Selecting a couch for indoors or even for the patio outdoor décor is tough. The decision of the right frame material, upholstery fabric, and style are some factors that keep us back and forth. While we look for several must-haves in an outdoor sofa, an upholstered outdoor sofa is a top priority for many people because it elevates the space. A fully upholstered outdoor sofa adds a luxurious look to your setting and effortlessly enhances the space with the right look.
It is an efficient foolproof way to upgrade the living space, whether indoors or outdoors. That being said, upholstered outdoor furniture is the top choice for many people working on outdoor décor projects. In this article, we will cover upholstered sofa meaning and some important things you need to know about upholstered outdoor sofas.
What is an Upholstered Sofa?
Upholstered outdoor sectional sofa or any piece of upholstered furniture is covered with a piece of fabric partially or fully. Upholstered fabrics, some in different types of materials, offer different properties. Many people prefer upholstered sofa because of their looks and the gracefulness it adds to your space. If you are also looking to buy an outdoor chair with upholstery or a fully upholstered couch, below are some pros and cons you should be aware of before making the purchase.
Pros and Cons of Upholstered Sofa for Outdoors
Although upholstered furniture has some drawbacks, they are greatly outweighed by the advantages. However, before making a purchase, viewing both sides of an upholstered sofa is crucial. Examine the advantages and disadvantages before having your furniture upholstered if you’re ready to do so.
Pros
Appearance
Upholstery on a sofa is majorly done for two reasons: comfort and aesthetics. An upholstered sofa adds price and value to any piece of furniture, no matter how mediocre or basic it looked before. It adds more style and makes the piece more elegant than a plain sofa without any upholstery.
Comfort
Upholstered furniture has another desirable advantage, a must-have when purchasing a sofa; adding upholstery to a couch adds better comfort. This is because the padding is used in upholstery, making it more pleasant to sit on, particularly if it is composed of wood, plastic, or metal.
Wide range of options
Furniture upholstery offers various choices regarding fabrics, textures, patterns, and colors. This is because many alternatives and fabric selections are available when it comes to sofa upholstery. Thanks to this benefit, you may precisely control the appearance of your furniture, and you may match your home’s decor in this way.
Re-upholstery
Want to get a new look for your couch but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Re-upholstery is a great way to enhance the look of your couch and make it look as good as new. You can re-upholster your sofa or old pieces of furniture just by replacing the old fabric with a new one and enjoy a whole new look in your home.
Ease of maintenance
Furniture that is upholstered is much more robust. But it needs to be maintained. To keep it in good shape, you must clean it frequently. The good news is that cleaning upholstered furniture is a breeze. A wet cloth is all you need! Find the appropriate stain remover for the fabric if there are stains, and you should be fine.
Cons
Risk of damage
Regarding outdoor furniture, the upholstered fabric is a tough pick as the risk of damage from sun and rainfall is much higher than a sofa without upholstery. This reduces the lifespan of an upholstered outdoor sofa; hence in terms of cost, the upholstered couch can be expensive.
Visible wear and tear
Especially for people with pets and paws at home, an upholstered sofa more visibly shows signs of wear and tear in the form of scratches. Some fabrics are also more prone to staining; hence the appearance may deteriorate after a certain time.
Can be flammable
Upholstered furniture that has not been treated with flame retardants may catch fire. Because of this, you must ensure that the fabric used is flame-resistant and that reputable experts provide the services you receive.
Tips to Choose the Best Upholstered Outdoor Sofa
Buying something big as a new sofa for the patio, needs to be well-thought and planned so you make a good choice. Especially when it comes to an upholstered sofa, one additional factor of upholstery comes into play. Below are some tips for choosing the best upholstered outdoor sofa for you.
Set a budget
It is important to know that upholstered sofas cost more than a sofa without upholstery; hence it is important to set a budget for how much you wish to spend. Make sure to look for a sturdy frame rather than just going for shiny upholstery. You can also look at the best time for outdoor furniture sales when you can find big discounts on furniture and save money.
Intended use
The intended use of your couch will greatly affect the choice of upholstery. Is the sofa intended for a busy room or outdoors where it will experience lots of sunshine and dirt? Fabrics like jute are more suited outdoors, whereas velvet has a more regal indoor vibe.
Style
The big benefit of an upholstered sofa is that you can choose from multiple styles. Is the rest of your décor more modern or more mid-century? Are you searching for soft upholstery, or is the material’s durability more important? By evaluating your priorities, you can reduce the possibilities you have to choose from.
Fabric color
With the choice of upholstery material, you also get the freedom to choose the fabric color. This also makes a huge dramatic difference to the room. Light colors are more prone to dirt and showing stains, so darker shades are a perfect choice for outdoors. Also, when it comes to outdoors, look for removable sofa covers with a zipper behind them. This will help you with easy wash and regular fabric maintenance. Also, your color should offer sunlight fastness and must not fade under sun exposure.
