Why Choose Cotton Upholstery Fabric? Pros, Cons & Real-Life Use Cases

Cotton upholstery fabric is one of the oldest materials used for interior design. With countless variations now in the market, it can get quite tough to know which one of the variants is perfect for you. Since it is so versatile, it has numerous uses in a household.

Made from natural sources, this fabric is eco-friendly and comfortable too. Good-quality cotton is also easy to dye and style to your taste.

Scroll down to find the pros and cons of this fabric and its uses in interior design. 

What is cotton upholstery fabric? 

Basically, cotton upholstery fabric is made naturally from the insoluble fibers grown in a cotton field. The cotton plant produces fuzzy bundles of hairs that are collected as “fluff” and twisted together to create long, strong threads. These threads are initially called fibers. These long, strong threads are then braided or woven together to create an entire line of textile items from the cotton fabric.

The most important aspect affecting the quality of finished cotton products is probably the length of the cotton fibers, staple length. The longer staple lengths produce a nicer textile, much like silk; in fact, the look and texture of the cotton fabric is much closer to that of silk than any other type of natural fibre.

Is Cotton Fabric Good for Upholstery?

Pros: Cotton Fabric for Sofa 

For any type of upholstery project, cotton fabric has many benefits. Below are some of the key advantages of using cotton as an upholstery fabric.

Softness and Breathability

This material is the dream fabric for this type of use because of its organic, breathable quality. As cotton is often very soft to the touch, it allows both heat and moisture to spread through it evenly, avoiding overheating. Thus, cotton upholstery fabric is a common first choice that is designed for use in warm environments.

• Durability

Although cotton fabric has a good level of abrasion resistance, especially if tightly woven, its highest level of durability can be seen when using cotton upholstery. In order to maintain long-lasting usability, cotton will not pill as much when compared to other materials used in upholstery.

• Easy to Clean

Another pro about cotton upholstery fabric is that it is extremely easy to clean, so slipcovers made from it can be taken off without any fuss and cleaned regularly. It can easily be machine-washed or even spot-cleaned with some detergent.

• Blend Choices

A cotton-linen blend offers everything a big cotton enterprise could provide, with an added bonus of a nice, crisp look minus the wrinkle. A cotton blended with polyester diminishes the chance of stains and increases durability. You can also go with the best cotton velvet in the market for a royal look.

• Eco-Friendly sources

Cotton upholstery fabric is produced from a renewable resource and is one of the most sustainable options available. If you prefer to use natural products, cotton will be a great option because it blends easily into any home decor style.

Cons: Cotton Fabric for Sofa 

Although cotton fabric has many positive attributes to offer, there are also potential negatives associated with using it for tailoring projects.

• Sunlight Sensitivity

Excessive amounts of direct sunlight will cause fading of cotton upholstery fabric as well as weakening of the cotton fiber structure. Therefore, it is important to arrange cotton upholstered furniture in such a way that they don’t get strong sunlight.

• Quick to wrinkle

The natural wrinkling of cotton is often a disadvantage of cotton compared to some synthetic fabrics. For tightly upholstered items, however, wrinkling is less noticeable.

• Staining

Regarding staining, cotton has high absorbency and may be easily stained since the color of dark or bright items, like blue jeans, may transfer onto lighter-coloured cotton.

Uses of Cotton Upholstery Fabric

1. Sofa And Chairs

As you’re probably familiar with, cotton is a fabric that is very commonly used to make sofas and chairs. It offers lots of comfort for everyday use and, at the same time, will hold up and look good for a long time. If you are in the market for a sofa made with cotton velvet upholstery fabric, or if you have a large family room, cotton would be a great fit. 

2. Ottoman’s And Pouf

When it comes to adding a bit of fun or personality to the aesthetic of your home, you can’t go wrong by using cotton for your ottomans and poufs. In the case of both types of cotton upholstery fabric, cotton provides you with both an attractive piece of furniture and one that is functional.

3. Curtains and Draperies

You may find cotton upholstery fabric to be a very popular fabric choice for curtains and draperies. The fact that cotton is a breathable material allows for filtered light to come through your curtains, yet provides some degree of privacy. The way cotton drapes also adds to the beauty of your curtains, making lovely folds that improve the overall appearance of your window area.

5. Bedding

The primary use of cotton fabric has been for upholstery; however, it also provides an excellent alternative for most bedding applications. From cotton duvet covers to cotton sheets to cotton pillowcases, cotton bedding is very soft and comfortable to sleep on because cotton materials allow for excellent airflow while you sleep.

Final Thoughts

What you learned from this guide is that cotton upholstery fabric has both pros and cons, but the pros outweigh the cons. If you are looking for fabric for indoor furniture, cotton and its blends are perfect, but for outdoor chairs, cotton might not be the best choice.

This is why you should not rush this process; take the time you need to make an apt decision that won’t cost you your sanity.