Are you looking for a new fabric for a sofa or chair and finding the right one feels difficult? No worries! At Lauritzon, we have had the privilege of offering our help and expertise for over a hundred years to help our customers to choose the perfect fabric for sofas and chairs. With our extensive experience, we have compiled the most important factors to consider when selecting fabric for your home.
When selecting a new fabric for a furniture, it is good to consider your lifestyle, the intended use of the furniture, and its placement. We believe it is also important to keep your personal style and values in mind. Choose fabric thoughtfully and with heart — a carefully selected fabric is often more enjoyable to maintain, and you are less likely to grow tired of it over time.
What is your lifestyle?
When choosing fabric for your furniture, it is good to consider who the residents of the home are. Should the sofa fabric cover needs of a family with children, are there pets in the household, or is it a home for an older couple or a single person? Different lifestyles affect how often the fabric needs to be cleaned and how much wear it will endure. A high-quality fabric will hold up well through changing life situations.
For families with children, it is often important to prioritize functionality and choose a durable, low-maintenance fabric. Our easycare collection fabrics are an excellent choice for families, as they are easy to maintain, durable, and water-washable. These fabrics are made from smooth fibers that repel dirt naturally, without chemical treatments — a safe choice for the home. In our easycare collection, you will also find a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, such as our lovely striped bouclé fabric, Muru Stripe.
A sofa upholstered in Alfons bouclé in a forest green shade. Cushions are available on our online store.
In homes with pets, sofa fabric can be exposed for more heavy wear and tear. Easycare fabrics are a great choice here as well, thanks to their durability and water-washable quality. However, it is important to remember that fabrics may still show wear if heavily scratched. Pile fabrics such fabrics as Dylan, Marley, Deluxe, and Alcantara, are examples of fabrics that have received a lot positive feedback from pet owners.
In a home with one or two adults, where there is less need for washable fabric, the choice can be more freely guided by personal preferences. Fabrics woven with viscose yarns have a beautiful sheen and add a sophisticated touch, while classic wool fabrics, like Ecolana and Kilt, are timeless favorites due to their wonderful qualities and colours. Our range includes a large selection of high-quality fabrics, so you are sure to find something that fits your home.
A high-quality fabric will hold up well through changing life situations
Where will the fabric be used?
In the living room, where we often spend a lot of time, the sofa is one of the most frequently used pieces of furniture. Since the sofa is often also more expensive investment, it is wise to choose a fabric that is both durable and timeless.
The durability of the fabric is measured by the Martindale classification, which indicates wear resistance. The 25,000 Martindale rating is sufficient for home use, but for pieces that are used a lot, such as a sofa for a family with children, we recommend choosing a higher durability. Durability of less used furniture can be a secondary concern, allowing more focus on design and style. For example, a guest room chair, living room accent chair or bedroom headboard can become an eye-catching focal point if you choose a unique color, pattern or texture.
In public spaces, the Martindale rating of 50,000 meets high durability standards, though it is not usually necessary for home use. If the fabric will experience heavy use, keep Martindale in mind, but remember other qualities matter too; high Martindale alone does not make a fabric superior.
In environments with direct sunlight, it is important that the fabric has sufficient lightfastness to prevent the furniture from fading and looking old. In modern homes, where large windows are common, furniture is often exposed to strong daylight. Natural materials, especially cotton, tend to fade, while synthetic fabrics are better at resisting sunlight. Fabric lightfastness is typically rated on a greyscale from 1 to 5, where 5 indicates very high lightfastness. For even higher lightfastness, a bluescale from 1 to 8 is used. The test measures how much the color changes under light exposure – the higher the value, the better the fabric’s lightfastness. To keep your sofa or armchair in good condition, we recommend regularly rotating the seat cushions, which helps to distribute wear and keeps the furniture looking fresh longer.
For furniture that gets dirty easily, such as kitchen chairs, it is a good idea to choose a fabric that is water-washable and preferably has stain-resistant properties. Fabrics from our easycare collection or Artificial Leathers collection are excellent choices for this type of furniture. If the chairs have removable covers, it also makes cleaning easier.
Your personal story and values
Your home is a reflection of your values and your unique story. If ecological sustainability is important for you and you want to express your style through colors and shapes, there are many ways to do so.
Thinking ecologically and responsibly is becoming increasingly important, also in home decor. A popular choice today is to give old furniture new life through reupholstering, especially if only the fabric is worn out. By choosing eco-friendly materials like linen and hemp, or fabrics made from recycled fibers, you can extend the life of furniture in a sustainable way. All fabrics in our greencare collection are made from at least 50% recycled fibers and are of high quality. A carefully chosen fabric that is well cared for is always the most sustainable and long-lasting option.
We encourage you to follow your own intuition when choosing fabric for your furniture.
Fabrics are also a fantastic way to express your style and personality. They come in a wide range of beautiful colors, patterns, materials, and textures. For some, natural materials and colours are the perfect choice to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you are drawn to bolder colors, don’t hesitate to make bold and creative choices. Try creating contrasts by pairing a modern piece of furniture with a classic pattern, such as ‘Maison Check, or a strong color, and vice versa—a traditional piece with a graphic pattern, like ‘Letters‘. Large floral prints can give furniture a wonderfully modern feel and are sure to be a focal point in your home, check the beautiful floral print ‘Rosendal‘.
We encourage you to follow your own intuition when choosing fabric for your furniture. Besides considering technical qualities, it is also important to listen to your own sense of style. The best choice is made when you take both your lifestyle and the furniture’s intended use into account while also trusting your own taste. If you need assistance with your selection, our knowledgeable staff is always ready to help. Good luck finding your fabric!
