How to choose the right fabric for your furniture

Buying a new piece of furniture involves many different decisions before you finally settle on your dream design. There's the style, the size, and of course, which fabric do you choose? Choosing the right fabric can determine the entire color scheme of a room for many years to come, so choosing the right one is a must!

Of course, most people start by choosing the perfect color of fabric to complement your current scheme, however, there are other factors to consider.

Pet-Friendly Fabrics
Most of us consider our dogs and cats part of the family, so while we try our best to keep them off the couch, we can still find them curled up in our favorite spots! Contrary to popular misconception, leather is one of the best fabrics you can choose in a home with pets. It's hardwearing and gets better with age and heavy use. So if your four-legged friend leaves any muddy or dusty footprints after sneaking off for a nap on the couch, any marks can be easily wiped away.

If you're not a fan of leather but still need to consider a paw-friendly fabric, choose one that won't pinch. Our Brushed Linen Cotton fabric is extremely durable and perfect for this. Plus, if you choose a couch with a removable slipcover, our Brushed Linen Cotton fabric can be professionally dry cleaned so you don't have to worry when your cat or dog jumps on you! Avoid fabrics with a loose weave to protect their paws (and your couch), and remember that fabrics like wool may look cozy, but pet hair can easily get embedded in them, making them difficult to clean.

Fabric Styles
The style of fabric you choose should complement your current decor, while also reflecting your personal style. With over 160 fabrics to choose from, this allows you to pick a style that perfectly matches your interior decor preferences. We have a wide selection to suit classic, modern and mid-century styles, as well as colourways and textures that pair perfectly with our sofa shapes, armchairs and beds.

Remember that a sofa or bed is often an investment, so you need to choose something you'll be happy to use for a long time. Choosing a neutral colour for a large sofa means you can decorate the room around it and change it up with the seasons – that way, the sofa doesn't dominate the room.

If you're thinking about adding a pattern to a room, think about the scale of the pattern. The pattern should fit the size of the furniture it covers, as well as the size of the room. A large, bold pattern might be more suitable for a larger room, while a softer or smaller pattern might be more suitable for a smaller space.