Choosing Upholstery
A sofa or suite is now the focal point of most modern homes. So as well as being attractive it may also have to be practical to withstand the rigours of life today. Our advice is always free and we want to help you choose the right upholstery for your needs, so take your time and be frank about the use it will receive in its lifetime.
- We recommend according to your own individual needs and daily use.
- Some furniture is deliberately engineered to be tougher than others.
- Price is not the only factor to consider.
- Certain fabrics soil more quickly than others.
- Dralon and velvet wear well but are prone to shading and creasing. Loose,
removable covers are practical but never replicate the fixed tailored look.
Price versus Performance
Price is not always a good indicator of performance! Some expensive products can
be durable but others may be designed using very delicate fabrics. The choice
of fabrics is almost overwhelming; here is a short list of the most popular.
Acrylic Pile Velvets:
Dralon is the most common trademark for this normally hard wearing cloth. The pile is usually a series of 'v‑tufts' held in place on backing cloth by a back‑coating.
Cotton Velvets:
Traditional velvet with a plush cotton pile that feels luxurious and soft but it is prone to shading and creasing.
Flock Velour:
Mock velvets, with or without a surface pattern, are normally very hard wearing but can be prone to scuffing.
Prints:
The fabric is normally woven from plain cotton or a cotton rich mix yarn into a plain 'grey cloth' which is then printed using vat dyes or pigments.
Flat Weaves:
These fabrics come in a wide variety of styles and types. They are generally woven on jacquard type looms using yarn which is individually dyed in bulk form but sometimes woven into 'grey cloth' and then piece dyed in plain colours.
Choosing a sofa bed
Upholstery which converts into a guest bed is generally known as a sofa bed and is recommended
for occasional sleeping only, but there are two distinct types.
- Sofa beds, which are sold as part of an upholstery suite, incorporate a
foam mattress.
- Lounge sleepers, which use a sprung interior mattress provide a much better
sleeping platform.
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