Made for Living: Your Guide to Performance Fabrics
It’s a universal truth in interior design that our kitchens and dining rooms need to be ready for anything - whether it’s working from home, family game nights, or celebratory gatherings. Finding the right high-performance, stain-resistant fabric is key to keeping your dining chairs and kitchen stools in good condition for a long time.
It used to be that performance fabrics only came in a few colors and textures (like the thick, stiff canvas used for outdoor awnings), but now there are almost endless options in every color and texture – ranging from velvets, linens and chenilles, to bold colors, neutrals, and fun patterns. Here’s an inside scoop on the most popular performance fabrics on the market. Our interior design team can always help you find the right fabric for your home - and provide samples!
Inside Out
Made with a combination of solution dyed Olefin and high energy dyed polyester for both indoor and outdoor use, Inside Out fabrics are fade resistant, quick drying and anti-mildew. They’re also bleach cleanable, stain resistant, and liquid repellant. Liquid spills bead up on the fabric surface, making them easy to clean away. Inside Out fabrics are also highly durable (over 50,000 double rubs) and pill resistant - perfect for high-traffic indoor areas including kitchens and dining rooms! They also come in a variety of textures, including velvets and linens, so you don’t have to sacrifice your design wants for practical needs.
Crypton
Crypton Home fabrics use a patented “repel and release” technology that resists water and oilbased stains, moisture and odors. This technology is integrated into each fiber of the fabric, so the resistance won’t break down over time. Liquid spills bead up on the fabric surface and are easy to clean. Crypton’s technology also prohibits the growth of bacteria and mold, so we love to use it on kitchen stools and dining room chairs!
Sunbrella
Traditionally dyed and printed fabrics have color applied only to the surface of the fibers, like a radish, which is red on the outside, but white on the inside. Sunbrella fabrics are like carrots. The color goes to the core of every fiber and can’t be wiped away no matter what happens to the fabric or yarn surface. Since Sunbrella fabrics are both stain and fade-resistant, it’s a perfect option for upholstery that’s positioned in front of a window and gets exposure to the sun.
Sustain
Sustain Performance Fabrics (R) are stylish 100% solution dyed polypropylene fabrics designed specifically for indoor use. Not only can these fabrics be easily cleaned with soap and water or a bleach and water mixture, they are highly durable (over 30,000 double rubs) and pill-resistant. We love that these fabrics are made in the USA, environmentally friendly and free of PFC (Polyfluorinated Chemicals).
Revolution
Revolution Performance Fabrics (R), made of 100% solution dyed Olefin, are stain resistant, fade resistant and easy to clean. Revolution fabrics can be cleaned with almost any household cleaner, including bleach. Made in the USA, they are also environmentally friendly and PFC free.
What is a Double Rub?
It’s important to note that stain-resistance and cleanability are only part of what makes a fabric durable. If you are shopping for upholstery, you may hear the term “double rub” being used. A double rub is a test of a fabric’s resistance to abrasion and is calculated through a mechanized Wyzenbeek Test. During this test, a mechanical arm passes back and forth over a piece of fabric. This back and forth motion is referred to as a double rub, and simulates the back and forth motion an upholstered cushion receives when someone sits down and gets back up. In essence, a double rub count is an approximation of how long until a fabric shows noticeable wear. In residential design, 15,000+ double rubs is considered heavy duty and suitable for family rooms, kitchens and dining rooms that get a lot of activity. 9,000 - 15,000 double rubs is considered medium duty and suitable for living rooms and some family room applications. 3,000 - 9,000 double rubs is suitable for light use upholstery in formal living rooms and occasional furniture. Less than 3,000 double rubs is usually reserved for decorative accents, such as accent pillows and window treatments.
Get Creative
No matter what performance standards you’re looking for, we believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice the look you love for practical concerns. Our wide array of fabrics and complimentary design services means you can have a well-designed and coordinated room that reflects your personal tastes and lifestyle. When it comes to dining chairs, here are a few creative fabric applications to inspire your next project!
Nailhead Trim, Contrasting Welt, Contrast Band
A nailhead trim, contrasting welt, or even a contrasting band of fabric, shown here, add a unique design touch to upholstered chairs. These elements are eye-catching, yet can be subtle enough that you won’t tire of them in time.
Bold Color
When paired with the sleek wood surface of a dining table, upholstered chairs are a great opportunity to add a pop of color! For a luxurious look, we recommend a performance velvet in your favorite bold color (or pattern!).
Contrast Fabric
If it’s hard to settle on just one fabric, why not choose two? For a design twist, upholster the back or front of your chairs in a different, yet complimentary fabric than the other side. This is a useful trick when you fall in love with a fabric that isn’t as stain resistant or as durable as you hoped for a dining room or kitchen. Use that fabric for the back of your chairs (where they’re less subject to everyday spills and wear and tear) and use a high-performance fabric for the inside seat.