What You Need to Know When It Comes to Upholstery Fibers

​If you own an RV (also known as a motorhome), one of the things you should take into account is the fiber of your motorhome upholstery. After all, there will be a lot of sitting and resting done on the furniture. You not only want to think about comfort and aesthetics, but cleaning and upkeep as well.

Choosing Your Upholstery Fabric

Picking out fabric, whether for buying new furniture or for reupholstering existing RV furniture, is crucial. Key points to take into consideration include your lifestyle, durability, how well it can resist wear and tear, as well as maintenance.

There are two categories when it comes to fiber: natural or man-made. Natural fibers fall under three main types: animal/protein, cellulose, or plant-based. Anything other than that will instantly qualify as something man-made or synthetic.

​​● Cotton

This is one of the most popular plant-based fibers, used for a wide range of items from clothes to beddings and, yes, upholstery. It's versatile and strong, but doesn't do well with stretching and wrinkling. However, when it comes to dyes and finishes, cotton receives them well. When cotton is blended with other fibers, it becomes more convenient than plain cotton. Despite the commonality, premium-grade cotton can actually match silk in terms of quality and feel. On the other end of the spectrum, shorter fiber cotton lengths can be dull.

​● Nylon

Introduced in 1939 by DuPont, nylon is the generic name for chemically related fibers grouped together. It's highly durable and can resist insects, wrinkling, mildew, and even abrasion. However, it doesn't do very well against sunlight. Nylon is typically found in knits, woven fabrics, and velvets.

​● Polyester and Microfiber

DuPont introduced polyester as well, in the 1950s. Highly durable and quite strong, it resists abrasion well alongside insects, mildew, and sunlight. It's part of the blend used to create microfiber, which has been gaining popularity. The appearance of polyester fabrics can go from a dull sheen to a bright one, while the feel ranges from soft to quite crisp. Traditional polyester can soil easily, but microfiber resists that quite well. Blended with other fibers like cotton, polyester does quite well. Outdoor fabrics benefit from having polyester since it allows for stains to be spotted and spot-treated quickly.

​● Silk

Taken from silkworms, this is one of the most known symbols of sophistication and upscale living. There are two key types: spun silk, which is more textured, and reeled silk, which is more shiny and smooth. Silk can last for a long time when it's exposed to sunlight, barring mildew. Take note that because of the high price tag associated with silk, it is not easily seen in just any fabric.

Upholstery is an important part of furniture, but especially so for RVs. There are plenty of fabric options on the market; in order to pick one that's either natural or man-made, don't forget to consider your lifestyle. A lot of time will be spent sleeping and resting in the motorhome so having the right fabric is ideal. Aside from look and feel, consider durability and maintenance.

Looking to get RV upholstery for your motorhome in Arizona? Active RV Upholstery has you covered! We’re one of the leading upholstery shops in the Southwest with proven expertise in furniture re-upholstery, refinishing, and Custom RV Products.

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