subject: The Right Fabric For Your Sofa [print this page] Size is probably the most important consideration when buying a new sofa, and its probably the first thing you think about: are you limited to a two- or three-seater, or do you have the space for a four-seater? Of course there are options to add footstools, corner pieces and extra seats too, to increase the amount of seating available to your family and guests, although of course you need to be careful to make sure that the amount of furniture doesn't end up being too imposing on the available space.
Next, we normally think about colour. After all, the sofa is the focal point of the room and the colour will influence our style and design surrounding our centrepiece. We think about bold single colours, paler tones or patterns to liven up our living space but the colours or patterns chosen must blend and compliment our wall colourings, floorings and window dressings.
Lastly, the type of fabric your sofa is covered in will probably be the next thing to think about. There are many different reasons for acquiring a new sofa, whether for aesthetic reasons as a design piece to attract attention as a bold statement, or for purely practical purposes as seating for guests, and your choice in material should reflect this. It should complement your lifestyle and the way in which your sofa is going to be used.
For large families with children, hard-wearing fabrics are probably best. Durable top-grain leathers or washable covers can be a great option as they are easy to wash, or often you will find that spills can simply be wiped off. However, it is worth bearing in mind that leathers won't fare so well in households with pets: the surface will quickly become covered in scratches! Of course, if your sofa was purchased as a design feature, there are a lot more options available in terms of fabrics as it is more likely to be displayed than it is used on a daily basis. Suedes, brushed linen, silky cotton velvets or Belgian linen can all look great in your living space, but be careful to position the sofa in a place where it will not be exposed to too much natural light, as this can cause more delicate fabrics to fade.
If you've got the place to yourself and your other half and your sofa is for snuggling in from of the tv, you've got a wide choice of materials available to choose from, with a range of colours and patterns including the soft micro-fibres of Chenille or broad weave linens, or even soft semi-aniline leathers, which are also low-maintenance for your convenience. Large groups, such as shared student housing perhaps, would benefit more from hardwearing materials such as corduroy as it is much more resilient and will keep the sofa looking fresher for longer despite its daily use.
You can use the choice of material for your sofa to reflect a particular style or atmosphere you wish to creature in your living room, whether it be suede or corduroy for a retro feel, vintage leather for a classic look, high gloss bi-cast leather for the more contemporary among us or even floral chintz, velvets or tapestries for a really traditional look - although these are usually only available now on custom-made sofas.
