So you are looking to refurbish, furnish or create the style of your interior. If you are not into doing your research or happy to believe what the salesperson will tell you; here are five quick tips to consider that come straight from Australia’s leading manufacturer and distributor of interior fabrics. Wortley, a reliable Australian company provides a range of fabrics specific for the needs of their customers. 

DURABILITY is definitely at the top of the list. This factor is determined by the intended use of the furniture or furnishing. Do you know the Martindale Abrasions rating of your lounge, carpet or dinning chairs? The Martindale test is a measure of the durability of a fabric. The tests are undertaken on upholstery fabrics to check their suitability for various uses – i.e. decorative chairs, heavy-traffic areas or commercial furniture. The test is also known as the ‘rub test’, and tests for abrasion resistance. The AWTA recommends 50,000 yet Wortley’s supply the Access fabric which has a rating of 175,000 making it a high performance fabric for commercial use in restaurants and hotels. Fabrics like Jazz and Denver rate at 50,000 and suitable for medium commercial such as reception or office lounge. A fabric like Tivoli is woven using hard wearing polyester yarns, yet offering a soft and welcoming handle. It is an ideal upholstery fabric for the rigors of the everyday family home.

FLAMMABILITY Standards AS1530.3 is set by the AWTA for upholstery fabrics in commercial use and could be a consideration for the home. Fabrics like Tekno and Crypton comply with this standard and is a popular choice for heavy commercial performance. Crypton has released the beautiful “Lush”, a velvety texture that is lustrous, soft and sophisticated.

CLEANING; Barrier Plus is a fabric process that ensures that liquid stains cannot pass through the fabric and into the cushion. Wortley’s also stocks Pelle Leather Care Products are the widest selling specialist leather care products in Austalia and New Zealand.When used regularly, the Pellé Leather Care system has been shown to extend the wear life of upholstery leather up to five times compared to untreated leather (LASRA 2013).You can also clean, deodorize and protect your fabrics with the Pellé Fabric Care range.These products contains HealthGuard™, a full anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial agent which provides protection against mold and bacterial contamination. HealthGuard™ also protects against Dust Mites, making the Pellé Fabric Care range suitable for use where users have asthma or other respiratory disorders. Using the latest technology in waterproof polyester base fabrics, the fabric known as Fusion guards against spills and stains, and is totally anti-microbial. All Fusion prints are bleach cleanable and fire retardant, making them the perfect choice for hospital or aged care environments. Yet Crypton is the only textile solution in the world offering complete stain, moisture, mildew, bacteria and odor resistant protection.

COLOUR is the essence to interior design and can be limited by the texture you choose. Wortley’s are able to provide a vast palate of neutrals and pastels that are complimentary to the latest trends right through to the vibrant orange and reds or contrasting dark blues and shades of black. The colour is an important element of design and in furniture and furnishing it creates the canvas for accessories and fittings. If your furniture is going to be placed somewhere in direct sunlight, then avoid natural fabrics like cotton, linen as they fade over time.

TEXTURE. Soft chenille couches, sheer curtains, velvet chairs and printed fabrics also offer an extensive range of designs and coordinates, where its durable woven form meets function and design is more than just decoration. Leather and vinyl options offer very broad selection of high performance surfaces that are suitable for office, healthcare, marine, and hospitality applications. Crypton has over 500 plains and coordinating patterns, all utilising the latest Crypton technology to feature a softer feel, whilst maintain its amazing durability.

Styling your home, office, commercial premises or organisational facilities is something Portico Services takes seriously because it brings out the clients personality and the feeling an organisation wants to create for theirs. Choosing a fabric that complements both the piece of furniture and the interior decor harmonies the casual style or formal mood of the decor in that room.

Image from WortlyGroup Instagram