Sunshine Coast Upholsterers has a great selection upholstery fabrics for you to choose from. Whether it’s being used for residential, commercial, outdoor, repairs, or reupholstering, we’ve got you covered.

Natural Fabrics

The best upholstery fabrics are often classic, natural options. These fabrics make spaces feel luxurious and cosy. They also give a timeless look. Here are some top natural fabrics:

Cotton

Cotton is an easy choice for people wanting clothes that are stylish, comfy, and affordable. As a natural fabric, cotton can be made into many styles and absorbs dye well. You can find cotton clothes in crisp whites, rich blues, fun animal prints, or casual striped patterns. Cotton works for all kinds of comfortable yet fashionable outfits. What’s more, cotton is pretty good at holding its own against fading, especially useful if your furniture sits in sunny spots.

But keep in mind while it’s great at resisting sunlight it’s not the best at warding off stains or hiding dirt. So it might not be ideal for everyday high-traffic use of furniture. However, if you’re looking for something that bridges indoor and outdoor use with a cool cotton vibe check out our ‘Brightside’ pattern.

Silk

Silk fabric can be expensive. But it adds a fancy rich feel to rooms in your home. Use silk in more formal spaces that you do not use often, like a living room for guests. Silk feels very smooth and looks elegant. But be careful – silk can easily get dirty or stained. It needs special cleaning by a professional. Because silk is delicate, do not use it in rooms where people go in and out a lot.

Wool

Wool is very sturdy and lasts a long time. This makes it good for places in your home where people walk a lot. It resists pilling and stains, so it keeps looking nice. But wool has some downsides. It can smell bad when it gets wet and that smell is hard to remove. Also, making wool uses a lot of resources so it is not the most eco-friendly choice.

Leather

Leather upholstery is very durable and therefore making it great for high-traffic areas in your home. It has a classy and sophisticated look that makes a room feel put together. Leather is also easy to clean – you can simply vacuum or wipe it down to remove pet hair. Its durability and easy care make leather a good choice if you have pets. Leather’s robustness means it’ll hang around looking great for a long time.

Linen

Linen is lovely but definitely has its downsides. It’s not the best choice for every room—think twice before putting it in high-traffic or kid-friendly areas, since it wrinkles and stains easily. However, for adult spaces or less used rooms, it’s a winner especially if you’re into intricate designs. Linen is often used for printed fabrics because it makes those detailed patterns more affordable. Just remember linen needs to be professionally cleaned to dodge shrinkage and keep it in tip-top shape.

If you love the look of linen but crave something easier to care for, you might want to check out our performance fabric, Belgian—it’s designed to offer the best of both worlds.

Synthetic Fabrics

Moving onto synthetics these are the workhorses of the fabric world. Designed to outperform their natural counterparts, synthetic fabrics are all about durability and easy maintenance all while keeping costs down. These fabrics are born from a mix of chemicals and natural substances transformed into fibres like polyester, olefin, nylon, acrylic and rayon. Synthetics are up for the challenge, handling daily wear and tear like champs. It’s perfect for everything from a family couch to a frequently used office chair.

Polyester

Polyester is like the all-rounder of the fabric world. It often teams up with other fibres like cotton to boost wrinkle resistance, making your upholstery look smooth and neat. It’s fantastic at holding onto dyes, which made it one of the first picks for outdoor fabrics. Thanks to its durability and adaptability, polyester is a favourite for all sorts of upholstery projects from sofas to car seats.

Olefin (Polypropylene)

Next up is olefin or as the science folks call it polypropylene. This fibre is a major player in the synthetic league right after polyester. It’s super durable and easy to clean and you don’t need any fancy stain treatments to keep it looking fresh. Olefin stands out because it naturally resists stains—something that other fibres often struggle with. Plus, it’s one of the more eco-friendly synthetics since it’s widely recycled.

Nylon

Nylon is pretty much the support character in the fabric mix. It’s rarely used on its own but shines when combined with other materials. Adding nylon to fabrics like velvet or chenille helps avoid those annoying imprints and crushing. But keep it out of too much sun—the UV rays can make it pill and fade which isn’t a great look.

Acrylic

Originally made as a substitute for wool, acrylic has found its niche in outdoor furniture. It’s good at standing up to the elements resisting fading soiling and wrinkling which makes it ideal for garden sets or patio cushions. Just a heads up though—if the acrylic is on the cheaper side it might start to pill after a while.

Rayon

Last but not least, Rayon, also known as Viscose and Art Silk. This fabric was created to imitate the best parts of silk, cotton, and linen. It’s really weak and impractical when it comes to maintaining it and keeping it clean. We only recommend you get the material for aesthetic purposes and don’t have any concerns with keeping it clean, especially if the fibre content is on the higher side.