Choosing fabric can be both exciting and daunting. In some cases, simple and serviceable is best. In other instances, it makes sense to take a risk in terms of pattern or to invest more in a luxe fabric. Here are some simple guidelines to help take the guesswork out of your decision-making:
What is the fabric you are looking at made of? Natural fibres like cotton, linen and wool look and feel amazing. They breathe and can be tailored very nicely. However, they are less forgiving in terms of stains and can be less resilient in areas getting heavy-duty wear-and-tear. Generally speaking, we suggest sticking to these fabrics for occasional furniture or for window coverings–items which have less of a tendency of getting very dirty or damaged when being used. If you need a more durable choice for everyday upholstery or areas used by kids and/or pets, consider looking for a fabric that includes polyester. The more man-made material is, the more likely the fabric is to be durable. For these fabrics, think chenille or woven textures that appear to have a few different colours of threads running through them.
Another key to learning about how durable a piece of fabric can be is to consider its “rub count.” A rub count is an industry-standard test where the manufacturer literally counts how many rubs a fabric can take before it starts to show wear. There are different ways to do the rub count test but, as a general rule, look for items over 40,000 rubs when considering a fabric for upholstery–some will go up to 100,000+ rubs. Fabrics with rub counts under 30,000 work nicely for things like drapery and throw pillows.
Once you’ve considered the above, start working on colour and patterns. On large items like sofas, we suggest using more neutral fabrics with little or no pattern. These are not items you want to replace just because your tastes have evolved. A good neutral in a soft, sandy beige or stoney grey will work well with almost any aesthetic and can adapt with you.
Start taking some more risks with colour and pattern on chairs and/or drapery. These are accent pieces and can provide a nice bit of drama to a space without being too overwhelming. Perhaps you try a bold blue velvet on some accent chairs in your living room or a large floral on some drapes. One key when working on fabrics for these elements is to be sure the colour and/or pattern you are selecting really resonates with you. Don’t suddenly pick blue if you normally gravitate towards reds and oranges and don’t take a chance on floral if you usually find it fussy. As with the sofas, these items can be expensive to replace so be sure you are sticking with general pre-established preferences.
The place to really take some risks is on the throw cushions. Be brave and do something unexpected and outside your comfort zone. If you tire of them, they are a relatively small investment and can be quite easily replaced. They are almost like the jewellery of a space so something stunning can really complete the look.
It’s a great time to take the next step, call Beth to get started! You can also have a look at some of Beth’s other design posts, here.
Guest Blogger: Beth Lowenfeld, Designer & Principal at Toronto based FOUR BLOCKS SOUTH, has over 15 years of experience in the design industry, 10 running her own residential interior design businesses. Her focus is on bringing the client’s vision to life. She helps them to make their house a home and does not impose her personal style on them. Four Blocks South can help with all aspects of design, from design concept to finish selections, project execution, furnishing and styling.
