Choosing the right fabric for your sofa is an important decision that you will have to live with for some time so it’s well worth some careful consideration in order to get it right. There are several aspects to think about when picking a fabric on a new sofa or one that’s to be re-upholstered.

Your first consideration will probably be the colour, whether you want it to tone in to an overall room setting, or whether you would rather it stands out as a bold statement. Your exact colour choice might not be available in the type of fabric you have in mind, but by shopping around and considering all the options you should come up with a shade that is close to your first choice in a fabric that suits.

The colour and type of fabric that you choose can have a varying effect on how much maintenance and cleaning a sofa requires, and, how long it will last. Here are some tips on how to find the best fabric for your sofa.

The price range may be an over-riding factor. Generally speaking the more expensive a fabric the better quality it is and the longer it can be expected to last. If the fabric you want is just too expensive then you may be able to find an alternative type that you hadn’t originally considered that could look and last equally well, and that is somewhat cheaper to buy. The only alternative is to put off purchase until you can afford the fabric you really want.

An easy to clean fabric is essential if you have children or pets. Modern micro-fiber covers can be simply wiped over with a damp cloth. Leather is another easy to clean option and comes in a range of types and finishes. Chenille is soft and durable but more likely to take up stains. A sofa that is more decorative than functional, or at least only has light use, can be covered with light cotton, velvet, or linen., materials that offer a tremendously wide range of colours and patterns.

Another consideration is physical wear of your fabric. If your sofa has heavy use it may not be wise to employ a raised pattern such as a Jacquard which can suffer wear of the prominent parts and then appear rather older than it actually is.

It is worth checking fiber content and how the fabric is woven. The finish and the colouring of a fabric can also influence its durability. Checking the thread count on different fabrics is a good idea. The higher the thread count the more durable the fabric is likely to be.

If your sitting room gets a lot of sunlight you may need to check the fade resistance of a material before buying. If you find a material that you really like but it’s not guaranteed fade resistant you will have to place your sofa out of direct sunlight to be on the safe side.

Author: Jamie White is an skilled furniture salesman. He can help you to get the most out of your budget and needs when buying a modular sofa. If you want to get up to date info on the latest modular sofas make sure you visit his review website where he will evaluate the latest modular sofas on the market.