Flock and chenille are the most popular fabrics used as upholstery for upholstered furniture. What should you pay attention to when choosing between two options? Read more about this.
Pros and cons of chenille
"Chenille" is translated from French as "caterpillar". Its surface has a pile that resembles the cover of a hairy caterpillar. The composition of the fabric may include synthetic and natural threads (50% each); sometimes there are completely synthetic options. The pile is able to maintain its original appearance for a long time. Some manufacturers guarantee the service life of such fabric for up to half a century..
Advantages of chenille upholstery:
- durable, does not deform, no pellets appear;
- resistant to abrasion and odors, does not wrinkle;
- has hypoallergenic properties;
- elastic, does not fade and does not fade;
- pleasant to the touch, soft, retains heat and gives the furniture a cozy look.
The disadvantages are: high cost of the material, instability to getting wet, streaks appear after drying.Pets can damage it with their claws, creating puffs in the upholstery.
Advantages and disadvantages of flock
Flock is similar to velvet, has a short and soft pile. It is obtained by gluing nylon pile fibers onto a cotton (or polyester) base under an electrostatic field. This process is called flocking.
The advantages of flock can be considered:
- strength and tear resistance;
- hair and fur do not stick, and do not deteriorate under the influence of animal claws;
- moisture-resistant and easy to care for – easy to clean, treated with impregnations;
- does not fade or pill;
- pleasant to the touch and insensitive to temperature changes.
The negative aspects of flock can be considered: it wears out during use, absorbs odors. Alcohol and other solvents can cause bald patches to appear on the surface of the fabric. If furniture is transformed during use, the pile may wear out at the joints.
What is preferable for upholstering a sofa?
- It is recommended to choose chenille for the sofa in the living room. It gives a presentable appearance and sufficient durability to furniture for people with a quiet lifestyle.
- A more stain-resistant flock would be better suited for a children's sofa. If necessary, it can be easily cleaned with detergents, which is important for any children's things.
- If there are animals in the house, then the flock sofa will withstand the marks from their claws.
- If there is smoking in the room, then chenille will not absorb odors, and the only alternative to it can be leather, which makes the furniture expensive.
When is flock better, and when is chenille?
Before choosing suitable upholstery for future furniture, you need to evaluate how intensively it will be used and for what purposes it will serve.
Important! It should be remembered that the sofa should be in harmony with other interior items and at the same time be the central item in the room. It is to match its color that curtains are chosen, walls and floors are finished.
Flock and chenille are excellent upholstery options, but their features must be taken into account when choosing upholstered furniture.
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