It’s no secret that we value good design. The interior design industry generates about $10 billion dollars in annual revenue.
Interior design follows three key principles:
- Focal Point
- Unity
- Color
When comes to interior design, one thing people value is furniture. According to Furniture Today, furniture sales will reach $122 billion by 2020. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, furniture sales increased by 1.6 percent or about $8.9 million in 2016 alone.
The top two factors U.S. customers expect from their furniture is quality and durability. A Furniture Today survey found that customers said they prefer furniture that lasts between five and nine years. Additionally, 57 percent of American customers report a preference for vintage pieces and expect wood furniture to have a life span 15 years longer than other furniture.
Whatever your preference for furniture, upholstery is important. Upholstery is all the materials that make up the soft padding on furniture such as chairs and couches. The upholstery process has been around since the Middle Ages and all sorts of upholstery fabric have been used over the years.
Types of upholstery materials include:
- Leather
- Cotton
- Wool
- Polyester
- Silk
- Linen
The upholstery fabric for a piece of furniture can be a little costly, so it’s important to make sure the process is done right. The wrong material might look a little funny and lead to staining. The wrong color could throw off the color scheme off a room and ultimately you might wind up spending big again for new upholstery fabric.
When shopping for an upholstery fabric for your high quality furniture or commercial furniture, keep in mind what your needs are and where the furniture will be placed. Silk or leather might look good in a restaurant or home, but keep in mind that high-traffic places need fabrics that are going to last for a long time. It’s also important to keep in mind how a fabric might age over time. Some types of upholstery fabric such as leather get better with age, but other types of fabric tear easily, stain easily or fade over time.
Better Homes and Gardens offers a guide to the pros and cons of several of the most common types of fabric.
If you’re looking for the best upholstery fabric for your furniture, 14 designers can lend a hand to help you choose what’s right for you.
