LA Good Questions: Outdoor Fabric for Indoor Furniture?

AT reader Brandi is thinking about reupholstering her classic wingback chair in something a bit more durable: I would love to see a piece on how people are using outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella for indoor furniture. Everytime I go to a fabric store and ask for a durable fabric I am told to look at the Sunbrella line. I would love to see how this fabric looks on more formal furniture such as indoor chairs and sofas. I was thinking of using the fabric for a wing back chair since I want it to be white (my pugs sleep on it), but I am sort of afraid to use it. Would love to hear others experience.

[ Photo from Sunbrella ]

Hi Brandi,

As someone who lives with two very crazy dogs who both shed like to dig (not to mention shed...a LOT), I can vouch for Sunbrella's outdoor fabric's durability....so much so that I really would consider using their furniture fabrics line for reupholstery. Their furniture fabric line is basically their outdoor line, except there's a wider range of colors, textures, and patterns available. Their site has a pretty nice photo gallery that shows off their fabrics on classic furniture if you want to get an idea of how it would look. Even though the fabric may not be as soft as other fabrics out there, the level of maintenance is so easy.

Anyone have any experience with Sunbrella (or other outdoor fabrics) indoors?

Comments (16)

There are a slew of outdoor fabrics that are well suited to indoor use available through companies like Shumacher and Brunswig and Fils whom I am pretty sure sell to the public. If you live in LA, it is worth a trip to the PDC to see all of the options.

I'm going to reupholster a mid-century day bed's cushions in Sunbrella fabric since I have a messy little dog. Check eBay, which is where I've seen the best prices though of course selection is limited.

Most Sunbrella fabric is basically like a heavy canvas that also happens to do well in the sun. I think it would work great indoors as well. It's not going to be as soft as an indoor fabric but it's certainly not uncomfortable or plasticy feeling.

Go for it!

So many designers are making indoor/outdoor Sunbrella fabrics (i.e. Tommy Bahama etc.)...I would give it a whirl.

As Seaside mentioned there are other outdoor fabric options beside Sunbrella. Some outdoor fabric companies even have chenille fabrics that look amazing, are soft, and perform so well. We use these a lot for people with pets or small children for their family rooms. You can also look into a microfiber. I personally don't like them, but you can wash the heck out of them and they don't stain.

A designer whose home was featured in Domino a few months back used Sunbrella indoors. It was a midcentury house in Charlotte, NC, I think. I thought it was such a smart idea for people with pets or kids.

My dining room chairs are sunbrella.

The chairs themselves are fully upholstered -- there's no seat cover that could be just be replaced, so I can't imagine having anything other than sunbrella or similar with two kids. the chairs themselves are Lee Industries and you'd really never know it was an outdoor fabric. Clean up is really remarkable, even for grease stains.

I've used white Sunbrella fabric on the cushion of my cedar chest at the foot of my bed. Looks and feels great. You'd never know it was for outdoors. Best of all, cleans up like a charm. Oddly repels cat fur, and other pet-associated, er.. messes, too. I'm seriously considering making a slipcover for my love seat out of the stuff.

We had a customer here at the beach who did custom indoor sofa and ottoman upholstry and pillows in sunbrella fabircs for the west facing side of her home which is on the sand. She liked it so much she had the bedding in the master done the same way and it was on the north side.

My pug is sleeping on me right now:)

Pottery Barn is starting to offer upholstered pieces in "performance twill" which is made of 100% acrylic, which is supposed to be durable and stain-resistant. Sunbrella is also 100% acrylic.

I don't work for PB or in the home decor industry.

I just had a chair reupholstered in Sunbrela because it will be receiving a lot of sun and I wanted something resistant to fading. I'm currently (impatiently) waiting for it to be finished though. I was given a quote of about 6 weeks (!) and that was only 2 weeks ago.

Scroll down here to the interior shot, and that says it's Sunbrella fabric. Wow.
http://www.glenraven.com/index.php?lang=en&page=furniture

And they ought to know if it is or isn't, they make it.

I used to work at a fabric/upholstery store and we would advise against using outdoor fabric inside, especially if the room got a lot of sun. I was told the off-gas from the uv-treatment may not be safe in a closed space.

Just like missBesancon said, substitute your inside fabric with outdoor furniture fabrics for a more durable fabric. www.decoratorsbest.com offers many great cheap outdoor fabrics and styles.