How to Choose the Right Fabrics when Decorating Your Home
May 31, 2011 by bunda
Filed under upholstery fabric
Home decorating fabrics are meant to compliment a room. Beautiful fabrics can improve any space. Home decorating fabrics are used in upholstery, couch covers, slip-covers, bed coverings, window treatments, table coverings, etc. A room without fabric is plain with a cold feeling. Using fabrics, a space can be transformed into an inviting, warm and cozy place to relax and enjoy with family and friends.
Because they are an essential part of decorating a space, it is important to choose those that correspond with the other objects in the room. It’s easier to pick fabrics if you are using advice and suggestions for a particular decorating design. Without any direction, your interior decorating project can become frustrating and discouraging. Instead of working toward your dream home, you’ll find yourself caught up in a nightmare.
There are plenty of home decorating themes to choose from. Each of them has their own color and style. With a theme to guide you, choosing fabrics shouldn’t pose a problem. For example if you choose a tuscan theme, the choices would include woven textures such as burlap, fabrics made from the abaca fiber and fabrics made from the banana tree fibres, savannah cloth and tobacco cloth. Tuscan fabrics tend to be heavier but they are very flexible and versatile. If you use the tuscan theme as your guide, these home decorating fabrics could be used for blinds, drapes, slip-covers and even perhaps even area rugs.
If you decide you like the cottage theme, you would include floral patterns and bright colors. Cottage decorating, with regards to upholstery and the various projects requiring fabric, suggests bold and colourful patterns. Although a floral pattern is the most popular in for the cottage theme, printed fabrics with vegetables or fruit are also quite often used.
Choosing the Victorian theme would suggest you choose fabrics such as velvet or brocade in rich colors of blue, green, burgundy and so on. Victorian fabrics are meant to be quite feminine as well as elaborate. These materials are used for curtains, bedding, slip-covers, etc. You might even want to trim these with lace, beads or ribbons.
These are just a few examples of home decorating fabrics used in relation to different themes. You must choose fabrics that speak to you. It’s also important to remember that they can be quite expensive. Once you’ve decided on a fabric and purchase it to use in your home, you may have to live with it for a long time. For this reason it is best to be absolutely certain before making that final decision. Home decorating fabrics often require special care for washing. If you’d rather a fabric that is easy to care for, make sure this is considered when choosing fabrics.
Remember this is your space, your decision and it should meet your needs. There are thousands to choose from. By using available resources such as home decor magazines, home decorating catalogues, Internet websites and of course fabric stores in your area, you ought to be capable of making a sensible decision and appropriate choice for home decorating fabrics.
Gaetane Ross
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Upholstery Cleaning
May 31, 2011 by bunda
Filed under upholstery fabric
When the furniture is stuffed and swathed with fabric or leather cover, it is called as upholstery. Upholstery makes the furniture more comfortable and gives a trendy and rich look to you rooms. The upholstered furniture look beautiful befitting to the home décor.
But their cleaning is also very essential as it cannot be done with ordinary cleaning. The upholstery requires different cleaning and proper care. All the stains cannot be removed in a single way; you need to apply different methods of removing stains depending on the type of stains.
The stains on your upholstery can mar the looks of your furniture; don’t consider the hard and tough stains as a very big problem as simple cleaning tips on different surface materials will help you to do the job easily. The upholstered furniture is no doubt expensive like you have sofa, chair, loveseat and many more. It can get dirty with if you eat on sofa and bits of food falls down and drinks that leave stains on sofa, dirty feet and dirty clothing.
Before initiating the process of cleaning find out the fabric to be cleaned. The best way to clean is to test it in the inconspicuous area to ensure no discoloration or damage is done to the fabric. With the simple steps and different cleaning methods given below can help you to remove stains effectively.
If it is a greasy stain so the best option is to choose a dry cleaning solvent easily available in any grocery or retail stores. Put the solvent on a clean white cloth and blot at the stain, do not rub. Mix a mild ph balanced detergent in one cup of warm water and blot it on the stain, after that use a towel to sponge the solvent and detergent off with clean warm water and let the spot dry.
Some may feel weird but baby wipes can prove effective in cleaning some upholstery. In this too much water and soap is not required and the alcohol in the wipes makes sure that it evaporates quickly. If the stains are mild they can be removed by the inexpensive sprays available. These upholstery sprays work quite well but should be used carefully. These sprays won’t work if the stains are large patch of oil or grease.
The loose dirt which gets collected everyday on the upholstery can be removed by the vacuum cleaner. You should be wary if your sofa or a chair is an expensive one, the upholstery of such furniture usually has lot of organic material inside. In such cases it is advisable to get cleaned professionally rather than trying tips that ca be tried at home as it worth the investment.
It is a common problem to have hair of pet on your upholstery. To remove those hair use a pet rake, velour brush or even tape wrapped around your hand. The light and even strokes will remove the hair from upholstery. If not you can try with the rubber bottom on a clean tennis shoe, even the slightly dampened sponge can be used but see to it that it does not damage the upholstery. The vacuum cleaner with a beater roll or beater brush can be of great help. The place where vacuum cleaner cannot reach one can use a pet sponge. The pet sponge is available at every pet supply stores and is used dry.
David
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The Secret Of Selecting A Suitable Material For Upholstery
May 28, 2011 by bunda
Filed under upholstery fabric
Shopping for fabrics for drapery and upholstery can be a daunting task, and if two are involved in making the decision, it can get downright overwhelming. But rest assured, there are some very clear ways to tackle the problem: first, to identify all the various factors to consider and then arrive at some guidelines for making that final decision.
Now when attempting to select the kind of fabrics you’re going to need, you will come across a seemingly endless assortment of patterns, textures and weights from which to choose. In addition, you will need to be aware of each type of fabric’s durability, ease of cleaning, and resistance to dirt and fading.
It can definitely feel like staring up at Mount Everest right at the beginning of the journey. But now let’s zone in on what’s really important during this phase, so that we can clear the first decision making hurdle with ease.
The two most important factors that you must consider when selecting a fabric are form and function. I like to describe it like this: Form is what you want the fabric to look like. What colors and patterns do you want? Function relates to how the fabric will be used. Is it a showpiece that will not be subject to wear and tear, or is it something that will be constantly used by small children? Will there be household pets jumping up and down on it? Are they particularly hairy and prone to shedding? Really think about the variables for a few minutes and you begin to eliminate a lot of possibilities right out the gate.
The answers to the questions you ask yourself will assist you in determining whether you should be focusing on finding a material that is durable and resistant to dirt and stains (and on finding a color that hides stains well), or one that is delicate and not as easily kept clean. It can be very tempting to go for the flashier, more aesthetically pleasing option, but function is critical in the long-term to making the right choice – try to find a balance between pizzazz and practicality.
This list of commonly found upholstery fabrics and their appropriate uses will help you to select which material is best for you:
Acrylic – Synthetic fiber, developed as imitation wool, that resists wear, wrinkling, soiling, and fading
Cotton – Natural fiber that is resistant to wear, fading, and pilling
Linen - Used in formal living rooms and adult-only areas
Nylon – Typically blended with other fibers to make it one of the strongest upholstery fabrics
Polyester – Blended with other fibers to add wrinkle resistance, eliminate crushing of napped fabrics, and reduce fading
Silk – Delicate fabric that must be professionally cleaned if soiled. Suitable for formal living room and other adult-only areas.
Vinyl – Easy-care and less expensive than leather, ideal for busy family living and dining rooms
Wool – Offers good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling, and soil
Defining the decision making process and listing the options available to you has hopefully been helpful in shaping the way you will approach choosing the right material for your drapes or upholstery. Good decorating!
Peter Figgins
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Mission Possible – How To Choose The Right Upholstery And Drapery Fabrics
May 28, 2011 by bunda
Filed under upholstery fabric
One of the most formidable chores involved with redecorating is trying to find the right fabric for upholstery or drapery. If two of you are involved in the decision making, it may seem like an impossible task. But don’t worry, this article will provide several solutions to make your mission less impossible.
The first step is identifying all the factors you need to consider and come up with some guidelines to help you agree on the final decision. You’ll find an endless assortment of weights, textures, and patterns to choose from, and you’ll need a good idea of each fabric’s qualities – ease of cleaning, resistance to dirt, and durability. Although the hurdles at the beginning of your journey may seem insurmountable, we’ll focus on what’s really important at this first step and make the initial decision a little clearer.
There are only two important factors to consider when beginning your search for a fabric: form and function. Form can be described as what the fabric will look like, and function is how the fabric will be used. The colors and patterns you want will influence the form. How much the fabric will actually be used will classify the function you’ll need. Will it be in a room that’s off-limits to children and pets, like a formal dining room, only used on holidays? Or will Fido and the kids be jumping all over it while playing? Take some time to reflect on the different ways it may be used and you’ll be able to narrow down your search considerably right from the beginning.
Your answers will help you decide whether to focus on a durable, stain-resistant material in a color that hides stains well, or one that won’t be kept clean as easily and may be much more delicate, but won’t be subjected to much use. Function is critical: don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking the prettier, daintier fabric that looks so nice will hold up to heavy wear. Find a fabric that balances practicality with the look you want.
There are many upholstery fabrics that can be found almost anywhere, so knowing their appropriate uses will aid in selecting the material that will be the best choice for you. Consult the following list before beginning our search for the best upholstery or drapery fabric for your needs.
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that resists fading, soiling, wear, and wrinkling. It was developed as imitation wool.
Cotton is a natural fiber that resists fading, wear, and piling.
Nylon can be blended with many other fibers to create one of the longest wearing upholstery fabrics.
Polyester is blended to many other fibers to help reduce wrinkles, crushing, and fading.
Silk is a delicate fabric that should only be used in areas where there are no children or pets. Silk requires professional cleaning when soiled.
Vinyl, on the other hand, is ideal for any area where the kids play, such as family rooms and basements. It is an inexpensive alternative to leather and is very easy to clean.
Wool is another fabric that resists fading and wrinkling, as well as dirt and pilling.
You’ll find shopping for fabric much simpler if you are aware of the type of fabric you need and the options that are available. Now you can begin the process of shopping for new drapes or upholstery without feeling so intimidated!
Vince Nitti
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Top Ten Tips to Upholstery Fabric Stain Removal
August 10, 2009 by bunda
Filed under upholstery fabric
Upholstery fabric stains present larger problems than your average clothing stain, for one, the cost of replacing a sofa or chair is much larger than a shirt or skirt. We’ve tried to make it easy with our top ten tips for getting rid of unsightly sofa stains.
Upholstery fabrics made from natural fibres and/or dyes or finishes may require special treatment so it’s wise to heed the advice of your upholstery fabric manufacturer. Fortunately most have made it easy for us by categorizing their fabrics according to these simple codes:
S – Solvent clean (that is “dry-cleaning”)
W – Water clean
WS – Water or Solvent clean
X – No liquids, vacuum clean only
Where accidents happen, follow these tried and tested steps towards fast and easy stain removal:
1. Always test your chosen potion on an inconspicuous area of your upholstery before applying to your stain, and analyze the result.
2. Act fast: as a rule of thumb, the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove so fast action is definitely a step in the right direction.
3. Wet stains – blot a white cloth on the area to absorb any excess moisture. Do not rub.
4. Thick stains – leave the stain to dry and brush off the residue.
5. For non-protein based fabrics (ie. “W” or “WS” fabrics: acetate, herculon, nylon, olefin and polyester), rinse the stain in pure water, blot with a white cloth, rinse, blot, rinse, until the stain disappears. For more stubborn stains rub in a mild, water soluable detergent into the area in a circular fashion, and then continue the rinse, blot, rinse cycle again until the stain lifts.
6. For protein based fabrics (ie. “S” fabrics: cotton, linen, rayon, silk and wool) apply water free solvents or dry cleaning products (to avoid water stains) to the area and gently rub, rinse and blot.
7. Blood: mix 2 tablespoons of table salt with 1 quart of water and apply the rinse, blot, rinse technique. If the stain persists, try applying a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide.
8. Organic dye stains like juice, wine, mustard: spot clean with water-based cleaner ie. Stain magic, or dab with a mixture of 1 part vinegar and three parts water.
9. Red Wine: mix equal parts of soap detergent and hydrogen peroxide and rub, or dash or spray over your stain. Keep in mind that they hydrogen peroxide could well lighten some dyes so test this method first.
10. Ink: spray hairspray on the area and wash as usual.
Upholstery fabric manufacturers usually suggest regular vacuuming to remove dust and allergens from fabric, as well as professional upholstery cleaning once per year to maximize the life of the fabric.
By Sonya Alvino
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