Whether you’re refurbishing a chair, creating drapery or crafting colorful table linens, there are plenty of designer fabric upholstery options to suit your tastes. But how do you know which to choose?
What is an example of ikat?
Before you pick an upholstery fabric for your project, it’s important to consider the amount of wear and tear that you expect the material to withstand. This is measured by what’s called a rub test, or martindale value. The higher the value, the more durable the fabric.
A wide range of fibers can be woven to make designer fabric upholstery, but natural fabrics tend to be more durable than synthetic ones. Natural fabrics that are rated heavy duty include cotton, linen, jute and hemp. A few popular synthetics that are rated for upholstery include polyester, nylon and rayon.
When choosing an upholstery fabric, you’ll also want to consider the color, pattern and texture. If you’re using the fabric for furniture, it’s a good idea to choose one that matches or coordinates with the surrounding room. This can help pull the whole room together, and it makes reupholstering furniture much easier.
SmithHonig has many designer fabrics that can be used for upholstery projects, including a floral inspired by the heirloom roses in SmithHonig co-founder Melanie Honig’s garden and a playful raven pattern with a fun rural flare. We also carry coordinating trim and tassels like beaded accent tassels and jute tassels that can be added to upholstery projects or used for curtains.