{"id":14649,"date":"2022-09-16T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T07:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=34635"},"modified":"2022-09-16T09:48:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T07:48:11","slug":"upholstery-how-to-select-fabric-work-with-upholsterers-and-choose-eras-and-styles-to-incorporate","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/upholstery-how-to-select-fabric-work-with-upholsterers-and-choose-eras-and-styles-to-incorporate\/","title":{"rendered":"Upholstery: how to select fabric, work with upholsterers and choose eras and styles to incorporate"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Micaela Sharp\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 16 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Upholstery is one of the best ways of restoring vintage and antique pieces of furniture. Not only can you bring an old piece back to life and make it usable again, but you can also bring it into the 21st century with vibrant new fabrics and prints. We sat down with interior designer and upholsterer Micaela Sharp, the star of Channel 4\u2019s Changing Rooms<\/em>, to find out about all the different types of upholstery, how to work with an upholsterer and the process behind it.<\/p>\n

What are the different types of upholstery?<\/h2>\n

There are two main forms of upholstery: traditional and modern. Traditional techniques involve using tacks and horse hair to hand tie and sew forming the shape. Modern techniques use staples and foam and are generally quicker, as well as being gentler on your hands.<\/p>\n

Traditional techniques are best employed when working on antiques, as they are more sympathetic to the shape and period of the piece.<\/p>\n

Modern upholstery methods are more suited to smaller budgets, thanks to the affordable materials and faster turnaround times.<\/p>\n

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Photo credit: Micaela Sharp Design<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What is the best design style to incorporate into your home?<\/h2>\n

Mid-century design has dynamic shapes and exposed wood, so furniture from this period can easily be mixed into most homes.<\/p>\n

How do you choose the right fabric for upholstering furniture?<\/h2>\n

Be bold with colours<\/h3>\n

A bespoke piece of furniture shouldn\u2019t look store bought. It\u2019s an opportunity to make something that\u2019s stands out from the crowd so add a contrast piping or mix your patterns. Generally different textures can be used anywhere.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re working with an upholsterer, most will have a list of preferred suppliers, companies they know and trust. They can also work with fabrics you have sourced yourself as long as they are suitable (i.e. upholstery fabric, rather than fashion fabrics).<\/p>\n

Think about scale and size<\/h3>\n

Think about the scale of the pattern for the piece. Smaller patterns work best on small items such as dining chairs. Curtains are often a better place for large scale pattern repeats.<\/p>\n

Check the fabric\u2019s durability<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re choosing fabric for your main sofa or chairs that are sat on every day look for something higher than 35k martindale\/rub test. You may also want to consider a stain-resistant finish.<\/p>\n

Make sure the fabric is fire retardant<\/h3>\n

To comply with UK Standards fabric need to be fire retardant or have a fire-retardant liner. If you\u2019re reupholstering yourself, go for a fabric that\u2019s already fire retardant to save yourself an extra layer of process.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/strong><\/p>\n