Keeping it Clean: Upholstery Cleaning Part 1

After you’ve put the time and energy into upholstering your furniture with your favorite upholstery fabric, it should go without saying that you’ll want to keep it clean. But no matter how carefully you take care of your upholstered furniture, accidents can happen. Spills can happen quickly – and when they do, it’s important that you act just as quickly. With these upholstery cleaning tips, you can rest assured that your upholstered furniture will look fabulous all the time.

Be sure to vacuum – If you’re just dealing with general dirt and dust, be sure to vacuum before you move on to any other cleaning methods. If your upholstered furniture begins to look like it’s dingy or has some stains and spots, you need to vacuum. This removes the dirt and dust from the fabric. If that’s still there when you wet it, it will actually further dirty the furniture. Most vacuums have upholstery attachments that allow you to get into all the cracks and crevices of each piece.

Pet hair! – You also need to be mindful of removing pet hair. If you have dogs or cats, you know that their hair gets everywhere! If the vacuum doesn’t seem to be getting it all, try a pet hair remover.

Tune in next time for some tips about how to remove spill stains before they become a problem.

Get the Summer Started: Design an Outdoor Patio – Part 2

Last time we got you thinking about some of the best ways to plan your outdoor patio space to ensure that you get the most use out of the area. Now let’s dive in a little deeper. Here are some specific ideas you can use to give your patio the punch it needs!

• First and foremost, you should decide what shape your patio ought to be. Square patios work great for highly structured yards. Free-form patios give you a more natural look.
• You then need to decide on the materials for the patio. Concrete is the least expensive – and they’re utilitarian. If you want a more natural look, you can also choose traditional brick, flagstone, or natural stone.
• Adding a water feature can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. A small fountain or a pool could be an excellent choice.
• It’s always a good idea to surround the patio area with insect-repelling plants. Basil, pennyroyal, and lavender work very well.
• Plan for some lighting, too. Candles, torches, gas lights, electric lights, and strings of small lights can extend your patio’s use into the evening.
• Of course, once you have all that planned out, complete the look with outdoor upholstery fabric on some practical pieces of outdoor furniture.

If you’ve made a great patio, we’d love to see pictures!

Get the Summer Started: Design an Outdoor Patio – Part 1

Now that the weather has warmed up and summer is officially upon us, wouldn’t you like to spend more time outside? The key to enjoying your outdoor space is knowing how to make the most of it. We have you covered as far as outdoor upholstery fabric is concerned – and we wanted to offer a few tips and tricks to ensure that you create the most pleasant and inviting outdoor patio space possible.

First thing’s first, the ideal outdoor patio design takes into consideration how the patio will be used, the size of the yard, and the landscaping. As an example, a small and rustic patio made of natural stone will certainly suit a natural yard with an abundance of plants. A larger concrete patio is great for entertaining – especially when surrounded by a lush lawn. It’s always a good idea to sketch out your patio before you begin. This way, you can fiddle around with a few different ideas before you really get going.

Check back next time for some more in-depth ideas for how to make your outdoor patio space your favorite place to be this summer. Start planning now… pick out that outdoor upholstery fabric and let your imagination run free!

Outside In: It's a Trend in Upholstery

With the summer months upon us, daily living moves out of the house onto the patio and into the backyard with comfortable lifestyle furniture tailored to withstand the elements. Because outdoor upholstery fabric has to withstand all types of conditions, it is usually stain and fade resistant to keep furniture looking fresh as long as possible. One of design trends continuing through 2014 is the use of outdoor fabrics inside the house. This trend is particularly popular among household with children and pets where furniture often takes a beating.

Choices among durable indoor-outdoor upholstery fabrics has grown substantially over the past few years here at 1502 Fabrics with more than 50 styles currently available for purchase. Here you will find durable upholstery fabric made of 100 percent polyester in bright solids and traditional summer outdoor patterns such as fish, flowers, waves and more. Choices also include eye-catching geometric patterns and textured prints that will make your outdoor furniture the talk of the neighborhood. Choose contrasting colors for accent pillows and cushions for a totally modern look. Search for your ideal fabric by vendor or pattern. 1502 Fabrics will also be glad to assist in searching for special orders to fit your needs.

Outdoor Upholstery Fabric: Style Beyond the Walls!

When you want an inviting outdoor living area, that area should be comfortable above all else. For most people, having attractiveness in their outdoor area is also important. With the right outdoor upholstery fabric, it is possible to create just the right environment outside that will make people want to spend time there. Outdoor fabrics are made to be durable and to keep their colors and patterns for a long period of time despite harsh conditions. Outdoor fabrics are made to take on water and other weather conditions and to remain looking great while they do it. They resist fading, and they are easy to clean.

Having and area that uses an outdoor upholstery fabric allows you to create a living space that is every bit as inviting as your indoor spaces. You may find that you like sitting on these fabrics just as much as you do the ones in your living room. You may also find the thou entertain more often because you have an attractive area available to keep everyone comfortable in the fresh air. You can extend the inside of your home to the outdoors with durable fabrics that are made to thrive in outdoor spaces.

Trend Spotlight: A Look at Chevron

Are you looking for a new way to decorate? Are you sick of the traditional stripes and solid colors in your home décor? You should try decorating with chevron! We have a selection of chevron upholstery fabric to help you get well on your way. Chevron is a beautiful inverted V-shaped pattern that has been popping up in home décor recently. You’ll see it everywhere – wallpaper, accent rugs, throw pillows, wall art, and upholstery.

Just because it’s a “new” trend doesn’t mean that chevron is new. In fact, chevron has been around for quite some time! The pattern first appeared on pottery and rock carvings as early as 1800 BC in Greece and Crete. We guess it’s true what they always say… Trends really do come back around!

Take a bold approach to this old-is-new-again trend by incorporating it in your next upholstery project. You can keep it small by creating a fun chevron chair for the den. (Or go all out with a love seat… We dare you!)

Either way, chevron is a trend that we think has some real staying power. After all, it’s been around for centuries.

Flower Power: Decorating with Florals

The right upholstery fabric allows you to bring a whole lot of yourself into the décor of your home. If you choose to go a patterned route, something elegant and floral-based is truly timeless and unique. In addition to upholstery fabric for your furniture, consider these other floral decorating ideas to truly bring it all together.

• Floral murals can be very eye-catching. Instead of framed artwork, consider fully committing to the concept with wall art. If you’re not artistically inclined (or don’t have a friend with some painting skills), you can easily get a pre-made wall decal to complete the project.
• Use floral upholstery fabric to create a beautiful backdrop for a grid of photos. This can be a fun DIY project for a weekend. Simply stretch the fabric over a picture frame, and then arrange your photographs on the fabric. You can affix them easily with some shellac or glue.
• Feel free to get three-dimensional! Enhance an otherwise plain tablecloth by hot-gluing some silk flowers along the sides. This is an unexpected touch that is truly eye-catching.
• Get crafty with your headboard. Part furniture, part work of art – stencil some floral shapes onto the wood. It’s a simple and elegant way to tie everything together.

What do you do to enhance your floral upholstery fabric?