Guide 2021: Synthetic Upholstery Fabric for Home Décor

Types of Synthetic Upholstery Fabric

Synthetic fabrics are materials that are man-made and designed using chemical processes. Usually, they are more durable and less costly than natural fabrics for upholstery.

Microfiber: This famous upholstery fabric made from polyester, has a velvet-like texture but is much more durable. It avoids water, stains, and fading, so for high-use living areas, it's perfect.

Acrylic: As imitation wool, this synthetic fiber was made. It is immune to wear, wrinkles, dirt, and fading. In areas receiving high degrees of abrasion, low-quality acrylic can pill excessively. High-quality acrylics are produced to produce far fewer pills.

Acetate: Acetate, produced as imitation silk, can resist mildew, pilling, and shrinking. It provides only fair soil resistance, however and tends to wear, wrinkle, and fade in the light. It's not a good idea for furniture that is going to be difficult to use daily.

Polyester: Polyester is mixed with other fibers, seldom used alone in upholstery, to add wrinkle resistance, reduce crushing of napped fabrics, and decrease fading. Polyester aggravates pilling issues when mixed with wool.

Olefin: For furnishings that will receive heavy wear, this is a good option. It is particularly resistant to stains, mildew, abrasion and sunlight, so it can be used indoors as well as outdoors.

Rayon: Rayon is tough, but it does wrinkle, and was created as an alternative to silk, linen, and cotton. However, as a family-friendly upholstery fabric, recent advances have made high-quality rayon very practical.

Nylon: Nylon is commonly mixed with other fibers, seldom used alone to make it one of the best upholstery fabrics. Nylon is extremely resilient; it helps to avoid the crushing of napped fabrics like velvet in a mix. It doesn't soil or wrinkle readily, but it appears to fade and pill out.