How to Compare Upholstery Materials

You sit on your furniture and you notice tears and holes. You know the frame is still in good condition, and you have no desire to purchase new furniture. Thus, you consider the possibility of upholstering the furniture, but you are not sure how to compare upholstery materials.  

1.  Decide what color and style you want for your furniture. Think about the manner in which you will use the material. If you are using the material on your living room couch where your family congregate, consider using dark materials to camouflage any stains. Use brocade or other materials in a lighter shade on a chair such as a wingback antique chair that you may not use often. You can add a distinct color to complement the dark colored couch material. 


2. Consider the durability of the material. A couch that you and your family used often requires thick, heavy fabric to withstand the abuse, good choices to consider includes leather or wool. Chairs you seldom use will do fine with materials in silk or rayon.


3. Read the fabric label to determine the thread count. Material with higher thread count will have a denser feeling and will last longer. Although, they may cost you a little bit more than the lower thread count. 


4. Determine if you want stain or sunlight protection on the material. Some material comes with the ability to repel spill and thwart the effects of direct sun exposure. Examine the manner in which you would use the fabric and the location of the furniture then decide if this is necessary.


5. Investigate the fabric grade before you purchase. Fabrics comes in different grades ranging from A to F. Fabrics with an F is the highest grade while fabric with an A is the lowest. The grade of the fabric will determine the price of the material, so if you choose the lowest grade your material will cost less than the person who selects a higher grade. The grade of the fabric determines the price of the material and has no bearing on the durability of the fabric.