Shopping for upholstery fabric is a challenging task. It might seem straightforward but it can easily overwhelm. Choosing the right fabric for your upholstery is also a big deal. Your furniture is the focal point of your interior décor so you want to make sure that the fabric you have invested in creates the style and mood that you wanted to achieve. But this can be extra challenging if you need to invest in patterned or printed fabric. Patterns are difficult to pull off because you have to make sure the other styling elements are well coordinated.

Deciding on which pattern to use is the trickiest part. If you need to re-upholster your furniture, you can use the pointers below to choose which fabric to choose.

Tip 1: Know what furniture is going to be upholstered.

This is the first and most important step you must do before deciding on which pattern to choose. Not all furniture is the same. The impact that a couch brings to your living room is different from a one-seater arm chair, or your ottoman. You must first identify what role that furniture plays in the interior décor and you can decide how bold or safe you want to go with your pattern choice.

Tip 2: Is it seasonal or permanent?

This is another important question you need to ask when choosing a pattern for upholstery fabric. If you are changing your upholstery on a seasonal basis, you can find prints or patterns that would match the season. For example, for spring and summer, you can opt for floral or palm print fabric. On the other hand, you want to opt for more cozy prints during winter such as damask or plaid.

Tip 3: Consider the overall style theme.

Investing in patterned fabric for your upholstery can be fun when you base it around an interior décor theme. It can also make it easier to pick the right pattern to use that way. For example, if you want a nautical theme for your home interior, you can choose from a wide range of stripes. If you want a folk/urban theme, you can choose geometric or ethnic pattern. But if you want a more avant-garde feel to your home interior, choose abstract prints.

Tip 4: When in doubt, choose classic patterns.

When you cannot settle for one particular type of print, go for the classic ones. This is a safe option because while you choose prints, they add a classic element to your interior décor. The classic pattern also provides a base from which you can use as vantage point for your other decorative elements. A few good examples of classic patterns include stripes, floral, polka dot, paisley, and embroidery, among others. You can use this same approach not just for upholstery, but also when shopping for drapery fabric.

Have you tried using patterned fabric on upholstery before? How did you go about choosing which fabric to use?