Adding fabric furniture to your home shouldn’t be a guessing game. If you’re thinking of incorporating a fabric sofa or chair, it’s easy to get caught up in the plethora of choices — velvet, mohair, tweed, oh my! To make it all a little easier to manage, here are three things to consider when choosing fabrics. Take these three aspects into account and you’re sure to make a fab fabric choice!
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Consider color
Especially if you’re shopping for a large-scale furniture piece like a sofa, chances are good that its fabric color will be a dominant hue in your room. With that in mind, pay attention to what color you want to define your room. Remember, when choosing a color, it’s also a good time to take inventory of how often your fabric piece will be used, and by whom it will be used. Kids and pets often warrant darker fabrics.
Consider material
When it comes to fabric type, there are a lot of options. From ultra-durable fabrics like leather to ultra-luxe fabrics like velvet and mohair, your choices run the gamut. Generally, you’ll want to hold out on more delicate fabrics like linen, silks, and untreated cottons if your piece will be getting a lot of use. If your family is high-energy, leathers, velvets, and treated cottons like Sunbrella or Crypton will treat you best. Have to have linen? Try opting for a washable slipcover.
Consider pattern
Ask any designer, and they’re likely to say that pattern can make or break a room. If you’re opting for a patterned upholstery piece, chances are high that it’ll be a statement piece. With this in mind, you may want to consider using a patterned fabric piece as a jumping off point for a room, rather than incorporating it at the eleventh hour. Of course, some low-stakes patterns can be integrated more seamlessly, later on in the design process. These less risky patterns can include pinstripes, chevrons, tartan plaids, and gradient dip-dyes.
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Design by Douglas C. Wright Architects / Photo by Richard Powers
