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Choosing upholstery fabric
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How to choose the right fabric for your home.
Until recently, mothers with young children could not dream of having cream fabrics in the living room - they couldn't endure the wear. Now, new fabrics on the market make colour restrictions a thing of the past.
"Ultimately, pale colours and plain fabrics will mark more than darker, patterned ones, but some new fabrics do wear very well," says Dianne of Padgham Upholstery.
The problems with the 1990s wash-and-wear fabrics - where you could only wash them every six months for fear of fading - have disappeared with the invention of micro suede.
"It's amazing fabric," Dianne says. "We covered some chairs at the local secondary school in micro suede and a child graffitied one in biro, but it came off after using upholstery cleaner - and biro never comes off!
Micro fibre is like 70s velvet. We have people bringing in chairs in olive green and orange velvets that are still in immaculate condition. Micro suedes should be like that for years to come - people will get sick of them before they wear out," Dianne says.
Synthetic fibres are the easiest to keep clean, and there are more and more options coming onto the market. "Olefin and polyester are synthetic fibres that can be made in a woven or knit texture," Dianne says. "They are very easy to clean."
If you do have children who spread dirt no matter what you do, try using patterned fabric. "Patterns help conceal the dirty marks," Dianne says.
Some great new fabrics are changing the look of modern homes, and a few of them work well in a hard-wearing environment. Retro fabrics are a particular favourite right now, with patterns reminiscent of the 1960s gracing the floors of all good upholsterers.
Corduroy is also very popular, and can work in with the retro geometric shapes. It has a lovely texture, and although it isn't rated as highly as micro suede, it is still incredibly durable.
If retro isn't to your taste, try working with self-patterned fabrics. "They look great," says Dianne. "The pattern is slightly raised, but in the same colour as the fabric - they work well and people love the look. Personally, I like patterned fabric more than plain."
