Inspiration - How to Choose the Right Outdoor Furniture Upholstery Fabric

Inspiration - How to Choose the Right Outdoor Furniture Upholstery Fabric

Your outdoor furniture is an extension of your home—a place where you relax, spend time with friends and family, and celebrate the great outdoors. Naturally, you want it to stay beautiful and comfortable through all kinds of weather. That’s why high-performance Sunbrella fabrics for outdoor cushions not only look terrific, but our fabrics are made to withstand just about anything nature throws their way. 

What type of fabric is best for outdoor furniture?

Sunbrella performance fabrics are the best options for your outdoor furniture, cushions, and pillows for a few key reasons. Sunbrella performance fabrics are made of 100% solution dyed Sunbrella acrylic. Sunbrella Acrylic is a great choice for outdoor furniture fabric because it is durable, easily cleanable, fade proof, water resistant and stain resistant. Sunbrella fibers are saturated with color and UV-stabilized pigments before they’re spun into yarn – so the pigment goes all the way through the yarn for color that stays true over time.  

What material lasts the longest in outdoor furniture?

We believe so strongly in the durability and long-lasting nature of Sunbrella fabrics, all Sunbrella outdoor fabrics have a limited 5-year warranty. Your fabrics won’t fade or wear when cared for properly.

You should always take care of your outdoor furniture and promptly clean any spills or dirt that accumulates from being outdoors. 

What Color is Best for Outdoor Furniture?

Many people believe you should avoid bright colors that can easily fade for outdoor spaces. Another common misconception is that you should avoid white or light-colored fabrics due to them getting ruined by dirt, grime, and weather. When you choose Sunbrella fabrics for you outdoor furniture, you have the ultimate freedom to pick whatever color you want.

Our bright, bold colors are made with UV-stabilized pigments for color that lasts, year after year. With easy cleanability and weather resistant fibers, you can have the white, ivory, or light grey fabric of your dreams with worrying about stains or mildew ruining your style.

Learn More

Get started today and choose the right outdoor fabric for your home with the Sunbrella Fabric Finder tool. Learn more about the benefits of Sunbrella performance fabrics and visit our Where to Buy page to find a retailer near you that sells products made with Sunbrella.  

A Quick Overview of Outdoor Fabrics: What To Know

Want to reupholster your outdoor furniture but feel overwhelmed by all the fabric options available to you? To help you choose, here's a quick overview of outdoor fabrics and what you need to know about each type.

Acrylic

Acrylic is an artificial fabric created from acrylonitrile, a derivative of polypropylene plastic. It makes a fantastic choice for outdoor fabric because of its durability. It's weather resistant, insect resistant, doesn't wrinkle or shrink, doesn't fade, and is easy to clean. On top of that, acrylic is amazingly soft, which makes sense, as scientists originally created it to be an alternative to wool! The Fabric Outlet Sunspoken line is 100% solution dyed acrylic, surpassing 2000+ hours rating.

Polyester

Polyester is a unique resin that results from a chemical reaction. Manufacturers chiefly use it to create synthetic textile fibers. Polyester is strong, wrinkle- and scuff-resistant, easy to clean, and quick to dry. Compared to other similar fabrics, polyester is also lightweight.

Olefin

Olefin is another artificial fabric that companies commonly use for outdoor furniture. It consists of a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Like the other materials listed above, olefin is durable. It's stain-, abrasion-, and mold-resistant, and it also has excellent colorfastness. One con of olefin is that it breaks down under high heat, so it may not be the best choice for those searching for a fire-resistant fabric.

Polypropylene

Last but not least on this quick overview of outdoor fabrics and what you should know about them is polypropylene. This is a fabric made of a thermoplastic polymer material. While very similar to olefin, it isn't the same thing. However, it does share many of the same benefits. It's strong and fade-, stain-, and moisture-resistant. Furthermore, it’s very breathable. Also, like olefin, it breaks down at high temperatures, so it's not fire resistant.

What is the best fabric for outdoor furniture?

What is the best fabric for outdoor furniture?As more people want to spend their time in spaces outside their homes, the demand for outdoor furniture continues to rise. Deciding on what fabric to use for your outdoor furniture can be overwhelming as there are several choices available. Having said this, understanding the kind of fabrics that are suitable for the outdoors will give you an advantage.

Here at Yorkshire Fabric Shop we have 1000’s of fabrics, but now we are looking at the outdoor market.

Outdoor furniture is exposed to several elements like rain, moisture, mould, rust, warping, UV rays, and a lot more. Considering these factors are necessary for choosing the right fabric for your furniture.

Best Outdoor Furniture Fabrics

Furniture placed outdoors will be left outside all the time so they should have durable fabrics. These pieces require fabrics that can hold out against the harsh conditions brought by the elements we mentioned above.

If you want to know your options in choosing the right fabric for your piece, you are in the right place. Let us discuss the best fabrics for your outdoor furniture.

1. Acrylic fabric

Acrylic is resistant to mould and mildew and can withstand rubbing and tearing. The threads of acrylic fabrics are dyed first before woven which enables it to retain its colour even if exposed to direct sunlight. Also, the acrylic fabric can bear 1,000 hours of UV ray exposure!

Acrylic is a great choice if you are living in places that receive lots of rain. It has the softness of wool and can wick moisture away. Acrylic also stays cool in hot weather making it an excellent fabric choice for outdoor furniture.

2. Olefin fabric

Olefin or known as polypropylene is a synthetic fibre. Since the colour of olefin is dyed into the yarn, it is highly resistant to staining and fading.

If you are living in rainy areas, olefin is a great choice. It is quick-drying and can withstand mildew. You can also use this for cushions placed by the pool.

Cleaning olefin is easy. Any household cleaner including bleach can be used. It is also less expensive than acrylics.

3. Polyester fabric

This synthetic material is durable and resists water damage and staining. It’s a tear-resistant and quick-drying too.

Having brighter colours and winding patterns is possible with polyester fabric. However it won’t be able to stand long when exposed to direct sunlight. This fabric is best suited for shaded areas where there are barely UV rays.

4. Textilene fabric

Textilene fabric comes from woven polyester covered in PVC. Commonly used for sunshades and outdoor furniture, textilene is waterproof, flame retardant, and mould-resistant.

However, textilene has a plastic-y feel. Testing this fabric before purchasing is recommended if comfort is a priority for you.

Remember that there are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing the best fabric for your outdoor furniture. Choosing the right fabric depends on your preference and priorities. When it comes to fabrics like most things, you get what you pay for.

The fabrics we mentioned are all suitable for outdoor furniture. Check the quality of the fabric before buying it. Whatever option you choose, put in mind that maintaining it regularly extends the life of your furniture.