Choose the best furniture fabric for your lifestyle

If you thought you could shop for furniture based strictly on looks, think again. With pillow forts and lava monsters on the horizon, Aunt Toolie’s beautiful white couch wouldn’t last a day in your house. Kids, pets, sloppy spouses … whatever you have, you’ll want a furniture fabric that can hold up to the drama.

Fabric features

Several different types of fabrics are used on furnishings, some made of natural materials and others, synthetic. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. The best one for your home will depend on whether you favor comfort or durability, or maybe both.

Microfiber

Pros: soft, affordable

Cons: moderately durable, not pet-friendly

If softness is most important, microfiber is your fabric. It’s also great at resisting stains, which means less time cleaning. Yay! While it works well for human mess makers, it isn’t a good choice for the four-legged kind. Hair and fur tends to cling to the fine, tight fibers, which would mean more time cleaning. No!

Boucle

Pros: comfortable, soft

Cons: expensive, not pet- or kid-friendly

A nubby, curled fabric, boucle (boo-klay) looks similar to sheepskin or sherpa. But unlike those, it doesn’t quickly become matted, so it will still look good six months in. It’s traditionally made of wool or mohair, but today boucle furniture is often made with cotton or linen yarn. That means you can easily machine wash it with your clothes at home.

Leather

Pros: Easy to clean, durable, kid- and pet-friendly

Cons: expensive, may crack, stiffer than some other materials

Not only does it look high-end, most leather works well for families and pet owners. It’s naturally resistant to stains, so you don’t need to worry about food spills. Unlike fabric furniture, leather doesn’t collect pet dander or pollen, which makes it a good option for allergy sufferers. It should also last a long time if well cared for, but may require special cleaning products.

Cotton

Pros: comfortable, available in many colors

Cons: stains easily, wrinkles

Cotton is a soft and breathable fabric choice. Because it is easy to dye, couches and chairs come in a variety of colors, so you may find more interesting pieces. Like cotton clothing, it can easily stain, so it’s not as family friendly as other choices. If you have removable slipcovers, though, cotton could work in any setting.

Linen

Pros: soft, affordable, antibacterial

Cons: dry cleaning recommended, wrinkles easily

Linen is another breathable, natural fabric which adds a gentle warmth to your home. Like cotton, it’s also susceptible to stains and wrinkles. It works best in a formal living room that doesn’t get as much traffic. If you’re set on it for your family room, choose a linen blended with a synthetic fiber to help with stain resistance. Or stick with slipcovers.

Velvet

Pros: soft, durable

Cons: can be difficult to clean, more formal looking

Velvet is an elegant choice, with its rich colors and plush feel. It resists liquids, but it’s not great at repelling dirt or grease. Also, it tends to flatten out as it wears, so it may not hold up well to the jumping and potato chip eating it might see in a high-traffic room. Choose a low pile for longer durability.

Chenille

Pros: super soft, easy to clean

Cons: snags easily, holds dust and dander

Chenille is soft like velvet but considered more durable. It can be cleaned easily, making it a safe choice for crumb-prone kids or adults. Performance chenille is even better. It isn’t a good choice if you have pets with claws, though, as the looped fabric can snag. It’s often used in children’s furniture.

Wool

Pros: comfortable, fire- and water-resistant, durable

Cons: expensive, must be dry-cleaned

Although more expensive than other fabrics, the durability of wool may make up for it. Wool is also stain resistant and handles daily wear and tear like a champ. It’s even easy to clean. The natural fibers resist wrinkling, too, so your furniture will stay looking sharp.

Olefin

Pros: durable, long-lasting, resists stains

Cons: sunlight can make it brittle, difficult to remove oil-based stains

Another synthetic fabric, olefin is extremely durable and long lasting. It’s made of petroleum-based fiber and is chemical-, fire- and water-resistant. Despite its inherent toughness, it resembles the feel and look of wool.

Polyester

Pros: stain resistant, durable, inexpensive

Cons: fabric stretches over time, flammable

Polyester sometimes gets a bad rap for looking cheap, but furniture fabric is usually much nicer than your granny’s elastic-waisted pants. As a synthetic material, it is durable and cleans easily, so you don’t need to cry over spilled soda and sticky candy.

Nylon

Pros: resists wear and tear, many color options

Cons: prone to static electricity, can melt in excessive heat

Similar to polyester, nylon is also a strong, durable material that can withstand heavy seat traffic. If you have kids that love to make a trampoline out of cushions, a nylon blend should hold up to it. It’s also easy to clean, another benefit for families.

Choosing furniture fabric

Before investing in furniture, consider what it will live through and what you value most.

• Will the couch be used every day?

• Do you have children or pets? 

• What’s more important, softness or durability? 

• How much time are you willing to spend caring for it?

Find couches and chairs to match your lifestyle on KSL Classifieds.