Dear Jean and Richard: Where do we start when choosing fabric for new upholstered chairs and sofa?

RICHARD: If you are purchasing new furniture at a store, they will show you select options from that furniture manufacturer’s fabric line. If you are just purchasing fabric, you can use just about anybody’s upholstery weight fabric.

JEAN: If you can find fabric that the manufacturer offers, it will be a more economic purchase. But I vote for getting what you love. If one fabric jumps out at you, go for it. You’ll be looking at it, and sitting on it for a long time. It’s usually a better plan to use a plainer fabric on a sofa, maybe with a great texture, as it’s a much larger scale piece in the room. If you want bolder color or pattern, try it on a chair or ottoman. A more conservative design would be to use that choice on throw pillows.

RICHARD: For myself, texture and feel is almost as important as color. As much as I prefer an austere minimal look, I love relaxed slubby linen type fabrics or high-low fabrics like cut velvets. You can go with a neutral palette, but add interest with many different textures. I love when guests come over and I see them running their hands across fabrics. That is, if they sterilized them prior to arriving!

JEAN: Hard to believe you live with a real dog with real fur. These days there seems to be a lot of contrasting natural gray or wheat tones mixed with the boldness of deep berry colors and citrusy oranges. Stoney tones pairing with turquoise and chartreuse are another wonderful combination. Old conservative rules are out the door- which is fine with me! I love to mix it up, to not be predictable. It’s all about contrasting colors and textures.
The other thing I find interesting is generally the difference in urban versus rural living. Many city homes or lofts tend to be more stark, with mixes of quiet grayed tones. Fabric choices often remind me of a handsome tailored suit; flannels, pinstripes and herringbones. Rural homes may tend to be more colorful, often bringing in the outside colors of nature; think grass, sand, sky and flower gardens. Fabrics are more casual and soft, with crumpled linens, slubby chenilles, even pretty embroidered silks, linens and cottons.

RICHARD: And just one more thing to think about, these fabrics and colors can affect your mood. When I am feeling cocoonish, I go to my little den with its chocolate velvet sofa, grass cloth walls in natural browns, contrasting clean whites and hints of turquoise everywhere. Just writing that did not sound relaxing at all… but it is.

JEAN: So in the end, choose sofa and chair fabrics that wear well for how the pieces will be used, feel good on bare legs if that matters, and help make you feel happy whenever you come home.