What is considered upholstery? Upholstery is the materials that comprise the soft coverings of sofas, accent chairs, patio chairs, ottomans and other furnishings. While home furniture has been around for thousands of years it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that furniture manufacturers began adding upholstery to their creations, thereby making those furnishings far more comfortable and homes, by extension, far more livable.
What Is Considered Upholstery? It’s More Than Skin Deep
Upholstery is not confined to the fabric or the cushions you encounter when you sit on a chair or sofa. Upholstery extends down into the chair to the hardwood frame and may include a thin layer of cushioning in a cotton casing just underneath the outer fabric, a layer of foam or down under that, a thick layer of polyurethane foam core under that, a layer of felt padding to separate springs from the foam core and steel spring suspension under that. Alternatively, there may be coil springs in place of the polyurethane foam layer and there might be bands of elastic webbing to soften the back of the chair.
The materials we just listed represent typical 21st-century upholstery items but over the centuries a variety of materials have been used in the quest for comfort and durability. Hay was a big favourite for quite some time. In fact, hay and horsehair were commonly used as upholstery filler until the 1920s, and in some cases up to the advent of World War II. In addition, animal skins were often cleaned and then used to cover the hay or wool underneath. Springs were first introduced in the 18th century and coil springs in the 19th.
The Benefits of Upholstery
From the time it was first introduced during the Middle Ages upholstered furniture has become increasingly popular, spreading throughout the world until it is now the preferred type of seating for nearly everyone. It’s easy to understand why. The benefits of upholstered furniture are many and include:
- It’s easier on your body: Hardwood chairs have a certain aesthetic appeal but they cannot compete with beautifully upholstered chairs as far as comfort is concerned.
- It’s better looking: Yes, unupholstered hardwood furniture has a certain appeal but furniture endowed with beautiful bespoke upholstery adds a visual and tactile quality to a space unadorned furniture cannot compete with.
- It enables favourite pastimes: Can you imagine binge-watching your favourite programme while sitting on a hard, unupholstered chair? How about taking a nap on a wooden bench instead of an upholstered couch? Upholstery enables a more comfortable lifestyle.
- It’s an easy way to upgrade your decor: If you want to change your interior design you can rip out walls and tear up carpeting. Or you can simply have your furniture reupholstered. The aesthetic possibilities are virtually endless.
Get in Touch With Jerome Shorter
If you have furnishings that could use some TLC talk to the team at Jerome Shorter about our custom upholstery service. We transform old or mundane furniture into pieces that will take pride of place in your home.
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