Is linen a good fabric for a sofa?

Many of us love linen fabric for clothing and bedding for its temperature-regulating properties and natural beauty. But is linen a good choice as a home upholstery fabric? Absolutely!

There are so many reasons why linen fabric is ideal for furniture like chairs and sofas that need to stand up to everyday use. If you're considering making your own slipcovers or buying a sofa made from linen upholstery, then follow these tips to get the best upholstery fabric and keep your home looking stunning.

Why choose linen fabric for your sofa?

There is a wide range of fabric you can use for sofa upholstery, from natural materials like linen and cotton to luxurious velvet and edgy leather. Here's why, when you're making a list of possible sofa fabric linen should go straight to the top:

• Linen is made from fibers from the flax plant. Because flax requires fewer resources to produce, and is naturally biodegradable, it's a more sustainable choice than other materials like cotton or polyester.
• Good quality flax fibers are strong and durable, which makes it a great choice for a high-wear piece of furniture like a couch or chair. If looked after properly linen fabric has a long life and will keep on looking lovely for years. Synthetic blend fabrics tend not to last as long as linen.
• Furniture that gets sat on by the family, slept on by pets, made into forts and sleepover beds and used as the occasional trampoline needs to have low maintenance upholstery. Linen fabric is easy to clean as it's machine washable, inherently stain resistant and has a charming natural wrinkle.
• Unlike some synthetic fabric, linen feels comfortable against the skin. Making it the perfect material for kicking back on in front of the TV or curling up with a good book.
• Linen comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, so you can find the perfect look to match your interior, or base a whole new decor scheme around a beautiful linen sofa.

How to find the right linen upholstery fabric

Purchasing a new sofa or couch is a significant investment. Sometimes our budgets just won't stretch to replacing a big furniture item. You may want to live more sustainably by upcycling and improving what you already have. Whilst you can always refresh a living room and old couch with a cozy wool throw and some stylish linen cushions, another option is to re-cover your sofa with new upholstery fabric.

Linen works with most interiors but looks especially beautiful with a pared-back, natural style. When buying your fabric think about how it will work with the rest of your home, and with your lifestyle. You may be someone who loves rustic, laid-back textiles – in which case, it's definitely for you. But if your look is super luxurious and sleek then it may not be the best fabric for your home.

Some people may be resistant to linen fabric because they think it needs ironing, but we love to embrace its beautiful wrinkles and enjoy the sumptuous softness that gets better with each wash. Once you've snuggled up on a comfy, welcoming linen upholstered couch you won't look back!

Buy your linen fabric or removable covers from a reputable supplier. Some cheaper linens are made with a loose, inferior weave that isn't as durable as better quality linen. If you're buying in person, gently pull the fabric and see if the fibers come apart easily. If they seem loosely woven this is probably not the best upholstery fabric.

To help you choose the ideal upholstery fabric for your sofa you need to think about these things:

Budget

Some fabrics are more costly than others, so work out what you can spend and aim to hit the top of your budget to get the best possible quality for your money. Cotton is fairly cheap, whereas more high end linen fabrics might cost more. The main consideration is cost-per-wear/use – buying cheap now might end up costing more if you need to replace your upholstery within a short time.

Durability

Consider how much you use your sofa. If it's only used by yourself then you can opt for less durable upholstery fabrics, but if you live in a busy household with lots of family members or visitors, opt for a hardwearing material like linen. Durability really is key here.

Color

If you're not going to be redecorating your room the color choice will be dictated by the existing wall and curtain colors. Choose a fabric that works with these, either in a similar palette or picking out a tone as an accent. Beware of placing dark fabric in full sunlight as this can cause fading. Light colors will be more prone to stains so consider the practicalities of different shades.

Think about the long-term too – a particular color may be on-trend right now, but will it become dated quickly? When selecting a shade for your sofa covers aim for something you think you'll be able to live with for a long time rather than following any interior design fads.

Cleaning

Removable slipcovers are a great option as you can remove them and throw them in the washing machine (if the care instructions allow). You can spot clean linen fabric with a mild detergent, but some materials won't be as easy to clean. Velvet, silk or high thread count cotton fabric may not be as durable and tough, and might need to be professionally cleaned.

Thanks to their natural stain resistance linen fabrics repell marks, but will still need to be treated if there's a spillage. Even stain resistant fabrics must be cleaned as quickly as possible to prevent the marks getting ingrained into the fabric fibers.

Texture

Natural fabrics like linen tend to have inherent slubs and creases, giving a relaxed-feel and interesting movement. Adding different fabrics like wool alongside linen fabric will create layers of texture and allows you to switch things up without a major interior overhaul.

Turning linen fabric into upholstery

You can buy linen fabric by the yard online or in person. Make sure your measurements are accurate and allow for seams and turning inside out. Adding zips or envelope edges to sofa cushion covers makes them easier to remove and clean, so allow for these when purchasing fabric.

Once you've selected your upholstery linen fabric you can either make a pattern from your existing covers and sew your own, if you're experienced in sewing. Good quality linen is an easy fabric to work with thanks to its durability and smooth weave. We recommend ironing during the sewing process to keep things neat and ensure your edge match up.

Or if DIY linen upholstery isn't your style, you can find a professional upholsterer to make sofa slipcovers for you. When commissioning someone to create your bespoke upholstery, make sure you tell them what you need in terms of cleaning and removing the covers.

So, if you're looking for the best upholstery fabric for your sofa, and want to create an elegant, inviting space that's also functional and easy to take care of, choose linen! For more ideas about home decorating with linen fabric read this post.