Choosing upholstery for your business is crucial when creating a comfortable and welcoming but aesthetically pleasing space for your employees and customers. You want to ensure that your upholstery is durable for high-traffic and public areas while still fitting the general “theme.”
Here’s how to choose the best commercial upholstery for your business.
Location Matters
The type of upholstery you choose for your business should depend on the location of the furniture. Furniture in highly trafficked areas like waiting rooms or restaurants requires strong fabric to ensure maximum durability. If you’re placing furniture next to windows or somewhere with high light exposure, you need fade-resistant fabrics to prevent your furniture from looking faded and old in the future.
Is It Easy To Clean?
When choosing upholstery for your business, you should consider how easy the material is to clean. Your fabric must be easy to clean since it’s in a high-traffic area and prone to stains. Ideally, you should be able to spot clean your commercial upholstery with soap and water.
Will the Dye Fade?
While picking out your furniture, you should consider your business’s aesthetic and if you must dye your furniture piece. The upholstery you choose needs to be colorfast against rubbing and frequent usage.
A fabric’s colorfastness depends on the dye used and if the dye is compatible with the fabric. Some pigments are prone to transferring to other materials because of their chemical composition. When choosing a fabric, choose one with either ISO or AATCC colorfastness rating, meaning the material was professionally tested for colorfastness against wet and dry rubbing.
Is the Fabric Durable?
Commercial upholstery must be highly durable. These fabrics must be resistant to being worn or torn by rubbing and friction. To test fabric durability, you can conduct a Martindale test. In the Martindale test, the fabric is continuously rubbed against wire discs or worsted wool until the material begins to break or has a significant change in appearance.
Commercial fabric must have a minimum Martindale rating of 30,000. The higher the value, the more durable the upholstery.
Most commercial businesses study the difference between vinyl and leather upholstery and choose one. Both are versatile and durable. However, they have key differences that can aid in choosing the best upholstery for your business.
Different Types of Upholstery
- Tweed – a super durable and classic fabric that hides stains well.
- Microfiber – a durable material that mimics the feel and appearance of suede.
- Marine Vinyl – this fabric is best for outdoor furniture and can withstand various weather conditions.
- Canvas – there are different canvas grades; it’s ideal for printed designs.
- Chenille – a great choice for a delicate piece of furniture that can handle heavy usage.
- Leather – a durable and flexible material that resists tears and rips. (Best for reception or boardroom seating)
The best material for your business should be durable, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. However, it would be best to choose upholstery that works best for your environment. When furniture shopping for your business, refer to our article to choose the best commercial upholstery for your business.
