Planning to Renovate Your Outdoor Décor? - Overstock Upholstery Fabric

Picking the perfect outdoor fabric for your upholstery requirements can be a daunting task. Today, with a plethora of choices out in the market, you might get confused as to which piece is perfect to be added to your cart. Starting from the aesthetic appeal of the fabric to the durability, there are several factors you need to consider before making a purchase.

Also, keep in mind that the requirements for indoor upholstery can vary vividly as compared to the requirements with your outdoor fabric.

So, what exactly should you do?

Here is a quick list of the selection criteria for your upholstery outdoor fabric.

Best Moves to Select the Right Upholstery Outdoor Fabric

1-Select by Label:

The first and foremost move on your list is to check the label on the fabric you plan on purchasing. Indoor fabrics do not require much work, given the fact that they don’t get a frequent gust of dust or dirt. However, with outdoor fabric, the story is entirely different. They need to be rigid and durable enough to last frequent use while being exposed to the harsh environment.

If the label says it is safe to use the fabric outdoors, just go for it. These particular fabrics are treated specially to be resistant to stains, water, UV, as well as other elements that can deter its quality.

Popular fabrics that most people opt for outdoor upholstery use include:

• Polyester
• PVC Mesh or Polyvinyl Chloride Mesh
• Solution-dyed Olefin or Solution-dyed Acrylic
• Marine Vinyl

2-Consider the Durability:

When selecting the best fabric for all your outdoor projects, the important thing to consider or rather look for is how sturdy or durable the material is. You surely wouldn’t want to invest a lot in something that wouldn’t last even a few years. Purchasing an outdoor fabric for your upholstery can be a long and hectic process, and you surely wouldn’t want to repeat the same every now and then.

So, what can be defined as a durable upholstery fabric?

Before you purchase your outdoor fabric, consider these pointers to check the durability:

• Check the thread density (Tightly woven fabrics last longer)
• Mixed fabric (While there are several standalone fabrics that can last for long, mixed ones bring better features to the table)
• Elasticity (Unless your fabric can stretch to accommodate people sitting on the same, it won’t be durable in the long run. So, elasticity is a must)
• Fading (Your fabric shouldn’t fade within a month or two of being exposed to the sun. This is why selecting the best UV treated fabric should be your prime agenda)
• Look for fabric that can be easily cleaned without much problem. This will ease your maintenance requirements.

3-Pricing:

This is, no doubt, the most important segment of your selection criteria. You need to keep things in check when it comes to budgeting. Imagine you plan to purchase 3 different fabrics that are truly important at the moment but end up buying one that is heavily priced. You surely would have to shell out some more from your monthly budget, which might lead to tension and chaos in the days to come as you figure out how to pay your bills.

So, the key is to prepare a budget and shop accordingly. This gets easier when you shop online for outdoor fabric. Simply use the filter button to list out the materials in accordance with your budget. Say, for example, your budget is $100. You can add a filter to list out every item on the website that costs $100 or less.

This way, you will not be tempted to buy a heavily priced fabric that deters yours from your overall budget. However, you can always cheat on your budget. How can you do so? With $100 dollar as your budget, set the filter at $90. Now select all you need from this list. In case you do not find one or two products from this filtered list, you always have that $10 extra to invest in a pricier upholstery material, isn’t it?

Popular Fabrics You Can Use for Outdoor Upholstery

If you don’t want the outdoor spaces at your premise to function simply as a space for summer entertainment, it is time for you to add something new to the décor. You can add some beautiful furniture to the space to make it more appealing for evening conversations or a good cup of tea/coffee as the sunsets. To do this, you need to consider factors like rain, humidity, as well as dust winds that are often seen in dry, arid areas that lack trees.

In general, some of the best fabrics you can try for your outdoor space include:

1-Polyester:

This strong outdoor fabric flaunts commercial as well as residential usage. It is perfect for outdoor fabric for upholstery, given the following reasons:

• Resistant to stretching, wrinkling, or abrasion
• Lightweight material
• Dries up very quickly
• Can be cleaned easily
• Mildew resistant
• UV resistant

However, the only issue with polyester as an outdoor fabric is the fact that it can start losing a lot of its strength post prolonged exposure to UV rays or moisture. That being said, you can look for polyester that has been treated for longevity and can be used for outdoor cushions, canvas covers, boat covers, upholstery, and so on.

2-Acrylic Fabric:

Acrylic fabric is amazing for outdoor use given their easy maintenance, durability, mildew resistance, breathability, waterproof property, as well as fade resistance element. It is perfect for cushion covers, sail covers, drapes, of upholstered pieces.

Not just that, the colors stay in for quite long, ensuring that there is no faded outlook even after being exposed to the sun for long.

3-Nylon:

Polyester and nylon have similar qualities. However, as compared to the polyester outdoor fabric, nylon comprises a high strength-size ratio. It dries up fairly quickly and is highly resistant to any kind of abrasion. Apart from this, the elasticity factor makes it an amazing option for use as upholstery.

Nylon is softer as compared to polyester. However, it is just as easy when it comes to maintenance. This fabric might not be as resistant to UV as polyester is. Adding it to the shaded outdoor areas could be a great option.

Conclusion

Depending on elements such as style, comfort, or longevity, your preference can vary when it comes to the selection of the best outdoor fabric for your upholstery requirements. Regardless of what you choose, keep in mind that your home is a big part of your life, and you want it to look good and have extended life for your upholstery. You can also do your part by wiping off any water from the fabric post rain or giving them a good vacuuming session once in a month or so.

Looking for the perfect online destination to shop for the best outdoor fabric for upholstery needs? Visit Overstock Upholstery Fabric today to get access to some of the best fabric variants. Search from top fabric brands or pick a color of your choice, we have a huge collection for you to select the right fabric from. While you are here, do not forget to check out some of our newly added fabrics!