Tips for Selecting Environmentally Friendly Upholstery Fabric
Environmentally friendly upholstery fabric can also be elegant and exciting. If you are planning to use fabrics that are made from sustainable fibers, you should buy organic fibers whenever possible. Most non-organic fibers contain chemicals and remnants of the pesticides that were used to grow the plants from which the fibers were made and chemicals from the manufacturing process. These concerns can make the advantages of using non-organic fabrics considerably less than the negative aspects. Here are some fabrics that might work well for you if looking for the best options of environmentally friendly upholstery fabric for your furniture coverings.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is sold in several different varieties: luxury, original designs and general mass-market produced fabrics. The best thing about upholstery fabrics that are made from cotton is the variety of textures that you will find. In addition, organic cotton allows air to flow and could be a great idea for upholstery coverings if the goal is stay cool while enjoying the furniture.
Organic Wool
In contrast to organic cotton, wool is not a material that comes from plants. When it comes to organic wool, the word organic means that the sheep that the wool comes from are being treated well. In many cases, this means that the sheep’s diet are being watched in order to ensure production of the purest and highest quality wool. Wool can also help to keep the heat in during the cooler months if you need an additional source of warm in your room.
Synthetic Fabrics
Synthetic fabrics may seem as though they are not very eco-friendly, however many synthetic fabrics are made from recycled materials. The creation of polyester from plastic bottles and other plastic recyclables is one example of a synthetic fabric that is eco-friendly in its manufacturing process. Despite the help in decreasing the amount of plastic that is never recycled, organic natural fabrics are probably the best option in terms of environmental impact.
However, if you are still sure that a synthetic fabric upholstery is what you’re after, synthetic upholstery fabrics have the advantage of being less prone to being stained. They also may crease less than fabrics like cotton or linen when means that they will require steaming less often if at all.
Recycled Fabrics
In general, using recycled fabrics has become a trend that many modern furniture designers are incorporating into their designs. Not only are recycled fabrics on trend as the material for furniture upholstery, they are also affordable and great for the environment. In general, most recycled fabrics are made from items that have been used previously for another purpose such as glass, cotton or soda bottles. These items are then broken down and used to create fabrics that are made up of at least 25% of these recycled materials.
Hemp
Hemp has the specific advantage as a sustainable furniture upholstery option in that the production of hemp fibers does not involve any chemicals at all. In some cases, proponents for the use of hemp in furniture making have made the claims that hemp actually improves the soil in which it is grown. Hemp fibers are unusually strong which means that upholstery fabrics that are made from this material will stand the test of the time. Using hemp upholstery in high traffic areas such as a dining room or living room is a great idea because these areas will see a lot of wear and tear.
When it comes to environmentally friendly upholstery fabrics, all of the options have their benefits and disadvantages. Therefore, it is best for you to consider which fabric would likely work best in your on and make your decision based on your lifestyle needs. Then you will be able to select a upholstery fabric that is the best choice for you.
Do you need assistance with selecting the perfect environmentally friendly upholstery fabric? Contact us at info@viesso.com and one of our fabric specialists will be happy to answer your questions!