Tips for Choosing Upholstery Fabric

There’s more to buying a couch, chair, ottoman, or other upholstered furniture piece than simply saying “we’ll take that one.” At Warren Barnett Interiors, we believe each piece in your home should be a reflection of your personal style. Our award-winning designers are well versed in upholstery fabric options and are here to help clients throughout Milwaukee make the perfect selections. Here are a few tips to consider as you make your decision.

Style

For many people, the most important element is style. There are endless options in terms of patterns, textures, and finishes, so it’s important to choose carefully. When choosing fabric for an upholstered furniture piece, it’s about more than just liking the swatch. The scale of the pattern (how large or small the pattern is) should coincide with the size of the piece as well as the room it will be in. A large, bold pattern may be the perfect choice for a larger room, while a simpler, tighter pattern may be better suited for smaller spaces.

Color

As designers, this is often the first item to consider, especially for sofa fabric. The color you choose for your pieces should (obviously) coordinate with other pieces that will be placed in the room. For larger pieces, you want to choose a color you’ll love for a long time. For that reason, we suggest leaving the trendy colors to smaller items like accent chairs, pillows, etc. that can be changed more easily.

Durability

This is something that may be a concern for some, but may not be for others. For homes that see higher traffic, you’re better off selecting a fabric with greater durability – something woven with tight weaves and a higher thread count. These fabrics tend to hold up better over time, especially if the pieces will see use from lots of family and pets.

If you’re considering a new upholstered piece for your home, visit our showroom in Brookfield. Our designers help clients throughout Milwaukee with fabric selection each and every day – we’d be more than happy to help you as well!