A cosy and inviting living room is central to every home, offering a place to gather and relax with family and friends. Creating a comfortable space in your home doesn’t have to come at the expense of style. Sofas can make a massive difference to your living room, whether you’re shopping for an open-plan space or a closed-floor plan. The ideal designer sofas combine comfort, style and ease of use, and it doesn’t get much better than fabric-upholstered sofas. In fact, fabric sofas are often preferred when creating a relaxed and warm atmosphere.
With versatility, durability, easy maintenance and comfort, it might be harder to find reasons not to choose fabric upholstery for your next sofa set. This guide will help explain why these types of sofa are so popular, and give you some reasons why they might be right for your home.
When it comes to upholstery for your sofas the main alternative to fabric is leather, however, over time, leather can look dated, hard and heavy. Leather is often chosen because of its durability and easy cleaning; however, fabric upholstery has come a long way with modern textile developments, and now offers more than just a cheaper alternative, and has a style all its own.
There are so many different types of fabrics used in upholstery, each with its own set of benefits. From the luxurious softness of velvet to the stylish and hyper-modern durability of canvas, there are options to meet any style or usage requirements. Your choice of upholstery will depend on how your sofas are used, who uses them, and, of course, your style and decor motif. Choose a fabric that will be able to carry your principal room design through the season, offering you comfort throughout the year regardless of the heat or the cold.
Weighing the benefits against the drawbacks is vital when buying large furniture pieces, however, not all the pros and cons apply to every situation.
Each home has its unique set of needs and ways of living, while living rooms are used for entertainment in some homes, in many modern homes, the living room has multiple uses including casual dining and as a sitting room for guests and hosting.
Cleaning, maintenance, visual appeal and comfort are four of the most important considerations you make when looking to buy a sofa or a set of sofas and dictate the feasibility of fabric sofas for your home.
Upholstery fabric can withstand considerably heavy use for years before showing signs of damage and wearing.
Even in homes with pets and children also using the sofas as a meeting and gathering point, fabric upholstery will not crackle, break or tear with normal use. Alternatives including leather and animal hides are more likely to be damaged when meeting the needs of well-used living space and would also be more inconvenient to repair.
Fabric can easily be dyed and coloured to match your existing furniture making seamless repair in the case of permanent damage a quick and easy fix for an upholsterer.
Although upholstery fabric is sometimes finished with a thin film you can hardly feel to protect it from stains and liquids. Furniture that is often used and sometimes used during meals or even if you have a cup of coffee while watching your favourite show often gets stained and a thin protective finish won’t always protect your sofas from becoming dirty or even permanently damaged.
The extent of the damage caused by stains and whether or not it is permanent depends on the type of fabric and the type of stain. Having a wide array of fabrics to choose from when choosing your sofas means you can choose an option that will be suited to your needs and standard of stain protection.
Outside of spills and accidents, fabric sofas are as easy to clean as regular vacuuming and the occasional deep clean, best done by a professional.
One of the beauties of choosing fabric sofas is that there are so many varieties to choose from depending on the style and design of your living room and the sofas themselves.
Cotton and linen canvas is a popular material for modern modular sofas and sleek minimalist designs. Made from thick and tightly woven fibres, canvas is a strong material and holds up to vigorous use for both indoor and outdoor furniture. Canvas also takes dye very well and can be coloured to match specific demands without compromising the integrity of the fabric or your enjoyment of it as furniture upholstery.
Choosing the right fabric for your sofa isn’t something to be taken lightly. Sofas take up a lot of space in your living area and set the tone for the entire room because of their size and the central role they play in the room.
When you choose the materials your sofas should be made of you should consider the climate. If you live in a place that has mostly cool weather, consider warm fabrics like wool. Another benefit of wool in cool climates is that it is hypo-allergenic and can stay clean with just regular vacuuming. There is no need to consider drying and ventilation during regular wet cleaning. In warm areas, look for breathable materials.
Sofas are a big part of your living room furnishings and have a huge impact on your enjoyment of the space. The living room is an all-season space and, as such, should offer comfort and relaxation all year round. Choosing the perfect sofa for your home is no small task. There is the multitude of design options, the many fabrics to choose from for upholstery and the gamble of knowing how they work together.
FCI London's award winning showroom features luxury designers from across the globe allowing you to experience our luxury sofas before you buy them. Talk to in house interior designers about your style and your needs and get expert advice on designs, materials and customisation options.
Our range of sofa collections extends from chic and modern to classic and timeless pieces you'll love for generations.
From picking out functional modular units to layouts and customisation options, the FCI team is on hand to give you the best advice. Schedule an appointment to visit our spectacular 30,000 sq. ft showroom and we’ll gift you a free one-time sofa design consultation.
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