The Perfect Fabric

Upholstered furniture has come a long way.  Early furniture used cushions for comfort, but chairs and benches were not upholstered.  In the 17th century, chair seats were being padded, but this form of upholstery was still fairly basic.  All sorts of stuffing, from sawdust, grass, feathers, to deer goat or horse hair were used.

In the Victorian era, fashions of opulence and comfort gave rise to excesses of stuffing and padding. Mass production techniques made upholstered furniture available in large quantity to all sections of society. The availability of better-quality steel springs and the development of lashing techniques enabled upholstery to be built up on seats, backs and arms quite independently of the frame shape. Stuffings became even more complex, edges became elaborately shaped into rolls and scrolls and fabrics were folded into soft padded shapes by means of buttoning.

I’m one of the designers at Magnolia Hall, and I love fabric.  That’s not a confession, it’s just a fact.  For some people, a trendy new restaurant or a fabulous pair of new shoes is their cup of tea, but for me, joy is found in finding the perfect fabric!  It has been this way for me for as long as I can remember.  The infinite choice of colors, patterns and especially textures makes me happy.

But even I can be intimidated by the overwhelming task of choosing just the right fabric for a sofa or chair.  After all, upholstery fabrics can define the style of a room.  When a Magnolia Hall customer considers purchasing an upholstered piece of furniture, choosing the right upholstery fabric is critical. In the world of furniture, nothing is more visible in a room than a sofa, chair or loveseat. Notice as an example, the Raphael Living Room.  Those are crucial pieces that can make a room come to life and you’re sure to know it every time you look at it.

Since your upholstery choice is the most visible sign of the quality and style of your furniture you want to take your time and not buy impulsively.  Keep in mind a light silk may look breathtaking, but isn’t for high traffic use. You will always bring home a swatch and keep it out for several days to see how it looks in your home with varied light.  You may be surprised to find out what looks like the perfect shade of taupe in the store, may in fact, take on the look of battleship grey in your home.  That’s why we make every effort to offer free samples of fabric, whenever possible, before you make a final decision.

When choosing a color, keep your fabric choices neutral, like the Caravelle living room.  Neutral color palettes will stand the test of time.  Your aunts mustard yellow couch may have come back in style but it took decades! Save the bold patterns for pillows and accessories.  But, most of all, have fun and use this opportunity in choosing fabric to express your style and personality.