Types of Upholstery Fabric
Natural Fabrics
Upholstery Cleaning in Belmont — Natural materials are produced from natural fibers which come from plants or animals.
Chenille
Chenille’s soft surface pile inspired its title — it is the French term for”caterpillar.” Its weft threading gives it a glow that is distinctive. This casual cloth is ideal for comfy pieces like oversized recliners, sofas, papasans, and children’s furniture, but it can also do good things with printed side chairs and conventional accent seats. It can also be made from synthetics like rayon, although chenille is often made of natural fibers.
Cotton
Cotton furniture upholstery is typically a blend, combining this stylish, breathable all-natural fiber with polyester, linen, nylon, etc. for added texture, strength, or resistance to soiling and wrinkling. The cotton blends will generally include about 45% to 60% cotton.
Jute
A fiber produced in India and Bangladesh, jute was used for matting and rope. Though prone to wrinkling, it’s a great material for contemporary rustic accent pieces like an ottoman, adding a somewhat rougher texture that pairs nicely with leather or wood.
Leather
Leather upholstery may vary in quality and price, based on its grade and therapy.
Full-grain leather: organic imperfections or marks are left undamaged, and Full-grain leather employs layers are hidden rather than by the animal. Here is the thickest leather.
Top-grain leather leather is second in quality only to grain that is full and employs the top layers of the animal hide.
Corrected-grain leather: Corrected-grain leather has been treated to eliminate imperfections and subsequently awarded an imitation grain for a uniform look.
Split leatherSplit leather consists of the underside or drop rest of the mask. With leather, an artificial surface layer is laminated to the surface.
Linen
Linen is an extremely strong cloth fiber. It’s a sleek, soft, and naturally lustrous fabric that offers durability and immunity that is natural to pilling, moths, and abrasion. It is often utilized in conjunction with cotton for increased elasticity. Neatly tailored bits such as parsons chairs, traditional dining chairs, and tufted arm chairs offer you a great look for linen.
Silk
Luxurious, silk and soft feels at home in formal settings and is best kept to zones. Silk is occasionally backed with cotton to add weight and durability and comes in both natural and synthetic varieties. Sunlight can cause this cloth to fade thus think strategically about where you put a silk upholstered piece.
Velvet
Velvet is a lavish woven cloth distinguished by its thick and short pile. This soft and glistening material can be produced from natural or synthetic fibers and changes in type and quality. Though comparatively hard to clean, velvet stands out because of its comfort, feel, and rich colour, which make it a preferred choice for dramatic pieces like traditional button-tufted headboards and earthy accent chairs.
Wool
Most wool you locate on sofas and accent chairs today is actually a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. The addition of synthetic substances assists the fabric stand up better to wear and also makes it much easier to clean.
Synthetic Fabrics
Synthetic fabrics known as fabrics that are engineered, are fabrics produced from fibers as opposed . Synthetic fabrics tend to be more durable than natural fabrics and are typically more resistant to staining and fading.
Faux Leather
Faux leather is typically made from polyurethane to PVC or vinyl. PU is much more watertight than PVC, and it is also degradable.
Microfiber
Microfiber is a knit blend polyester cloth that is thicker than suede plus a whole lot easier to clean (simply make sure you dab instead of rub). This dense material is made from tightly woven fibers, providing real suede’s qualities to durability and moisture resistance. This cheap cloth is ideally suited to chaise lounges, sectional or convertible sofas, and cozy chairs in a modern style.
Nylon
A synthetic fiber, nylon is usually mixed with other materials to create a robust and durable material. It is typically easy to maintain and isn’t likely to wrinkling.
Olefin
Olefin is a material that is produced from melting plastic pellets. Any color is added and the resulting threads are woven together. Olefin tends to maintain its colour Since the colors are baked in rather than added to the surface and can be cleaned with bleaches. This material is great for upholstery.
Polyester
First introduced in the 1950s, polyester is a fabric that does its best work in tandem with natural materials like cotton and yarn.
Rayon
This cellulose-based material was created to mimic fabrics like cotton and linen. It blended with different kinds of threads to create a material that’s appropriate for upholstery.
Blog
March 24, 2025
