How to Select the Best Fabrics for Your Office Furniture Pieces
1st January 1970The finer details make a huge difference in the design of your office. Office fit out goes beyond making informed choices when it comes to wall paint colour or flooring material – it also requires paying attention to the furniture.
One particular aspect of furniture selection that requires your utmost attention is the upholstery, or the fabrics used for the pieces. Insignificant as it may seem, choosing the right upholstery is a very important decision you must make. In fact, choosing correctly will help you ensure furniture durability and longevity while achieving the right mood for the room.
To help you out, we have compiled a concise furniture fabric selection guide you can use for your office design.
4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Furniture Fabric
There are literally thousands of fabrics you can choose from when it comes to furniture upholstery. Considerations like materials, colours, and patterns are crucial in making sure that everything fits perfectly.
But before you can even start shopping, you need to review the base finishes in your office design first. Are they changing, or do they remain the same?
After that, you should also consider comfort and how it can improve the overall mood of the space. To help you understand the options you have further, here are four factors you should consider when choosing fabric for your furniture:
1. Sunlight exposure
Whether you like it or not, fabrics fade over time. However, you can make them last a bit longer by considering how much sun exposure they get when used on a piece of furniture. This means you can choose between moving the furniture away from windows or crevices that let sunlight in, or pick a material that hides the signs of fading. Placing furniture away from any source of heat can also help retain its original beauty.
2. Placement and use
A fabric’s durability will also depend on how it is used and where it is placed. Aside from exposure to sunlight and heat, the amount of traffic and use that a piece of furniture would be getting in a particular room should be considered.
For example, if the furniture is placed in low traffic areas, you can opt for more sensitive fabrics like silk or linen. For busy areas like the reception, you should consider choosing fabric that can withstand constant use, like fabric blends or those that are woven tightly.
3. Mood and overall aesthetics
After use, placement, and sunlight, your next consideration is the mood and overall effect the fabric has on the office design.
For mood, you should pick a colour that is in line with the vibe you want customers and other guests to get when they enter the room. This means that brighter coloured fabrics should be used in rooms that should have a cheery ambience, while areas used for relaxation should have furniture upholstery with warm tones.
Of course, the design is another crucial aspect you should think about to prevent your furniture from making the room look too busy or too boring.
Patterned fabric works well in hiding stains and withstands wear better than plain fabrics, but does it match your office’s overall style? You also need to think about whether you’ll enjoy seeing the design of the upholstery every day.
Also, the size of the furniture should be considered as some work better for smaller pieces while others may be best used for larger ones.
4. Cleaning, maintenance, and stain protection
In terms of cleaning and maintenance, you have to learn what cleaning method is ideal for the material you plan to use. This can be either water-based or dry-cleaning. Remember to heed manufacturer instructions in caring for the upholstery to make sure they last as long as they should.
You should also consider whether a fabric requires extra stain protection. Some upholstery fabrics have longer lifespans because they have undergone stain-resist treatment. Other materials even prevent moisture, mildew, bacteria, odors, and stains permanently.
Just remember to see whether these specialized fabrics require a special kind of cleaning process as well.
3 Types of Fabric Material to Choose From
Material is another major consideration for fabric selection. There are plenty of options available, each offering their own advantages. Read on to learn more about three of the most common types of materials you can choose from:
1. Vinyl
Vinyl is often used for stools and office chairs that are more susceptible to spills. It is a lot less expensive and can be wiped down without much fuss. However, it is also less comfortable compared to leather.
It is best to use vinyl in specific areas in commercial establishments, such as break rooms and children centres. Some types of vinyl can also be used in medical offices and clinics since they can retain their appearance even after being cleaned with a bleach solution.
2. Leather
Leather is another popular choice for office furniture, particularly executive chairs. Aside from giving the chair a distinguished beauty, leather is also one of the most durable upholstery materials out there.
However, there’s one big disadvantage to this type of material: the cost. It is generally more expensive than most material options. It also doesn’t breathe as well as fabric cloth or mesh, which makes it a poor choice for rooms that aren’t air-conditioned.
3. Mesh
Mesh has become a quite popular choice because of its ability to encourage airflow. It has become a viable alternative to vinyl and leather when it comes to office chairs because of its ability to maintain comfortable body temperature and avoid sweaty backs.
Fabric and Interior Design
Every small detail can affect the overall design of your commercial space, and fabrics are no exception. When implemented expertly, the use of fabric can help enhance an office interior design. Whether for floor carpeting and cotton rugs or furniture upholstery, our showrooms at NGC Nafees India will surely have the best type of fabric for your specific needs.
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