Is your caravan seat cushions something you want to update, but don't know where to start? Do you have a limited and specific budget and would like to freshen up your caravan space?
It's a daunting task to reupholster the caravan seat cushions, but worth trying if you're an avid fan of DIY projects. Have you thought of doing it on your own, but do not know the right fabric for upholstery?
Upholstering your caravan may cost more than what you think as this is a form of restoration for your lovely caravan. Here are 5 Factors you can consider in choosing the right fabric caravan to match your travel destinations with:
How often will you travel with your caravan?
Fabrics have a different life span, and everything that we use, actually depreciates over time, so you can opt to choose something lightweight, durable yet affordable when travelling a lot with your caravans like cotton and linen fabrics. Wide range of designs for your aesthetically pleasing van to look more "instagrammable", easy to replace when worn out, and a lot easier to clean, too.
Consider your travel schedules, how many times in a year do you plan to travel, be realistic with the schedule because this may affect the life of the fabric of your seat upholstery. Any type of fabric depends on usage, there are fabrics which depreciates even more when stocked, lie cracks on leather due to nonmovement or non-cleaning because it is seldom used. The choice of silk velvet may be a good option if you're travelling once a year as this is very classy for occasional travel. Meanwhile, microfiber is the best option if you are a traveller by heart as this may not be the most affordable but the best to maintain.
Where do you usually travel with your caravan?
When choosing the right fabric, you also have to consider the location and the climate you like to travel to. If you want to see the ocean, leather is not a great choice when in contact with sand as it is too abrasive. Leather is also very adaptive to the weather.
Textured weaves and faux linens, may suit your style if your travelling countryside and considering mountain adventures, as this is a type of fabric that is very soft and comfortable. Meanwhile, polyester is a good consideration when you're travelling anywhere with kids and pets, as this is very easy to wash and clean.
Cost of fabric and upholsterer
Upholstering is also a form of upgrading. Removing your old seat cushion for your caravan may have cost a lot, so you must consider your budget in choosing the right fabric for your caravan.
There are over four thousand fabrics to choose from, plain, textured, printed, and coloured fabrics, you may opt to consider the cushion you might need to match with the fabric, like a bull-nosed cushion, keyhole profile backrest cushion, or rolled out cushion. Piping and quilting is also an additional cost.
Leather is a good choice for its durability, but Leather tends to wear out very quickly concerning any other material. If the leather in upholstery isn't conditioned at an interval of 3 months regularly the leather cracks and starts to shred, thus spoiling the upholstery which can be a burden for long travels. Fixing of cracks may be an option, but this is temporary as it boils down to the replacement of the entire upholstery.
Microfiber is one of the most durable fabrics, besides leather, but is costly. Check to make sure it is 100% polyester so that it does not stain, fade, or leave watermarks if you splash water on it during your travels. As aforementioned, it's easier to clean and more weather-durable. Aside from the cost of fabric, other considerations like the cost of labour or upholsterer if you are not doing it on your own, this may cost more, but still, hiring a professional upholsterer will be more efficient.
A lot of videos or DIY Guides have been published all over the internet, but they end up hiring a specialist. All they have to do is to reach over the line, bring the caravan, or some may be available for home service, and wait for it to be surprisingly more than what you have expected.
Caravan seat colours
Your colour choice is also dependent upon the type of use of your caravan. Natural beige colour is a popular choice for hiding dirt as well as being a neutral that can go with the interior of your caravan. It's important to know that your caravan curtains match your upholstered seats.
To get an airy mood to your space, opt for lighter solid colours. Darker colours or patterns are better for hiding dirt if you're doing city travels. Or you can always select a bright colour for a go-to travel effect or to make a statement in your motorhome.
Remember to pick the right colour combinations for your upholstery because these colours mainly have an impact on the overall appearance of your caravan interior.
Fabric care
Since upholstery fabric is not for traditional washing or dry cleaning, you must not neglect to follow the instructions. You can look for stain-repellent fabrics, especially when you travel longer than usual.
Once upholstered, use spot cleaners intended for upholstery fabric, using a fabric protectant spray over your upholstered caravan seats are highly recommended. Maintaining your caravan seats must not be a burden if you chose the right fabric for your upholstery.
Caravan upholstery is an investment
Don't be afraid to mix and match, and invest little by little for your next caravan. Good upholstery can be a good investment of style and comfort during your travels, not to mention that you won't be needing your hotel funds anymore.
What are you waiting for? Install the right upholstery in your caravan for more memorable, fun, and exciting getaways. While you may be spending much in the beginning, this will be absolutely a great investment.