Fabric vs. Vinyl: Costs and Benefits of Each

Selecting fabrics and materials for the chairs in your restaurant involves more than just a color scheme. Obviously, the fabric on the chairs in your restaurant will complement your design theme, but the seat coverings you choose will do more than just look good.

Seat covers on upholstered chairs and bar stools must be practical as well as beautiful. Many options are available that cater to the special requirements of the restaurant industry. Many restaurants choose to go with something that is easy to clean and care for such as vinyl. Vinyl sometimes has a bad reputation as a cheap, unattractive material, but this is not the case any more. There are many companies who supply high-quality vinyl in new colors and patterns. Vinyl is easy to care for, which is one of it's major attributes. If food or liquid is spilled on the seat, a quick wipe down with a wet cloth is all that is necessary to clean it.

On the other end of the seating spectrum, high end tapestry-like fabrics are also commonly used in restaurants. Many fine dining restaurants opt to use a more comfortable fabric than vinyl. Thick fabrics with lots of texture are very common as they tend to hide stains better than smooth fabrics. If you are determined that a smooth, soft fabric is the right for your restaurant, there are a couple steps you can take to make sure they last for years. First, invest in a fabric coating that will repel liquid and not let it soak into the fabric and stain it. Something that is waterproof is your best bet. Also, make sure the seats of the chairs are removable. This will keep you from having to replace the whole chair if a seat gets too worn or stained. Replacing seat covers is easy. Simply remove the seat from the chair frame, buy a yard of the same fabric, staple it to the seat of the chair and re-attach the seat to the chair. Or for more complex chairs and a professional job, take your chairs to Hazelwoods Restaurant Furniture.

Ultimately, any seat covering choice can be the right choice as long as you know the pros and cons of the material you decide upon. Whether you choose vinyl or a fancy fabric, each has costs and benefits.