The purchase of a sofa is an expensive expense, and in order to avoid any "regrets" that you may have in the future, we recommend that you devote some time to choosing the material of your sofa. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you need to think about them in relation to the characteristics of the material and your needs.
The materials can be simply divided into 2 types of materials: natural fibers and synthetic fibers.
Natural fibers: these sofa material fibers are plant-based and tightly woven.
- Linen: This sofa material is eco-friendly, smooth, soft and comfortable. It is one of the sturdiest fabrics as it is often mixed with synthetics for added quality. While linen is an elegant material, it is best used only in low-traffic or adult-only areas due to wrinkling and staining.
- Wool: Wool has excellent resistance to stains, wrinkles, fading, and pilling and is extremely durable, warm, and soft. Wool can also be blended with synthetic fibers to provide greater durability and ease of spot cleaning.
- Silk: This is a very delicate and soft material. Due to its fragility, it is best placed in formal areas and requires professional cleaning if soiled.
- Cotton: Cotton is great for abrasion, fading and pilling. However, it is less resistant to stains and wrinkles. When blended with other fibers, cotton can improve its durability and become a suitable fabric for home use.
- Leather: This material is known as one of the most durable and delicate materials. It is a favorite among people with children and pets because it can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life and is also very easy to clean.
Synthetic Fibers: These fibers are usually blended with natural fibers to increase the durability of the sofa material. They usually look like natural fibers but are more affordable.
- Polyester: This durable upholstery fabric is a microfiber that comes in a variety of different colors. It is soft and comfortable and can be tightly woven to mimic natural fibers such as suede. It is often blended with other fibers to create upholstery that is wrinkle-resistant, crush-resistant and fade-resistant.
- Nylon: This synthetic material works well when blended with other natural fibers because it prevents damage to upholstery such as fading and pilling.
- Acrylic: Acrylic fibers come in a variety of colors and can be made into faux wool upholstery with good abrasion, wrinkle, stain, and fade resistance. Acrylic fabrics are soft and sunlight-resistant, making them a great choice for outdoor furniture.
- Olefin: Olefin is a petroleum-based synthetic fiber made from molten plastic, making it very durable and resistant to fading and wear. There are limited varieties, but because the color is added to the molten plastic rather than the fabric itself, it is less likely to fade.
- Vinyl: If you want a leather sofa but can't afford the cost, vinyl is a great option. Vinyl sofas look like leather and are just as durable, but much less expensive.
So what factors do you need to consider when making your choice?
- You need to consider your family members. If you have children or pets in the house, we recommend that you purchase a more durable material to avoid some risk of wear and tear.
- You need to understand how the sofa will be used. If you may often lounge or watch TV on the sofa or have parties or gatherings on the sofa, then you need to choose a sofa that is easier to clean.
- Confirm your overall home style. As an essential and infrequently replaced piece of furniture in your living room, you need to choose carefully to ensure that the sofa is in line with the overall environment and atmosphere.
- You need to confirm whether the user will be allergic to certain materials. Some people are naturally allergic to wool, so you need to avoid pure wool or mixed wool sofas.
- Cleaning frequency: different materials require different cleaning and wrapping frequency of the sofa, you'd better combine your choice with your acceptable cleaning frequency as well as confirm whether this fabric needs to be cleaned by professionals.
- Color scheme and detail considerations. Different materials will produce inconsistent colors and corresponding accessories. Textile fabrics often come with fringe and beadwork, while leather fabrics tend to be more striped.
Different materials its advantages and disadvantages, please according to your actual needs make a reasonable choice.