Compare Horsehair to Foam and Appreciate the Difference. If you are looking to restore your furniture but you are not sure which upholstery is the best, read our guide to find out!
The above question often bothers individuals and makes them confused. Who traditionally restore their heirloom furniture rather than adopt the disposable culture, its a way to go.
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when upholstering furniture is what type of padding to use. Horsehair and foam are two popular options, but which one is better? Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so let’s take a closer look at each one.
Horsehair Or Foam?
When choosing the best material for upholstery, Horsehair and Foam are two popular options. Both have pros and cons, so which one is the best choice? Let’s take a closer look at each option.
Horsehair is used by traditional upholsterers, saddle makers, as well as other artisans. Above all, for those that are familiar with old working technics. Horsehair imported from Europe is nicely cleaned, and comes already teased with an excellent spring effect. Therefor, this is a product you can’t go past.
Horsehair is a natural fibre that is durable and resilient. It can be used in antique and heirloom furniture padding, and maintains its shape for decades. In addition, it is often considered more environmentally friendly than foam. However, horsehair can be more expensive than other materials, but it will last years.
Foam is a synthetic material that is inexpensive but you need to replace it a lot more often.
We recommend deciding on the piece’s quality, whether you want to retain authenticity and value of the furnishing, or of course, your budget.
We can look at it a bit like the difference between working on a Toyota Corolla or a Bentley. The horsehair takes three times as long to work compared to foam. However, it enables the upholsterer to achieve more curves, edges and right angles.
If you have a lovely old piece with a beautiful frame, we recommend using horsehair for durability and faithful to the original piece when it comes time to re-upholster. Your chair will never lose its value if upholstered this way.
Foam its more for contemporary and commercial upholstery. Cushioning that is manufactured today is almost made of polyurethane or a similar polymer. A spray foam of this material is poured into large blocks or “buns”. the mixture expands and cures, and then is cut into large sheets. The small pockets of air that are formed during this process give the polyurethane foam its sponginess, and as the foam ages, the sponginess decreases. This foam is easy to replace when the time comes.
There are different types of foams. They include Acoustic foam, standard density foams, medium-density foams, premium density foams etc. Generally, there are some basic differences between domestic and commercial foams. this is because commercial upholstered furniture is highly exposed to sunlight, moisture and wear and tear than domestic upholstery.
Which One Is Right For You?
Overall, it is ultimately your choice how you choose to upholster your piece. You can always speak to our team for professional and honest advice, and we would be happy to assist you!
Are you ready to shop? You can visit our online fabric store anytime, and we offer an extensive and exclusive range of upholstery supplies and fabrics in Australia.
In addition to this, Our friendly staff are more than qualified to answer any questions you might have on the positives and negatives of using each type of material. If you find yourself stuck or want to know more, get in touch with us.
