Can I Use Outdoor Fabric for Indoor Projects?
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We are often asked: "Can I use outdoor fabric for indoor projects?" The answer is yes and no, depending on your application. But don’t let that response discourage you; we’re going to take a closer look at when outdoor fabrics are suitable inside, when they aren’t, and why.
First, let’s talk about those applications where outdoor fabric is just fine to use indoors. We like to refer to projects like this as “decorative accents.” Think throw pillows, lampshades, curtains and craft projects. These projects don’t see the same stress as an upholstered furniture piece, so they are much less likely to wear any differently if made from indoor or outdoor fabrics.
The types of projects where an outdoor fabric is not suitable are upholstered pieces and cushions. Fabrics used in upholstery are pulled taut and this places them under stress. You need to use a sturdy fabric for applications like this to ensure the fabric will be able to stand up to being tensioned, and many outdoor fabrics just weren’t made for being upholstered and used on a daily basis.
We know this sounds counterintuitive. You're probably thinking: "But an outdoor fabric has to be more durable than an indoor fabric!" Well, that's not necessarily the case. Think of it this way: How often do you sit on your seasonal patio furniture compared to your living room couch?
Most decorative outdoor fabrics are rated for “occasional use” by their manufacturers, whereas indoor upholstery fabric is meant to withstand high-traffic, everyday use. To understand what we mean by “occasional use” think about how often you actually sit on your seasonal patio furniture. Many patio cushions even get packed away in between uses during their peak season. Therefore, outdoor fabrics are only made durable enough for this infrequent usage. In fact, some outdoor polyester fabrics with a printed pattern may stretch or fade over time if they are used very heavily for outdoor seating applications. The integrity of the fabric itself will not be compromised, but the pattern may not look the same if used quite often or kept outside uncovered for long periods of time.
If you want a seamless transition between your home’s interior and your outdoor living spaces, we recommend using an indoor/outdoor performance fabric. As demand for flexible-use fabric grows, more brands are creating lines of fabric that are specifically designed for use indoors and out. Indoor/Outdoor woven fabric collections at Sailrite are Sunbrella® Upholstery, Covington SPF, Fortress® Performance, Bella-Dura® and P/Kaufmann Outdoor fabrics. EverSoft™, Ultraleather® Promessa and Morbern® Bayside are soft and supple faux leather upholstery fabrics that can be used both indoors and out on your patio.
Hopefully this sheds a little more light on outdoor fabrics and will help you in your decision-making process for your next project. To learn more about what makes a good upholstery fabric, head over to our “How to Choose Upholstery Fabric” post (#300010XHT). Our blog "How to Choose an Outdoor Fabric" (#300030XHT) is also a great resource for choosing the perfect outdoor fabric for your application.