Vinyl upholstery fabric is often an excellent choice when it comes to choosing fabric for the restoration of older pieces of furniture. Durable and relatively easy to clean, fabric of this type of affordable and comes in a variety of colors and textures, making it ideal for the do-it-yourself upholstery warrior. At the same time, there are a few potential drawbacks associated with vinyl upholstery fabric, including the feel of the fabric itself and the difficulty in repairing rips and tears.
When it comes to the advantages of going with vinyl upholstery fabric, one of the most important is how easily the material can be kept clean. Unlike leather, which typically requires specific types of cleaning agents to clean spills and other dirt from the surface of the material, a wide range of common household products can be used with the vinyl. Typically, as long as the cleaning agent does not contain ingredients that will cause the material to dry and crack, it can be used successfully to remove everything from finger paints to spilled food.
Durability is another important benefit of vinyl upholstery fabric. While the material is not as durable as leather, it will stand up to a great deal of daily use over a number of years. When the fact that vinyl upholstery is relatively inexpensive compared to other materials, the combination of a long life and low cost makes it ideal for people who want to restore older furniture pieces but must stick to a tight budget.
Appearance is also a benefit of vinyl upholstery fabric. Along with basic colors and textures that are similar to naturally tanned leather, the vinyl also comes in various colors and grain textures that are ideal for everything from traditional to contemporary furniture styles. This allows pieces that are upholstered with the vinyl to blend in nicely with just about any décor, provided the right color is chosen for the piece.
While vinyl upholstery fabric does provide a number of advantages, there are also some potential liabilities. Some brands of vinyl are of poor quality and will cheapen the overall look of the recovered piece. In addition, the poor quality vinyl will give the impression of sitting on a hard piece of plastic rather than a more supple leather. Depending on the grade of the vinyl upholstery fabric, the material may rip or tear with greater ease, and does not lend itself well to patching or similar repairs. For this reason, it is important to choose vinyl upholstery fabric that is of a higher quality, making it possible to enjoy the benefits while avoiding the drawbacks.
