfect for those that love traditional and natural interior. There are so many benefits to natural wool material and using it for home interior. Whether it's as a durable upholstery fabric to keep your furniture looking new for longer, or creating traditional curtains and home accessories that provide warmth to your home in the cold winter months.
Firstly, wool is well- known for being strong and resilient. Wool is a great fabric for curtains as it hangs beautifully, adding warmth and cosiness to any room. Furthermore, wool is inherently fire retardant, making it hard to ignite. Wool fabric is hardwearing and will look good for years to come. It has a soft texture and is a very tactile fabric. It is also suitable for covering items such as headboards, footstools, and ottomans.
Our 100% wool Kintyre fabric range is ideal for traditional, cosy spaces. We stock a range of colours and tartan patterns that will guarantee a warm and rustic look to your home, bringing the stunning Scottish outdoors, in.
Weave
Weave, flat weave, or flat woven fabrics refer to a type of fabric that has no pile and therefore has a flat surface. They are a great choice for upholstery and curtains and whilst being plain and simple they are certainly not dull nor boring. They tend to be easy to keep clean since there is no pile therefore dirt, dust and stains sit on top, rather than within.
As with all fabrics, it is important to know what your fabric is composed of as this will dictate how it needs to be cared for, for example a silk weave will require different care to a cotton weave. Flat weave fabrics used for cushions would really benefit from regular cushion turning, which will extend the life of the cushion fabric and interiors.
We offer a wide range of patterns and colours in a flat weave fabric. Our bestselling fabrics include the Pandora range, Torino , Elena, and Rolinka. To see all in our flat weave material range click here.
Pandora Wine Rubiana Upholstery Fabric
Faux Leather/ Vinyl
Faux leather or vinyl is a fantastic alternative to real leather when upholstering furniture and is often cheaper. It is a very durable material that has a long lifetime, due to its ability to withstand scratches and scrapes that would otherwise affect real leather.
If you're looking for a leather finish, but cruelty-free, more affordable and durable, then faux leather/ Vinyl is the perfect alternative.
Faux leather is considerably more maintenance-free than real leather. Most faux leathers can be cleaned with a water and a mild pH neautral soap solution. Whether you want to spruce up your living room or update your dining room with new furniture, faux leather is an ideal material for your home. From our sofas to chairs, faux leather is a great choice for both. It is also vegan-friendly, meaning it will be accessible on your conscience.
To view all in our Faux Leather/ Vinyl range click here.
Aquaclean Fabric
Aquaclean® technology is a revolutionary fabric treatment that allows you to clean stains using water only. This provides you with simple fabric maintenance in the minimum amount of time. Aquaclean helps to remove the majority of household stains (wine, ink, sauce, fat, mud, chocolate, cream, etc.) making life easier and giving you more time for the more important things.
Aquaclean Technology is an advanced fabric protector for upholstery of all kinds. It's a treatment that covers every fibre with an invisible molecular layer that prevents dirt from penetrating the fabric.
Picking fabric for interiors can be difficult for fellow pet lovers. Luckily, Aquaclean have created a pet-friendly product range, perfect for homes those that have muddy paws from time to time. Aquaclean extreme collection is made with a sandwich like surface, which is more resistant than traditional woven fabrics. However this is not indestructible- as unfortunately the industry is yet to have 100% cat proof fabrics!
Aquaclean extreme makes it easy for muddy paw stains to be removed, by simply sprinkling the stain with water and rubbing in a circular movement. The fabric also has an antibacterial shield included that will kill 99.9% of bacteria and mites.
To view the full Aquaclean range click here.
To view more on how Aquaclean works click here.
We know choosing the right fabric is not an easy job, especially when there is so much choice! We hope our guide will help point you in the right direction to choosing the perfect fabric for your home interiors.
However, if you are still unsure on which material is best for your next project, please feel free to contact us through Facebook, Instagram or drop an email to info@coverallhome.com and we would be more than happy to help.