If you have a pet at home, you might treat them like one of your family members. As such, it is important to consider them when planning your home’s interior design. One aspect that you need to closely look into is the type of upholstery fabric you use. It can be a huge hassle to clean up after your pets as you have to constantly vacuum their hair or be wary about any mess that they might make. Choosing the right fabric for your sofa or couch upholstery can make a huge difference. It can also simplify your cleaning requirements at home.

These are some of the best types of fabric available to choose from if you need to update your upholstery at home.

Tight Weave Fabric

In general, any fabric with a tight weave would make a good choice for upholstery of your chairs and sofas at home. The tighter the weave, the more resilient the fabric is. It is also less likely to catch on your pet dog or cat paws – so you do not have to worry about your upholstery getting damaged easily.

Some of the fabrics available for upholstery that features a tight weave are denim, canvas, and man-made microfiber fabrics. If possible, choose ones with a darker color because it does not show dirt very easily. When you have pets around, you need to have both a quality furniture and quality upholstery.

Leather

Leather is a great choice of upholstery fabric when you want something that is resilient enough for your pets. In fact, leather is the go-to option for pet owners. This fabric is obviously quite durable. It is also easy to wipe clean – all you need is a damp cloth. There are plenty of options available when shopping for leather fabric, which gives you more flexibility and more options if you want something that is more durable.

When shopping for leather to use on upholstery, it is important to choose genuine leather. Man-made leather might look the same aesthetically but it does not deliver the same quality, durability, and resilience against pet paws.

Vinyl

Just like leather, vinyl is a fabric known for its durability and resilience. It is recommended for large couches or living room sofa. It is an easy to clean fabric that can be wiped off with ease. Plus, it is highly resilient to scratches from your pet’s paws.

Other Options for Upholstery Fabric

Aside from the fabric types mentioned above, it is also recommended that you choose the right color or style when choosing an upholstery fabric. Interior decorating experts recommend a dark colored fabric. If you cannot find one to match your taste, choose a patterned fabric. Both of these options can help to mask any imperfections on your upholstery (such as scratches) that are inevitable when you have pets at home.

On the flip side, you need to avoid a few types of fabrics because they can get easily damaged. The following fabric options should be avoided when choosing upholstery fabric: silk, tweed, chenille, velvet, and suede. In general, any fabric with loose weave should be avoided.