Generally considered as one of the best materials for furniture, fabric offers a unique blend of timeless comfort and versatility that many seek in their living spaces. From cozy sofas and inviting bed frames to elegant dining chairs and eye-catching armchairs, fabric upholstery can create beautiful furnishings designed to last. And with innovative design trends emerging every year, fabric is a great upholstery choice for keeping your space comfortable and fresh, due to its myriads of options. We talked with Gaby Mielnik, a sales associate at Copenhagen San Antonio, about the world of fabric and how it can be used to enhance both the look and functionality of any living space.
“There are so many benefits to consider when shopping for fabric pieces,” says Mielnik. “The type you choose should depend on a variety of factors – everyday use, comfort, maintenance, aesthetic appeal, durability, budget – but generally fabric can be comfortable and cozy as well as durable and inexpensive, especially something like microfiber.”
And though fabric furnishings are generally more affordable than other materials like leather, they can be just as durable and long-lasting, especially with the creation of modern fabric technology and high-performance fabrics. But beyond fabric’s practical benefits lies its tactile and sensory abilities, including offering a softer, warmer look and feel that invites you in and boosts relaxation. And with a vast array of patterns, colors, and textures to choose from, you’re sure to find the ideal fabric furnishings for your space, whether you’re looking to express your unique style or find something that complements your existing décor. This compelling blend of affordability, comfort, and visual appeal is what makes fabric such a timeless choice.
The type of fabric you choose can completely transform the look and feel of your space so it’s important to consider your options. “A tasteful amount of a bold print in a small space can create a balanced atmosphere,” Mielnik starts. “If someone is looking to create a warm, homey dwelling, I’d suggest combining fuzzy and soft fabrics for that perfect cozy vibe. Add some woods, greenery, and metal or leather touches to tie everything together.”
Furniture upholstery is typically made from a blend of different materials, mixing synthetic and natural materials to maximize its benefits. Still, each blend can have a dramatically different feel and aesthetic impact. Mielnik finds velvet to be especially popular for smaller furnishings and accessories – “It happens to be one of my personal favorites as well, but a little goes a long way. Velvet is soft and has that rich and luxurious feel – it can be great on an accent chair, pillow, or curtains.” If you prefer a lighter, airier feel, cotton and linen blends are naturally breathable and ideal for keeping cool in hotter climates, while polyester, rayon, and microfiber blends provide great durability for high use furnishings. “Boucle is the perfect example of a fabric that has texture and softness,” Mielnik says. “I love our midnight cream color of the Paxon bed from our Essentials collection for its Belmont fabric. Its slubbed texture adds a feeling of Zen and makes any bedroom feel truly relaxing.”
There are no fewer fabric options when it comes to pattern and color, especially as Copenhagen offers special orders for many of the brands we carry. “Ego Italiano has many different fabric options in various colors and patterns that customers can special order on any piece in their collection, like the Frenzy fabric you’ll find on our Namy armchair,” explains Mielnik. Indeed, a living room chair is an ideal furnishing to order in fabric; Mielnik suggests adding a statement piece or two with a “bold printed pattern or fun texture to contrast with your overall design intentions, allowing your chosen pieces to stand out.” Namy’s dynamic look certainly fits the bill, as well as the Bonnie armchair’s tropical Kapua fabric – both chairs naturally energize the room. For a more grounded look, consider a fabric piece that balances a nice texture with a monochromatic color scheme. The Gaia sectional features a blue-grey cashmere microfiber fabric that’s soft but refined, perfect for a more metropolitan living space, while the Arlo swivel chair’s polyester Balloon fabric combines buoyant support and subtle playfulness for a retro-inspired feel.
Considering your lifestyle and the unique needs of your space is important when choosing fabrics; factors like durability, ease of cleaning, and stain resistance can impact your enjoyment of your furniture, not to mention its look. “My advice for those with kids or pets is – pick a high-performance fabric!” Mielnik suggests. “It can add that piece of mind without compromising on style. Spills can be dabbed away with ease so get your wine, kids, and fur babies in!”
Engineered to withstand everyday use as well as heavier demands, high performance fabrics tend to be extremely durable and stain-resistant, like the Morgan sectional’s Safeguard+ fabric. Treated with an advanced protectant, this power motion sectional is also liquid-repellent, ensuring less cleaning time and more family time, just as Mielnik said. High performance fabrics can also be found in fun and colorful accessories like rugs. Made with a mix of polyester and polypropylene – a tough, stress-resistant material – the Bayshore Granada rug will fit right in a kids’ room or other high-traffic areas, and still boasts a soft woven feel.
We also suggest looking for fabrics with high Martindale ratings, which can tell you how durable and abrasion-resistant a material is. The Martindale scaling is as follows: <10,000 is suitable for decorative use; 10,000-15,000 is suitable for light domestic use; 15,000-25,000 is suitable for general domestic use; 25,000-30,000 is suitable for heavy domestic use, and anything above 30,000 is suitable for commercial use. Your ideal scale will be based on personal lifestyle factors, but higher ratings are generally a better choice; take the Barbara dining chair for example. With a 50,000 Martindale rating, it’s immensely durable and may be a desirable choice for a dining area that sees daily meals and other activities. The Haven sleeper sofa offers the same high rating, providing comfort as both a daily sofa and a reliable sleeper for guests.
As a general tip for pet owners, try to avoid fabric furnishings with raised textures as these can be a tempting scratch area, and consider choosing fabric colors that match or blend in with your pet’s fur to minimize the visibility of shed hairs. By carefully considering your lifestyle factors, big and small, you can choose a fabric that is both practical and stylish.
General upkeep is important for any type of fabric upholstery – make sure you keep your furnishings away from sources of heat as well as direct sunlight to avoid fading. Spills or stains are easiest to remove when fresh and treating them immediately will help mitigate permanent damage. Mielnik recommends establishing a consistent cleaning regimen: “There’s wonderful cleaning guides out there, from your deeper cleaning at the beginning of each season to a simple weekly checklist. My go-to cleaning hack for most fabrics is a simple spot clean with soapy water.” Mild, water-based detergents are safe for most fabrics; for stains or spills, we suggest blotting the area with a cloth first then cleaning it from the outside, working your way towards the middle in a circular movement. If you have multiple upholstered furnishings, it’s worth using a vacuum with an upholstery brush attachment to safely clean dirt and dust on a weekly basis.
“Remember, in proper care lies the longevity of your furniture pieces and using our website’s care guide can be super beneficial,” Mieknik states. “Not all fabrics are created equally, so reading the labels or asking for the specifics of the fabrics you pick will help maintain your beautiful furnishings for years and years to come.”
With fabric upholstery, there is a realm of possibility, from enhancing an inviting ambiance and creating a distinctive look to boosting your comfort and supporting unique durability needs. This versatile, stylish furniture solution has a timelessness that is here to stay – so get inspired with the world of fabric upholstery.
Find our extensive Fabric Care Guide here or contact or visit a Copenhagen showroom for more shopping and design assistance. Our sales and interior design experts are always here to help.