Deep and Detailed
When it comes to designs that will stand the test of time, think about opting for dark and detailed designs that will be generous when it comes to disguising marks of wear and tear.
“I love multi-coloured, densely-patterned fabrics in a house with young children. I have both Bettina in Canyon and Brink of Summer in Reservoir in my own home and even with my 3 and 7 year-olds doing somersaults on them daily, they show very little wear and tear.” – Alexis Hartman, Founder and Designer of Lake August
Warm or Cool?
When you’re deciding on a colour for your upholstery, think about the kind of atmosphere that you want to create in a room. If you’re looking to add warmth and vibrancy to a space, think about using warm yellows, oranges and terracottas or if you are looking to create a calm and serene setting, opt for cooler tones like greys and blues.
Direction Matters
“Consider print direction; this is crucial when applying a fabric to a three dimensional form. Take a lampshade for example – for drum shades, linear prints work beautifully, however, tapered shades, like this one in our Kanoko Pacific Blue Linen benefit from all over prints which are less directional.” – Walter G
Form First
“When selecting printed fabrics to cover furniture, consider how the fabric will appear when seamed together. For simple forms, bold prints are fantastic as the print will do the talking – take these bar stools which hero our Tangier Denim print. More complicated upholstery pieces will benefit from linear designs – our Luxor Saffron fabric enhances the fabulous curves of this slipper chair.” – Walter G
Play with Shape
“Upholstery is another opportunity to amplify colour, pattern and texture in interior decoration. Loose covers add a relaxed dimension and with a patterned fabric simultaneously bring more fun to a scheme.” – Penny Morrison. These upholstered slipper chairs combine a loose skirt with floral patterns for an accessory that is both relaxed and romantic.
Sweet Dreams
An upholstered headboard is a brilliant and relatively simple way of refreshing your bedroom. If you want to add a soft touch to the space, how about a repeated floral design? Or for something more contemporary, a bold abstract print can work wonders.
Mixing Patterns
When it comes to tips for mixing patterns in a space, we spoke to Tigger Hall, designer of Nine Muses Textiles for her expert insights.
“Mixing scale and pattern is one of the key elements of Nine Muse Textiles, the collection is designed and coloured to work cohesively throughout,” she explained. “The hero of the scheme is generally the larger pattern and once selected, the other fabrics are selected to bring a specific feel – whether it’s warmth, vibrancy or excitement. We feel it is important for rooms to always have an element of surprise and wit and mixing patterns is a brilliant way of achieving this.”
In Need of A Performance fabric?
When it comes to choosing fabrics for outdoor spaces or high-traffic areas in your home, there are many important factors to consider beyond just the visual aesthetic. High-performance fabrics have been carefully designed to last longer in harsh environmental conditions such as strong sunlight and hold their integrity even with frequent usage, and can often be the ideal choice for upholstering those pieces that call for extra durability.