What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Upholstery?

Fabrics

• Whether you are reupholstering your couch or making a seat cushion for the first time, a glow-in-the-dark fabric is the first step to creating an all-over look. A variety of ready-made glow fabrics look like regular upholstery during the day but transform when the lights go out. These come in an array of colors, patterns and pictures. Popular patterns and pictures include spooky Halloween scenes or 1960s-inspired symbols such as the peace sign. Although these may not be ideal for everyday use, a glow-in-the-dark pattern fabric provides an instant accent to a decorative holiday or party piece of furniture. For a not-so-permanent look, create a slip-on seat or cushion cover in a specialty glow fabric.

Custom Upholstery

• Finding ready-made glow-in-the-dark upholstery in the size or style that you need may prove tricky. One simple solution is to paint your own furniture cover using a custom design. The primary options for making your own glowing upholstery are paint, powder and ink. You can typically find all three types of products at craft stores. Glow paints and inks allow you to brush on intricate designs, while submerging your fabric in a powder provides all-over coverage. Although covering your upholstery with a glow product will produce the desired effect, these art mediums may easily rub off from the surface onto clothes or skin. Either use them on purely decorative furniture that no one will sit on or seal the pigment with an airbrush sealer. Airbrush sealers are craft coats that airbrush artists use to lock in color on clothing items.

Black Light

• While some glow-in-the-dark upholstery will shine when the lights go out, others require the use of a black light. Black light-reactive fabrics will glow only in the dark of a black lightbulb. Unlike the bulbs that we typically use to illuminate our homes, black lights give off almost no visible light. When you shine a black light onto a fluorescent or bright white upholstery, the fabric will glow. A completely dark room or space is necessary to see the full effects of the glowing black light fabrics.

Accents

• Glow-in-the-dark upholstery doesn't necessarily need to be made entirely of a glowing fabric. Instead of covering your couch, chair or other decorative piece in an all-over glow, try stitching or embroidering with a specialized thread. This type of upholstery uses sewn accents as the primary means to create a night-bright style. Create spooky Halloween designs such as an embroidered ghost, or stitch all of your couch cover hems in a glowing hue. These accent materials are typically available in many different colors, including glowing blue, yellow or green.