Comparing flock and velor materials

We are accustomed to perceive furniture as an integral part of the interior of the room. It is desirable that it be not only comfortable, functional, but also beautiful, harmoniously fitting into the design of the room. The practical side of the issue does not attract much attention. But the duration of operation of upholstered furniture, its aesthetic characteristics depend not only on the reliability of the mechanisms and the strength of the base, but also on the quality and characteristics of the upholstery material.

Expertology.ru journalists found out that in the decoration of furniture, in particular, sofas, materials such as flock and velor are often used. Therefore, we interviewed experienced furniture makers and designers to find out which of these two types of fabrics is appropriate to choose for sofa upholstery. It turned out that flock is more durable and cheaper, while velor is made mainly from natural components, has enhanced aesthetic qualities, but is more expensive than flock.

Criteria, standards and requirements when choosing the type of finish for a sofa

When you need to buy a new sofa or reupholster an old one, consider the criteria for choosing a finishing material:

1. Environmental friendliness and compliance with standards. The less chemical dyes used in the manufacture of textiles, the better. For a sofa, it is better to choose a fabric that has European quality and safety certificates. This is especially true for the choice of furniture for children, teenagers and the elderly.

2. The composition of textiles — it can be synthetic, natural or combined. At the same time, natural materials are not always the best option, especially if the sofa will be actively used. It is most advisable to pay attention to the fabric, which combines the advantages of natural and artificial components.

3. Design and style (pattern, color, prints) — it should go well with the shade and pattern of the wallpaper, the type of flooring, and other furniture in the room.

4. Comfort — the surface of the sofa should be pleasant to the touch.

5. Wear resistance, which allows textiles not to sag under heavy weight, is expressed in tensile strength, stretching.

6. Density — options with a density of 200 g / m2 are suitable for a sofa. The denser, the better, as wear resistance increases, which means that the cost price ultimately decreases.

7. Abrasion resistance — this indicator is checked using a special test by the manufacturer. Consult with an employee of the company in which you are going to buy a sofa or make a constriction. Ask what indicator a particular fabric has — textiles must withstand at least 200$ cycles of friction before the first signs of integrity appear.

8. Resistance to UV rays and fading — it must be indicated in the furniture passport. The optimal color fastness index is 3.5.

9. Resistant to high temperatures and fire. This is an important factor, especially if the furniture will be in the kitchen, near the fireplace, in the children’s room. The safest textiles in this regard are labeled the first of five classes.

10. Air permeability — is important in the case when furniture is subject to heavy loads. If the fabric does not pass air well, it can simply «disperse at the seams.»

11. Impregnation, which increases the moisture-resistant and dirt-repellent properties of the upholstery, is a factor that provides furniture with minimal maintenance requirements. The most reliable preparations for impregnation are Teflon and Scotchgard. If textiles are processed by them, this will be indicated in the product passport, other technical document and on the label.

12. Can be cleaned with various household chemicals. This issue should be clarified with the store consultant, since not every fabric can be exposed to chemicals.

If the fabric meets the listed characteristics, then it is of high quality, safe and manufactured in accordance with GOSTs.

Velor for finishing the sofa — to choose or not?

Velor in its appearance, and when touched, is similar to flock, velvet. There are differences between these types of textiles, we will write about them below. In the meantime, let’s consider the manufacturing features, composition, pros and cons of velor, evaluating it as a material that can potentially be used for upholstery of upholstered furniture.

Usually velor is made by interlacing threads and fibers or joining together a series of knitted loops. Velor fabrics can be classified according to several characteristics:

The material of the threads from which the fabric is made is most often used natural cotton and woolen threads, wool is taken both pure and mixed. Recently, synthetic components have also been used in the manufacture of velor, but synthetics are still quite rare in velor fabrics.

How to weave fabric threads:

1. Knitted fabric.

2. Velor with plain weave.

3. Moire fabric — a combination of villi of different lengths and directions of location.

4. Velor with a jacquard pattern, which is obtained by weaving one type of thread or adding lurex, silk threads to the composition.

Coloring method:

1. Smooth-dyed velor (the thread itself or a ready-made web of material is processed).

2. Printed — patterns and drawings are applied (stuffed, imprinted) over the material using different clichés.

There are several types of velor, depending on its purpose — curtain, furniture, automotive. For upholstery of sofas, armchairs, couches, manufacturers use furniture velor, as its characteristics — strength, density, elasticity — allow to extend the service life of products.

Distinctive features of velorwhich make it a suitable option for finishing:

1. Excellent appearance, softness — the use of this fabric will create coziness in the room.

2. Eco-friendly, hypoallergenic.

3. Variety of colors, textures and patterns. The sofa will fit into any interior, if you choose a shade that matches the main color scheme of the room.

4. Strength, wear resistance, resistance to cleaning powders, special solutions. Velor well tolerates care with brushes and a vacuum cleaner.

Velor Disadvantagesas a material for finishing the sofa:

1. Stubborn stains (coffee, wine, berries) are poorly removed from the fabric, so a careful attitude is required.

2. As in the case of flock, the pile wears out over time, but this is a drawback of all such materials.

3. Price — it is higher than that of flock, since fabrics made from natural ingredients are expensive.

Flock — characteristics, composition, pros and cons

A material called flock is a textile that is produced without a loom. Flock was invented in China and has a long history. Previously, for manufacturing, the technology of gluing a small pile on textiles using a resin-based substance was used. For this, waste products from the production of wool, cotton, and later synthetics were used.

Modern technologies for the production of flock are based on the method of spraying fiber onto an adhesive layer applied to the base. As a result, it is possible to obtain a material with a very soft and even pile coating — an excellent imitation of velor or even more expensive velvet.

The composition of the fabric depends on the technical capabilities and priorities of the manufacturer. Cotton, polyester or nylon can be used as the basis for flock. Synthetic and natural materials can be used as pile. These are polyester, polyamide, viscose, cotton, wool. The most common composition option is 65% synthetic material and 35% natural.

Why is it better to choose flock for sofa upholstery — material advantages

Let’s list the main advantagesthat this type of upholstery has:

1. Excellent ecological properties and hypoallergenicity. Thanks to this, it is better to choose flock for upholstery not only for sofas, but also for various upholstered furniture for children’s rooms.

2. High strength, wear resistance. Flock is not sensitive to negative external factors. It is extremely difficult to damage it — tear, pierce or cut. It tolerates the treatment of detergents well, does not fade in sunlight. Therefore, furniture with such upholstery can be installed not only indoors, but also on open verandas, attics, in gazebos. Even the brightest colors will not fade.

3. A flock sofa will last a long time also because the upholstery is resistant to stretching, withstands large temperature changes (however, furniture trimmed with this material should not be installed next to a fireplace, stove, heater or radiator).

4. Flock is the best choice for pet owners, as furniture with such upholstery will withstand the claws of pets. The fabric is even called «anti-claw».

5. Practical and easy to care for upholstery. Cleaning the surface of the sofa will not be difficult, it is enough to periodically vacuum or brush with a brush dipped in soapy water. Even animal hair is easily removed from the sofa.

6. Excellent indicators of moisture resistance (if the material contains a minimum of cotton or it has been impregnated with special solutions). If you have children in your family, then it is better to choose flock as upholstery textiles. After all, kids often spill drinks on furniture. And if this happens to your sofa, you will see how droplets of liquid, like balls of mercury, roll off the upholstery onto the floor. Flock perfectly repels liquid. It will be enough to wipe the surface with a napkin to give it its original appearance.

7. The properties and composition of the flock make it possible to paint it in any color. Due to the availability of fabrics for sale in a variety of colors, you can use them to create an interior in any style — from classic to modern. Moreover, there are models with drawings and patterns, as it were, imprinted on the fabric (flock on flock — two layers of villi). This allows you to combine upholstery fabrics of the same shade, but different textures and achieve an unexpected effect.

8. Sofas trimmed with flock have a noble, respectable look.

Finally, the flock is simply pleasant to the touch. Sitting (and even more so sleeping) on ​​a sofa with such upholstery is a pleasure.

Flock is better to choose for people with an average income level, since another advantage of this material is a good price. It is quite inexpensive, cheaper than velor. And thanks to the long service life of furniture with such upholstery, it saves on hauling.

I would like to note that flock has its drawbacks.which are significantly less than the advantages:

1. The fleecy texture contributes to the fact that it wears out sooner or later. But if you choose high-quality material from a reliable manufacturer, you will not have to face this problem soon.

2. The fabric is well electrified — the flock literally attracts dust. Therefore, you will have to vacuum the furniture several times a week.

3. Does not tolerate exposure to substances containing alcohol, bleaching agents and solvents.

4. A sofa upholstered in flock is not recommended to be placed in the kitchen or in rooms where persistent odors are constantly present (for example, in rooms where people smoke). Because this material absorbs all aromas well.

What is better to choose for a sofa — the similarities and differences between flock and velor

Experts note that two different types of fabric have a set of identical characteristics and properties. And yet, flock and velor have differences. In most cases, the first is made with the addition of a large number of synthetic components. And velor, which is considered a more “prestigious” material, is usually made from natural materials. This circumstance has become the reason that flock is in the middle price range, and velor is more expensive. There are several other aspects that emphasize differences between these types of upholstery:

1. The non-woven material has increased strength, water-repellent properties, and is more difficult to wear out.

2. Velor breathes and passes moisture.

When choosing, experts recommend starting from such factors:

1. Purpose and location of furniture.

2. If this is furniture that will stand in the nursery or living room of an apartment where there are children, animals, preference should definitely be given to flock, otherwise the furniture will often have to be pulled.

3. If this is a sofa that will stand in the office, in the reception room, in the presentable living room of respectable people, you can opt for velor. He will emphasize the status of the owners. Velor is also suitable for all connoisseurs of sophistication, elegance and beauty. This upholstery will perfectly complement the luxurious interior.

4. The overall style of the room is also important. If the interior is made in a classic style, you can safely use velor trim for the sofa. If the general style is minimalism, loft, hi-tech, it is better to choose flock.

5. If the sofa is planned to be used as a bed in an adult’s room, then both durable flock and warm, breathable velor will do.

6. Price. Before buying, you need to evaluate what is more important to you — practicality or chic. If the latter, then the high cost of velor will not become an obstacle to buying an interior item with velor upholstery. If financial opportunities are small, it is better to choose a democratic flock. Not only is it cheaper, but it also lasts longer.

The modern textile industry produces many varieties of upholstery. Flock and velor are fabrics with a long history and a good reputation. Pick up the upholstery, starting from your own preferences, the features of the operation of furniture, and the sofa will last more than one year.