The Benefits of Using Upholster Chair
What is Upholstered Furniture? - The Inside
Its more likely than not that youve sat on if not owned quite a bit of upholstered furniture. Its cushioned, soft and versatile, not to mention found in just about any living space, from the bed to the dining chairs to the sofa. But if youre like us, you may be curious to learn a little bit more about whats beneath the surface, and why upholstery is so popular.
Are you interested in learning more about Upholster Chair? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
In this post, well outline the basics of what constitutes upholstered furniture, walk through a quick bit of design history, highlight a few benefits, and guide in you choosing an upholstery fabric to best fit your lifestyle. Here we go!
Shop the look: Slipper Chairs in Tusk Doro | Photo credit: @alireevedesign
Upholstered Furniture: The Basics
First things first: what falls into the category of upholstery? In its most basic form, upholstery refers to the materials, including the padding, webbing, coil springs, polyurethane foam and fabric that make up the soft coverings of furniture.
Cross-section of an upholstered chair | Photo Credit: Benjamin D. Esham / Wikimedia Commons
These soft coverings often provide cushioning for sitting (in the case of seat cushions on a chair or sofa) for added comfort, saving us from having to stretch out and rest on an exposed wood couch at the end of a long day.
Upholstery: A Quick History
The word upholstery dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, and is derived from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman or artisan who held up their goods. At the very outset, upholsterers would affix animal skins to a wooden framework using nails. That practice eventually evolved to include padding, loose cushions and pillows that were stuffed with materials like animal hair (typically horsehair).
Armchair, designed in | Photo credit: George J. Hunzinger Brooklyn Museum
While upholsters in the medieval times focused on mattresses and wall hangings, the 17th century introduced beds and eventually sofas and chairs that were draped in ornate fabrics such as velvet and silk. The 18th century saw the introduction of springs into the upholstery, making an upholstered piece more cushioned and resilient. In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution sparked the development of machine-woven fabrics, chemical dyes and printed cotton. But despite all this innovation, the 20th century is really when modern upholstery techniques cropped up, with the development of synthetic fibers, dirt and liquid retardants, plywood, and more.
Upholstered Furniture: The Benefits
Upholstered furniture has steadily grown in popularity over the past several centuries for a number of reasons.
For one, softness. Upholstery adds a lovely visual softness to any room. Whether its your bed or your sofa, the cushioned fabric gives off a warm and cozy vibe, practically begging you to snuggle in.
The comfort factor is major. It almost goes without saying that an upholstered sofa or chair is likely preferable to a wooden sofa, particularly if you plan to spend any more than 5 minutes on it. But many people have a bigger question around wood vs. upholstered beds. See our full guide on that here. In summary, if youre big on watching TV, reading, or sitting up and chatting in bed before you go to sleep or when you first wake up, the upholstered headboard is a must, providing that extra cushion so you dont need to create a makeshift headboard out of your extra pillows.
Upholstery is unmatched in versatility. This benefit is our personal favorite upholstered furniture is incredibly, and easily, customizable on multiple different dimensions: shape, color and fabric.
Shop the look: Cocktail Ottoman in Banana Palm | Photo credit: @eiffeltyler
- Shape: Whether youre shopping for the centerpiece of your room (larger pieces such as a sofa or bed) or browsing accent furniture (including ottomans, chairs, benches or room dividers), your upholstered furniture can take on many different looks to suit your style. From the pared-down, organic vibes of mid-century modern, to the more-is-more effect of layered maximalism, and everything in between (Bohemian? Sure! Traditionalist? Naturally.), the options for upholstery that fits your style are endless.
- Color: In this same vein, upholstered furniture can be customized to match any color scheme. Maybe youre opting for deep jewel-toned velvets, or instead a natural, earthy linen by opting for upholstered (as opposed to a totally exposed wood or metal frame), you open up a lot of options in your interior design scheme.
- Fabric: Heres the most fun part! It wouldnt be upholstery without the fabric. Not only are you able to choose a material (velvet, linen, printed cotton, silk, suede, etc. more on that below) but, if youd like, you can add pattern to the mix. Were always fans of going bold with a large-scale botanical (try a Banana Palm) or a fun animal print (hello, leopard sofa!), but if youre just dabbling, we love a small-scale pattern that could even read as a neutral (any ticking stripe). We love what you love.
Shop the look: Modern Wingback Headboard in Ocean Velvet | Photo credit: @ivytzhang
How to Choose Upholstered Fabrics
Choosing the best upholstery fabrics for your home can feel daunting at first, but with a few guiding questions, youll be pointed in the right direction.
Ask yourself:
- What style or vibe am I going for? An earthy, organic vibe may lean you in the direction of a leather or a crisp, neutral linen, whereas a glamorous, luxe style could steer you towards a soft velvet.
- What is the usage? In other words, where will this piece be in your home, and how much usage will it get? If its a sofa in the living room that no one ever steps foot in, then visual effect may be more important the comfort, and you could take a risk on a less durable fabric. But if its a dining room chair where you eat dinner every night, then a fabric that resists stains (not today, spaghetti sauce!) may be more up your alley.
- What is my budget? This will determine just how high-quality you go on the fabrics. However, remember that you dont need to spend a fortune to get quality upholstery.
- Do I have kids or pets? Two words and youre golden: performance fabrics! More on that below.
Shop the look: Modern Platform Bed in Charcoal Cabana Stripe | Photo credit: @andreazappone
If you have kids or pets that will be regularly interacting with the piece of furniture youre considering, then its incredibly important you take into account a fabrics resiliency and durability.
Our top choice for any kid- or pet-traversed upholstery item is performance linen. Made of hospitality-grade fabric, it is engineered to be stain-resistant (typically spot cleaned with soap and water) and endure high-traffic use. The crispness of the linen also holds its shape without feeling overly stiff or rough. On the other hand, wed recommend avoiding materials that wrinkle or scratch easily (for example, rayon) or that are magnets for pet hair (like microfiber or suede). But above all, remember that its entirely possible to choose a kid-friendly sofa without sacrificing on style!
The Pros And Cons Of Upholstered Furniture - 6 Amazing ...
Upholstered furniture creates ambiance because its not only comfortable, its luxurious. It truly elevates your spaces! And you can upholster all kinds of furniture. Including sofas, couches, chairs, and much more.
Its a great way to make your rooms more welcoming, so upholstered furniture is worth the investment. Plus, its very easy! Here at Redesign Upholstery, we provide outstanding services you can rely on.
All you have to do is choose the kind of fabric you want. However, if youre still not sure of your decision, there are a few other factors to consider.
Today, we will discuss the pros and cons of upholstered furniture so you can understand its value. Its important to have all the information to make the best decisions. Without further ado, lets get into it!
The Pros of Upholstered Furniture
1. Your Furnitures Appearance Will Improve
Upholstered furniture looks like a million bucks. Depending on the fabric you choose, it will fit right into your home decor. Plus, upholstery improves your furniture, making it more elegant and stylish than ever before.
2. Added Comfort
A major benefit of choosing to upholster your furniture is the added comfort. Upholstery give you the option to change or customized the padding, which significantly enhances your seating experience, providing a superior level of coziness compared to wood, plastic, or metal furniture. Enjoy the freedom to adjust the padding to your liking its all about creating a space where comfort meets style!
3. More Stylish Furniture
When it comes to upholstery, you can choose from traditional or modern upholstery. Either way, youll end up with more stylish furniture. Plus, you have many different fabrics to choose from. Including leather, cotton, silk, velvet, and more.
4. Greater Range of Options
Furniture upholstery provides an amazing range of options when it comes to fabrics, textures, patterns, and colors. The sky is truly the limit. That means you can decide exactly how your furniture will look. This way, you can complement your home decor perfectly.
5. You Can Re-Upholster
Its not uncommon for homeowners to change their home decor after a while. So, its good to know you can re-upholster your furniture when necessary. Also, if you find antique furniture or old pieces you want to restore, upholstery is the best way to go about it.
6. Upholstered Furniture Is Easy to Clean
Last but not least, upholstered furniture is a lot more durable. However, it requires maintenance. That means you must clean it regularly to maintain its integrity. The good news is that upholstered furniture is super easy to clean.
All you need is a damp cloth! If there are stains, find the right stain remover for the fabric and youll be good. Additionally, there are upholstery shampooers available to keep your furniture spotless.
The Cons of Upholstered Furniture
1. It Can Get Damaged
Certain furniture upholstery fabrics are not meant to be exposed to the elements. Sunlight and moisture can compromise the life span of upholstered furniture. That means its not a good option for outdoor furniture.
2. There Will Be Wear and Tear
If you have children and/or pets at home, upholstered furniture can show signs of wear and tear a lot faster. Additionally, some fabrics are more susceptible to stains, which can ruin the furniture.
3. Upholstered Furniture Can Be Flammable
When upholstered furniture is not treated with flame retardants, it can be flammable. Thats why you need to make sure you get your services from trustworthy professionals. Here at Redesign Upholstery, we got you covered!
Conclusion
As you can see, upholstered furniture is not without its issues. However, none of the cons are deal-breakers. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. If youre ready to get your furniture upholstered, browse our fabric selection to get started.
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