The fabric you use on your upholstered pieces is the testament to the quality of your space. This means, you need to be careful how you upholster any piece of furniture.
Today’s blog comes from Treniq, an online platform to source luxury furniture, lighting, and decor from around the world.
The furniture one owns would be nothing if it were not for the upholstery they adorn! It not only makes the furniture stand out but also infuses a personality to the ambience.
Types of Upholstery
Upholstery can be broadly classified into two types of fabric – natural and synthetic.
The natural fabric family consists of linen, leather, cotton, wool, cotton blend, vinyl, silk and the likes. Each has their own use and is best needed based on their wear & tear. For e.g. While linen soils and wrinkles easily it is meant for formal and light use, leather on the other hand makes a more durable a heavy duty material. Similarly cotton as well as wool also provide good resistance to wear, fading, and pilling and thus make for some great upholstery options.
The synthetic fabric family is made up with acetate, acrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester, rayon and the likes. Synthetic fabrics are considerably more durable and thus used more often, although it is difficult to get the finish and elegance of natural fabric with any synthetic fabric.
Remember, never forget to factor in cost when upholstering. Some fabrics such as linen and silk are very expensive, however, materials such as cotton, leather, & cotton blend are more reasonable in terms of price because they’re more commonly found.
Upholstery Maintenance
Now everyone knows that upholstery goes through a considerable amount of wear and tear. So to make it last a good while without losing its sheen is key! How? The answer is ‘maintenance’.
Maintaining upholstery is not very difficult if done right. Different fabrics require some specific maintenance tactics. Here are some common maintenance tips:
- Ensure your fabric is not regularly exposed to sunlight or damp areas
- Gently vacuum your furniture regularly
- Specifically for leather, wipe it down with a damp cloth
- Treat upholstery with an anti-stain spray to ensure stains don’t stick
- Dry-clean your upholstery once every few months
- For fresh spills, blot immediately. Do not scrub!
- And most of all, do not forget to read and understand your upholstery cleaning codes:
- W: Clean with water based detergent
- S: Clean with water free products
- WS: Clean with either water based or water free products
- X: Only professional cleaning
Unique Upholstery Ideas
Today, the future of upholstery & fabric has veered towards the need for sustainability.
A lot of sustainable fabric options are now out there that also give you the same elegant look & feel, while also positively impacting the environment. Here are a few innovative fabrics one must keep in mind while reupholstering:
- Qmilch – Qmilch is a 100% natural and renewable fiber that has been derived from a protein in sour milk. It similar to silk but less expensive, and also durable enough to withstand wash and care.
- EcoCircle Plant Fibre – EcoCircle Plant Fibre is a plant-based polyester and contains 30% sugarcane, which replaces 30% of the oil needed for traditional polyester.
- Evrnu – Evrnu is an innovative new technology that recycles cotton garment waste to create a premium, renewable fibre.
These are just some of the tips & tricks one can use while reupholstering. You can also indulge and purchase entirely fresh furniture. It’s easy! All you have to do is register with Treniq. Conveniently connect with your favourite brands and find exclusive pieces for all your spaces!