When buying upholstered furniture, pay attention to furniture fabric - it should be ideally suited for the appointment of sofas, chairs and armchairs. The rating of the best upholstery will give the answer, a sofa with a cloth to buy for the kitchen, nursery, living room or work area.
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Upholstery which company to choose
Among the manufacturers of furniture fabrics, there are high-priced factories: USA, Belgium, Italy, Canada and others. The budget segment was filled by manufacturers from Turkey and China. Russian manufacturers of sofas and chairs call the top five companies that have gained confidence in the market of furniture fabrics.
MICROFIBRES
The American company has been operating since 1926 and is a recognized world leader in the production of furniture fabrics: 25 million meters of fabrics per year, 900 types of design. The flagship material was the upholstery of the mycrovelure - a modern modification of the flock, for which the company uses its own glue and unique technologies. Flock fabrics from MICROFIBRES have the highest abrasion threshold.
De poortere
The Belgian factory has been operating since 1921, the production volume of furniture fabrics is up to 1.5 million meters per month. The company specializes in the production of plain fabrics that always undergo pre-sale shrinkage. This process provides high stability for upholstery from De Poortere: the material does not stretch and does not shrink.
Showtex
The company from Germany is a leader in the production of flame retardant fabrics that are successfully used in upholstery for commercial premises. Constant modernization of production and introduction of new technologies allowed the manufacturer to create fabrics THINK GREEN unique in composition.
BIBTEX
Syrian company, which since 1991 has a high reputation in the world market of upholstery materials. The factory's products are valued for the high quality of raw materials and their own production of threads for furniture fabrics. BIBTEX offices work in 12 developed countries of the world, and a variety of collections for Chenille and Jacquard for national markets are provided by Italian designers.
Birtan tekstil
The factory is located in Turkey and produces 150 thousand meters of fabric per month. The company pays great attention to quality control, trying to maintain a wide range of furniture upholstery: from economy class to exclusive.
Birtan Tekstil long ago entered the international market and provides material from manufacturers from Russia, Europe and the USA.
Top sofa upholstery rating
All types of furniture fabrics have features related to the production technology, the percentage ratio of the threads that make up, the purpose. However, there are still general quality indicators. They are indicated in the passport of the fabric, furniture makers pay attention to these characteristics when producing sofas.
- Resistance to abrasion of pile and wear of threads (tested according to Martindale method, it is considered that the best indicator is from 20 thousand cycles);
- Color tolerance (in world practice, a five-point scale is used, on which resistance to fading is determined);
Density (indicator from 200 g / m2 guarantees durability); - Stability - the ability to stretch or shrink. The manufacturer must indicate a possible shrinkage of the upholstery;
- Peeling - the formation of pellets from the pile. A good indicator of resistance to friction - 500 cycles;
- Presence of impregnation or special fabric treatment;
- Fire resistance;
- Environmental friendliness;
- Breathability (the higher, the less likely it is that the fabric will crack along the seams).
The best non-woven upholstery for the sofa
Flocks
Nonwovens, which are produced by sticking on the warp. The first flock appeared two thousand years ago. Today, the production of flocks used the latest technology.
Fabric advantages:
- Resistant to mechanical damage (hard to tear, scratches are not noticeable);
- Animal hair does not stick;
- Moisture resistant;
- Color resistant;
- Low peeling;
- Easy to clean.
The disadvantages of the fabric:
- Quickly abraded;
- Absorbs odors.
Faux suede
Modern material with a wide range of colors, which is lower in cost than natural suede, but has high consumer properties.
Advantages of the material:
- Lasting;
- Wear resistant;
- Abrasion resistant.
Material disadvantages:
- It can not be cleaned with chemicals and petroleum products;
- The basis of poor quality will lead to the deformation of the material.
Leatherette
Modern artificial material, which is popular due to its low price compared to genuine leather. Today, buyers pay attention to eco-leatherette, which in some indicators is not inferior to the skin.
Advantages of the material:
- Moisture resistance;
- Abrasion resistance;
- Ease of care.
Material disadvantages:
- Combustible;
- Subject to mechanical damage (scratches);
- Stick to the skin of a person.
The best textile upholstery for the sofa
Jacquard
Woven material, which consists of 50% of natural and synthetic fibers, resembles artificial silk.
Fabric advantages:
- Variety of colors;
- Robust;
- Soft to the touch;
- Wear resistant;
- Durable;
- Does not fade.
The disadvantages of the fabric:
- Does not tolerate wet cleaning;
- Slippery surface.
Chenille
The material, which is obtained by weaving yarns and fibers (looks like a caterpillar), is natural, synthetic and artificial.
Fabric advantages:
- Does not stretch;
- Not deformed;
- Not peeling;
- Does not absorb odors;
- Long does not fade.
The disadvantages of the fabric:
- Not resistant to moisture;
- Sensitive to the claws of animals;
- Dear stuff.
Tapestry
The material, which is widely used in the upholstery of sofas, has two "faces", often produced with landscape scenes.
Fabric advantages:
- Natural composition (a large percentage of cotton);
- High strength;
- Durable;
- A variety of colors;
- Resistant to moisture.
The disadvantages of the fabric:
- Burns out in the sun;
- Increased abrasion.
Velours
Fabric of the mixed type which structure includes cotton, viscose, polyester.
Fabric advantages:
- Good breathable;
- Does not stretch;
- Velvety surface.
The disadvantages of the fabric:
- Bad spots are displayed;
- Just a neat soft cleaning;
- Quickly wear out.
The best expensive sofa upholstery - fur and leather
Faux fur
Material with a large assortment of colors imitating animal skins. Produced by different technologies: textile, sewing, adhesive, knitting. In the composition has a high-quality cotton.
Advantages of the material:
- Eco-friendly;
- Water repellent;
- Durable.
Material disadvantages:
- Do not use cleaning vacuum cleaners, cleaning agents with chemicals and petroleum products;
- Over time, wear out.
Genuine Leather
Expensive upholstery, classic style.
Advantages of the material:
- Durable;
- Durable to tear;
- Moisture resistant;
- Easy to care for.
Material disadvantages:
- Not scratch resistant;
- Minimum colors;
- Combustible;
- Poor quality skin cracks over time.
What upholstery for a sofa to buy
Manufacturers conditionally divide all furniture fabrics into several categories. It is believed that the higher the category, the better the upholstery for the sofa.
The first category includes the most delicate furniture fabrics: lightweight series of flocks, chenille, tapestries, suede, as well as cotton, velveteen, termozhakkard. The second category includes the same fabrics, but with a higher density. The third category includes all major types of fabric, but with a complex textured finish. The fourth category can be attributed to heavy tapestries, chenille, suede with complex patterns.The fifth category - furniture fabrics with the addition of natural fiber. Leather substitutes fall into the sixth category, cheap genuine leather and anti-vandal flock come to the seventh category, the eighth number completes the category series - expensive genuine leather.
The choice of sofa upholstery depends on the functionality that the buyer intends to endow with new furniture:
1. In the opinion of consumers, it can be concluded that for a child's room it is better to choose upholstery made of flock or chenille with special impregnations. These fabrics will endure both paints, and jumps, and curiosity of children (and how does it hold?). These upholstery is easy to clean and clean.
2. Jacquard fabrics, velor, tapestry from beautiful collections and, of course, genuine leather are suitable for a beautiful and expensive living room. You can pick up a boucle (these are mixed fabrics, for example, the boucle chenille).
3. The sofa for the bedroom should be dressed in soft furniture fabrics - velor, jacquard, chenille. Flock is suitable for long use, but it is rough to the touch.
4. For the kitchen is best to buy a sofa with upholstered with special Teflon impregnation, which gives the fabric refractoriness, durability, facilitates care.
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