Choosing the right fabric is a tough decision. It determines how your furniture will look, perform and wear over time. With so many different fabrics on the market, it’s good to know what to look for. Here are a few pointers to help you in the right direction:
- Look for long lasting fabrics. One indication of durability is a high Martindale rub rating. The Martindale rub test gives the fabric a rating based on abrasion resistance testing. You can use these ratings to assess the suitability of the fabric for your requirements. The higher the Martindale rating, the more durable a fabric is. Commercial fabrics should have a rub rating of at least 30,000.
- Polyester and wool fabrics usually wear well and are more fade resistant than many other fabrics. Wool’s a natural fibre and breathes well and is therefore perfectly suited to chair upholstery.
- Woven fabrics and fabrics with a high thread count are great in high traffic areas.
- Getting the fabric colour right is usually where most of the time is spent choosing fabrics and the colour you choose is an important decision. Colour trends are constantly changing, more subtle colours tend to age better and darker colours are easier to keep in excellent looking condition.
- Look for fabrics that are environmentally friendly from production to disposal. Many fabrics have NCOS Carbon Neutral and Low VOC certifications, making them a greener choice.
- Choose fabrics that suit the nature of the environment. Different fabric types suit different areas, some patterns and textures are more formal and suit boardroom and reception areas, whereas others are more fun and suit breakout spaces and more relaxed areas where bursts of colours are needed.