A Guide to Residential Upholstery Fabric

For upholstery applications, most consumers and designers rely on Martindale or Wyzenbeek rub test ratings as a key factor in fabric selection. However, it is important to note that generally 20,000 Martindale rubs are more than sufficient for 90% of residential upholstery applications.

1,000 - 5,000: for occasional use – i.e. an infrequently used silk feature chair in a bedroom.

6,000 - 9,000: for light duty residential use - i.e. chairs, headboards, and cushions.

10,000 - 19,000: for medium duty residential use – i.e. decorative feature pieces with intricate constructions such as dining chairs or ottomans with a lot of printed or woven patterns. 

20,000 - 29,000: for heavy duty residential use – i.e. decorative constructions suitable for family rooms.

30,000 plus: for heavy duty commercial use – i.e. pieces upholstered in velvet

While a useful test for measuring fabric durability, it is not the sole determinant of whether the fabric will be suitable for your project. Martindale testing only measures how many rubs the fibres can withstand before breaking, ignoring whether the fabric pills or loses its colour or pattern. Therefore, separate test results for pilling, stretching, colourfastness and fade resistance should also be considered.

We must emphasize that upholstered furniture, (or curtains), will absorb dirt and grime overtime and because of this, cleanability should be a key consideration in your decision-making process.

Ask yourself: am I able to clean the fabric myself or, will I have to call a professional if something spills? How hard will it be to clean this fabric?

Regular vacuuming keeps fabric clean and looking its best, and Zepel provides information about how to clean and care for each fabric it offers, however, some fabrics are not so easily cleaned. 

Our inherently stain resistant FibreGuard fabrics are excellent for cleanability as their easy-care properties enable them to resist stains and spills, wick moisture, repel mould and mildew, and they can be machine washed. 

Learn more about our FibreGuard range here.

In addition to cleanability, you'll also need to consider where your fabric will be located, the amount of direct sunlight and how light-filled a space is - as UV light does not need to be direct to damage soft furnishings.

The colourfastness of printed or dyed fabrics and textiles is measured by their resistance to colour loss in ultraviolet (UV) light, called the Blue Scale test. The scale graduates from light (1) to dark (8) and the higher the rating, the better the resistance. A score of 1/8 is very poor, and 7/8 is exceptionally good. 

Zepel offers a wide range of fabrics appropriate for different UV conditions. For more information on fabric UV performance, please refer to product details on our website or contact our team for assistance. 

If you really love a textile, you may be willing to accept that it will pill after a year or two, but at least you'll have it in your home for a short time. At the end of the day, you need to surround yourself with textiles and interiors that inspire you to create a beautiful home.

Pilling

When loose fibres stick together and form balls, it is known as pilling. Pilling occurs because fibres are fluffing up and clumping together - it is a natural process brought about by the abrasion and breakdown of the surface fibres. A quick trim with a de-pilling or de-linting machine can remove any pilling. 

Fabrics that are tightly woven and made from tightly twisted yarns are more resistant to pilling because the fibres are firmly held in place. 

The Martindale pilling test is similar to the Martindale abrasion test, except that rather than rubbing the fabric against a standard abradant, the fabric is rubbed against another piece of the same fabric in a figure-eight motion. The fabric swatches are then compared to a series of standardised images to determine whether they are pilling, and the results are evaluated on a scale of 1-5 with one indicating severe pilling, and five indicating no pilling.

A common household problem is environmental pilling, such as when a loose fluff from a rug or carpet has stuck onto your upholstered furniture. Regularly using a lint trimmer will help keep the weave looking fuzz free and fresh.

Seam slippage

Seam slippage is the tendency of yarns to separate along a seam or join which can be unattractive and cause your furniture to look older than it really is. This can be avoided by selecting the right fabric initially and it is difficult to repair once it has begun. There is a test for seam slippage that will tell you if the fabric you are considering will last for years to come.

Images: Aprimo