Fabric or eco-leather. Which bed upholstery is best?

Furniture made from genuine leather is prestigious and durable, easy to clean, safe for the health of the owner, and with it any interior acquires a luxury touch. Such furniture has only one drawback - high price . A cheap substitute for genuine leather - a material based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or popularly simply leatherette - is so much inferior in performance properties that it is a pity to give away the little money it costs.

However, not everyone knows that in the group contemptuously called leatherette, there is another type of material - eco-leather . It is made of polyurethanes (PU) applied to a cotton base. In many characteristics, eco-leather differs significantly from PVC-based materials and they can only be classified into one group conditionally.

Advantages of an upholstered bed

Why buy a fabric bed if there are models without any upholstery at all? Interior beds, or upholstered beds, are worth buying for several reasons:

1. You often read, work or watch TV series in bed. It is more pleasant and comfortable to lean on a soft headboard than on a wooden panel. In our catalog you will find many options for beds with upholstered headboards.
2. The interior lacks coziness. A fabric bed will become the center of the bedroom and create a greater feeling of comfort than a simple fiberboard option.
3. It is important for you that the bed matches the interior. There are incredibly many options for colors and textures of fabric upholstery that will match the color of curtains or carpet.
4. You want to avoid bruises on the wooden drawers. You have small children and you are worried that they will get hurt on the wooden parts of the bed.

Where to put?

Traditionally, they try to install a sofa against the wall even in a very spacious room. But this does not always look advantageous; ideally, such a piece of furniture can help organize the space and attract attention to the interior.

First of all, the location of the sofa is influenced by the number and placement of windows and doors, then by the size of the room. For a room with a very small area, for example, 8 or 12 square meters. m. there are no other options except purchasing a sofa that transforms into a bed and is equipped with a linen drawer. There are no interesting options for its placement; the only possible option would be to install such a sofa along a wall that does not have a window.

A medium-sized room already allows you to move the sofa away from the wall, near which a small chest of drawers, a shelving unit or a bookcase can take place. In this case, the sofa can be placed opposite the window - here it will serve as a recreational area, especially if you place a coffee table and ottomans in front of it.

Having a room with a size of within 24 square meters will give much more room for imagination. The sofa in such a room can be placed in the very center, for example, in front of a hanging TV.

In this case, special attention should be paid to the upholstery material of its rear wall. It is desirable that it matches the entire surface in color and quality

Otherwise, you will have to think about how to disguise the unpresentable back, for example, by creating a decorative wall behind the sofa or placing a low, long chest of drawers.

What kind of fabric upholstery is there?

Fabric is the most popular upholstery material. It is chosen for its tactility and variety of colors and textures. Fabric upholstery is distinguished by the degree of naturalness, durability, ease of care and aesthetics. Choosing the wrong bed upholstery is one of the most common mistakes when planning a bedroom. Let's take a closer look at the types of fabric:

Velours

Velor is the softest material among the upholstery options. Velor feels like velvet, and if you run your fingers over it, you will notice a “writing effect” (it changes the direction of the pile and leaves a mark). Furniture made from velor is often used by designers in interiors - long pile adds nobility, and due to the wide palette of colors, velor is easy to fit into the interior.

Velor is a natural and eco-friendly fabric. This fabric is also practical and abrasion resistant. The main disadvantage: it is difficult to remove stains from this fabric on your own.

Velveteen

Corduroy is a dense fabric with a pile, the texture resembles velvet. The main difference from velor is in the height and texture of the pile - in corduroy it is shorter and divided into longitudinal stripes “ribbed”. Corduroy is easy to recognize by the iridescence of color on the surface and its softness. Corduroy does not absorb moisture, so it is easy to clean. The disadvantage of corduroy is that scratches are more noticeable on it than on velor.

Gozhka

Matting is a coarsely woven fabric, similar to burlap. It fits well into Scandi and eco style interiors. The matting is almost impossible to crush, it is very durable.

Jacquard

Thick upholstery fabric that resembles a tapestry due to its voluminous patterns. Jacquard is dense to the touch and does not fade in the sun. Among the shortcomings, scratches and abrasions are very noticeable on this fabric.

Faux suede

Artificial suede is a smooth and dense fabric with short pile that feels no different from natural leather. This suede does not require complicated care - it does not allow moisture to pass through, and even difficult dirt can be removed with a damp brush.

The material has an interesting feature: in the summer, in the heat, it is cool, and in the cold season, on the contrary, it accumulates heat.

Flock

Flock is a short-pile material that is most often confused with velor. The material is waterproof, droplets of water simply remain on the surface. Another plus is high density, and due to this - strength. Flock products are difficult to tear and damage; they are as easy to care for as leather.

It is made by gluing tufts of pile onto a fabric base. One of the disadvantages is that the flock needs to be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner quite often.

Chenille

Dense material with a pleasant velvety structure. It does not shed or fray. This fabric feels fluffy to the touch and resembles corduroy.

Made from natural or synthetic materials. Due to their combination, a high density of the material is achieved, which means resistance to scratches and abrasions.

Basic methods of do-it-yourself restoration

The process of restoring a leather sofa depends on the condition of the upholstery, the presence of certain defects and the requirements for the final result. When planning to restore and repair furniture, you need to take into account the nuances and select the appropriate materials.

How to remove scratches

Scratches on leather upholstery are a common problem. Defects arise from the claws of pets and the impact of various objects. To remove scratches, you can use improvised means.

Olive oil

If the surface of the sofa is scratched by a dog or cat, you need to apply olive oil to a cotton pad and wipe the scratches. A minor defect will disappear after the skin dries as a result of the initial treatment. Otherwise, you need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Application of wax

Beeswax helps to effectively remove small and shallow scratches on leather furniture. The beekeeping product is heated until soft and the damaged areas are treated. When the wax hardens, it is carefully removed from the upholstery.

Liquid skin

The use of liquid skin makes it possible to restore significant damage. The material is applied to the scratches and left for several hours until it hardens completely. When the liquid skin hardens, the furniture can continue to be used freely.

Nail polish and marker

Nail polish and a marker are suitable for removing scratches on the sofa. Transparent varnish is applied in a small amount to the scratches and waits until it dries. After restoration, a slightly noticeable transparent crust will remain on the surface of the upholstery.

Rubber based adhesive

The glue is rubbed into the scratches and left to dry. When the damaged areas are covered with an adhesive crust, you need to additionally treat them with special paint, selected taking into account the color of the leather sofa.

How to care for fabric

The main rule for caring and cleaning any fabric furniture is not to use chlorine-containing or concentrated compounds, as well as products with abrasive particles.

• Jacquard. To remove dust, use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush or a cloth. Jacquard fabric should not be rubbed too hard.
• Matting. Remove dust with a vacuum cleaner, stains with specialized foam for cleaning furniture.
• Velor and Velvet. Dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner, but with a soft attachment. Stains can be removed using specialized furniture sprays. Smooth the fleecy surface with a soft brush so that after cleaning the furniture looks like new.
• Flock. Avoid products that contain alcohol. It is better to use water with a temperature no higher than 40 degrees and a soap solution. Wipe off dust with a fluffy cloth or a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment only.
• Faux suede. It is better to clean with a special brush. Dust can be removed with a fluffy cloth or a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment.
• Chenille. To remove dirt, use soap suds or a vacuum cleaner. It is better to use water to a minimum.

Eco leather is...

Eco-leather is a type of fabric very similar to natural leather. He copies it both visually and to the touch.

This material is obtained by applying porous polyurethane to a base of dense fabric. The result is a wear- and temperature-resistant fabric that is highly breathable.

Depending on its resistance to tearing and abrasion, eco-leather can be divided into the following subcategories:

• Economy Soft, stretchy material with a cotton and polyester backing. Cannot withstand damage from sharp objects.
• Standard. High density material, more than 25 thousand abrasion cycles.
• Premium Ultra-durable, breathable material, resistant to scratches and stains.

How to care for eco leather

Cleaning eco-leather is much easier than fabric. Dust and fresh stains can be easily removed with a damp microfiber cloth. Remove serious stains with a weak soap solution, and old stains with weak alcohol solutions. It is important to use eco-leather care products that do not contain abrasive materials that contain chlorine and acids.

When caring for eco-leather, do not use an iron, brushes, even with soft bristles, as well as petroleum-based solvents and products containing abrasive particles, chlorine and other acids.

From time to time, it is useful to treat eco-leather furniture (especially light-colored ones) with protective dirt- and water-repellent impregnations. They can be bought in stores selling shoes, leather goods and leather goods or in any supermarket.

Peculiarities

Leatherette or leather substitute is a material that imitates the texture of natural material and is quite close to it in its properties and characteristics. At the same time, the cost of artificial material is significantly lower.

Today, furniture manufacturers offer a variety of leather substitute options for sofa upholstery. Among them:

• artificial leather with polyurethane coating;
• PVC artificial leather;
• leatherette;
• vinyl leather.

The advantages of such materials include:

1. Good wear resistance. Even after several years, with proper care, the leatherette coating looks attractive.
2. A wide range of colors and textures (you can choose an option that imitates the skin of a snake or reptile).
3. Practical and easy to care for. Dirt and dust from sofa upholstery can be easily removed with a damp cloth.
4. Modern leather substitutes are highly breathable and also waterproof.
5. Resistance to temperature changes, excellent hygienic properties.

Artificial materials, of course, are inferior to natural leather in terms of breathability. In addition, they are less resistant to various types of external influences. However, external attractiveness and affordable price offset these shortcomings.

What to choose: fabric or eco-leather

After a detailed investigation on the site or questioning a consultant, are you still undecided on the type of upholstery? Here are a few parameters to help you make your choice:

• External characteristics. The material suits you visually and to the touch, and fits into the interior.
• Wear resistance. You have studied the product data sheet and understand that the number of abrasion cycles suits you. The best option to buy are models with a rating of 20,000 abrasion cycles.
• Density. Choose a material with a rating of 200 g/m. This is also indicated in the upholstery passport.
• Formation of pellets. On natural fabric with long pile, pilling appears more often.
• Color fastness. The material is resistant to sunlight and friction.

Comparison of fabric and eco-leather

Conclusion

Modern soft upholstery can be beautiful and durable, both in fabric and eco-leather. In addition to the advantages of upholstery, consider the features of the interior and your preferences.

For a layout with a separate bedroom, fabric upholstery is suitable. It will provide the necessary ventilation and prevent the bed linen from slipping. In an apartment - studio, where the bed also serves as a sofa, it is better to choose eco-leather - the upholstery will better withstand the test of stains and will not absorb the aroma that appears when cooking. If you have pets or children, eco-leather is unlikely to last long. It is better to choose a thick fabric that will withstand the test of claws.

Color solutions

There are a lot of color options. If natural leather looks better in natural shades (brown and brown), then among leather substitutes your imagination may well run wild. Dazzling white, gothic black, chic red, cozy “coffee with milk” and much more - everything your soul desires. But it should be borne in mind that completely unnatural colors (green, blue, orange) may look rough compared to more discreet analogues.

To choose the right sofa, you need to understand how it will be used. After this, ask yourself a few questions, the answers to which you will repeat to the consultant. Think about which room (kitchen, living room, hallway or even office) the furniture will be in. Decide whether the sofa will be a separate sleeping area. Determine whether a sudden change in temperature in the room is possible. Monitor the quality of the construction (for sleeping you need furniture with a frame consisting of many beams, and not one solid crossbar) and upholstery (a thin and smooth coating will very quickly lose its appearance, the presence of animals and children will speed up this process)

Pay attention to the seams, they must be strong. There should be no large holes at the puncture site, and under no circumstances should the threads come apart

To check the quality of the material, you can sit on the seat for two to three minutes and then see how quickly the sofa regains its shape. This should happen within 20-30 seconds (no more), otherwise the leatherette will quickly be pressed through