This is a question I’m asked a lot when you’re starting a new upholstery project. How to choose the right technique and materials for your seat ?This is the type of question that brings up 100 more questions, so let me help you out.
Traditional or modern technique ?
Both use very different techniques, tools, and materials…
It depends on what you want and what you already have in your workshop. But if you really want to be ecological just go for traditionnal padding: it’s the only one our planet likes đ
Traditional upholstery method and materials
Traditional methods require natural materials and lots of skill. This is the most ecological and durable way to upholster a seat. I love the traditional way, so it became my specialty !
- Natural Eco friendly materials
- Basic manual tools needed
- Skills involved.
- Very long lasting (easily 50 years if well made)
Modern upholstery method and materials
Foam is an easy but problematic material to upholster a seat (Big petrol industrys involved). It requires less time and technique so it is still widly used in workshops around the world. Check this page to know which foam you will need for your project đ
I must admit I use a lot of foam for seat cushions such as for drop-in seat cushions, bench cushions, T-cushion or boxed cushions because we can’t use feathers everywhere… Being able to find an alternative to foam would be nice. This material is not well and easily recycled. Also you will need to use protection (mask, gloves) whilst gluing foam; I really dislike the chemical part of working with foam and glue.
- Industrial and chemical materials: foam, glue…
- Electric tools and protection needed
- Long lasting in time (easily 30 years if well made)
Mixed technique and materials
You can technicaly do what you want: use modern technique on old style seat and traditional one on designer’s piece…
Traditional materials on designer’s furnitur
But of course I would never use foam on an realy old Louis 15 seat !
I also often mix both techniques for exemple on this little sofa: the seat is 100% foam, elastic webbing and polyester padding but the back is almost 100% traditionnal (Coconut fiber wraped with 1 cm foam padding).
On the seat : elastic webbing, compressed edges edges, hight resiliency foam (35) and a white calico on polyester webbing. On the back: traditional laces with coconut fiber tightly wrapped in 1 cm foam padding (no polyester needed before covering)
Here the main “mixed associations”
- Traditionnal jute webbing and foam (with or without compressed foam edges)
- Jute webbing, traditionnal springs and foam (with or without compressed foam edges)
- Hessian+natural fiber + foam wadding
Many french upholsterers use traditionnal springs with foam as a padding after it.
Respect the nature of the seat
To choose wich padding is the best for your upholstery project you should also choose its size and shape depending on the nature of your seat of course. Theoricaly the result – once covered with fabric – should be the exact same with foam or natural fibers.
If you don’t have the original padding or know what it should look like, you have to find out doing some research.That’s why a professional upholsterer has to know about History of art, the furniture part at least.
Padding cushions
For both seat cushions and decorative cushions I prefer
very light feathers for filling. Polyester filling is a good alternative if you are allergic. Also foam is often use for seat cushion when the client want something firmer than feather (and of course we can also use both to have the firmness of the foam and the comfy touch of feathers in the same cushion!).
Let’s talk about the cost !
Don’t be afraid to talk about costs here but it depends on what is more valuable for you ? Does time count ? Because traditional and modern materials cost almost the same for padding a seat… But traditional method requires more time (and technique).
