Find the best material to fit your functional and aesthetic needs.
The texture of your furniture is just as important as its shape and color. When deciding on a material, there are several things you need to take into consideration. Here are our tips for choosing the right upholstery for your furniture.
Functionality
The most important consideration when choosing upholstery for your furniture is how the piece will be used. Will it be in a high-traffic area or a rarely-used living room? Do you have kids or pets? This will determine whether you need a material that can be easily cleaned or if you can take a chance on a high-maintenance fabric.
If the piece will be used often, you’ll need a durable material such as linen, leather or boucle like our Swagger Fabric Sofa in Blanc Boucle. If you have the luxury of not worrying about stains, you can try a fabric like velvet, which is durable but more difficult to clean.
Miranda 82" Fabric Sofa, Gris Boucle
Care
Be honest with yourself about how much time you can devote to caring for the upholstery you choose. Do you need a fabric that won’t stain easily? Are you willing to draw the shades or close the curtains during peak sunlight hours to prevent the fabric from fading prematurely? Check specific care instructions for any material before you make your choice. If you choose a material that will only last a few years, it’s not going to be worth it in the long run.
Izzah 101" Fabric Sofa, Sand Velvet
Pattern vs. Solid
The next thing to consider is the aesthetic of your upholstery. Some options are only available in specific colors and patterns, and if you already have your heart set on something in particular, that might help you narrow down your choices.
For larger furniture pieces, it’s safer to choose a solid or neutral color like our Dominique Fabric Sofa Sectional in Iron for longevity and flexibility. Then you can save a bold color or fun pattern for a smaller armchair or ottoman such as our Pincushion Fabric Ottoman. Remember, you can always switch up your pillows to add dimension to a neutral piece. However, if you live for color, you can go with a bold choice like our Jackie Fabric Sofa in Cosmo Velvet or our Spectre Fabric Sofa in Grass Velvet.
Mix and Match
If you’re struggling to narrow it down, just remember that you can mix and match fabrics in a room. For example, if you like fabric and leather, you can choose a twill sofa like our Woodrow Linea Fabric Sofa along with two leather chairs such as our Woodrow Box Chairs. This will keep the room from falling flat and give it variety.
Manhattan Leather Sofa, Brasilia Fabric Chair and Teraz Leather Bench
