Selecting a sofa is one of the most important (and expensive!) furniture decisions you'll make for your home. Style, comfort, and quality are some of the factors to consider. But beyond those, you need an upholstery fabric that will stand up to your everyday life, and for pet parents, that means it must be a workhorse in order to stay looking new for the long haul.
Speaking from experience, and years of trial and error, there is not one "perfect" fabric out there that will work for every family and pet. And if you ask other pet owners, the responses you get will probably vary too. But you're already well on your way to the right choice by doing your research! Here are the top factors to consider when selecting the perfect upholstery materials for your home:
Color. One of the most challenging and important considerations for sofa selection is color. Other than the obvious advice to avoid white, there are many other traps to avoid with color. Staying away from any light colors is always a good idea; in all reality, the color should be dark enough to hide dirt. In order to conceal your pet's hair, it is best to select a color not far from the color of your pet. If that's white, go as dark as you can within your color palette without creating contrast. That will make you equally nutty!
Pattern and texture. While a solid, neutral color may be the look that you're after, be sure to select a fabric that is not completely solid if you have pets. You can still achieve the look of a solid with many wovens, but having a bit of texture made with multi-colored yarns is going to be a safer bet than going with all one color. Along that line, a small scale pattern can work well to hide imperfections. Texture is fine but should not include a loose or nubby fabric, especially with cats, as their nails can (accidentally on purpose) get caught in it. Also stickers and other debris from outside can get trapped in the loops of something that doesn't have a tight weave.
Alternative materials. Crypton is a fabric category that was initially developed for the health care industry to have the appearance of wovens, but with the ability to withstand the rigorous cleaning of a hospital environment. Though more expensive than traditional fabrics, it's cleaning capability is unmatched and the patterns and color options are virtually endless. In the past the biggest challenge has been with the "hand" - it hasn't felt quite as soft as natural textiles, but Crypton has come a long way with quite a few soft options available. Crypton Home was designed for residential use and offers a variety of fabrics including velvets, linens, and wovens, all with stain, moisture, and odor resistance built in. Another category to consider is indoor/outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella and Perennials. These fabulous fabrics, similar to Cryptons, are built for durability and rigorous cleaning, and have the added benefit of being sun safe (i.e. fade resistant, a great choice for light-filled rooms).
Characteristics. One thing to look for when considering fabrics is double rubs. (For design geeks like myself, we refer to this as the Wyzenbeek or Martindale tests and are typically found on the back of your fabric sample.) The term double rub refers to how the fabric has been tested; it measures abrasion resistance and durability of the fabric through back-and-forth motion or a figure-8. Finding something with a higher rub count ensures that the fabric has been tested through a third-party standard. For example, 100,000 double-rubs is an example of a high-performance fabric that is meant for long term wear and tear.
Test, test, test! Leather has long been recognized as a smart option for pets and rigorous wear-and-tear due to it's ability to be easily wiped down. Based on our experience, it is still important to get the right type of leather, specifically a protected leather, and TEST it by obtaining a sample. I put all fabric samples to the test when I am sourcing for a client with pets, using my own animals, and performing scratch tests. (Being in wine country and all, I also test samples with other household culprits, like red wine, to make sure it will come out). Aniline leather, while soft and supple, is known for maintaining the natural characteristics of the hide, but unfortunately is too susceptible to wear, scratching, and oils to be suitable for households with pets. Instead, opt for semi-aniline or top grain protected leather, and make sure you understand the cleaning and maintenance requirements, as they will be unique based on what you choose. If you are not sure whether the leather you are considering is aniline or not do a scratch test. If your fingernail leaves a mark then stay away, even if it is the most gorgeous piece you have ever seen. It will not last in a household with pets.
Sonoma Interiors offers space planning, furniture and fabric selection, art and decor sourcing - the full range of concierge interior design services to help you spruce up your home without sacrificing aesthetics for the durability your lifestyle requires. We would love to hear about your interior design project - new builds, renovations, or a refresh. With our vast resources only available to the Trade we can help save you time and money, while bringing your vision to life!
Comments