Pin Down a Fabric for Your Couch
Material, color and pattern choices for couch fabric can be dizzying. These upholstery ideas can help you choose wisely
I'm the founder and editor of Rooms and Words, a two-headed blogazine about all things design. I also contribute regularly to shelter magazines in Israel and love styling and decorating for my family and friends.
I'm the founder and editor of Rooms and Words, a two-headed blogazine... More »
So you've seen a couch that you've liked on Houzz, or maybe you're lusting after a piece in your favorite furniture store. But now you're wondering: Will the fabric be durable? Will it blend in with your design style? Will it stand out just enough? Luckily, most furniture stores will let you chose from a wide range of fabrics or even use your own for an additional fee. Get ideas for your next sofa fabric from some of these beautiful examples.
Velvet has the power to instantly make the simplest of sofa shapes look elegant and supple. It's not restricted to a certain decorating style or philosophy, either: an English rolled-arm sofa, a French-inspired settee or a streamlined couch can all benefit from this luxurious fabric.
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| In this living room designed by Atmosphere Interior Design for the HHL Grand Prize Show Home, blue velvet adds elegance and sheen to an otherwise linear sofa while still keeping the style contemporary. |
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| In a Tudor-style cottage, a velvet rolled-arm couch paired with a leather chair and a zebra ottoman for an English, masculine vibe shows how versatile this fabric is. |
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by Vintage Renewal
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| When you have an exquisite sofa frame — vintage (as in this picture), new or custom made — a solid velvet fabric will let the silhouette of your sofa shine. Velvet made of linen or cotton is much more durable than silk velvet and is also less stain prone. There's no denying silk velvet is the fairest of them all, but linen and cotton keep the look and feel that draw many of us to velvet in the first place. |
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by TILTON FENWICK
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| If you choose a fabric that is easier to care for, you can still make a design statement. A bold solid color will make your sofa the focal point of your living room. |
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by Jan Skacelik
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| If you're falling for a colorful solid, it's time to be honest with yourself: Can you live with this much color on such big piece of furniture? If the answer is yes, just remember to keep the other pieces in the room fairly simple so they won't compete with your big statement sofa. Also, carry the color you choose throughout the room so that the sofa doesn't stick out. Two great examples of carrying color throughout are the ikat pillows in the previous photo, which have shots of the same teal as the sofa, and the yellow touches in the art above Jan Skacelik's yellow sofa in this photo. Remember: A little goes a long way. |
by Niche Interiors
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Bold color isn't for every design scheme, home or family. But that doesn't mean your sofa has to be boring. Adding a detail like tufting will instantly add oomph to the most ordinary neutral fabric.
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| Add piping in a contrasting color to get a wow factor, or go for subtle and graceful with beige piping on a white sofa. |
A big-scale pattern can make or break a room. Be sure to keep the rest of your decor minimal and think twice before making such a commitment. If you're bold enough to choose a pattern, it can look nothing short of fabulous when executed beautifully.
by betsy burnham
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Restricting your patterned upholstery to a smaller piece or anchoring it to a corner or a wall will make the look easier for the eye to digest. Here, Betsy Burnham married a gorgeous orange and cream ikat to a window-seat sofa, repeating the colors in the drapery to make the effect less jarring.
| If you love pattern but bold statements aren't your style, tone-on-tone or small-scale patterns read almost as neutrals but still add a subtle element of surprise and elegance. |
by Julie Holloway
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If you have young kids or pets, there's no doubt slipcovers are the most practical solution. Go for cotton or linen, which are easy to care for and sometimes look even better with time. Embrace their signature natural look by pairing them with other natural elements, like wood furniture, sisal rugs and a wool throw.
Your Guide to Stylish Slipcovers
Your Guide to Stylish Slipcovers
Slipcovers offer a great opportunity to have a little fun. Experiment with stripes or any other fun pattern you like and accessorize the room accordingly, like with this coastal-chic room.
More:
Hunker Down With a Built-In Couch
A Study in the Classics: The Chesterfield Sofa
Houzzers, tell us: How did you pick your couch fabric? Share your thoughts and pictures below in the Comments section.
More:
Hunker Down With a Built-In Couch
A Study in the Classics: The Chesterfield Sofa
Houzzers, tell us: How did you pick your couch fabric? Share your thoughts and pictures below in the Comments section.
Ideabook published on April 22, 2012.
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