Different Materials Used For Stuffing Furniture

Any upholstery project, be it DIY or professional, can breathe life into worn and tired looking furniture items if done properly. If one selects the right type of fabrics and materials, it would not be long before the upholstered item is restored back to its original state. However, there are several important factors involved in the overall process which must be taken care of meticulously. One such factor is the kind of material that will be used to stuff the furniture.

At present, there are three primary types of materials used by professional upholsterers in Sydney as stuffing for a wide range of furniture products:

Batting : 

Batting is commonly applied over the foam in cushions for preventing slippage and providing a sleek appearance. It is available in varying densities of up to ¼ inch and generally manufactured in two fabric types - cotton and wool. Cotton batting is quite durable and often used for upholstering headboards to give them a smooth look and feel. Wool batting, on the other hand, can be either layered or needled, with the former option being weaker than the latter.

Foam : 

Upholstery foam in Sydney is the most commonly utilised stuffing material that comes in varying densities which determine the quality and grade of different options. The ones labelled as high resilient (HR) are ideal to reduce sagging in couch cushions and make them more comfortable. Besides that, they are also resistant to fire and come tagged as FR to indicate that feature.

Animal Feathers & Hair : 

Using animal hair or feathers for stuffing furniture items is a very old upholstery technique that can often be found in antique pieces. The hair used is generally from tails or manes of horses. At times, the hair is even combined with cotton or wool for adding extra loft during restorations. In upscale items, hair is replaced with down and feather for providing more comfort.

In addition to batting, foam and down, there are pillow forms which often serve as padding for pillows. They are usually available in down, feather and polyester fillings. For serious projects, most experts prefer pillow forms with natural fillings.

The type of stuffing required generally depends on the upholstery project being worked on. For example, light use furniture pieces like footstools, headboards, etc. can be easily packed with low quality batting or cushion foam. On the other hand, seating, mattresses, etc. that undergo heavy usage must be upholstered with good quality stuffing.

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Outdoor Furniture Can Also Be Used Indoors - But Why?

Most people in Sydney purchase separate furniture items for indoor and outdoor purposes. However, many homeowners completely overlook the fact that whatever they are buying to place in their patio can also be kept within their living room. The idea can seem to be quite outlandish and awkward, but it has been given a thumbs-up by many furniture experts and professionals dealing with upholstery in Sydney. Why?

Given below are some of the most practical reasons:

Strong and Durable : 

If someone has kids in their house, then the idea is even more practical for them than anyone else. The daily activities of children are bound to cause damage to furniture items by ruining the fabric and upholstery. However, chairs and couches designed for the patio can easily withstand impacts and are often resistant to stains and spills. On top of that, they also require very low maintenance. All one needs to do is wipe the pieces occasionally to keep them clean.

Affordable : 

Most of us know very well that outdoor furniture items are relatively less expensive than their indoor counterparts. One can easily get a brand new patio set for the price of a traditional living room couch. Even high end options can be bought for 12 people to hang out comfortably without burning a hole in the pocket. Besides that, there are always sales to further lower the price.

Timeless Look : 

Outdoor furniture have a unique timeless appearance which can work well with almost any type of interior decor. For example, a white patio wicker would look great if placed inside a room with sandy brown walls. In other words, outdoor pieces are clean, basic and always ready to rock the interior of any home.

Easy To Move Around : 

Since patio furniture is generally lightweight, it can easily be moved whenever needed. This can prove to be highly beneficial when it comes to performing a throughout clean up job. Even the most inaccessible corners occupied by the furniture can be easily cleaned without requiring extra help for moving the furniture.

There is just one drawback of patio furniture - their affordability can sometimes mean that they would not have upholstery on them. However, that issue can be resolved as well. A homeowner can either follow a DIY procedure for upholstering patio furniture or get in touch with a professional upholstery company for getting the job done. Either way, the pieces would become comfortable enough to be used as efficient alternatives for indoor furniture anywhere within the house.

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