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Upholstery may seem like a minor decision. Something you can base on a gut reaction like “pretty color” or “ooh, soft.” But if you’re investing in a piece of furniture, you and your upholstery fabric will be together for many years to come. That means you need a fabric that’s worthy of you — a fabric that understands your lifestyle.
 
The wrong upholstery can wreak havoc on your relationship with your dog, your cat, your kids — even your red-wine-loving partner. There’s nothing like a dark red stain on your brand-new sofa to give even the most stoic among us a meltdown. But the right fabric can help you avoid this fate and live your life with less mess and less stress.
 
For most of us, the right fabric is a performance fabric. Basically the Prince Charming of fabrics, performance fabric is compatible with nearly every lifestyle. We’ll explain what high-performance fabrics are and why you need them. Then we’ll share our 5 favorite pieces of furniture made with high-performance upholstery fabrics.
<h2>What is performance fabric?</h2>
<img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179244" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/colorful-fabrics.jpeg" alt="Performance fabric: colorful fabrics" width="1200" height="800" />
 
Performance fabric isn’t a type of fiber — in the way that cotton, silk, or polyester are types of fiber. Instead, it’s a broad category of materials.
 
The term is used to describe any durable, cleanable, and stain-resistant fabric. Unlike some materials that basically stain as soon as you look at them (ahem ... silk and chenille), performance fabrics are water resistant, giving you time to wipe up stains before they soak in.
 
These fabrics are also made with abrasion-resistant weaves to prevent snags and tears. And they’re solution-dyed to make them fade-resistant.
 
Multiple types of fabric can fall into the high-performance category, but the majority of performance fabrics are made from synthetic fibers or a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. You might see an acrylic and cotton blend, for example.
 
Some of the big-name performance fabrics include Sunbrella, an indoor and outdoor upholstery fabric made from acrylic; Olefin, an outdoor upholstery fabric made from polypropylene; and Crypton, an eco-friendly indoor fabric made from recycled cotton blends.
<h2>4 benefits of performance fabrics</h2>
We’ve already mentioned that performance fabrics are stain-resistant, water-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and fade-resistant — basically heartbreak-resistant. Here’s what those features allow you to do in your everyday life.
<h3>1. Decorate with lighter colors</h3>
If you go gaga for those <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/tips/g652/white-sofa-ideas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">white sofas in interior design magazines</a>, but you’ve been scared to add one to your home because you have kids, pets, parties, or — you know — a normal human life, you were right to worry.
 
Anyone who buys a white sofa without making sure it’s made with performance fabric is a wild child. They’re displaying a level of risk-taking typically reserved for free climbers or motocross racers.
 
But with performance fabrics, even the risk-averse can own a white sofa. Or a cream sofa. Or a light beige sofa. Or any light upholstery sofa that takes your fancy.
 
The water resistance will give you time to wipe spills away before they become stains, and the stain-resistant nature of the fabric will help prevent the upholstery from taking on that dingy quality that lighter fabrics can get over time.
<h3>2. Add a little sunshine</h3>
Whether you’re shopping for outdoor home decor or your living space has south-facing windows that let in a lot of sun, performance fabric can handle life’s brightest moments.
 
More delicate fabrics crack or fade when they spend too much time in the sun. But performance upholstery fabrics are more durable and hold their color much better. As a result, they’ll last longer in sunny environments.
<h3>3. Keep your space sanitary</h3>
The water-resistant nature of performance fabrics means your furniture won’t sit around soaking wet, which can help deter the growth of mold and mildew. Some performance fabrics are even bleach-cleanable, allowing you to eliminate mildew as soon as it appears.
 
This quality is essential for outdoor furniture, but it’s also good in damp areas — like if you’re adding a vanity chair to your bathroom or if you live in an old house where you regularly use a dehumidifier.
 
We should mention, however, that “water-resistant” does not mean “water-proof.”
 
When water hits performance fabric, it will bead up, giving you time to wipe it away. But if your performance upholstery gets soaked — for instance, by a downpour of rain — the water will eventually permeate the fabric. If you have cushioned outdoor furniture, you should keep it under the cover of your porch or remove cushions when you’re not using them.
<h3>4. Live life</h3>
Curl up on the sofa with your morning coffee. Have that wine-tasting party or cocktail night, and invite that friend who has a tendency to slosh whenever you hand them a martini glass.
 
Let your dog cuddle up on the sofa — even if you can’t remember the last time they had a bath. Invest in elegant drapery — even if you have a cat who loves to climb. Or serve buttery popcorn and chocolate ice cream during your next movie night — even if you have messy kids.
 
Worry less and have more fun in your home. That’s the biggest advantage of performance fabrics.
<h2>5 pieces of upholstered furniture made with performance fabric</h2>
Now that you’ve found your upholstery soulmate, it’s time to meet your furniture match. These 5 pieces of furniture are made with performance fabrics so they’ll make your living room easier to live in.
<h3>1. Ashlyn Upholstered Sloped Arms Living Room Set in White</h3>
<a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-upholstered-sloped-arms-sofa-white"><img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179242" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/Ashlyn-Upholstered-Sloped-Arms-Sofa-White.jpg" alt="Performance fabric: Ashlyn Upholstered Sloped Arms Sofa White" width="1200" height="681" /></a>
 
Crisp white and no fright, The Ashlyn Living Room Set features an easy-to-clean, polyester-blend performance fabric. The back and seat cushions are both reversible, giving you an added layer of protection against stains, messes, wear, and tear. You can get the Ashlyn in a <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-3-piece-upholstered-sloped-arms-living-room-set-white">3-piece set</a>, <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-2-piece-upholstered-sloped-arms-living-room-set-white">2-piece set</a>, or as a <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-upholstered-sloped-arms-sofa-white">sofa</a>, <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-upholstered-sloped-arms-loveseat-white">loveseat</a>, or <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/ashlyn-upholstered-sloped-arms-chair-white">accent chair</a> each sold separately.
<h3>2. Freddie 6-Piece Upholstered Modular Sectional in Pearl</h3>
<a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/freddie-6-piece-upholstered-modular-sectional-pearl"><img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter wp-image-179245 size-full" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/Freddie-6-piece-Upholstered-Modular-Sectional-Pearl.jpg" alt="Performance fabric: Freddie 6-piece Upholstered Modular Sectional Pearl" width="1200" height="777" /></a>
 
If you prefer to curl up into the cozy corners of a sectional-style sofa, the <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/freddie-6-piece-upholstered-modular-sectional-pearl">Freddie modular sectional</a> gives you magazine-ready, off-white upholstery in a customizable design. You can choose your own sections and create a layout that perfectly fits your home. Best of all, the wipe-clean performance fabric will repel water-based liquids to perfectly fit your lifestyle.
<h3>3. Bowen Upholstered Track Arms Tufted Sofa Set in Beige</h3>
<a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/bowen-3-piece-upholstered-track-arms-tufted-sofa-set-beige"><img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179243" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/Bowen-3-piece-Upholstered-Track-Arms-Tufted-Sofa-Set-Beige.jpg" alt="Bowen 3-piece Upholstered Track Arms Tufted Sofa Set Beige" width="1200" height="792" /></a>
 
For our <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/mid-century-modern-furniture">mid-century modern furniture</a> devotees who want the modern convenience of performance fabric, the <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/bowen-3-piece-upholstered-track-arms-tufted-sofa-set-beige">Bowen sofa set</a> is made with a solution-dyed high-performance upholstery that’s easy to clean. The track arms and boxy shape add a tailored look to any living room, and the small footprint of this sofa set is ideal for small spaces. The Bowen is available with beige or <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/bowen-3-piece-upholstered-track-arms-tufted-sofa-set-grey">light grey upholstery</a>, and you can purchase the pieces individually or as a set.
<h3>4. Moira Upholstered Tufted Living Room Set With Track Arms in Black</h3>
<a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/moira-upholstered-tufted-living-room-set-with-track-arms-black-2"><img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179247" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/Moira-Upholstered-Tufted-Living-Room-Set-with-Track-Arms-Black-1.jpg" alt="Moira Upholstered Tufted Living Room Set with Track Arms Black" width="1200" height="664" /></a>
 
To add a little glamor to your life, this tailored black sofa set is made with a breathable performance leatherette. Not only is leatherette a wipe-clean fabric (something we can’t say for genuine leather), but it’s also abrasion-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about your large dog climbing on and off the sofa. <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/moira-upholstered-tufted-living-room-set-with-track-arms-black-2">The Moira sofa, loveseat, and armchair</a> are available as a set or individually.
<h3>5. Kaylie Upholstered Push-Back Recliner in Navy Blue</h3>
<a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/upholstered-push-back-recliner-navy-blue"><img alt="Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" style="width:100%;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179246" src="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/Kaylie-Upholstered-Push-Back-Recliner-Navy-Blue.jpg" alt="Kaylie Upholstered Push Back Recliner Navy Blue" width="1200" height="1193" /></a>
 
This mid-mod accent chair has a lot of surprises up its sleeves. Not only is the <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://www.coasterfurniture.com/furniture/upholstered-push-back-recliner-navy-blue">Kaylie Push-Back Recliner</a> made with a durable performance fabric, but it’s also a recliner incognito. The footrest folds up into the frame of the chair so when you’re not lounging no one will be the wiser. Plus, the performance upholstery paired with a dark blue color are a recipe for longevity.
<h2>Enjoy the performance</h2>
Your furniture is something you should be able to enjoy at any time with anyone during any activity. Translation: you need furniture that performs.
 
Furniture made with performance fabric can perform all sorts of magic tricks, like repelling water-based liquids, resisting stains, and wiping clean. It’s also durable enough for everyday life. So whether you have messy kids, dirty dogs, or just rowdy friends, you can worry more about spending time with them and worry less about ruining your sofa.
 
To find your own furniture made with performance fabrics, head to your local <a alt="Go to Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life" href="https://storelocator.coasterfurniture.com/">Coaster Furniture retailer</a> and start redecorating.

Performance fabric: Upholstery made for everyday life

September 21, 2023

High-performance upholstery fabrics are a must in today’s homes. We’ll explain why, plus share five of our favorite pieces of furniture made with high-performance fabric.

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