Upholstery fabric: The different types and how to pick the right one for you

Choosing the right upholstery fabric can make your space sing — or scream. After all, your sofa or favourite armchair isn’t just furniture; it’s where you curl up with your kids, snuggle with your pets, or simply relax after a long day.

We get it. It needs to look fabulous, but still stand up to muddy paws, juice spills, and daily chaos.

The good news? Picking upholstery fabric doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’re here to help you navigate all the choices with a cheerful dose of practicality, creativity, and — let’s face it—fun!

In this guide, we’ll go over:

• What exactly is upholstery fabric?
• How to pick the best upholstery fabric for furniture
• How many types of upholstery fabrics are there?
• How to clean upholstery
• Fabric upholstery alternatives

Sound good? Let’s get started:

First things first: What exactly is upholstery fabric?

So that everyone is on the same page, upholstery is the art of fitting furniture with padding, springs, stuffing, and coverings. 

Reupholstering a chair can turn sorry looking scrap into furniture that looks like a million bucks. Take a look at this transformation:

Safe to say the fabric used there played a big role.

A fresh upholstery fabric is more than just a facelift — it sets the style tone for your entire room and expresses your personality. It finishes the look and is what will be displayed to everyone. Think of it as a window into your personal style, taste and preference.

Of course, aesthetics aren’t everything when it comes to fabric selection. As it turns out, there’s a bizarre number of different things to consider. 

How to pick the best upholstery fabric for furniture

So why can’t we just pick out a fabric that looks good to us? What about it being our personal style and preference. I wish it was going to be easy as that but there are important things you’ll need to consider before choosing the right fabric.

Starting with the obvious: 

Budget:

Upholstery fabrics come in a huge range of prices depending on material and quality. But this doesn’t mean that “good” fabrics with desirable properties have to be expensive.

Modern technology has made it possible to get some incredibly high performing and comfortable fabrics for cheap. To make sure you don’t go crazy with your spending, search up how much fabric it will take to upholster your desired object want and estimate the costs.

Style and aesthetics:

What message would you like to send? Different fabrics associate themselves with different feelings. They can blend into the surrounding or accent your furniture.

Velvet whispers elegance. Linen says rustic chic. Leather? That’s effortless sophistication. Look for something that is cohesive with your surrounding decor.

For instance, if you have a more masculine feel to your space then leather has a sleek appearance that would work perfectly.

Linen is the classic choice for creating a shabby-chic rustic farmhouse look, whereas velvet exudes a dramatic and bold image which is ideal for an opulent space.

Colour is another factor to consider. Are you one to follow interior design trends such as 70’s revival, with its avocado green and rust orange? Or are you looking for something subtle, like a clean white or beige. The feel you want to create is easier with a colour palette in mind.

Durability:

 “What will it be used for?” is the most important consideration. Fabric durability is measured by the Wyzenbeek count (a.k.a double rub count) in the US and the Martindale count in the EU. They are industry standard.

Basically it means how many rubs it will take for it to show wear. The US and EU perform the rubs differently, hence the different names.

Consider what you’ll use the fabric for, where you’ll place it, and whether kids or pets are around—all these factors determine how tough the fabric needs to be.

Sofas need some of the highest rub counts since they’re among the most frequently used pieces of furniture in a home. That’s why our sofa covers come with a double rub count of at least 21,750 double rubs or 29,000 Martindale cycles.

To put it into perspective, heavy residential use (like in hotels) requires at least 15,000 double rubs (20,000 Martindale cycles).

Maintenance:

If you’re a set it and forget it kind of person then maintenance is an all important consideration. Leather doesn’t cling to debris, odours, or much of anything and can mostly be wiped clean.

Conversely, fabrics (like velvet) stain very visibly (unless you’re using our Signature Velvet) and simply attract pet/dander like shoppers to a Black Friday sale. Even worse, highly delicate fabrics like silk require professional cleaning to avoid damage.

As you can see, there’s a wide range of effort required in the maintenance department for different fabrics. With that in mind, when it comes to heavy cleaning for big pieces, you’ll want upholstery fabric that is machine washable.

Easy enough so far. Now here are some less obvious factors to think about:

Drape:

Upholstery fabrics must be pliable enough to wrap around the upholstered object and fit well enough to frame a nice outline around the upholstered piece.

In an extreme scenario, imagine trying to upholster a cushion in cardboard. It simply does not fold and tuck in well enough to fit the cushion nicely. That’s why we need a fabric that will drape well to the shape of your chosen furniture.

Weight:

Typically, heavier fabrics will be thicker, with more dense fibres. This means that they’ll be more durable and let less light through. This is important if you are wanting to upholster a dark cushion with a lighter colour fabric.  

Conversely, heavier fabrics tend to be less breathable. The other downside is that they are often harder to drape onto certain furniture types. 

Fading:

Most fabric fades and that’s a fact. What causes it? The perp in question : light.

In a process called photo-degradation, light (worst of which is UV light) causes the breakdown of the dyes within a fabric. To a much lesser extent, visible light and heat also contribute to the distortion and fading of a fabrics’ colour.

The sun emits all of these — for long periods of time. So if you’re expecting the upholstery to be placed somewhere that receives lots of sunlight, pick fabrics that don’t fade easily. Another option is to invest in specialised window tints so your furniture is less affected.

Treatments/coatings

Manufacturers treat some fabrics to alter their natural properties. This may include giving them resistance to fire, fading, stains and so on.

Sometimes, these will also alter the feel of the fabric so be on the lookout for this. Even soft, supposedly comfy fabrics may have no breathability, so sweat and vapour won’t readily dissipate. On furniture, that’s not great for particularly hot or cold climates.

Of course, not all fabric treatments cause this. The most common fabric treatments make fabrics virtually stain-proof and highly durable.

In fact, they are taking the world by storm and are reviving the textile industry for higher priced fabrics. These fabrics have built-in stain-proofing and often come with fade resistance, bleach resistance, waterproofing, and many other desirable traits.

They’re like the superman of fabrics. Famous brands who manufacture these versatile fabrics include Crypton, Sunbrella and Revolution.

Alternatively, after-market fabric protection are available as well. This includes sprays that prevent spills from penetrating deep into the couch and staining. People use these on fabrics that haven’t been treated yet.

It’s not as effective at stain prevention compared to the fabrics that have it in-built but they do still help. Unfortunately, you’ll need to reapply them after machine washing or every few months.

Scotchguard is a well-known brand selling these sprays. Be wary when applying them though, as it may void any warranties that came with the fabric.

Ultimately, all of these fabric protections come at a premium so it really depends on whether you need the extra bells & whistles and how much you’re willing to pay.

Pet-friendly fabrics

Worried about your fur babies destroying your new upholstery? Pick a pet-friendly material. This would be a fabric does not attract pet hair and stain easily. Being easy to clean would be awesome. 

Brownie points if the fabric isn’t too textured or loose, with loopy threads that may hook onto your pets’ claws. To be clear, if your cat decides that it wants (not by accident) to destroy your new upholstery then no fabric will be safe. (Try a new scratch post maybe?)

Allergies are another common concern. Fabrics that are more hypoallergenic tend to prevent allergens from penetrating into the fabric and remain on the surface where they can be brushed / vacuumed off. 

Mildew and mould

Mould and mildew can grow on fabric, especially if they are natural fabrics — which are far more absorbent than their synthetic counterparts, and thus prone to microbial damage.

If untreated, mould and mildew will leave you with a musty odour and discoloured fabrics that will rot until they eventually disintegrate.

De-humidifiers help somewhat in the never ending war against mould but natural fabrics are generally not a suitable choice for any household with stagnant air above 80% relative humidity. So watch out for this especially when facing humid summer weather.

Have you gotten all that? Excellent! It’s time to learn about the different types of upholstery fabrics there are widely available.

How many types of upholstery fabric are there?

Upholstery fabrics fall into two categories: natural and synthetic. Natural fabrics come from natural sources, while synthetics are made from man-made materials like coal, plastic, and petroleum.

Don’t let the sound of these components put you off. These materials are found in many modern products (even medicine contains petrochemicals) and are completely safe.

Neither natural or synthetic is completely superior over the other. They are just good at different things. For example: Natural fabrics are more porous but less resilient than their synthetic counterparts.

They tend to be more comfortable, breathable, and are great for shabby-chic looks. They are also biodegradable which is a bonus for Earth.

Synthetics on the other hand are durable and less porous, which means less breathable but also less absorbent when it comes to stains. Stains simply don’t soak in and will be easier to wipe down.

The added benefit to the lack of absorbency is that it resists mould and mildew which need humid conditions to thrive. As they are more rigid, synthetics generally hold their shape better. 

Opposite to the rustic farmhouse look inspired by natural fibres, synthetics carve out a clean and polished look.

Remember, these are generalisations. Fabric mills have advanced to the point that even 100% polyester can capture the look and feel of linens, wools, cottons and other natural fibres.

But why pick a side? For those who want the best of both worlds, there are blended fabrics. They possess the durability and maintenance ease of synthetics, coupled with the comfort and luxury of natural fabrics. 

So what are some examples of these fabrics? Here are some of the most common ones:

Natural upholstery fabric

1. Chenille
2. Cotton
3. Leather
4. Linen
5. Silk
6. Velvet
7. Wool

Chenille

Chenille means caterpillar in French, because the tufted fabric looks like a row of furry caterpillars. Chenille is naturally made from cotton but is often blended with silk, rayon, polyester, nylon, or other materials to increase durability and keep the tufts intact.

Uniquely, the tufts catch light at different angles, creating an attractive luminous sheen when brushed down correctly. This works similarly to velvet, which changes appearance depending on how you ruffle it.

The texture of untreated Chenille is soft due to the tufts and is also very durable, making it a good choice for furniture seeing heavy use.

Cotton

Classic cotton. Natural, soft, breathable and affordable. Not the most resilient fabric in its unblended state, it is still much loved for how comfortable it is. 

Quality cotton fabrics have a tight, heavy weave that maximises resistance to pilling and abrasion. A tighter weave is particularly important for cotton as loose threads tend to snag against pet-claws, rough nails and the like.

Cotton’s heat resistance is another advantage, allowing many pre-shrunk varieties to be machine washed when needed. Cotton blends are also an option to those wanting more durability, though this will alter the feel somewhat.  

Leather

Leather has been a popular upholstery choice for centuries, prized for its unique texture and durability. Derived from animal hide, leather adjusts to the room temperature and your body temperature when using it.

It’s the best choice for homes with allergy-sufferers and pets (that behave) as leather is hypoallergenic, doesn’t attract pet hair and easy to clean. Simply give it a wipe/vacuum.

Quality leather resists damage, and you can easily buff out superficial pet scratches. Over time, higher quality leathers may even develop a beautiful patina, become softer and increasingly resistant against punctures.

Most fabrics wear out over time. If not abused, quality leather can last decades if properly maintained with leather conditioner to prevent it from cracking. 

On the topic of quality, cheaper leathers tend to mask their flaws with heavy dyes and processing which remove the natural-grain. The most expensive leathers have little to no processing. Leather retains its natural history, including scratches and insect bites.

Linen

Known as the “woven winds” of Egypt, linen is both clean and rustic. It is the perfect choice fabric for creating the iconic farmhouse shabby-chic look.

Linen os natural and breathable, offering comfort that does not sacrifice resilience. The fabric’s tensile strength puts it leagues above cotton in a contest of durability.

The main downside of pure linen is its cost, which is why many linen fabrics are blended with cotton, synthetic fibres, or semi-synthetics like rayon/viscose.

Because it stains easily, linen is not the best choice in households with pets and kids.

Silk

Good things don’t come cheap and silk is definitely one of them. It’s light, luxurious, and feels soft against your skin.

It’s also naturally soft without any chemical treatment and this smoothness makes it very un-abrasive. A lifesaver for people who suffer from skin allergies and sensitive skin. Even better, silk is very moss/mildew-resistant and hypoallergenic.

Dust mites stay away from silk. Fun fact: Silk worms spin silk to protect themselves from these threats.

These properties have made silk a coveted material throughout history, used in clothing and upholstery for centuries. At one point, silk was considered fit only for royals and the wealthy. But for all its regality, silk is extremely inconvenient.

Great care should be taken when cleaning silk. It is one of the most delicate fabrics. Harsh chemicals, and strong abrasion damages it. That’s why it needs to be professionally dry-cleaned.

Keep it out of sunlight as well. It is very susceptible to photo-degradation. And of course, it’s very expensive so be wary of using it around kids and pets which may scratch and stain it.

Maybe after reading all of that, the question you’re asking in your head is, “what doesn’t damage silk?”

Velvet

Distinguished by its buttery soft feel and available in bold, luminous colours, velvet is a material that screams “touch me”. It’s the best fabric choice for dramatic pieces.

Strictly speaking, velvet isn’t a natural fabric; it refers to the signature short, dense pile that gives it its softness and shine. Velvet can be made from both natural and synthetic fibres and shares many similarities with chenille.

Like chenille, it’s soft and scatters light depending on the direction of its fibres, giving it that iridescent look. It can be very eye catching.

As a furniture fabric, velvet is suitable for cosy winter nights as it retains heat. The creamy fleece-like feel makes it exceptionally comfortable to sit and lie on. On the other hand, velvet has some pretty notable drawbacks.

While it doesn’t snag easily against pet claws, velvet can attract pet hair and other allergens. It also stains fast and stains noticeably, making it a pretty high maintenance choice.

So if you want velvet, pay particular attention to make sure the fabric is machine washable.

Of course, some treated velvets are specially designed to be pet-friendly and highly durable.

Wool

Wool is breathable, feels great and is incredibly hard-wearing due to its spring-like crimp. No wonder it’s been used for centuries!

Unfortunately, it’s kinda expensive too. Derived from sheep, wool is a great natural fibre that feels luxurious and is good for the environment. 

Pure wool tends to shrink, making it difficult to clean. However, modern wool fabrics often blend with synthetics, enhancing their resilience against pilling and wrinkling while making them easier to clean. Some can even be machine washed.

Synthetic fabrics

1. Polyester
2. Faux leather
3. Microfiber
4. Olefin
5. Rayon / Viscose / Acetate

Polyester

Highly resilient and easy to clean, polyester is a flexible synthetic fabric. It can be manufactured to mimic a variety of textures, feels, and colours.

Crisp or soft, dull or bold—it’s hard to believe that two fabrics with such different looks and feels can both be made from 100% polyester. It’s affordable and functional too. 

The fact that polyester is resistant to just about everything thrown at it, making it one of the best fabric choices for outdoor furniture. It’s mildew-resistant, fade-resistant, abrasion-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, water-repellant, and lightweight.

But like a Pokemon, it does have a weakness. That would be oil stains — which are a pain to remove. Still, many blends can be easily cleaned to look like new.

It is a real top contender for the budget to performance. Naturally, polyester is the most common material to blend with other fabrics. The resulting blend is often easier to clean, wrinkle less and more durable.

Something to look out for is the fact that lighter colours do stain on polyester. But it can be cleaned easily, but that’s a matter of extra work.

Faux leather

Unsurprisingly, faux leather was designed to imitate the real thing. It’s typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU) and textured to match the patterns of genuine leather.

Despite being completely synthetic, the technology to create it has come so far that the majority of people would be unable to distinguish between the two. And it’s much, much cheaper than the real thing. So what are the downsides?

Unlike leather, faux leather is prone to cracking and peeling. While all faux leather suffers from this, it is especially true on the lower quality ones.

Conditioners can help extend the life of faux leather, but ultimately, it tends to degrade with age. Real leather on the other hand gets softer and develops a protective patina.

Additionally, despite being scratch-resistant to an impressive degree, faux leather is prone to puncturing. It’s also not breathable. At all. This means that humid environments can be particularly uncomfortable if you were to take a nap on a sofa upholstered in faux leather.

It really shines in homes with pets or children, as it’s easy to clean, hypoallergenic, and can be replaced when needed.

Microfibre

People often call this ultra-fine fabric, typically made from a blend of polyester and nylon, the lightweight wonder fabric of the 21st century.

Microfibre is extremely dense and durable, incorporating fibres measuring less than a fifth of the diameter of human hair. This makes it especially soft and because of the fibre density, dyed microfibre looks especially vibrant. It’s available in spectacularly bold, lustrous colours that are fade-resistant.

Additionally, manufacturers craft microfibre in various ways to mimic the feel of cotton, velvet, suede leather, and more.Like faux leather, microsuede (microfibre in a suede texture) is another good option for a vegan leather sofa. 

While not stain-proof, liquid spills bead up instead of instantly soaking in. This buys some much needed time to wipe them off.

Another benefit is that allergens are collected on the surface instead of penetrating the fabric, making cleaning a breeze. Pesky dust mites can’t burrow in either.

Olefin

Common and affordable, Olefin (also known as polypropylene) is an excellent fabric choice for heavily used furniture. As a fully synthetic material, olefin is especially fade-resistant because the colour is locked into the fibres during the melting process.

This makes it a great fabric choice for pieces that are exposed to lots of light. Olefin is also very resistant to stains, abrasion, mildew and fire. 

Resilient and comfortable, olefin has no real weaknesses. It is an extremely versatile choice for any upholstery application. Fun fact: Olefin is one of the synthetic fibres with the least environmental impact.

Rayon / viscose / acetate

Rayon is a broad term for a variety of fabrics. These semi-synthetic fabrics are made by chemically breaking down and reforming wood pulp or other plant fibres. The differences in the production methods result in the various names for rayon.

Originally created as artificial silk, rayon faced issues like pilling, wrinkling, and scratching. However, modern rayon has improved significantly, especially the version used for upholstery, which is often blended with synthetics.

The new and improved rayon can imitate several fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk. Like fully natural fabrics, it’s soft, breathable, and absorbent. It’s also cheap which makes it the third most used textile fabric in the world. 

But it isn’t perfect. Rayon is still not very durable. It has the lowest elastic recovery of the natural fibres which results in a much higher chance of it permanently losing its shape when stretched and damaged.

It still pills, wrinkles, and scratches easily, especially when wet, which temporarily weakens the fabric. To make matters worse, rayon is highly flammable unless treated.

So, if you’re living in more “adult” household without any foreseeable accidents to endanger your upholstery then this may be the choice for you. Just don’t use it for heavy use pieces.

These are the most common fabrics used for upholstery. There are more out there, but for the sake of my tired fingers, we can’t cover every type.

You should, however, find something for your needs in the list above. Another great way of determining what’s right for you is to consult the shop that sells them. Picking a fabric that will adorn your furniture for years to come should always involve due research after all.

How to clean upholstery fabric

Enjoying a bowl of pasta when suddenly your upholstery is too? Don’t worry, it can be cleaned.

Here’s how:

Consult the labels of the upholstery fabric

Some upholstery fabrics are machine washable. These fabrics are pre-shrunk (if natural), colour-fast, and durable enough to withstand washing machine cycles.

It’s always a good idea to start by checking if there are any laundry / manufacturer tags and follow the instructions given.

If there are, simply check for any zippers, chuck them into the wash under the delicate setting and air dry them afterwards. Never use heat.

Not machine washable? Well, cleaning codes are more common when it comes to upholstery fabric. They have been the standard for over 50 years.

Here they are:

• S – Water can stain certain types of fabrics and, with the “S” label, you should be particularly wary. Strictly, the “S” means dry cleaning only. Do NOT use water or any form of water-based cleaners. Use dry cleaning solvents and do not over-saturate the fabric with them.
• W – “W” stands for water. Use water-based upholstery shampoos, foams, and cleaners to clean fabrics with this label. Similarly, avoid over-saturating with water. Always follow this rule.
• WS – You can clean fabrics with the “WS” label using water-based or solvent-based cleaners. Using mild detergents and mild dry-cleaning solvents are effective in spot cleaning this type of fabric.
• X – Typically found on delicate fabrics like silk, the “X” indicates that you should avoid using any cleaning agents, as they can cause the fabric to shrink or stain. Instead, vacuum, brush lightly, or have it professionally cleaned.

These cleaning codes serve as general guidelines, and they offer general advice. For more specific information, consult the internet!

Search for fabric specific cleaning information

Searching for specific cleaning information for the fabric in question can help achieve a deeper clean and prolong it’s life. The best answer on how to clean the fabric would be provided by the shop that sold the fabric so don’t hesitate to ask.

Alternatively, if you know the fabric’s composition, you can search for specific cleaning information tailored to it. This will yield better advice when compared to the general cleaning instructions offered by the cleaning codes.

DIY cleaning upholstery fabric

Preparing for the clean

As long as the fabric can be cleaned with water-based solutions (“W” or “WS” label), you can take cleaning matters into your own hands. Start by vacuuming the fabric to remove dust, hair, and debris before you begin cleaning, so they don’t get wet and stick to the fabric.

While vacuuming, make sure not to use highly abrasive nozzle attachments, be too rough or set the suction too high. This may damage the fabric so be extra careful when dealing with more delicate fabrics.

Creating the cleaning solution

Combine half a teaspoon of dish soap (not dish detergent) with one cup of water. Mix the solution well — it should be good enough to give the fabric a general clean.

Add more dish soap for heavily stained areas.

Time to clean

Remember microfibre? That’s the cloth material you’ll want to use to clean your upholstery. It’s soft, absorbent and has a huge density of very fine fibres — like a tiny toothbrush for brushing out dirt. 

One thing to make sure is that the colour of the cleaning cloth doesn’t run so wash it and test it out on a scrap piece of fabric first. If the cloth is colour-fast, you’re ready to start testing out cleaning an inconspicuous area of your fabric. Always test in an inconspicuous area to ensure you don’t damage the fabric.

Wet the cloth in the cleaning solution, then dab and blot firmly onto a small spot and leave it to dry. Do the same for the rest of the fabric if there are no issues. Spend extra effort on stains and avoid scrubbing whenever possible as this may damage the fabric.

Remember not to go overboard and saturate the fabric in water.

Drying

Why didn’t we wet that fabric like we had a super soaker in a waterpark? Because it would become impossibly difficult to dry.

Remember that mould and mildew can grow on fabrics, so leaving them damp for long periods of time exacerbates the risk of it happening.

Make sure the drying area is well-ventilated to speed up the process. Get creative and open the windows, leaving the fan on at full blast or use the dry setting on your AC.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, never use heat (like a hairdryer) to dry the fabric. Heat is damaging to synthetics and can shrink natural fabrics. 

Upholstery fabric alternatives

Professional upholstery is expensive ($800+), and doing it yourself takes skill. Depending on the fabric used, it can make for some expensive mistakes.

Good thing we have alternatives. Such as:

Painting upholstery

Have some worn-out upholstery that needs a new life? Try repainting it with fabric paint. It’s a cost-effective alternative (with a lot of effort).

Done correctly, you won’t have to worry about paint rubbing off on your clothes nor the fabric feeling like a crumbly croissant. Good fabric paint won’t change how your upholstery feels.

Even better if you get good at this obscure skill. You’d could turn the thrift-store into your new hangout and remodel your room on the dime. Paint your hauls and have an infinite supply of basement bargain furniture.

Enough fantasizing. Here’s what painting upholstery can do:

Sofa covers

Custom sofa covers are something we feel that everyone should know about. They will transform your standard sofa completely. It’s the sofa equivalent of a face-lift.

You can slipcover chairs and ottomans too. As long as the frame and cushions are holding up, a couch cover will make it seem as if you have bought your sofa brand new.

If you’re curious about using sofa covers as an alternative to upholstery, don’t forget to order fabric samples to get some first hand touchy-feely experience.