Fabric for Commercial &

Residential Purpose

INIFD CORPORATE
ACADEMICS SUPPORT
 Content
 Fabric for office furniture
 Selecting Fabric for Residential Purpose
In today’s upholstery market, customers demand both fashion and function. Performance
textiles (also referred to as functional, technical, smart or high-tech textiles), are making
strong inroads across the commercial textile market with their elegant, soft designs that can
take the abuse of patients, visitors and guests, and still look great.  

Fabric used to upholster commercial public seating needs to provide increased abrasion
resistance due to the amount of traffic that the furniture encounters. The performance and
durability of an upholstery fabric determines its serviceability, which will depend upon a
number of factors, including the construction and use of the furniture, and its maintenance
and care.

Hotel and hospital lobby seating, restaurant seats and booths, as well as family visitation
seating in a nursing home facility, will take a tremendous amount of use and abuse. The fabrics
must resist rips and tears, and retain their original appearances by providing excellent
colorfastness, and stain and soil resistance.
When selecting fabrics for certain applications, upholsterers must consider ease of use. For
example, patrons of a restaurant expect to slide in and out of booths without resistance from
the fabric–covered upholstery. This ease of seating may not be a problem when selecting
vinyl-covered fabrics, but can be a real issue with brushed suede or high–pile constructions.

The look & feel of various materials can vary the look & feel of your hotel space. Fabrics set
the mood for any hotel space - with color, pattern, and texture. Sometimes they lead the
décor, while sometimes they simply play a supporting accent role. Certainly today there is an
almost limitless variety of fabrics to help create your desired look.

Fabric used to upholster commercial public seating needs to provide increased abrasion
resistance due to the amount of traffic that the furniture encounters. The performance and
durability of an upholstery fabric determines its serviceability, which will depend upon a
number of factors, including the construction and use of the furniture, and its maintenance
and care.
 How to choose the right fabric for office furniture
When choosing fabric for your office furniture, there are a number of items to consider in
addition to color and pattern. As you go through the process of choosing fabric, keep these
tips in mind.

1. What environment will the furniture be used in ? As they say it’s all about location,
location, location! Where will the furniture be used? There is furniture specifically
designed for use in Healthcare and Educational settings.  Furniture for these vertical
markets is designed with specific in mind, it may limit your number of fabric options, but
you want something that works for your environment.. The specific location of the
furniture in your building is another factor, as sunlight and artificial light can fade the
color of fabric at different rates.
 2. How will the furniture be used? Next, how will the furniture will be used. Depending
on where the furniture is used in your office can determine what level of fabric you
want to use. If a chair is being used daily, you want a sturdier fabric than one you would
use on a conference chair.
Furniture that is used for specialized environments such as hospitals and schools will
limit your options when it comes to customizing the fabric. Where exactly you intend to
place the furniture in your office will also play a big role in dictating the color or material
of the fabric. Since artificial and natural lighting fade fabric at different rates, you will
notice that the color of furniture that is placed in direct sunlight will fade faster than
that of furniture that is mainly under artificial light.

Note: Fabric used on reception furniture does not have to be as sturdy as fabric used for daily
employees.
3. Color and Patterns- There are a ton of fabric options for chairs, from single colors to
wild patterns. Once you’ve determined how the chair will be used, you should look at
who will be using it. Trendy colors can make a fabric look old well before it wears out.
Note: You can have any color of fabric, as long as it’s black.

4. How will the furniture be cleaned?  Did you know you can ruin fabric and other textiles
with cleaners? There are fabrics designed specifically for use in these environments. A
note on wood desks, most manufactures do not recommend using wood polish, as over
the years they a dull film will build up on the surface.

Choosing fabric for your furniture can a rewarding experience if done properly. Some of
the things to consider when choosing this fabric include its pattern and color.
 The look & feel of various materials can vary the look & feel of your hotel space. Fabrics
set the mood for any hotel space - with color, pattern, and texture. Sometimes they lead
the décor, while sometimes they simply play a supporting accent role. Certainly today
there is an almost limitless variety of fabrics to help create your desired look.

 Fabrics, sometimes also called textiles, are flexible materials that consist either of
natural or artificial man-made fibers - referred to as thread or yarn - which have been
woven, knitted, crocheted, knotted, or pressed together.

 Each fabric has its distinctive texture and each comes in a variety of colors plus patterns.
Ultimately, it is the texture, color, and pattern of the fabrics you select that will work
together to set the mood you want.

 That's just as true for residential design as it is for commercial settings. However, fabric
selection for hotels also requires consideration of three additional factors -- purpose,
fire retardancy, and cleanability.
The hospitality industry is a competitive one. Restaurants, hotels, casinos, nightclubs and even
museums are on a mission to give their guests not only a great first impression, but also one
that lasts. They pull out all the stops in their design, from funky furnishings to ornate light
fixtures—and the fabric graphics industry plays right into this trend.

Hospitality venues have “a much more upscale and elegant look and printed fabrics bring
more to the environment than a typical mounted photograph or vinyl banner,

“They could use metallic or glossy fabrics for an interesting look, or rugged burlaps to add
texture. And fabrics are lightweight and soft. Hotels and restaurants can do so much with
fabrics.”

Not only are fabric choices seemingly endless for the hospitality market, but so are the end
applications. The mantra for fabric graphics in this sector could easily be, “If you can envision
it, you can print it.”
Walls aren’t the only places to use fabric graphics. “Ceilings are often underutilized in many
projects where fabric solutions can really shine, “Graphics can create an atmosphere and
provide branding or even way finding.”
Printed fabrics also serve well in applications such as throw pillows and seating.
 As for the design of these
applications, anything goes.
“Everybody wants something that no
one else has done before.

 “People seem to like fabrics that are

organic and natural looking,” says
Weingarten, “and they want more
surface texture in their fabrics. They
have been purchasing cotton, linen
and bamboo, but those same looks
are being manufactured out of
polyester.
 As with any industry, the hospitality
sector is not without its special
considerations and challenges.

 When done right, fabric graphics

projects for the hospitality industry
will likely beget more work.
 Colors should be picked carefully based on the emotional or psychological response you
want to achieve in your guests.

 For all hospitality applications, fabrics need to be fire retardant. Other performance
characteristics are dependent on the application and whether its use is short term or
long term. 

 “Durability is huge,” 

 For more permanent installations, “fabrics need to have better colorfastness, stain
resistance and performance characteristics,”  They have to have the ability to be
laundered or dry cleaned without losing the graphic on the fabric.” 

 Another important capability is the long-term availability of the fabric substrate. “The
product must be available for at least five years, so when hotel operators need to
replace an item, they know it is still available. They don’t have to redesign the whole
interior.”
 Selecting Fabric for Residential Purpose
Shopping for upholstered furniture can be confusing. There are over 5000 furniture
manufacturers in the nation. Some are large companies and some are small. All of them add to
the limitless variety of choices available to you.

Styles vary considerably from traditional to contemporary. You can buy sofas (sometimes
called a couch or davenport) and chairs individually or in sets. A sofa or loveseat, chair and
ottoman are often sold assets during promotional sales by furniture and department stores.
Sofas and chairs may be totally padded and covered with fabric or they may be partially
upholstered, depending on style and design.

Upholstered furniture should be scaled and proportioned for the space you have and for the
other furnishings with which it will be used. It must be aesthetically pleasing to you. Market
trends vary, but avoid selecting fad items. They soon will look out of place and be
uncomfortable to use.

Choosing the perfect fabric for a chair, sofa or even a pillow can be an exciting process.
Patterns, colors and textures can add finishing touches and add to the cohesive feeling of a
well-designed space. In addition to the visual impact of a great fabric, there are many more
considerations when selecting fabric for upholstery.
Choose the Perfect Fabric

Investing in a sofa or chair is a big decision that requires consideration and research. Once you
choose the perfect frame design, the next step is selecting the upholstery fabric. Here are five
simple steps to determine the right material and color, how to care for your upholstered piece
once it is installed, and more. 

 Color What color to choose is the first and (perhaps) the most important part of the
equation.  If an interior design professional (who can help guide the style and aesthetic
of your space) isn’t in the budget, these questions can help guide you to the right fabric
for your lifestyle:

a) Who is going to be using your upholstered sofa or chair? If the answer involves pets,
small children, or couch-crashing college buddies, darker fabrics are best for hiding
stains and spills.

b) In what room will the sofa or chair be placed? Casual spaces usually require darker
colors, so snack debris and dirty shoes don’t leave a mark. If it’s a media room or
lounge area, where there isn’t a lot of natural light, moody colors like browns, dark
blues and blacks are best. 
 Fabric content - The fabric content of a textile explains which specific fiber threads are
included when they are woven together to form the fabric. Natural materials such as
cotton, linen, silk and wool are softer to the touch but less durable. When they are
combined with synthetic threads such as acrylic, polyester and viscose, those soft
properties can remain but they are strengthened by the combination of natural and
man-made materials. All of our pet-approved and kid-friendly materials are blends,
which allow them to stand up better to spills and sticky fingers. In terms of the softness
of the material, interior designers refer to the “hand” of the fabric when discussing the
content and how it feels to the touch. Heavier, thicker weaves tend to be a little more
textured and less smooth, and are great for more casual rooms. For a more formal
setting, choose a more luxe-looking material with a soft “hand” and a slight sheen to it,
such as a felt or velvet-type textile.
  Cleaning codes

Many times, upholstered pieces have a tag on the bottom of the piece that includes a letter
coding system. Sofas marked with a “W” must be cleaned with a water-based cleaner only;
distilled or bottled water is recommended. Do not saturate, and blot dry to avoid leaving a
water ring.“ S” means the upholstery must be cleaned with professional-grade cleaning
solvents and will not react well if water is applied to it. Some store-bought upholstery cleaners
are acceptable—are sure to read the label and test beforehand. Spot cleaning is only advised if
the product is meant for home dry cleaning use. Lastly, “S/W” means a combination of dry
cleaning solvents and water can be used.
Living Room
Whether planning a space on your own or working with a design team, the elements you
include work to bring a space to life. Appropriate colors, fabrics and finishes can also help a
space stand the test of time. Careful planning, applying basic design principles and consulting
with a design professional are worth the investment of both time and money.

Whether living on your own or with a family, your living room is an important space. This room
is where your family spends time together, and it is the room most of your guests will spend
the majority of their time in. Choosing furniture that creates a pleasant, welcoming
appearance while holding up against the wear and tear of everyday life is the key in getting
this space to work for your needs.

The key elements for creating attractive and lasting spaces:

 Look for high-quality, stain-resistant fabrics - Luxurious, high-quality materials will keep
you feeling more comfortable and tend to last longer than cheaper fabrics. Stain-
resistant fabrics are especially useful if you have young children, but they might still be
a good idea even if you only plan on using the space for guests since spills and stains
can happen to anyone.

 Texture - Consider the mood of the

room. For a formal space, there’s
heavy silk or velvet (a great insulator);
both are dry-clean only. More practical
(often washable) options include silky
rayon blends and cotton sateen. For a
casual feel, there are billowy linen
(generally dry-clean only) and crinkly
crushed velvet. Cotton and cotton
blends work with any type of decor
and bring a crisp, neat feel, as does
season less wool or wool blends.
  Select Appropriate Upholstery Materials and Fabrics - Just as carefully planning a color
scheme creates an attractive harmony within a space, the same is also true when it
comes to planning fabric patterns. Lounge seating is often one of the best places to
incorporate patterned fabrics. Choosing a dominant or common color across all of your
patterned selections is the first step to a cohesive space. Accents that draw out colors
from the pattern or provide pleasing complements can be added to prevent monotony
within a space. Consider not only using these accents in other upholstered pieces but
also in pieces that incorporate other materials such as painted steel and plastics.

Durability - High traffic pieces such as family room chairs and sofas need durable, tightly
woven fabrics that are easy to clean. Many designers are choosing indoor/outdoor fabrics for
high traffic areas because they are highly durable, UV friendly and bleach cleanable. Outdoor
fabrics have come a long way from their stiff, waxy roots and are available in a range of
sophisticated patterns and textures. If the fabric is not specified for outdoor use, it can be
treated with products such as Crypton or Nanotex for similar protection and durability.
Fine silks and linens are beautiful and luxurious, and they work best in a more decorative
capacity such as a formal living room.
Dining room

The fabric of an upholstered piece is the most visible sign of quality and style. Upholstery
fabric also is the part most likely to show wear and soil. When choosing upholstery, you should
be aware of its durability, clean ability, and resistance to soil and fading.

When purchasing upholstery fabric or upholstered furniture, be aware that the higher the

thread count, the more tightly woven the fabric is, and the better it will wear. Thread count
refers to the number of threads per square inch of fabric.
Fabric is a critical component in creating a good-looking dining room, and there are a number
of considerations in making the right choice.
Some aspects of choosing upholstery fabric might seem pretty obvious such as selecting a
color, which is usually the single biggest factor in fabric selection. However, while color is
important, here are some other factors that should be considered first.

 Fabric Durability- Sometimes durability is an issue and sometimes it isn't. Every home is
different, and often even rooms within the same home have different requirements.
Your fabric selection should reflect those requirements.

a) Woven patterns hold up longer than printed ones, as do higher thread counts and
tight weaves. Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch of fabric,
and denser fabric lasts longer.
 Fabric Style - Each fabric has its own style, so choose one that will look good not only in
your home but also on the sofa you are choosing.

a) Your fabric choice should approximate the style and character of the piece it is covering.
For example, a traditional fabric would look better on a traditional style of frame. That
said, if you have an adventurous sense of style and know how to merge two seemingly
discrepant ones together, go for it.

b) Some fabrics appear casual, while others look more formal. Choose a fabric that
echoes your own style or the theme that you have established throughout the home.

c) Consider the scale of the pattern. It should be appropriate to the size of the furniture it
is covering, as well as the room size. A large bold, pattern might work better in a larger
room, while a more muted or smaller one might be a better choice for a smaller space.
 Pattern and Color- Pattern and color is imperative to creating a great-looking dining
room. First, consider the scope of the project, including the room’s theme: Is it
traditional? Transitional? Contemporary? Next is pattern, with some opting for small
patterns that hide dirt and stains.

a) Often we choose color before making any other choices regarding a sofa fabric. Maybe it
is because it makes the strongest impact and is the first thing we see when making a
selection.

b) Color is the single most important reason people choose a fabric, so make sure your
color choice is one you can live with happily for a long time. For instance, it may be best
to avoid a very bold color for a smaller room.

c) Avoid delicately colored fabrics around children and pets.

d) To strike the right mood, consider the color temperature. Since warm and cool colors
affect the mood of the room, make sure you’re choosing the right fabric for the right
mood.

e) Avoid trendy colors unless you

happen to really like them. Color
trends come and go so be
careful. For instance, what if you
don't consider eggplant an
attractive color in the first place?
Will you be able to live with it
even when its popularity wanes?
Bedroom

You have tons to think about when deciding on fabric Choosing the correct weight, texture,
light-blocking or light-exposing qualities, and the fabric’s durability are just the beginning. If
you spend some time considering your options now, when it comes time to look at dozens of
fabrics at the store, you’ll have a clearer idea of what will work best for your specific needs.

 Durability: Over time, the sun can damage all fabrics, but silks are especially prone to
sun rot. Some of the window fabrics least prone to sun rot are chintzes, brocades, and
cotton canvas.

 Thread count: Generally speaking, decorator fabrics have a higher thread count than
fabrics used for making clothes, so decorator fabrics last a bit longer. Some of these
fabrics need to be dry-cleaned; check the fabric bolt tag or cylinder tag.

 Weave: Plain, twill, satin, or

damask weaves are common
ones for decorator fabrics. Most
printed cottons are plain or twill
weave. For example, satin
weaves are used to create
stripes in some fabrics, and a
damask weave is a single-color,
patterned weave.
There has been an increasing demand in recent years for fabrics that are recyclable and
manufactured from green materials. However, given the current economic conditions, some
designers and owners prefer to choose fabrics which are lower-priced rather than paying a
premium for sustainable fabrics.

Still, the long-term interest in green fabrics will continue. For example, bedding is now
available which is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles yet feels as soft and cozy as
cotton. Another product uses a blend of eucalyptus and cotton to create a material which has
a silky, luxurious texture - and is environmentally responsible.

Of course, owners aren't going to buy products just because they are sustainable - they're
going to buy them because they're beautiful and the proper price points.
Fabrics complete the look of a room. A room could be full of furniture and nick knacks and will
still look bare without the use of fabric. You can take the look of a room from rags to riches by
changing the soft furnishings. The theme of the room can be changed from bohemian to
opulent, just by changing the furniture coverings.

The key to a comfortable and relaxing environment at home is in the kind of upholstery
chosen for the sofa, bed covers, curtains and drapes. It is possible to get the right ambience
and the desired look by using the right fabric combination. A room that is only used for
entertaining can have delicate fabric but a room that is used by toddlers and pets needs sturdy
and washable fabric. You also have to keep in mind the amount of sunlight the room gets.
Moreover, personal choice, the personality of the owner and the depth of his/her pockets are
all-important factors in the selection of a perfect fabric.