Lighting is Important

Motivating space at Pinkeye Design Studio

We usually talk about upholstery and the different types of fabric and how to care for them. I wanted to change tack slightly and talk about lighting.

You may have gorgeous upholstery in your office space, but if it is poorly lit, then not only will you not get to appreciate it (and the money you spent on it), but your productivity is not likely to be at it's peak.

Upholstery Thread

Can you use regular sewing thread for upholstery projects?

Upholstery thread is a heavy-duty thread that is much stronger than standard thread and is designed to hold up against fairly rough treatment. There are different types of thread for different uses and fabrics, as you would expect. 

Here's a quick look:

A common thread is nylon that is similar looking to fishing line. It is very strong and is ideal when you are trying to make the seams disappear.

Cotton is another commonly used upholstery thread. It is important to keep in mind however, that cotton does not stretch so you need to ensure that the thread is pre-shrunk, so that the stitching will remain flat. (If the fabric gets wet then the thread will shrink and the seam will take on a 'puckered' look.) A great advantage to cotton is that it is easy to dye and match to fabric.

Polyester thread seems to be the great middle ground, strong, will not shrink and will not fade in direct sunlight. You will often see polyester thread used in jeans too.

When you have a delicate project you may use silk as the thread. The thread has a tendency to stretch, but is resilient. It is often used when the thread becomes part of the design of the piece - similar to embroidery.

So the answer to the question can you use regular thread? Well you can, but it depends on what you are using it for and what sort of results you want, as it will make an impact on the end result of the piece.

A few Upholstery Terms

If  you are not an upholsterer, there is a whole new language for you to learn. I thought I would choose 10 terms and educate you a little:

Huntly Loves UFO

I always take great pleasure in getting lovely comments from our clients. We strive hard to make our clients very happy.

McDonalds in Huntly is no exception, here are some wonderful words from Simon.

Upholstery Trim

Upholstery Trim is a quick way to make a piece of furniture stand out, get it right and you can take a boring utilitarian piece of furniture and make it stand out and look fantastic. But conversely, get it wrong and you can make something look quite cheap and unappealing. Feel the pressure to get it right?

What types are there:
There are a lot of options when it comes to trim. Most people get stuck at 'fringe' but there are more options than that.

Choosing an Upholstery Cleaner

We all need to clean our upholstery from time to time. It is the key in keeping your furniture looking good for as long as possible. You wouldn't buy a car and never clean the inside or outside (well some people might), and the same goes for your furniture. This is especially true if you have kids or pets.

But there is a wide range of cleaners, but which one do you choose?

Outdoor Upholstery Fabric.

What is so special about outdoor upholstery fabric?

A lot actually. It is designed to withstand the elements while looking great and giving you some  additional visual interest to your outdoor setting.

Outdoor upholstery fabric manufacturers know that the fabric will be baked in the sun and pummelled with the rain and wind and still has to look good. It's not meant to be indestructible by any means, but it is designed to withstand this treatment for a good long time.