Upholstery materialsUpholstery materialsUpholsteryUpholstery is the work of providing is the work of providing furniturefurniture, especially , especially seatsseats, with , with paddingpadding, , springssprings, ,

webbingwebbing, and , and fabricfabric or or leatherleather covers. The word covers. The word upholsteryupholstery comes from the comes from the Middle EnglishMiddle English words words upup and and holdenholden, meaning , meaning to hold upto hold up. The term is applied to domestic furniture and . The term is applied to domestic furniture and

also to applications in also to applications in automobilesautomobiles and and boatsboats. A person who works with upholstery is called . A person who works with upholstery is called an upholsterer; an apprentice upholsterer is sometimes called an outsider or trimmer. an upholsterer; an apprentice upholsterer is sometimes called an outsider or trimmer.

Uses in furniture makingUses in furniture making

Generally made from leather, cottons other Generally made from leather, cottons other fabrics and plastic materialsfabrics and plastic materials

Can be stitched, tacked and stapled glues.Can be stitched, tacked and stapled glues. Quality furniture makers still leatherQuality furniture makers still leather Most have a soft foam or similar material Most have a soft foam or similar material

under the coveringunder the covering

Fabrics and leathersFabrics and leathers

TextilesTextiles, a term used in the furniture industry, encompass both , a term used in the furniture industry, encompass both fabrics and fabrics and leathersleathers and the choice of textiles can account for and the choice of textiles can account for up to 80% of furniture price.up to 80% of furniture price.

Tightly woven fabrics and blends tend to wear longer than Tightly woven fabrics and blends tend to wear longer than light or loose-weave natural fibers.light or loose-weave natural fibers.

Leather is a durable and easy-care natural material that softens Leather is a durable and easy-care natural material that softens and improves with time. To create quality leather, top-grain and improves with time. To create quality leather, top-grain hideshides are are tannedtanned, processed and , processed and dyeddyed to give a certain color or to give a certain color or look. Tanning refers to the process in which salts are used to look. Tanning refers to the process in which salts are used to cure the hide and to stabilize its shape. Dyeing refers to cure the hide and to stabilize its shape. Dyeing refers to infusing the hide with different color dyes.infusing the hide with different color dyes.

Aniline dyeing is a high quality process that imparts color but Aniline dyeing is a high quality process that imparts color but does not disguise the natural character of the hide. Some does not disguise the natural character of the hide. Some leathers are further treated with a pattern, texture, or polish.leathers are further treated with a pattern, texture, or polish.

Cushions, pillows, padding and fillsCushions, pillows, padding and fills

Once a piece of upholstered furniture has its frame and springs, the next Once a piece of upholstered furniture has its frame and springs, the next components are the cushions and padding. Seat cushions sit on top of the components are the cushions and padding. Seat cushions sit on top of the spring system and seat deck. Back pillows, if present, rest against the back spring system and seat deck. Back pillows, if present, rest against the back and arms of the piece.and arms of the piece.

Most cushions are made of a high-density foam core that is then wrapped Most cushions are made of a high-density foam core that is then wrapped with either soft with either soft polyesterpolyester, , featherfeather and down, or a hypoallergenic down and down, or a hypoallergenic down substitute. Dacron adds resilience so that pillows and seats keep their substitute. Dacron adds resilience so that pillows and seats keep their shape, while the wraps form a soft envelope. Cushions and pillows are shape, while the wraps form a soft envelope. Cushions and pillows are usually sewn into cotton cases to ensure smooth upholstering.usually sewn into cotton cases to ensure smooth upholstering.

Feather and down offers the maximum comfort and softness in cushions Feather and down offers the maximum comfort and softness in cushions and pillows that most people desire and designers prefer. Feather and down and pillows that most people desire and designers prefer. Feather and down back pillows and wrapped seat cushions can always be "fluffed-up" to back pillows and wrapped seat cushions can always be "fluffed-up" to maintain an attractive look. Feather and down fills and wraps require a maintain an attractive look. Feather and down fills and wraps require a little more maintenance than polyester and high density-foam but they have little more maintenance than polyester and high density-foam but they have greater comfort, durability and resilience.greater comfort, durability and resilience.

Outdoor furnitureOutdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture may just have a weaved Outdoor furniture may just have a weaved plastic fabric to upholster the chair.plastic fabric to upholster the chair.

Advantages are they are weather and water Advantages are they are weather and water resistantresistant

Cheaper furniture using plasticsCheaper furniture using plastics

The frame of the chair The frame of the chair uses high quality uses high quality aluminum tube, with aluminum tube, with textilene fabric. It is textilene fabric. It is unfading, durable, unfading, durable, tearing -resistant, tearing -resistant, mildew-resistant, flame-mildew-resistant, flame-retardant ,UV-retardant ,UV-resistant ,bearing. High resistant ,bearing. High and low temperature . It and low temperature . It is easy to move and is easy to move and clean. clean.

AdvantagesAdvantages

Leather is usually best for cleaning and wear Leather is usually best for cleaning and wear and tearand tear

Plastics can wear away and look tackyPlastics can wear away and look tacky Cottons and other materials such as suede's Cottons and other materials such as suede's

can be softer than leather but are harder to can be softer than leather but are harder to clean an generally wear more.clean an generally wear more.

Added information about furnitureAdded information about furniture

The furniture needs the following to work The furniture needs the following to work effectivelyeffectively

FramesFrames Spring systemsSpring systems

FramesFrames

The life of a piece of upholstered furniture The life of a piece of upholstered furniture begins with its frame: although the underlying begins with its frame: although the underlying wooden framework cannot be seen in the wooden framework cannot be seen in the finished product, the type of wood used to finished product, the type of wood used to create it will have a bearing on the quality of create it will have a bearing on the quality of the final product.the final product.

FramesFrames

Joints are the places where one piece of frame wood intersects to another Joints are the places where one piece of frame wood intersects to another part of the frame at an angle. Joints must be reinforced with blocks or part of the frame at an angle. Joints must be reinforced with blocks or dowels for extra support or the frame will be susceptible to loosening over dowels for extra support or the frame will be susceptible to loosening over time.time.

Blocking refers to the process of placing additional blocks of wood behind Blocking refers to the process of placing additional blocks of wood behind or diagonal to joints and corners for support in areas where the furniture or diagonal to joints and corners for support in areas where the furniture craftsman believes there may be greater stress. Blocks provide lateral craftsman believes there may be greater stress. Blocks provide lateral support and a larger area for screws and fasteners to set wood elements support and a larger area for screws and fasteners to set wood elements securely. This extra bracing at stress points contributes to the lasting securely. This extra bracing at stress points contributes to the lasting integrity of the frame. An alternative to blocking is dowelling.integrity of the frame. An alternative to blocking is dowelling.

Dowelling refers to the process whereby one or two dowels are drilled, Dowelling refers to the process whereby one or two dowels are drilled, hammered and glued into the wood at stress-points to provide extra hammered and glued into the wood at stress-points to provide extra strength and support to the frame. Nails, screws, fasteners and glue may strength and support to the frame. Nails, screws, fasteners and glue may also support many parts of a frame.also support many parts of a frame.

Spring systemsSpring systems

Once the frame is constructed, a spring system Once the frame is constructed, a spring system is installed to support the seating area. is installed to support the seating area. Furniture manufacturers employ two main Furniture manufacturers employ two main types of spring support systems: types of spring support systems: standard standard springssprings and and eight-way hand tied springseight-way hand tied springs. . When the spring system is finished with a top When the spring system is finished with a top layer of padding, it is commonly called the layer of padding, it is commonly called the "seat deck"."seat deck".