The type of fabric you choose for your upholstered furniture will affect the look, feel, and durability of your pieces. Given the significant investment of purchasing a high-end piece of upholstered furniture, it’s essential to make sure you pick the right fabric.

Luckily for you, we’ve put together this list of 7 factors that will help point you in the right direction when choosing between different types of fabrics.

1. Color

Color is what makes the interior of your house feel warm and cozy. It’s the first thing you notice when you walk into your room and is the spark of inspiration for your space. The key to effectively using color is choosing and sticking with a few colors. This leads to an overall cohesive space.

Choose a color that will work with your current scheme. If you already have fabric on your existing furniture or plan to reupholster some of it, take a sample with you when shopping for fabric so that you have something to compare it to when making your decision.

2. Comfort

The texture of the fabric plays a significant role in how comfortable your furniture is, especially when picking an upholstery fabric with a pattern. Fabrics with similar textures will feel more consistent across an entire piece of furniture and won’t change dramatically from one part to the next.

3. Size And Shape

Before you choose your fabric, make sure that it’s the right size and shape for the piece of furniture you plan to cover. You should also consider whether or not you want to stretch your fabric.

Hand-stretch fabrics can give your furniture a more loose, casual feel and are suitable for creating a relaxed, at-home atmosphere. In contrast, power-stretch fabrics get stretched with mechanical equipment and can give your room a more polished feel. If you’re upholstering an entire room’s worth of furniture, use both to create contrast between pieces.

4. Uniqueness

Unique or themed upholstery can transform your home and add character, especially to rooms where you have little pieces of eclectic décor. Many designers choose their fabric for upholstered furniture from the same color palette as the room’s architecture or home decor style. Choosing fabrics that contrast with one another is a great way to dress up a room.

5. Durability

Different fabrics are known for their durability, and it’s important to consider how much of a beating your furniture will take over its lifetime. If you have children or pets, look for fabrics that are stain resistant or protect your furniture with throw pillows or coasters.

6. Maintenance

If you’re looking for a long-term investment with furniture upholstered in fabric, you should consider how much time and effort it will take to care for it. In general, leather furniture is easier to maintain than fabric because all you have to do is wipe it with a damp cloth and leave it to dry. On the other hand, fabric requires thorough dusting, vacuuming, and wiping up any spills resulting from everyday use.

Conclusion

These factors will help you determine if a particular fabric suits the purpose of your upholstered furniture. The last thing you want to do is spend time, effort, and money buying new furniture only to have it look cheap and out of place once it’s covered in fabric. Always check your furniture before purchasing fabric to ensure the size is correct and that you can return the furniture if necessary.