What To Consider When Choosing Upholstery Fabric

It’s no secret that upcycling furniture can be extremely rewarding. But over the years, I’ve found that you want to avoid diving into projects headfirst without a plan. Without thoughtful planning, you’ll likely waste precious time, money, and resources, which is the last thing you want to do with a time-consuming project. To help guide you along that planning process, here’s what you should consider when choosing upholstery fabric for your next project.

What is the purpose?

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing upholstery fabric is where you plan on putting your furniture. Will your furniture be outside or inside? Will it be in a high-traffic area of your home where it will see a lot of use, or is it more of a decorative side piece?

Knowing the purpose of your furniture and where your furniture will be used can tell you a lot about the kind of upholstery materials you need. For example, if I were re-upholstering a love seat to go in my living room, I’d likely pick a soft and comfortable fabric to relax on.

How durable do you need it to be?

Now that you know the purpose of your furniture, the next step is to determine how durable you need your fabric to be. If your furniture belongs outside, you want to make sure it’s durable, weatherproof, and not prone to fading.

When you redo indoor furniture, the facts you need to keep in mind are fairly different. For example, certain fabrics aren’t durable enough to withstand pets or daily use. I also recommend looking for fabrics that are stain-resistant, especially if the finished piece is going in the dining room area.

Do you want your upholstery to stand out or blend in?

Finally, we’ve come to what I think is the most fun part—design! Think about the overall color palette of the room. Do you want your furniture to stand out or blend in? Are you looking for bold designs or classy patterns?

If you want your fabric to stand out, consider contrasting colors. If you want your furniture to blend in, consider similar colors with similar undertones. Fortunately, there are plenty of color pallets online to help you get your creative juices flowing!

Now that you know what to consider when choosing upholstery fabric, you’re ready to tackle that next big project with an action plan in mind.