Occasional / light upholstery
Useful for furniture that receives limited wear, such as an occasional bedroom chair or decorative accent piece.
Fabric Guides & Advice
Upholstery Fabric Guide: How to Choose Fabric for Furniture
The right upholstery fabric has to suit the furniture, the way it will be used and the look you want to create. Durability matters, but so do texture, pattern scale, pile direction, care and the exact manufacturer's specification.
Use this guide to understand the main upholstery-fabric terms and checks before ordering material for a sofa, armchair, dining chair, footstool, headboard or other upholstered piece.
In this guide
What to Consider When Choosing Upholstery Fabric
Start with the piece of furniture and the amount of use it receives. An occasional bedroom chair, a family sofa and dining chairs used every day place very different demands on a fabric.
How often is it used?Occasional seating can allow more delicate choices than the main family sofa.
Who uses it?Children, pets and regular entertaining may make cleanability and surface construction more important.
Where is it?Light, heat, moisture and proximity to windows can affect colour and long-term appearance.
What shape is it?Curves, deep buttons, loose cushions and tailored seams can influence the most suitable cloth.
Plain or patterned?Pattern scale, repeat and placement affect both appearance and the quantity required.
What does the maker need?Ask the upholsterer to confirm suitability and metreage before the final order.
First filter: check that the exact fabric is stated as suitable for upholstery. Do not assume that a curtain fabric, or another fabric with the same fibre content, will perform the same way on furniture.
Fabric Durability, Martindale & Rub Tests
Abrasion tests are one way of assessing how a fabric stands up to repeated rubbing. In the UK and Europe you will commonly see a Martindale result; North American specifications may instead show Wyzenbeek double rubs.
The two tests use different methods, so the numbers should not be treated as directly interchangeable. More importantly, a rub result is only one part of the specification: seam performance, pilling, lightfastness, cleaning, surface texture and the manufacturer's stated usage can all matter.
A practical Martindale starting point
Manufacturers use different categories, but these broad bands are useful as an initial reading of a specification rather than a universal rule:
Up to 10,000Usually decorative or very light-use territory.
10,000–15,000Often seen on occasional-use upholstery.
15,000–25,000Common territory for domestic upholstery, subject to the supplier's stated usage.
30,000+Often associated with heavier-use or contract-capable fabrics.
Do not buy by rub count alone. A very high figure does not make every fabric suitable for every situation, and it does not measure damage from pet claws, staining, sunlight or unsuitable cleaning.
Upholstery Fabric Classifications & Real-World Use
Suppliers do not all use identical wording, but product pages commonly describe the intended level or type of use. Treat the manufacturer's current specification for the exact product as the deciding information.
General domestic upholstery
Usually the starting point for sofas, armchairs and other furniture used regularly in the home.
Heavy domestic / contract
Designed for more demanding use. Contract projects may also require additional testing and fire-performance documentation.
Multi-purpose fabric
Some fabrics are specified for both upholstery and window treatments. Confirm the exact usage rather than assuming all multi-purpose cloths suit heavy seating.
Popular Upholstery Fabric Types
The fibre name gives useful clues, but the finished construction is what you actually live with. A tightly woven linen blend and a loose decorative linen can behave very differently, just as one velvet may be delicate while another is engineered for demanding upholstery.
Velvet
Rich colour and a tactile pile make velvet a popular upholstery choice. Fibre content and construction vary widely, so check durability, pile behaviour, care and any stain-resistant finish on the exact product.
Linen & linen blends
Linen brings natural texture and a relaxed appearance. Upholstery suitability varies by weave and blend; creasing, slubs and movement may form part of the intended character.
Cotton & cotton blends
Cotton appears in prints, jacquards, velvets and substantial weaves. Look at the complete specification rather than assuming a cotton fabric is either delicate or hard-wearing.
Chenille
Chenille yarns create a soft, tactile surface and are common in comfortable upholstery weaves. The texture and density differ considerably between collections.
Wool & tweed
Wool can offer warmth, resilience and a tailored feel. Some upholstery wools are highly durable, while the care and fire-performance information should still be checked product by product.
Performance fabrics
This is a broad description rather than one fibre type. Depending on the collection, the fabric may be designed around stain resistance, washability, high abrasion performance or indoor/outdoor use.
Pattern, Scale & Direction on Upholstered Furniture
Patterned upholstery needs to be judged on the shape of the finished piece, not just on a sample.
Scale
Large motifs have room to read on broad sofa backs and generous armchairs, while smaller furniture may crop the design heavily.
Placement
Centred motifs, stripes and strong geometrics can require careful alignment across cushions, backs, fronts and arms. This may increase the fabric quantity.
Pile & direction
Velvets, corduroys and other directional surfaces can look lighter or darker depending on the direction of the pile. The upholsterer should determine a consistent cutting direction.
For help identifying pattern families, see the Guide to Common Fabric Patterns.
Pets, Children & Everyday Practicality
No upholstery fabric is completely pet-proof, stain-proof or indestructible. The aim is to choose a construction and finish that suit the way the room is actually used.
Pets
Tighter, smoother constructions are often easier to live with than very open, looped or loosely textured surfaces where claws may catch. Consider how visible pet hair will be on the chosen colour too.
Children & family rooms
Look closely at cleaning instructions, removable covers where relevant, stain-resistant finishes and how forgiving the colour or pattern will be in daily use.
Strong sunlight
All textiles can change with exposure. If furniture sits in strong direct light, check any lightfastness information and consider blinds, curtains or repositioning to reduce exposure.
Very pale or dark cloth
Colour affects maintenance as well as style. Pale plains may show marks sooner; very dark or saturated colours can make lint, dust or fading more noticeable.
Fire-Safety Checks for Upholstery
Fire safety is an area where the exact furniture, cover fabric, fillings, interliners and intended setting matter. Domestic and contract projects can also be subject to different requirements.
UK position: the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 remain the core domestic upholstered-furniture regime, with amendments that came into force in October 2025. The UK Government also consulted on a further replacement/reform approach in 2026, so this is not an area to rely on an old generic chart.
For a current project, confirm:
- Whether the exact fabric is approved or tested for the intended upholstery application.
- Whether a barrier cloth, treatment or another construction route is required for that piece.
- Whether the project is domestic, hospitality, commercial, marine or another setting with additional requirements.
- That any fire-treatment route is suitable for the specific fabric and does not compromise its appearance or performance.
- That your upholsterer is working to the requirements that apply at the time the work is carried out.
For the current official UK position, see the Office for Product Safety and Standards guidance on furniture and furnishings fire-safety regulations.
You can also read our Fire Retardant Fabric Guide for a broader introduction.
Caring for Upholstery Fabrics
Always follow the care instructions for the exact fabric and, where appropriate, the finished furniture manufacturer's advice.
- Remove surface dust with the method recommended for the fabric and furniture.
- Deal with spills promptly, but avoid aggressive rubbing or unapproved cleaning products.
- Do not assume a washable fibre means the finished upholstery can be washed.
- Rotate or turn reversible cushions where the construction allows, helping distribute wear.
- Protect furniture from prolonged intense direct sunlight where possible.
- Use a professional cleaner when the supplier's care instructions call for specialist treatment.
Order Samples & Speak to Your Upholsterer
A physical sample is particularly important for upholstery because it lets you judge colour, texture, thickness and handle in the actual room.
Before you order the full quantity, give your upholsterer the exact product details. They can confirm whether the cloth suits the furniture construction and calculate the cutting requirement using the actual width, repeat and pattern direction.
Large repeats, stripes, checks, centred motifs, nap and pile direction can all increase the metreage compared with a plain fabric.
Upholstery Collections to Explore
Rather than choosing by brand name alone, use collection pages alongside the individual product specification. These current TM Interiors ranges provide useful examples of how upholstery collections can differ in look and performance.
Linwood
Omega
A large family of soft, practical velvet options. Individual Omega products on TM Interiors include high Martindale results and stated domestic/contract upholstery use.
Explore Linwood Omega →
Casamance
Paddington
A more decorative upholstery direction with bold geometrics, stripes and abstract designs. The current collection page lists upholstery use across the range.
Explore Casamance Paddington →
Collection-level descriptions are useful for browsing, but always check the specification of the exact colourway/product before ordering because performance, composition and care information can vary within and between ranges.
Upholstery Fabric FAQs
What Martindale rating should I look for on a family sofa?
For regularly used domestic seating, start with fabrics that the manufacturer explicitly classifies for general domestic upholstery. Martindale figures around the 15,000–25,000-plus area are common in domestic specifications, but the stated usage of the exact fabric matters more than choosing by one threshold alone.
Can I use curtain fabric to upholster a chair?
Only if the manufacturer also states that the fabric is suitable for the type of upholstery you have in mind. Fibre content or fabric weight alone is not enough to establish suitability.
What upholstery fabric is best for pets?
There is no completely pet-proof fabric. Tighter, less looped surfaces are often a sensible starting point, alongside good abrasion performance, practical care instructions and a colour or pattern that works with everyday pet hair and marks.
Is a higher Martindale score always better?
A higher abrasion result can indicate greater resistance to that specific test, but it does not measure every aspect of performance. Pilling, seam strength, stain behaviour, cleaning, UV exposure and the supplier's stated usage still need to be considered.
Do I need fire-retardant fabric for domestic upholstery?
UK domestic upholstered furniture is subject to fire-safety requirements, but compliance depends on the furniture construction and the materials used together rather than a single generic fabric label. The regulations were amended in 2025 and further reform was consulted on in 2026, so check the current requirements with your upholsterer or supplier for the specific project.
How much fabric do I need to re-cover a sofa or chair?
It depends on the size and construction of the furniture, fabric width, repeat and pattern placement. Use our How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need? guide for rough starting figures, then have the upholsterer confirm the final quantity.
Related Fabric Guides
Ready to compare upholstery fabrics?
Browse fabrics specified for upholstery, order samples, then confirm suitability and final quantity with your upholsterer before ordering the full length.
