Choosing a fabric

Where to start? Choosing a fabric should be enormous fun, there are so many brilliant options out there...but it can be overwhelming unless you have a really clear idea of what you're after. 

A good place to start is a simple moodboard, look at the other materials and furniture in the room and start to layer things together. Trying out different textures and combinations.

For textiles, a rule of 3 usually works - a large print, medium print and then simpler motif, plain or stripe to ground the scheme. Which way round you work these into your space is up to you. 

Fit for purpose

Once you've got a handle on the 'style' of fabric and colour palette, think about how you'll use it. Is it a sofa for the family, or a more formal sitting room piece? Do you have pets? Kids?

Are you likely to need to wash your covers regularly, or happy to spot clean in situ instead?

Natural fabrics are always the ideal because of their low VOC nature. We don't use fire-retardant fabrics on our upholstery because of their reduced breathability and passive toxic load.

Each sofa and ottoman has a wool interliner under the slipcover to meet UK regulations.

Linen

100% linen is a high performance natural fabric.

Durable and hardwearing, linen flax is incredibly strong plus it keeps you cool in summer, and warm in winter just like wool.

We would always recommend air-drying your covers after washing on a cool cycle and putting them back on when ever-so-slightly damp to allow them to stretch naturally back into place.

When looking at linens, opt for a heavier weight (or above a 20,000 martindale) as these are best suited to upholstery.

Cottons

Versatile and an excellent ground for print and pattern, cotton is always a popular option for upholstery.

Breathable and hardwearing, cotton is less likely to pill than wool and more resistant to fade than linen, although you'll often find it blended with other natural fibres for a durable, affordable alternative to 100% pure fabrics.

We absolutely love a classic cotton ticking stripe.

Corduroy & velvet

Cotton's luxe alter-ego, 100% cotton corduroy and velvets look amazing and are super comfortable.

They will bruise over time, it's part of the charm but if this isn't for you then there are blended cotton/poly mixes out there that you might prefer.

Robust and durable, corduroy and velvets are great for high traffic pieces.

We love a corduroy frill cover or printed velvet on an ottoman.

Family-friendly fabrics

We'd always advocate for natural fibres to keep the whole family happy, healthy and comfortable, if you have pets or children then we'll happily help you find your ideal fabric.

Prints are often more forgiving and conceal marks, heavy cotton weaves are also a great option and easy to wipe or brush away any surface marks.

The bonus of having removable covers is the ability to take them off easily and wash them in your machine at home.

If the fabric you've selected is better suited to spot cleaning (wool in particular) then a simple, natural paste mix of baking soda, warm water and white vinegar should lift any surface marks.

Our go-to's

There are a huge amount of resources when choosing a fabric. If you can make it to an interior design shop or hub like Chelsea Harbour then it's a great place to start browsing and speak to the experts on hand.

We love Haines Collection, eBay and vintage sellers like Gail o'Reilly on instagram for offcut, remnant or vintage fabrics.

For crowd-pleasing prints, linens and velvets take a look at Designers Guild or Linwood, Susan Deliss for beautiful weaves inspired by global travels and Jessica Osborne or Mistry Designs for classic patterns with a twist. For affordable, hardwearing cottons take a look at Ian Mankin or Romo.

Larger compendiums Jane Clayton or Tissus d'Hélène are well worth a look when on the search for something new and unique.