Anyone who has pets knows they love marking their territory on the sofa or an armchair, where they would be found keeping an eye on their kingdom. Though comforting, it poses quite the challenge for any décor enthusiast who is on the lookout for the right upholstery. Those paws and claws can be hard on fabric, so it’s important to choose a material that balances style with durability.
Why Your Fabric Choice Matters
You can easily walk into any showroom and get seduced by the look and feel of beautifully woven fabrics. But if you share your home with a pet, practicality should be your paramount concern. Choosing a fabric based solely on aesthetics, and not other more practical considerations, can sometimes turn out to be something one regrets later. This is especially important with pets who enjoy scratching, shedding, or bringing in outdoor debris. However, tough materials can prolong the life of your furniture and make it a pleasure to live with.
The Best Fabrics for Pet Owners
- Polyester Velvet: The Unsung Hero
If you have a cat, you need a fabric that can take the brutality of their claws. Sure, lots of people say velvet. It’s important to make the distinction that the type of velvet you want is polyester velvet, not cotton velvet. Polyester velvet is strong and soft, so it keeps from wearing out. While no fabric is entirely pet-proof, the nature of the pile structure in polyester velvet provides nothing clear with which to catch on and unravel. A determined cat can scratch anything. but feedback from my clients indicates their cats are more likely to ignore polyester velvet than many other types of upholstery.
Avoid Cotton Velvet: If you have a pet, stay away from cotton velvet. It is quick to stain: even a small spill will leave permanent watermarks on cotton velvet. In addition, since it easily bruises and indents with handling, this means it would not withstand the daily assault of a pet-friendly home.
- Woven Fabrics: Be Careful
Woven fabrics can be quite a trap for pet owners, especially those who own cats. The claws of a cat can make fast and unsalvageable work of even the most tightly woven fabrics, since interlocking threads present plenty of clawing opportunities. When dirt and moisture seep into the weave, it is difficult to clean and often serves to embed the stain further into the fabric. Velvet being a pile fabric copes better in this regard. If a muddy dog jumps on a velvet sofa, you can wait for the dirt to dry and brush it off. Woven fabrics embed the dirt, which is very difficult to remove.
Avoiding Pitfalls with Pet-Friendly Fabrics
- Understanding UV Fade
Cotton-based fabrics are also prone to UV fade. If your pet’s favorite chair is by a sunny window, you’ll see the fabric fading quicker than synthetic options. That’s one more reason to look at polyester or another man-made fiber, which is generally more resistive to fading.
- Stain Resistant
The fabrics be made cautious against use in-stain resistant labels; rather, they are treated with chemicals that can be potentially harmful over time. Not all labeled stain-resistant fabrics hold through time; the protection is temporary since the chemicals evaporate, leaving your fabric unprotected. Besides, the regular touch to such chemicals is not healthy for your pets.
Some Fabric Longevity Hacks
- Cushion Rotation
Good-quality seat cushions should have their fabric extend to both sides so that they can regularly be rotated, avoiding uneven wear. These days, most of the couches have fabrics that cover only one side and cannot be turned over for wearing evenly, which makes it deteriorate quickly.
- Protective Covers
Consider back caps or arm caps if your pet has a preferred spot to defend these points, which are often prone to wear. They are easily taken off and cleaned, hence maintaining that pristine upholstery look.
Exploring Other Fabric Options
- Leather: A Tough But High-Maintenance Option
Leather is a great choice for those with pets, but it is definitely high-maintenance. Treated properly, a leather couch will last the ages. Conditioning and buffing are important for not letting the leather become dry and cracked. It is possible to buff out scratches from pets, but it’s extremely important to use genuine leather because bonded leather will peel and break down.
- Blended Fabrics
These fabrics are created by blending natural and synthetic fibers to harness the benefits of both. They can also be a very good balance between durability and comfort, offering the feel of something a bit soft yet resistant to wear and tear. However, it’s important to select mixes that lean toward the side of synthetics for added strength.
The Final Verdict
At the end of the day, owning a pet does not have to translate to settling for durability over style. The correct fabrics will guarantee that your furniture continues to look amazing and continues to last. An expert upholsterer will guide you on the best fabrics and designs that will both serve your aesthetic appeal and provide for your practical need.
