Choosing the perfect fabric for your new chairs or couches might not be as simple as it sounds. There are many things to consider when making that ultimate choice. While almost everyone will be familiar with color and cost, very few people understand the fine art of choosing upholstery fabric.

Top Most Important Factors to Consider When Choose Fabric for Chairs Include:

* Fabric composition
* Abrasion rating
* The Fabric weave

Upholstery Fabric Composition

Here, you will have to choose between synthetic, natural and hybrid. Natural fabrics for chairs are the real deal and tend to cost more. They are more appealing and tend to have better aesthetics that their synthetic counterparts. Synthetics, on the other hand, tend to either imitate the natural fabric or better on something the naturals are missing on. This could be low cost per square foot, resistance to dirt, ease of cleaning or sheer durability.

Hybrids mix synthetic and natural fabrics and are more often than not a way to strike a compromise between quality, aesthetics and cost.

Common Synthetic Fabrics: Linen, Leather, Cotton, Wool, Cotton blend, Vinyl and Silk

Popular Natural Fabrics: Acetate, Acrylic, Nylon, Olefin, Polyester and Rayon

The Abrasion Rating

This rating defines the fabric’s resistance to tear and wear from surface rubbing. Sitting on the chair, cleaning it or any other form of mainstream interaction will mostly translate to abrasion wear. The higher the rating the better the fabric for chairs.

Higher rated fabrics like leather and olefin will cost you more but are perfect on heavy use furniture as they tend to take punishment in stride. You might pay more to get them installed but the fact that the fabric will remain presentable over a long time makes it worth the effort.

Fabric Weave

Thicker and tightly woven fabrics will always last longer than flimsier covers of the same material. The weave determines the thread density and thickness. Tighter weaves, for instance, are not only good if you own pets but also be easier to clean.

Consequently, your upholstery will keep looking decent even after playing with your cat on it or running a vacuum cleaner over it every day for a full year.

Understanding your upholstery fabrics well before buying will ensure that you get the best bang for your buck. Once you know the fine details, you can combine this with your innate sense of style to get something that will match your personality and home’s interior décor without compromising quality or cost.