Tag: Upholstery

Choosing fabric for a bespoke sofa, chair or headboard is not only a question of colour and handle. The way the piece is built decides which fabrics will work: deep buttoning, channelling, tight curves, loose covers and long seats each put different demands on the cloth. This guide sets out how to match the fabric to the construction, so the upholsterer receives a fabric that suits the frame, for interior designers, architects and contractors commissioning bespoke upholstery. For choosing by use, see our best upholstery fabric by use guide.

How to Choose Upholstery Fabric: Five Checks

Deep Buttoning and Tufting

Deep buttoning pulls the fabric into pleats between the buttons, so the cloth must fold cleanly and recover. Velvet is the traditional choice for a buttoned chesterfield or headboard because the pile hides the fold lines, though it will show pressure marks around each button. Very thick or heavily textured weaves make bulky pleats. Coated fabrics such as faux leather can be buttoned but need a skilled upholsterer to form the pleats. Ask the upholsterer to button a sample before the full order is cut.

Channelled and Fluted Backs

Channelling stitches the fabric into vertical flutes, so the cloth must follow tight curves and the pile or pattern must run the same way in every channel. Velvet channelling is striking but every channel must be cut in the same pile direction, which adds to the quantity. A plain fabric is easier to channel than a pattern, because a pattern must be centred on each flute.

Curved and Sculpted Frames

Rounded backs, tub chairs and sculpted shapes need a fabric with some give, so it can be eased round the curve without puckering. A cut-pile velvet or a soft wool usually handles curves better than a stiff, tightly woven linen or a heavy coated fabric. Discuss the frame with the upholsterer early; a fabric that looked right on the moodboard may not suit the shape.

Loose Covers

Loose covers are removed for cleaning, so shrinkage matters more than on tight upholstery. A pre-washed fabric, such as KOTHEA’s Relax, Restful and Recline Linen, has had most of its residual shrinkage removed before making up. Confirm the cleaning method with the fabric’s cleaning code before specifying; see our upholstery cleaning codes guide.

Long Sofas, Railroading and Pile Direction

Railroading means running the fabric along the length of the sofa rather than up the roll, so a long seat or back can be covered without a seam. It suits plain, non-directional fabrics. Velvet is normally not railroaded, because the pile must run down the back and from the back to the front of the seat on every panel; turning it sideways changes the colour and the way it wears. Check whether a fabric can be railroaded before relying on it for a long seat, and allow for the extra fabric that pile direction needs. See our how much fabric to upholster furniture guide and our pattern matching guide.

Piping and Contrast Details

Piping is cut on the bias from the main fabric or a contrast, and adds to the quantity. Very thick fabrics make bulky piping; a finer contrast fabric is often the better choice. A contrast velvet piping on a linen sofa is a classic detail.

Fragile Fabrics and Backing

Some fabrics are too light for upholstery on their own. A knit backing stabilises a fine silk, chenille or lightweight cotton, improves its handling and helps prevent seam slippage. See our knit back fabric backing note, and check the Martindale rub count once backed.

Fire Rules for Bespoke Furniture

Bespoke furniture for a home must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988: the cover must pass the cigarette test and, in most cases, the match test, unless it qualifies for a Schedule 3 interliner. See our Crib 5 interliners guide. Bespoke seating for hotels, restaurants and other contract buildings is specified to BS 5852 Crib 5 or BS 7176; see our BS 7176 guide. KOTHEA mohair velvet carries an inherent BS 5852 Crib 5 rating, so it needs no treatment before it reaches the upholsterer.

Briefing the Upholsterer

Give the upholsterer the fabric name, width, composition, rub count, pile direction, pattern repeat and match type, and the fire certificate, and ask them to confirm the quantity against the frame before the order is placed. Order the full quantity in one dye lot. For a complete specification, see our how to write a fabric specification guide. For every KOTHEA upholstery range side by side, see our luxury upholstery fabric page.

Quick answers

How do I choose upholstery fabric for bespoke furniture?
Check five things: the rub count for the level of use, whether the fabric suits the construction (buttoning, channelling, curves or loose covers), the width, pile direction and pattern repeat, the fire rating, and the cleaning code. Ask the upholsterer to confirm the fabric suits the frame and the quantity before ordering.

What is the best fabric for deep buttoning?
For trade use on deep-buttoned sofas, chairs and headboards, velvet is the traditional choice because the pile hides the pleat lines; KOTHEA’s mohair velvets add an inherent BS 5852 Crib 5 rating for contract pieces. Very thick or heavily textured weaves make bulky pleats. Ask the upholsterer to button a sample first.

Can velvet be railroaded?
Velvet is normally not railroaded. The pile must run down the back and from the back to the front of the seat on every panel, and turning it sideways changes the colour and the way it wears. Railroading suits plain, non-directional fabrics.

What fabric is best for loose covers?
Choose a fabric with low shrinkage and a cleaning code that suits how the covers will be cleaned. For trade use, KOTHEA’s pre-washed Relax, Restful and Recline Linen have had most residual shrinkage removed before making up.

To request cuttings for a bespoke commission, visit KOTHEA.com/cuttings.

The best upholstery fabric depends on how the piece will be used. A dining chair, a family sofa, a hotel banquette and an occasional chair in a guest bedroom each need a different balance of durability, cleanability, fire rating and handle. This guide sets out what to specify for each common use, with the KOTHEA ranges that fit, for interior designers, architects and contractors. For every range side by side, see our luxury upholstery fabric page, and for matching fabric to buttoning, channelling or loose covers, our bespoke upholstery guide.

Best Fabric by Use

Rub counts are Martindale unless stated. Mohair Velvet Three and Four are tested to 100,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs, which is a different test; see our Wyzenbeek vs Martindale guide.

Hard Wearing Upholstery Fabric

The hardest wearing fabrics have a high rub count and a construction that resists snagging: a dense pile, a tight weave or a coated surface. In the KOTHEA range, Faux Leather 3 is tested to over 200,000 Martindale rubs, Fine Cotton Velvet to 110,000, Mohair Velvet One to 100,000 and Recline Linen to 80,000. As a working guide, 15,000 rubs suits light domestic use, 25,000 general domestic use and 40,000 contract seating. See our Martindale rub test guide for the full thresholds.

Fabric for Dining Chairs

Dining chairs take spills, crumbs and constant getting in and out, so cleanability matters as much as rub count. Faux leather wipes clean and is the most practical choice for family dining and restaurants. A pre-washed linen mix such as Recline Linen or a cotton velvet gives a softer look with good durability, but agree the cleaning method first; see our upholstery cleaning codes guide. A seat-only dining chair needs about 0.5 to 0.75 metres of 140 cm fabric; see our how much fabric to upholster furniture guide.

Fabric for Homes with Pets

Cats and dogs can damage any fabric. The fabrics to avoid are those with loops in the weave, such as boucle and open textured weaves, because a claw hooks a loop and pulls it. Velvet has a cut pile with no loops, so it holds up better than many expect, though its backcloth can still be snagged by a persistent scratcher. Faux leather has nothing for a claw to hook. See our velvet and cats guide.

Fabric for Hotels and Restaurants

Contract seating needs a high rub count, a BS 5852 Crib 5 rating and a cleaning code that matches the housekeeping regime. Mohair velvet is the strongest natural choice because its Crib 5 rating is inherent to the fibre and needs no treatment. See our contract upholstery fabric page, our hotel fabric specification guide and our BS 7176 guide.

Quick answers

What is the best fabric for upholstery?
The best upholstery fabric depends on use. For trade and contract use, the best all-round choice is KOTHEA’s Mohair Velvet One: a 100% mohair pile, 100,000 Martindale rubs and an inherent BS 5852 Crib 5 rating. For the hardest wear, KOTHEA’s Faux Leather 3 exceeds 200,000 Martindale rubs. For a natural look in heavy domestic use, KOTHEA’s Recline Linen at 80,000.

What is the best fabric for a sofa?
For trade use on a sofa in daily use, choose a fabric of 25,000 Martindale rubs or more with a dense pile or tight weave. KOTHEA’s Fine Cotton Velvet (110,000 rubs), Mohair Velvet One (100,000) and Recline Linen (80,000) all suit family sofas; for a home with cats, avoid looped weaves such as boucle.

What is the most hard wearing upholstery fabric?
Coated fabrics and dense velvets wear longest. In the KOTHEA range, Faux Leather 3 is tested to over 200,000 Martindale rubs, Fine Cotton Velvet to 110,000 and Mohair Velvet One to 100,000. For contract seating, specify 40,000 Martindale rubs or more.

What is the best fabric for dining chairs?
For trade use on dining chairs, the most practical fabric is faux leather, such as KOTHEA’s Faux Leather 3, because it wipes clean and exceeds 200,000 Martindale rubs. For a softer look, a pre-washed linen mix such as Recline Linen at 80,000 rubs, or a cotton velvet, provided the cleaning method is agreed first.

What upholstery fabric is best with cats?
Avoid looped weaves such as boucle, which claws hook and pull. Faux leather has nothing to hook, and velvet has a cut pile with no loops, so both hold up better, although a velvet’s backcloth can still be snagged by a persistent scratcher.

To request cuttings of any KOTHEA upholstery fabric, visit KOTHEA.com/cuttings.