Building the perfect living room requires attention to detail. Whether it’s picking out the right black sectional sofa and the stone coffee table to go with it, the process should be detailed yet enjoyable.
It’s not just about picking between a sofa and a sectional sofa, however. The fabric selection in the process plays an important role as well.
Several different factors go into finding the right fabric that suits your preferences and needs. With La-Z-Boy South Texas’ wide selection of different styles, fabrics, and designs, we are confident that we will help you find the right fabric for your furniture.
A better understanding of these processes will better explain the impact cost, quality, and overall style have on your furniture.
In this article, we are going to dive into a complete guide to La-Z-Boy South Texas’ fabric selection. This guide will help you with the information you need to make an informed decision on what type of fabric you’d like for your sofa, sectional, recliner, or other furniture piece!
Coming Up…
- Understanding La-Z-Boy’s Fabric Grades
- What Are Select Fabrics?
- What Are Performance Fabrics?
- Does La-Z-Boy offer Fabric Swatches?
- Which Fabric Grade Is Right For You?
Understanding La-Z-Boy’s Fabric Grades
Each fabric grade level has its own set of quality and durability levels, making it essential to understand the differences between them when selecting the right fabric for your furniture.
The quality of the fabric will not only affect its durability but also impact the overall cost of the fabric grade.
La-Z-Boy’s Fabric Grading System
La-Z-Boy South Texas' fabric grading system is constructed by a letter grading system. The lowest fabric grade is B-grade and the highest fabric grade is Q-grade.
Since B-grade fabrics are the lowest grade available at La-Z-Boy South Texas, it is also the least expensive fabric grade available. Q-grade fabrics are the most costly on the other end.
While it is important to note that B-grade is the lowest grade, it is not necessarily due to low quality. La-Z-Boy South Texas’ fabric grading system is based on the materials used, the weaving, and the manufacturing process in the construction of the upholstery fabric.
How the fabric fits a unique furniture frame, or the “wearability” of the fabric also plays a major role in the fabric grading system.
For example, you may have found a reclining loveseat with a console and you have your eye on a specific red fabric. You’d like to combine the two, but the fabric may not fit the loveseat due to its wearability of the fabric.
While wearability certainly affects the furniture you can put the fabric on, it doesn’t necessarily affect the cost. Some C-grade fabrics have a normal, wide wearability level while other fabrics in the same grade have a medium wearability level.
To further understand the wearability levels of fabric, read below to find a better understanding.
- Normal Wearability: This level of wearability can be used on all La-Z-Boy upholstered furniture.
- Medium Wearability: This level of wearability is recommended for sofas, sleeper sofas, duo furniture, designer’s choice furniture, and other stationary furniture. These fabrics are not for reclining or motion furniture.
- Performance: Performance fabrics are similar to normal wearability fabrics, but are more likely to avoid fabric pilling, abrasions, and fraying.
If you come into your nearest La-Z-Boy South Texas store, you can meet with one of our interior designers who will walk you through our fabric selection display. Going through the fabric selection display with an interior designer will help you find the perfect fabric for that sofa loveseat set you just picked.
What Are Select Fabrics?
If you are shopping at furniture stores in Corpus Christi, McAllen, or the San Antonio area, you may have heard about select fabrics. This is another category of fabric options that you may want to consider as your upholstery cover.
Select fabrics are a collection of fabrics that are tied to a specific furniture frame with no added cost. Since select fabrics are tied to a specific furniture frame, they cannot be mixed and matched onto other furniture items.
For example, if you like the select fabric that is tied to a reclining loveseat with a center console, that select fabric may not be matched with lift chair recliners.
Whether a fabric option is a select fabric or not does not have an impact on the fabric grade. For example, both Q-grade fabrics and C-grade fabrics can be select fabrics depending on the other fabrics discussed earlier in this article.
La-Z-Boy South Texas also has a collection of select leathers. If you have an interest in leather furniture, this article discusses fabric furniture vs. leather furniture so you can determine which is best for you.
What Are Performance Fabrics?
Performance fabrics are fabrics that are designed for specific purposes and functions. These fabrics can do anything from cleaning your furniture to preventing the spread of bacteria.
Performance fabric covers may add to your furniture more than you ever could have expected. Read about the five different performance fabric categories below!
Stain Resistant Covers
Innovative iClean Technology surrounds each fabric and leather fiber, creating a barrier that repels spills before turning into stains. This cover is great in households that have kids who are messy with food or drink.
Pet Friendly Fabric
Tested and formulated to withstand the scratches and wear that a pet can cause to ensure a durable and easily washable fabric. This fabric is perfect for those with dogs, cats, or other pets that rest or scratch on furniture.
Antimicrobial Covers
Antimicrobial properties surround each cover to protect against mold, mildew, and odor-causing bacteria. This is great for older homes that may be prone to mold or bacteria exposure.
Eco-Friendly
Conserve Sustainable Fabrics are soft, durable, and made from recycled water bottles. If conserving the environment is important to you, this will be a great option.
Energy Restoration
Restored by Nanobionic® features a mineral-based fabric coating that transforms natural body heat into energy using infrared technology.
Does La-Z-Boy offer Fabric Swatches?
With the vast array of fabric options available, it can be challenging to make a decision based solely on a photo of a color. That's why La-Z-Boy South Texas is delighted to offer FREE Fabric Swatches.
You can find our extensive collection of Fabric Swatches at any of our six showrooms, or you can even custom order as many swatches as you need to make a well-informed decision. We believe that seeing and feeling the fabric firsthand is the best way to choose the perfect option for your living room.
Which Fabric Grade Is Right For You?
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the fabric grades and what goes into the grading process, you are more equipped to make a decision. However, with all of the different options on the table, it may still feel a little overwhelming.
Consider a few things before making a decision.
An important factor to consider is the cost. As discussed earlier in this article, select fabrics are a more cost-friendly option when deciding on which fabric to choose. How much cost affects your final decision is an important factor to consider.
It is also important to consider the functionality you’d like your fabric to have. If you are looking for a fabric cover that is resistant to stains, the stain-resistant covers will be a great choice for you. If you have a dog or cat that rests on the furniture, a pet-friendly fabric is a great choice for you.
The last factor to consider is how the fabric feels. While online furniture shopping is convenient, the major weakness online shopping presents is the touch factor. The only way you will truly know if a fabric is right for you is to go to a furniture store in person to see and feel for yourself.
If you would like to come into a La-Z-Boy store to discuss our fabric selection with a design consultant or to browse for yourself, come into your nearest La-Z-Boy South Texas location to take a look for yourself. We look forward to helping you find the perfect fabric for your furniture!
