How to Pick Out Upholstery for Your Home

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Picking out upholstery is an exciting time for homeowners. Creating the space you’ve always dreamed of is more achievable than you think, but you need to pay attention to the type of upholstery you’re looking at. Some fabric or non-fabric types might be great to look at, but they won’t fit your lifestyle. You should try a variety of techniques while picking out the upholstery. That way, you know you’re getting the best option for your household.

1. Find Your Color Palette

One of the most important parts of shopping for upholstery is figuring out how it will fit in with your room. Are you undertaking a total redesign, or will you want upholstery that matches the current design of your room? The answer to that question will help you determine your color palette.

Many people start to design their room around one main color, then build off of that color using cool or warm shades, which can complement the original color. Some colors are inherently cool or warm, and others have underlying cool or warm tones. A couch might look like a different color under different lighting and with different colored walls. If you can, acquire swatches of the fabric so you can see how it looks in your home.

2. Make a Mood Board

This step isn’t particularly necessary, but it’s a fun way to get a better understanding of what you want out of a room. Create a mood board based on the overall color palette and vibe you want for the room. If you plan to include bold patterns, put them on your mood board. Once you’ve finished and have all the colors and patterns together, you’ll be able to see what goes well together and what doesn’t — enabling you to make the best decision possible for your room.

3. Figure Out Your Interior Design Style

There are countless interior design styles out there, both new styles that have emerged due to necessity and old styles that have persisted due to preference. You may not find one that fully encompasses your personal style. The trick is to find something close, so you can get a better idea of how these rooms look when finished. Your interior design style should carry on throughout your house consistently, otherwise, it might look disjointed.

4. Focus on Durability

How often will you use your new furniture? If you plan for it to withstand daily use, including potential abuse by children or pets, you’ll want durable upholstery that can last long enough to be worth the price tag. By nature, prints are bound to last for a shorter time than woven fabrics with tight weaves. If you plan for a couch to be more for decoration than practicality, you might opt for a bold print to help it stand out.

5. Look for Resistance

With a new trend favoring more natural light, people will be designing their rooms around their windows. UV radiation causes about 40% of fading in upholstery, so investing in good drapes that block the sun will be a huge help in preserving your furniture. Different types of fabrics might resist fading differently, but you can also combat this occurrence by opting for a lighter color of furniture.

Another thing you’ll want to check for is mildew resistance. If you live in an area with high humidity, you’ll know that mildew loves to fester in unexpected places. Having fabric upholstery that is mildew-resistant can help you avoid a sticky situation that might ruin your furniture.

6. Consider Any Allergies

Unfortunately, you may have folks with allergies in your home. People with allergies often opt for low-pile carpet, as it traps allergens far less than its counterpart. Upholstery is the same way. The best way to combat allergies is to avoid fabrics and pick upholstery like vinyl that won’t trap allergens. If you want to pick fabric upholstery, though, you should opt for microfiber or one that’s easier to clean and vacuum. That way, you can keep the allergens under control.

7. Think of Aging

In a perfect world, where you won’t have to worry about fade resistance due to sunlight or durability issues due to kids or pets, you still need to consider how the upholstery will age. For example, many people may think leather furniture is a good investment, but when everyday wear starts to show a patina, will they still be interested in it?

Research the fabrics you like, then look up images of how they’ll look over time. Your material might look different from the usual aging, depending on how many other factors affect it in your home. Still, having a general idea of how it might look can help guide you in the right direction.

Find the Upholstery That Suits Your Lifestyle

You might like a certain type of upholstery, but if it isn’t doable with your lifestyle, it might not be worth the investment. You want your furniture to last a long time, especially with the price you’re paying. Consider how old your kids are and if you have any rowdy pets. Making the best decisions that benefit your whole household will help you find upholstery that works well with your design and your life.

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