Materials and care for furniture that works every night

Every room in a house wears its furniture differently. The bar sees spilled drinks and boots on the footrest. The dining hall sees trays dragged across tables three times a day. The club dining room sees the same members in the same chairs for years. Knowing how each material ages is the surest way to choose well, and to keep what you bought looking like itself.

Product pages list the materials and options of each piece. What follows is how those materials behave in service, and what care they ask for.

Vinyl upholstery

Vinyl is the workhorse of busy rooms. It wipes clean, shrugs off most spills and suits booths, bar stools and dining chairs alike. A soft cloth wrung out in soapy warm water does the cleaning; a second cloth with plain water and a dry towel finish it. Solvents, bleach and abrasive pads strip the surface and lead to cracking, first at the seams and the front edge of the seat, where wear is heaviest. Sunlight through a west window fades and dries it over time, so move a booth or draw a blind where you can.

Fabric upholstery

Fabric feels warmer under the hand and quieter in a room, which is why club dining rooms and private rooms lean on it. It also holds a stain if a spill sits. Blot at once, working from the outside of the spot in. Vacuum seats on a schedule so grit does not wear the weave. A chair by the service station will need attention long before one in a corner.

Wood frames and stains

Wood is what makes a club dining room feel settled, and a wood chair ages gracefully as long as it stays dry. Wipe them with a damp cloth and dry them; never soak a joint. Water left standing in a seat corner raises the grain and loosens glue over time. Check and tighten the hardware every few months, since a loose leg is easier to fix early than late.

Stain takes differently on different woods, and a color can drift between batches. For a reorder, ask for a fresh sample before you confirm, and hold it against the chairs you already own rather than against a photo.

Metal frames and powder coat

Steel frames take hard use and stack well, which is why dining halls and event rooms rely on them. Powder coat is a finish baked onto the steel, and it stands up to daily wiping. A soft cloth, warm water and a little gentle soap are all it needs; a scouring pad cuts through the coat. A chip that reaches bare steel can rust in a humid room, so touch it up and keep the spot dry.

Chrome

Chrome gives a bar or a diner counter its bright line. It shows fingerprints and water spots more than it shows wear. Wipe it with a soft damp cloth and dry it straight away; abrasive cleaners scratch the plating, and once scratched it can pit. A towel kept at the bar for the stool frames does more than any polish.

Aluminum frames

Light enough for a server to lift with one hand, and free of rust in wet weather, aluminum is the first choice for a club terrace and for chairs that move all evening. Rinse it, wash it gently, let it drain. A powder-coated aluminum frame asks for the same care as powder-coated steel.

Resin and synthetic teak

Resin and synthetic teak take sun and rain without the oiling real teak would need. The color runs through the material, so small scuffs show less. Wash them with soap and water and rinse well. They are still patio furniture, though: hose them down now and then, make sure rain runs off rather than pooling, and put them under covers or indoors when the terrace closes for the year.

Laminate tops

Laminate is the plain choice for a dining hall or a busy floor: it takes trays, wiping and warm plates within reason. The face is non-porous and easy to clean. The weak point is the edge. Keep standing water away from the seams and the edge banding, and replace a damaged edge before moisture works its way into the core. A dining hall that wipes its tables between every sitting will see the edges wear first.

Solid wood tops

A solid wood top looks better with age if it is treated well. It swells and shrinks a little as the room's air turns damp or dry; that is how timber behaves, and a craftsman would call it a feature of the wood. Wipe spills promptly, dry the surface, and keep wet glasses and hot dishes off bare wood where you can. Never leave a wet cloth lying on it overnight, and never set it right beside a heating vent.

Stone tops

Granite brings weight and a cool surface to a bar or a private dining room. It is hard to scratch but it can stain. Blot wine, citrus and oil quickly and clean with a mild cleaner made for stone; acidic and abrasive products dull the polish. The base under a stone top has to suit its weight, so read the base listing before you pair them.

Bases and glides

A table rocks because of the floor, the base or the glides, often in that order. Pick a base whose feet reach out at least two thirds as far as the top does, check the glides when you set the room, and adjust them after a deep clean of the floor. Browse table bases by height and style.

Care that keeps the cover in place

The warranty does not reach damage from an unsuitable cleaner, from indoor pieces left outdoors, or from patio pieces given no care through the season. Keeping to the care above is the simplest way to stay inside it.

See it before you order

A swatch on the actual table, under the actual lights, settles more than any page can. Order samples of vinyl and fabric, wood stains, metal finishes and top materials at no cost, then save your choices to a venue plan for each room. Browse by material through wood chairs, metal chairs and laminate tops.