I have not used those fabrics indoor yet, but I have patio furniture with Sunbrella cushions. The cushions have been outside, year round, for 5 years, in an uncovered patio in So. CA. No fading at all. For cleaning I just hose them down and any bird poop that has been sitting for months, will wash right off!

(Warning: Don't hose down indoor cushions unless they have quick dry inserts!)

There are amazing indoor/outdoor fabrics now and all the major fabric vendors are carrying them, such as Kravet, Schumacher, Robert Allen etc. There are some now that have the look and feel of a soft chenille. Perfect choice for family room furniture.

Kitchen_Reno, I am currently trying to make the exact decision. I am also looking at Solarium fabrics. I have some samples at home and while they beaded up soda without a problem, I don't know how they'll wear with that daily use that's makes the arms look dingier than the rest. I'd love to have light cream furniture, but realistically I'm not sure how the fabric would look in a couple of years of daily use.

My sister just had two couches made using a white nubby crypton fabric and it looks spectacular. So far she says it's holding up very well but then again it's only a few months old.

I have been debating the same options; but to cover cushions on a window seat and some family Danish Modern pieces I inherited. As I'm not doing upholstery but simply seat and seat back covers, I'm not quite as concerned about longevity. The limiting factor for me was budget--sunbrella is significantly less expensive than crypton or sensuede (my other candidate). I won't be able to get around to making the window seat covers for another month, but will try to post when they are done.

The window seat is ordinarily occupied by an 80 pound dog and 2 cats, so gets lots of wear and grime and my DH is worth 4 little boys on the mess-o-meter. I'm eager to see if the sunbrella is equal to the task.

I don't have experience with Crypton fabric on upholstery, but there have been other threads in the past with negative reviews. I do have experience in Crypton covered dog beds at DD2's house. She ended up having to unzip the cushions a bit to release air, otherwise the beds would get poofy when they dogs walk/sat on them until the extra air was released.

I have Sunbrella fabrics outdoors, including a swing bed with dry fast foam. It has worn well and not faded.

Between the two, I would select Sunbrella.

I think it is worth it to point out that outdoor fabrics, including Sunbrella, are not designed to be the best for wear. The are designed to withstand the elements. Most people do not use their outdoor furniture as much as indoor furniture so comparing wear times may be misleading.

Basically same question as the Hulls: I have an indoor living room facing a beach and need to replace slip covers (on a sofa) that have faded. I got the impression that sunbrella is designed to be UV resistant, but crypton is (at least now) not so designed.

This article will answer your questions. http://designhousetx.com/2011/01/14/how-is-sunbrella-fabric-like-a-carrot-and-crypton-like-a-diaper/