Performance Fabric 101: Summer-Proof Sofa & Sectionals for Busy Homes
What Is Performance Fabric?
A performance fabric is designed to handle real life. These fabrics are engineered to resist stains, moisture, fading, and everyday wear, making them a practical choice for busy households.
Whether you're dealing with kids, pets, or frequent guests, durable performance fabric help keep your furniture looking newer longer, without maintenance.
Why Choose a Stain-Resistant Sofa?
A stain-resistant couch gives you peace of mind without sacrificing comfort or style. They're perfect for high-traffic areas like family rooms, living rooms, and open-concept spaces.
Key benefits include:
Easy Cleanup: most spills can be wiped away with a cloth
Durability: built to withstand everyday use
Fade Resistance: great for bright, sunlit rooms
Low Maintenance: no need for constant deep cleaning
Kid-Friendly Furniture That Works for Real Life
When choosing kid-friendly furniture, durability and cleanability are essential. Look for these characteristics:
Tightly woven fabrics that prevent spills from soaking in
Removable or cleanable cushion covers
Neutral or patterned designs that help conceal minor marks
Performance fabrics allow you to focus less on messes and more on everyday living—which is how it should be, right?
Pet-Friendly Furniture Built to Last
Pet-friendly furniture should stand up to claws, fur, and accidents. The best features to consider are:
Scratch-resistant weaves
Hair-resistant textures that are easy to vacuum
Moisture-resistant barriers
Odor-resistant materials
These pieces are ideal for homes with dogs or cats where durability matters just as much as comfort.
How to Clean Performance Fabric (Step-by-Step)
1. Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth
2. Use mild soap and water for tougher spots
3. Gently dab—avoid scrubbing harshly
4. Let air dry completely
For deeper care, consider using a fabric care kit designed specifically for performance materials.
FAQs
What makes a fabric "performance"?
Performance fabrics are specially engineered to resist stains, moisture, and wear, making them more durable than traditional upholstery.
Are performance fabrics safe for pets and kids?
Yes—they're designed specifically for high-use environments, making them ideal for families, pet owners, and frequent entertainers or hosts. They're also a great consideration if you rent out an Airbnb or other rental home.
Do performance fabrics feel different?
Not necessarily. Many are designed to feel just as soft and comfortable as traditional fabrics.
Can I clean performance fabric myself?
Yes, most messes can be handled with simple at-home cleaning methods.
Which types of performance fabrics will I find at WG&R?
Many of our largest vendors—like La-Z-Boy, Rowe Furniture, and Signature Design By Ashley—have performance fabric options offered in living room and dining room seating. Some vendors have performance fabric custom order options available, ensuring you get the perfect solution for your home.
Here are just a few of our top performance fabrics available:
iClean™ by La-Z-Boy is a range of innovative performance fabrics with technology that surrounds each fiber, creating a barrier of protection that repels spills before they turn into stains. After all, who doesn't want a stain-resistant sofa or pet-friendly chair?
Revolution Performance Fabrics® are woven with olefin yarn and are virtually unstainable, easy to clean, and extremely durable, yet beautiful and soft. Also non-toxic, it's a perfect choice for families, pet owners, and health-conscious buyers who want durable and beautiful furniture without having to worry about compromising their health.
Kid-Proof by Rowe is easy-clean fabric furniture that was created with the modern family in mind. Having to sacrifice what you really want because of sticky fingers, crayons, or an occasional spilled glass of juice is now a thing of the past.
Nuvella™ performance fabric is known for keeping its vivid and bright appearance season after season. It’s an excellent choice for outdoor furniture when you want a stylish, high-performing fabric, but it also works equally well indoors.
If you want to learn more about our selection of durable performance fabrics—or want to try them out for yourself—visit our furniture showroom in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, or Sheboygan to see our extensive options, and start living worry-free. We have a large selection of in-stock and special order performance fabrics to choose from.