If there is a cat living in the house or purchasing a pet is only in the plans, you should think about a very pressing question - how to choose the right upholstery for the sofa and armchairs.
Experienced cat owners know firsthand that the sofa often becomes their favorite place to live, comfortable in all respects: you can sleep on it in comfort, and you can sharpen your grown nails with pleasure !
And even with great luck, when the cat does not make any attempts to deliberately damage the furniture, it is still impossible to completely protect him from walking on the sofa.
The most sustainable types of furniture fabrics
It is not enough to just buy a sofa you like if you are concerned about its long-term preservation. You need to be aware of some of the nuances regarding the characteristics of upholstery fabrics. So, on leather furniture after claws there will be noticeable scratches that cannot be removed by anything else, and bouclé fabric, due to its characteristic looseness, is generally not desirable if a kitten lives in the house.
In order to discourage a pet from furniture, you need to distract it in time. For example, hang special mats designed for cat claws away from the location of sofas and armchairs. Or just periodically give your cat a manicure by trimming his claws. These simple manipulations and durable furniture upholstery will allow you to maintain the appearance of your upholstered furniture for a long time, while enjoying the company of your furry pet.
Which one to choose: recommendations from experts
The material for furniture should be chosen based not only on its beauty, but also on the disposition of the pet.
The upholstery of a cat-proof sofa should be selected taking into account the behavior of the pet. If he likes to play pranks and constantly destroys furniture, then elegant velor, expensive leather material or luxury eco-leather fabrics are not suitable. When choosing a vandal-proof coating, professionals recommend taking into account the following criteria:
- Performance. The density and strength of the structure should be sufficient to not leave marks from cat claws. At the same time, the presence of defects, defects and deformations, as well as stains of dirt, is unacceptable on the selected panel.
- Colors. If the anti-vandal sofa is in the access of several pets, then you should pay attention to dark shades or bright prints. Coverings in light colors without a pattern will require more frequent cleaning. Some experts recommend choosing a color based on the color of the cat's fur.
- Easy to care for. Anti-vandal protection should be easy to clean with available means - soapy water and a sponge. At the same time, cleaning old stains with stain removers or other more aggressive agents should not leave any lightened areas.
- Type of coverage. This could be solid upholstery, a separate bedspread or a cover for furniture that the cat has already torn up.
Flock
This material can be based on satin, cotton, twill - fabric sheets on which glue is applied, and then fine artificial pile, located very densely and vertically. This makes the fabric pleasant and soft to the touch, but the most durable and resistant to claws.
Flock withstands not only the claws, but also the teeth of the animal; moreover, it is easy to clean from dirt; the fabric does not fade or wear out, it is light, durable, and comes in a large number of colors and patterns.
What kind of material is it and what are its features?
Anti-vandal cat fabric is a wear-resistant material that is difficult to damage. The main purpose is to protect furniture from the early formation of bald spots, abrasions and holes on the surface. At the same time, the fabric repels fat and water due to Teflon impregnation, therefore it is resistant to stains. But it is important to understand that leatherette or velvet are not endowed with anti-vandal properties, so they will not save furniture from cat claws.
Pros and cons of the material
- Long wear life. The fabric is not damaged due to the density of the structure and close weaving. The fibers simply protect against the cat's claws, preventing them from penetrating deeper.
- High rigidity and abrasion resistance. As a result, over time, the upholstery does not lose shape or sag, and bald spots do not form.
- Preservation of the original color, which does not fade.
- Resistance to any type of contamination due to Teflon impregnation. The structure of the fabric is water- and dust-repellent, therefore, greasy and oil stains do not form on the surface.
The only disadvantage of anti-vandal material is the high price.
Jacquard
Jacquard fabric for upholstery has long been firmly established in the production of durable furniture. The upholstery made from this material is truly durable, high-quality, dense - it is perfect in the room where your pet frolics.
The reliability of jacquard as an upholstery material is explained by the peculiarities of its manufacture: the threads are intertwined as closely as possible with each other, and the thicker they are, the stronger the fabric will be. It will be difficult for a cat to damage the jacquard upholstery, since the frequency of weaving will not allow the claws to get caught and pull out the loop.
Jacquard colors and patterns hold up well, do not fade, and the fabric is easy to clean.
Microfiber upholstery covering
Upholstery made of synthetic fabric called microfiber is also durable, anti-vandal, and easy to maintain. Its structure is similar to suede, it has the advantage of increased wear resistance, and has a wide range of colors. Its general characteristics are:
- strength;
- resistance to scratches and deformations;
- ease of care;
- easy cleaning from stains;
- affordable price category.
Important! Microfiber is resistant to damage from pet claws because the base of the material is not intertwined and cannot be caught on.
Chenille
The fabric contains either synthetic, natural or artificial threads (homogeneous composition), or they are all mixed, weaving in a spiral, with pile placed between a pair of threads. Chenille is formed by threads woven longitudinally and transversely - all this makes the material highly durable and reliable, wear-resistant and withstand tensile loads.
The wide variety of colors, shades and patterns of chenille will delight not only you, but your pet, and the funds invested in purchasing furniture with similar upholstery will be moderate.
Manufacturers
The main ones are presented in the table:
| Brand name | Product Features | Price, rub./m |
| Galaxy | Anti-vandal, pleasant to the touch, microfiber with Teflon | 1107 |
| Neutrality of shades and prints with a predominance of vintage style | ||
| "Anti-claw" | Anti-vandal flock with Teflon impregnation | 790 |
| Delicate pastel shades | ||
| "Verona" | Wear-resistant microsuede | 890 |
| Rich color map | ||
| Can be used for any type of furniture |
Tapestry
In its composition and appearance, tapestry upholstery is very similar to jacquard, and the method of production of both is almost identical, but for tapestry fabric, threads of higher quality and density are used, which in a certain way affects the quality and reliability. The peculiarity of this fabric, in particular, is that the canvas consists of three layers of threads closely intertwined with each other, and the tapestry becomes quite weighty.
Natural threads are used to create tapestry fabric, but artificial ones can also be woven to improve some of the characteristics of the material.
In addition to the obvious qualitative advantages, the tapestry has one more thing: an incredibly aesthetic appearance (the subjects woven in the canvas are sometimes striking in their complexity and picturesqueness). But the price of such fabric is always quite significant for any budget.
Varieties
Anti-claw upholstery material is a collective name for various fabrics with similar properties. This group includes high-strength upholstery for sofas and other furniture that is resistant to rubbing, tugging, and fading. Anti-vandal fabrics include any sufficiently dense, smooth material that a cat cannot get its claws into. They can all be divided into 2 large groups - non-woven and woven.
Features and characteristics of modern sofas, placement options
On a non-woven basis
A special feature of this type of material is the presence of a non-woven base. This group includes flock, artificial suede, and relaxation. Each type has its own characteristics, which are worth studying before choosing one or another material.
Flock is a type of fabric with a pile on the front side. Can be made from nylon, polyester or viscose. Its qualities are similar to natural leather, but compared to it it has the ability to breathe and does not become stiff in the cold. A layer of protective coating makes the flock dense, smooth, and resistant to damage.
Advantages of flock:
- High degree of wear resistance. The material is not subject to temperature changes, does not fade, does not wrinkle.
- Long service life without loss of original characteristics.
- Waterproof and breathable. Drops of water roll down the surface, but the material is perfectly breathable.
- Soft texture, pleasant to the touch.
- Easy care.
Flaws:
- May accumulate static electricity.
- Not resistant to alcohol-containing liquids.
Relax is another popular type of anti-vandal sofa fabric that protects from cats. The bottom layer of material is a mixture of cotton and polyester fibers, the top layer is artificial rubber with a special protective film. The only drawback of relaxation is the high cost. Advantages:
- Stretch effect. Thanks to the rubber layer, it is easily restored after various loads. The sofa, upholstered with relaxation, is not afraid of either pets or children.
- Easy cleansing. It washes well from traces of pencils, pens, grease and a number of other stains.
- It is impossible to burn through with a cigarette.
Faux suede is a fabric made from a mixture of polyester and cotton treated with Teflon impregnation. Thanks to the unique manufacturing technology, it is almost indistinguishable from natural ones. The faux suede covering looks expensive and presentable. Advantages of the material:
- Excellent wear resistance, durability.
- High strength. Faux suede upholstery is almost impossible to tear or stretch.
- Resistant to fading. Suede retains its original color to the last.
- Pleasant, velvety surface.
Faux suede has one significant drawback - it cannot be washed or cleaned with a damp cloth.
Flock
Relax
Faux suede
On a woven basis
This includes materials with a fabric backing. Unlike the previous group, they are not as dense, but thanks to the special weave of the threads they perfectly resist cat claws. Microfiber is an anti-claw fabric for sofas and other furniture, made from very thin polymer fibers. In appearance it is somewhat reminiscent of suede. Advantages:
- High resistance to mechanical damage. Microfiber upholstery is virtually impossible to tear or wear out.
- Easy care. The covers can be washed in a regular washing machine.
- Affordable price.
Advantages of using a bedspread on a sofa, criteria for choosing a product
Tapestry is a type of anti-vandal fabric for furniture, made using jacquard weave in three layers. It can be with various ornaments or designs. Its advantages:
- easy to clean;
- large selection of colors and patterns;
- presentable appearance.
In addition to its advantages, tapestry has one significant drawback - when exposed to direct sunlight, it fades quite quickly.
Scotchgard is a fabric for a cat sofa, made in the likeness of a tapestry. Thanks to a special water-based impregnation, the material is very resistant to dirt of a wide variety of types. The only disadvantage we can note is the fairly high cost. Advantages:
- high degree of wear resistance;
- rich color palette;
- easy care.
Jacquard is a dense, rigid upholstery material. Due to the special weave it does not unravel and is very difficult to tear. The inner and outer sides of the jacquard can be of different colors. Advantages: durability, good breathability, large selection of colors. Vandal-proof jacquard coating has only one significant drawback - it is quite expensive.
Chenille is another type of jacquard fabric. It is distinguished by a more complex weave and necessarily has fibers in its structure. Advantages: excellent softness and elasticity, wear resistance and durability, large selection of colors and patterns. The main disadvantage of chenille is its high hygroscopicity. The material quickly absorbs water and takes a very long time to dry.
Elegant Chester sofas - configurations, sizes, design features
Chenille
Tapestry
Jacquard
Microfiber
Scotchgard
Furniture suede
The material can have a woven or non-woven base, but in the first case it is stronger and more durable, the cost is higher, but justified.
Artificial suede is almost indistinguishable from real leather in appearance; the pile is created from polyester and impregnated with Teflon. The fabric is very pleasant and warm, durable, withstands the influence of aggressive environments and loads, does not wear out and withstands attempts by a pet to tear and scratch the surface of upholstered furniture.
Artificial suede today is one of the most durable materials that has proven itself well among buyers. The fabric is not subject to deformation, does not wear out for a long time, does not require special care and is easy to clean by hand using simple or chemical means.
Anti-claw sofa covering
Anti-claw upholstery fabric for upholstered furniture impregnated with Teflon has become very popular among pet lovers. This material is made so that a cat's claws trying to scratch it will instantly slide off the surface and leave no marks on it. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to scratch their claws on such upholstery, cats lose interest in them.
Properties and characteristics of this upholstery:
- increased strength;
- resistance to wear and abrasion;
- resistance to deformation;
- the ability to allow air to pass through, that is, to “breathe”;
- comfortable sensations upon contact with the skin;
- wide selection of different colors.
Important! Any type of upholstery fabric can be marked “anti-claw”: flock, microfiber, artificial suede and others impregnated with Teflon.
Velours
Velor sofa
This soft covering on the sofa will appeal to buyers who want to create a warm and cozy atmosphere in their home. Furniture upholstered with this material is perfect for a romantic meeting with your significant other, a friendly meeting or leisure time with children.
This material is made from natural raw materials, which include cotton and wool. It has a rather nice appearance, the color range of the material is quite extensive, and it is very warm and pleasant to the touch. The upholstery material has a high margin of strength, due to which it does not deform under the influence of the mass of people sitting on the sofa. It also allows air to pass through perfectly.
The velor coating can be treated with a vacuum cleaner; to remove more complex stains, you can use washing powder.
Important to remember! When choosing upholstery material, it is important to remember that the sofa is a piece of furniture, and therefore must fit well into it.
This upholstery material must be treated with great care. It is better to protect it from coffee, sauce or juice stains.
The fact is that such contaminants are almost impossible to remove with your own hands, especially after some time.
Another disadvantage of this material for sofa upholstery is its short service life. The fabric wears out quite quickly, and after some time, fibers begin to fall out of the velor, which is why its appearance is lost. This upholstery material has the following characteristics:
- environmental friendliness - the fabric is made from natural raw materials;
- excellent thermal conductivity - the material is quite warm;
- strength - such upholstery will not sag;
- softness;
- good ventilation;
- rather short service life due to poor abrasion resistance.
Features of caring for anti-vandal fabrics
In order for the material to remain beautiful for a long time, you need to know some features:
- Proper care of the material extends the life of the entire product. The possibility of cleaning with chemicals is clarified at the time of purchasing the furniture.
- If the anti-claw fabric is not to be washed or wet cleaned, dry stain removers and aerosols should be used. After some time, the foam applied to the dirt turns into a powder that can be easily cleaned from the surface with a brush.
- The use of traditional cleaning products in the form of baking soda, vinegar or ammonia should be tried on the back of the sofa in an inconspicuous place.
You might be interested in: We sew a blanket from sheep, merino or yak wool yourself
Important! If the design of the furniture allows, you can use capes or covers made of anti-vandal fabric.
Cat scratching post
Varieties of furniture fabrics by face layer
Depending on the formation of the front layer, fabrics for upholstery of sofas can be divided into two large groups:
- Woven (chenyl, , , , suede);
- Non-woven (flock, leatherette).
The pattern on such fabrics, accordingly, can also be woven (weaving colored fibers) and printed (dying the finished plain material).
- Chenille is a velvety fabric with a complex woven pattern. Manufacturing technology allows the use of up to 18 intertwined threads. Translated from French, the word “chenille” means caterpillar - the basis of the fabric is fluffy fibers. The material perfectly absorbs noise.
- Tapestry is a one-sided, lint-free fabric made by cross-weaving threads. The manufacturing technique allows you to create beautiful decorative patterns and ornaments.
- Jacquard is a fabric with a large, raised, repeating pattern or design. Fabric weaving can be simple or complex. Jacquard can be made from both natural and synthetic fibers. This is a very strong and durable material.
- Boucle is a fabric made from (usually) woolen threads with small knots. Plain weave combines the threads into a distinctive, slightly knobby weave. Also made from viscose and cotton.
- Artificial suede – imitates . It is more durable and therefore ideal for furniture upholstery. Fabric composition: cotton, polyester, glue and Teflon coating that protects against water and dirt.
- Leatherette – . It is a combination of a base and a characteristic coating.
- Flock is a combination of a base made of various materials (polyester, cotton, nylon) and soft pile (also often made of nylon). Flock does not get wet, but allows air to pass through well. This is a dense, wear-resistant material.
- Furniture fur consists of a woven base (for example, cotton) and long synthetic pile. Imitates natural wool, used to decorate upholstery or entirely to create luxurious upholstered furniture. Very impressive upholstery, but...
- Velor is a wool fabric with soft, delicate pile. It differs from velvet in having a longer pile. For upholstery, a mixed fabric of wool, cotton and synthetic fibers is used.
- Microfiber (Velsoft) is made from polyester. This fabric does not pill, dries instantly and does not allow liquid to get under the upholstery.
How to correctly evaluate the quality of fabric for upholstery of a sofa
From qualitative concepts - good fabric or not so good fabric - I will move on to a more important one - a quantitative evaluation system.
There are generally accepted characteristics by which one can judge the quality of a sofa's fabric. Fabric testing is carried out by specialized independent companies. The results of their tests are digital indicators of various fabric characteristics.
Fabric manufacturers usually indicate the test parameters of their products in the quality certificate. When purchasing, you can ask the seller for it.
I will not dwell in detail on the test methods, but will only present their results. I collected the data into a small table
Main characteristics of fabrics affecting their performance properties
| Fabric characteristics | Unit | Badly | Average | Fine | Great |
| Wear resistance - determines the fabric’s resistance to abrasion. During the test, the fabric is rubbed in a circular motion. This indicator is often called the Martindale test in fabric passports. | number of revolutions | ≥ 15 000 | ≥ 20 000 | ≥ 30 000 | ≥ 40 000 |
| Fabric density is a very important indicator. Determines the number of threads in the fabric per centimeter. The higher the density of the fabric, the higher quality it is. | grams per square meter | less than 200 | 200-300 | 350-400 | more than 450 |
| Rolling (pilling) determines the formation of pellets on the fabric. During the test, the fabric is subjected to tight friction and evaluated after 5000 revolutions. | peeling scale from 1 to 5 | 1 point | 2 points | 3-4 points | 5 points |
| Seam strength. The ability of seams to bear tensile load. The sewn pieces of fabric are stretched. | elongation in mm. | ≥ 7 mm. | 5-6 mm. | 3-4 mm. | 1-2 mm. |
| Fabric tensile strength and tensile strength. Characterizes the force that must be applied to tear the tissue when stretched to the sides | force (in N) and tissue elongation in % | 350 N more than 80% | 350 N 60-70% | 350 N 45-50% | 350 N less than 40% |
| Color fastness to friction. Determines the ability of a fabric to retain color when rubbed dry and wet. | friction scale from 1 to 5 | 1 point | 2 points | 3-4 points | 5 points |
| Color fastness to light. The ability of fabric to retain color when exposed to sunlight | light scale from 1 to 8 | 1 point | 2-3 points | 4 points | ≥ 5 points |
| Color fastness to dry cleaning. Characterizes the ability of a fabric to retain color when dry cleaned. | scale from 1 to 5 | 1 point | 2-3 points | 4 points | 5 points |
| Fire resistance of a fabric is its ability to withstand open fire. The higher this indicator, the better. Keep in mind that fire resistance classes are in order from 1 - the best to 5 the worst | Class | 5th grade | 4th grade | 2-3 grades | 1 class |
Separately, I would like to highlight the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certificate. This is a European certificate, which is issued only if there are no harmful substances prohibited in the European Union in the fabrics. The presence of a certificate indicates the environmental safety of the fabric
Now you have the opportunity to evaluate the quality of fabric for a sofa using a system of characteristics and will be able to compare different fabrics with each other.
You can move on to consider upholstery fabrics and their properties.
Before the review, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the shape of the sofa depends on the type and quality of the upholstery fabric. After all, the fabric, along with the filler, helps keep this shape
Natural materials
All fabrics suitable for upholstering a sofa can be divided into three large groups: natural, synthetic and artificial. Each species has its own representatives, a number of advantages and disadvantages.
Upholstery fabric is considered natural if it contains at least 30% natural fibers.
- Wool is made from the natural covering of animals, such as sheep or goats. This is an environmentally friendly, very warm material that is resistant to dirt and odors. Dense felted wool becomes windproof.
- Cotton is a plant fiber that is sensitive to light. Absorbs moisture perfectly, “remembers” its shape after heating, wrinkles easily and is quickly wiped off.
- – fabric made from plant fibers, smooth and matte. Dense fabric, over 380 g/m, is used for upholstery independently, in its pure form. This material is safe for health and environmentally friendly.
Natural fabrics:
- excellent air permeability;
- do not cause allergies;
- pleasant to the touch.
Flaws :
- wear out quickly;
- crumple;
- shrink after washing;
- are expensive.
Relax
The main difference between this fabric is its multilayer structure and special processing.
The bottom layer is made of cotton and polyester, which gives the fabric durability. Next is a layer of isoprene or artificial rubber, which has the property of restoring its structure after mechanical stress. Therefore, your sofa will not be afraid of any scratches.
The outer layer deserves special attention in relaxation fabric. Regardless of the color and texture, which can be very diverse, it has one unique feature. Thanks to the special ANTISTAIN technology and the presence of carbon fibers, all kinds of contaminants that may arise in everyday life are easily removed from the surface of the relaxation table; In addition, it is very difficult to set fire to or melt.
How to choose materials for upholstery of a sofa, which is better
When choosing fabric for upholstered furniture, you should pay attention to its origin - artificial or natural, plant or animal origin. This choice is not important, since it does not particularly affect the quality of the material.
It all depends solely on your taste.
It’s also worth finding out about the characteristics of the material you choose. Do you need upholstery fabric that wrinkles? Are such properties important as whether it is water-repellent or breathable? All this can be found out from a sales consultant or read on a special label.
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- In addition, be sure to touch the product. Do you like a smooth surface or a rough one? Matte or shiny? Hard or soft? The main thing is that it should be pleasant to you.
- The next step is choosing a pattern or not. Think about how to match the sofa upholstery to the interior - striped, checkered, with large or small flowers, or plain. Immediately think about colors. An excellent selection of materials of absolutely any color and with different types of patterns will be shown to you in the catalogs of any relevant store, where numerous photos are presented.
Vandal-proof sofa covers as a way to protect against contamination
If you are one of those who wants his furniture to always have a decent appearance, be transported comfortably and without damage when moving, and also sometimes change its design, then anti-vandal covers are the ideal solution.
Covers will help protect sofas from dust, dirt and snags. They will give old furniture a decent look. The big advantage of this protection option is that at any time you can update the cover and your room, office or cottage will sparkle in a completely new way. The following types of cases are used:
- Avant-garde - for furniture of complex shapes, corner sofas.
- Country is a simple case made of natural fabrics, which is covered with an anti-vandal coating.
- Loft - covers have a minimalist, neat appearance and are made from non-staining fabrics.
- High-tech - they are suitable for modern furniture, with a strict geometric design.
- English - these covers cover all the furniture, following its contours.
