Best Fabrics for Your Sofa.

Best Fabrics for Your Sofa.

Best Fabrics for Your Sofa.

What fabric you choose for your custom sofa matters as much as the size, shape and cushion choice (we might say it matters more!). Here we’ll detail our top choices for the best sofa fabrics to help you ensure your sofa meets all your comfort and practicality needs.

Sofa Fabric 1: Cotton


For several practical reasons, cotton is a natural fibre and sofa staple for sofas. First, cotton is among the most cost-efficient options – always a plus. Second, cotton takes patterns and colours well, making it highly versatile. From crisp white to deep indigo, leopard print to cabana stripe, cotton comes in a nearly endless array of colours and patterns. Lastly, cotton resists fading, which is key if your sofa will be in direct sunlight.

Besides that, cotton is easily susceptible to stains, so we recommend getting a professionally treated cotton sofa before you bring it home to keep it fresh. Or, opt for an intricate pattern whose stain resistance lies in the sheer fact that it’s an expert concealer.

I have a suggestion for your sofa: Burgundy Floral Striped Printed Linen.

Sofa Fabric 2: Linen


Linen has a slightly looser weave than cotton, giving it that characteristic texture ranging from smooth and lustrous to chunky and nubby. The tricky thing about linen is that – like linen clothing – it can wrinkle and stain fairly easily. That’s why performance linen is our go-to choice for sofas that need to stand up to high traffic. If you’ve got kids or pets (or any messy ice cream eaters in your household), performance linen is a great durable fabric option. It is a more structured fabric than regular linen, holding its shape well while feeling soft and comfortable.

Linen is also a common choice for slipcovers, as it adapts to everyday life without sacrificing style. Not only does it offer the extreme convenience of a quick toss in the washer, but it is customizable should you crave experimentation or a quick change-up with the seasons.

Sofa Fabric 3: Velvet


Velvet is sumptuous, silky and fabulous to the touch. It takes colour exceptionally well, producing uniquely rich hues of depth and richness. The downside of expensive silk velvets is that they stain easily and are, well, expensive. For velvet sofas in pretty much anyone’s home that will get regular use, we love tight weave performance velvet, which stands up to everyday wear and tear. Specifically, look for velvets woven of cleanable, high-performance polyester to resist fading, crushing, stains and heavy traffic. All the tactile benefits, none of the headaches.

Sofa Fabric 4: Chenille


A cousin to velvet, chenille has closed loops rather than an open nap. While still extremely soft and cushy to the touch, chenille is chunkier than velvet, offering additional durability. As with velvet, we recommend seeking a performance chenille for stain resistance. However, cat owners beware: the tufted pile that comprises chenille can be easily snagged by the claws of scratchy cats (or dogs!).

Want to make colour for your sofa? Orange Floral Vintage Printed Linen may fit with your sofa.

Sofa Fabric 5: Microfiber.

If you love the feel of suede, microfiber is an excellent alternative fabric choice that is both cost-effective and highly resistant to stains. The one caveat is that it can be a magnet for hair and fur, so it’s not an ideal piece of furniture for homes with pets in them unless you love lint-rolling your sofa several times a day.

Sofa Fabric 6: Leather.


A high-quality leather sofa takes the prize when it comes to luxe fabrics. There’s a reason why some of the most iconic pieces of furniture are done almost exclusively in leather. Leather is sophisticated, durable, and resistant to stains. It is highly versatile and can work in almost any style of home, from ultra-modern to old-school traditional.

Like a favourite leather jacket, it grows softer with each use and takes on a gorgeous patina over time. As a bonus, leather resists allergens, which is ideal if you or anyone in your family suffers from allergies.

Now is your turn, to finger out the Upholstery Linen for your new sofa. Email or chat with me if you have any questions: https://thelinenshack.com.au/

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