Best Fabrics for Kids & Pets

Much of today’s hottest upholstery (think sofa/couch/sectional) features fabrics that are light in color. Often, a client will love the look of these fabrics but feel that, given her home environment (kids, pets, husband perhaps), such fabrics are not even remotely compatible with her lifestyle. While “performance fabrics” have existed for decades, such fabrics often exhibited a sort of commercial feel or texture and sported a price point at the top end of the pricing scale (often more expensive than leather), rendering such fabrics as cost-prohibitive and impractical.

That all began to change approximately 15 years ago when microfibers and 100% polyester content fabrics upended the upholstered furniture industry. The first offering I recall was an unbacked (thin) microfiber that shaded – showed every handprint, every seating signature (a very politically correct term) – but was extremely soft, easy to clean, and naturally resisted stains, all at a starting price point. Over the next several years, padded (backed) microfibers were introduced and eventually evolved into a wide range of textures and patterns that were 100% polyester but exhibited a more sophisticated or refined look and still hit starting price points.

More recently, fabrics by Sustain, Revolution and La-Z-Boy’s iClean series have become workhorses for those that prefer “built in” stain resistance. These fabrics are available in a variety of textures, patterns and colors, offer exceptional durability – some can even be cleaned with a diluted solution of bleach (if necessary) - and hit a starting price point. We feature these fabrics on many collections by Craftmaster, Jonathan Louis, Hickory Lane, Centurion, La-Z-Boy, Rowe, Robin Bruce and more.

For those that want an additional layer of protection, a Guardsman protection plan is an excellent option. Guardsman provides coverage for many household stains (ketchup, wine, grease), accidents (rips, tears, burns), and pet damage (chewing, clawing) for five years. The protection is applied in-store, prior to delivery and provides an additional layer of stain resistance. Guardsman is odorless and does not alter the original feel of the fabric. In the event a covered peril (stain, tear, pet damage) cannot be resolved by a Guardsman technician, the company will replace the covered item (sofa, chair, sectional) within the five year warranty term.

Today’s fabric offerings are affordable, fashionable, durable and compatible with even some of the most demanding conditions. For more information or to experience these fabrics firsthand, come see us. We’d love to show you some options!