What to consider when choosing a fabric for upholstery.
The material that covers your furniture is an important part of the look and feel of your space. It is the final layer that can change the appearance of a chair or sofa by adding character and enhancing the shape
The age and style of the piece being upholstered.
Will the covering be in keeping with the traditional style or something different? If a piece was being restored to as close as possible to its original condition, then the fabric choice would be as close as possible to the original.
It’s relatively easy to get reproduction fabrics which will give a very similar look to a traditional piece of furniture. It’s also possible to recycle old materials. If recycling, one would need to be mindful of the likely durability and how well the fabric would respond to the tension applied when fitting. It would also be essential to check if the fabric would be subject to and if so and pass fire regulations.
Contemporary fabrics can be used to great effect on older or classic pieces giving them a new lease of life.
The room or space that it will occupy.
Does the piece need to fit in with other furnishings or the style of its setting? It’s always worth looking at a fabric in situ over a few days. The aspect of a room and light at different times of the day can dramatically alter the look of a fabric. Consider whether the item is to have a cool or warm feel. Obtain samples of fabric so that they can be seen in situ.
How will it stand the test of time? Is it going to sit in the background or be a statement piece?
Intended use.
For example, a sofa that is used in a family room will need a more robust fabric than an occasional chair in a spare bedroom.
How robust/stain resistant
Is the piece likely to get dirty? For example, a chair in a family home with pets may need to stand up to heavy use. Consider how easy it will be to clean the fabric if it may be required.
Is the piece likely to be in an area with pets? If so consider how easy it will be to remove hair, for example hair is likely to cling more to a boucle than to a smoother weave. Cats/kittens can enjoy climbing onto furniture or having a good scratch of fabric. If they are a factor, think about or even test which fabrics will be most robust.
Exposure to sunlight.
All fabrics will degrade over time, synthetic fabrics may be more resistant to ultraviolet light. If an item is going to have a high degree of exposure think carefully about your choice.
The structure of the piece.
For example a chair with curved surfaces would require a fabric with an element of stretch. In terms of style will the fabric design work with the piece. Buttoning or stretching fabric could distort any pattern or design. Geometric patterns look great if they can be well aligned but not so good if there are too many curves or irregularities in the piece.
Budget
Upholstering a piece of furniture is a labour-intensive process. It is worth buying the best quality fabric that you can afford to do the piece justice. Bear in mind that you will need less fabric if the design doesn’t need to be pattern matched.
Environmental impact
Some fabrics are entirely natural with no chemical change from the source product. Some are a combination, coming from a natural source but being chemically altered. Others are completely synthetic. With the climate crisis, it is becoming increasing important to consider the impact that the choices we make have on the environment.
The benefits of one fabric over another are not always clear. Synthetic fabrics may outlast natural ones and there is now a greater range of recycled synthetic upholstery fabric to choose from. This all needs to be weighed up.
Fire retardance
As things stand in the UK, furniture must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire safety) 1988 Regulations last updated in 2010. The details of the regulation are widely available online but summarised below.
In essence, if re-covering a piece of furniture manufactured after 1st Jan 1950 for domestic purposes. The upholsterer must use a match resistant cover. Often this will mean a covering needs to be treated to be fire retardant. Upholstery fabric suppliers have ranges of pre-treated fabric. It is also possible to get fabric treated for fire retardancy after manufacture.
The piece needs to be labelled to show that it meets the requirements.
There is one exception to this: if the fabric consists of more than 75% natural fibres it can be used with a fire-retardant schedule 3 inter-liner.
If the item is to be used in a commercial setting there is a higher level of fire retardance required. The fabric is required to be crib 5 standard. Again, this is widely available.
The most stringent standard is crib 7 which is for high hazard areas such as prisons and care homes.
For pieces made before 1950 when a re-covering service only is provided (that is the upholsterer does not provide any fabric or any filling materials for the refurbishment). This falls outside the scope of the Regulation providing there is no foam present. The fabric does not need to be fire retardant.
The above regulations apply to covers that are fixed to the furniture. They do not apply to curtains or loose cushions that are less than 60cm square.
For further information please see
FIRA-flamibility-guide.pdf Page 19 Specific responsibilities relating to re-upholsterers
FIRA International Ltd. 2009 updated 2011.
