We often see people going ‘gaga’ over the style of sofa sets like we want an L-shaped sofa or a U-shaped sofa. But one of the most important elements that gets neglected while making such a huge investment is the fabric of the sofa set. Let’s be honest, once you invest in a sofa set, you want it to last for a long time. Plus, it is not every day you go to change the upholstery of the furniture.
Most of the time, people don’t know what fabric goes best with what style of sofa set or what types of fabric are delicate or what types of fabrics are more rough and tuff. The fabric should be such that it is comfortable, matches your personality and is easy to maintain. The choice of fabric also depends upon the usage, for example, you need a different kind of fabric if you have kids at home or the number of people using the sofa set is more or there is a pet at home. Another, important factor when choosing a fabric is the budget. The price of the fabric also varies and we do recommend that before making any hasty decision and regretting it later, please consult with our design specialist at Elevation interior designers in Thane and explore the options. To help you visualise your dream sofa set, read our blog on ‘Sofa Sets Best Suited for Indian Homes’. You will be pleasantly surprised by the number of options that are available in the market nowadays.
To get you started, we have compiled the list of most commonly used fabrics:
1. Leather: Let’s start with the obvious choice for most Indian homes ‘Leather’. Leather sofa sets never run out of fashion. They look good with almost all types, are water resistant and give a royal feel to your living room. If you want to make a bold first impression, leather is the fabric you want. It is suitable for heavy usage and is quite durable. However, we can’t ignore the cons. Leather sofa sets are expensive and can also crack easily. This type of fabric is recommended if you have kids or pets at home as they are easy to clean and pet hair doesn’t stick to the sofa.
2. Cotton: Yes, the second most loved fabric when it comes to upholstery is Cotton. It comes in a number of colours, variety and price range. The quality of cotton fabric depends upon GSM and thread count. The heavier the fabric, the more the GSM. Cotton fabrics are easily dyeable and thus you can choose any shade you want. But it also stains easily for this very reason. Though water resistant material is also available in the market nowadays. Another plus point of having a cotton sofa set is that it doesn’t get too warm and is suitable for the warm climate of our country. This type of fabric is also kid and pet friendly.
3. Suede: If you want to add an element of luxury to your living room, Suede fabric is the way to go. This soft and comfortable fabric is an eyecatcher. But at the same time, it is expensive and requires constant upkeep. If you are someone who likes to keep his home clean and spec, you have yourself a winner. Though we don’t recommend this fabric if you have a pet at home. It will be difficult to clean pet hair out of this material. Now keep in mind this fabric is made from animal skin but manufacturers are now turning to alternative synthetic substitutes, to reduce the burden on leather-producing animals, which is highly commendable.
4. Leatherette: In case you want to have a heavy and bold look like leather but are working with a budget, you can always opt for leatherette sofa sets. Unlike, leather, leatherette is synthetic and not made of animal skin. It is not as natural looking as leather but on a positive note, they don’t tend to fade when exposed to direct sunlight and also they don’t crack that easily. They are low on maintenance. These are also pet friendly
5. Velvet: Wanna know how to feel regal? We have a secret for you. It’s velvet. Walking into a room with a velvet sofa set, immediately makes you feel like royalty. Available in a variety of colours, this fabric is very durable and tends to last for years, without losing its luster. Remember, this fabric is not for a home with pets. It is difficult to clean and we recommend only dry-cleaning for this kind of sofa set.
6. Jute: Millennials are all about being eco-friendly, and we applaud their gesture. This eco-friendly, non-toxic fabric is any nature-loving person’s dream. Because it uses very less amount of chemicals making them environment friendly. Jute fabrics are very much in trend. They are also cheap compared to other materials out there. However, we do have to point out here, that they get wrinkles easily and may turn yellow when exposed to sunlight. And yes, we have to agree that it is not as smooth and soft as velvet.
7. Polyester: When we talk about synthetic fabric, polyester is the first that comes to mind. The plus points of this fabric are that it is easy to maintain, soft, comfortable and inexpensive. Look wise also, it gives a premium look. If you have kids at home and don’t want them to walk on eggshells while they are in the living room, this is the fabric to choose. Spilled juices, milk or even colored stains, this fabric can bear it all.
8. Olefin: This synthetic material is gaining popularity day by day. It is attractive, soft and comfortable. This fabric doesn’t fade and is quite durable. As it is made from melted plastic, it is water-resistant and any stains (except oil-based stains) can be easily cleaned using bleach. We recommend this kind of fabric, where the furniture is likely to undergo rough usage.
9. Wool: People have been using wool in upholstery since time immemorial and this 100% natural fabric is still a hit. Its warmth and softness make it most suitable for colder regions. It is an expensive fabric and needs upkeep. Though the luxurious look it provides is worth shelling some extra amount. We recommend dry-cleaning only for this fabric.
10. Silk: Since we have mentioned other expensive but luxurious fabrics, let’s not forget about silk. Silk upholstery has been a part of royal homes for a long. Though most people don’t opt for it and there are many reasons for it. Some of the reasons are silk is of course not cheap, needs a lot of maintenance, dry-clean only, loses the luster by frequent cleaning and is not at all pet friendly.
Trust us when we say this, there are many more options of fabric to choose from. We do recommend before you set your mind on a particular fabric, decide the style of sofa set you want. Click on the link to know about the various styles of sofa sets available in the market. You can also raise your queries at www.elevationinterior.com or just call us at +91- 9892343410