You are looking for Designer Upholstery Fabric for your kitchen chairs or living room couch. What’s the main goal? Wikipedia says,

“Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English words up and holden, meaning to hold up. The term is applied to domestic furniture and also to automobiles, airplanes and boats. A person who works with upholstery is called an upholsterer; an apprentice upholsterer is sometimes called an outsider or trimmer.”

I never thought about it until I read that but If you are looking for upholstery fabric, shouldn’t you take into account what goes underneath it? Is your car Gasoline or Diesel? Does your stove use electric or gas? Are your seats spring, foam batting or cotton fiber. What goes underneath your fabric will make a big difference in what you choose. (well It might, I can’t say for sure.)

The next question is, “What designers make Designer Upholstery Fabric?” Who are the “important” Upholstery Fabric designers? What are the trends and where do I go to find out more?

The first thing you have to realize is that, just like fashion for people, there is fashion for houses. Just like there is a dress shirt or evening gown for a person, there are chairs and couches for houses. If you want a fashionable house, you need to current furniture styles and fashionable upholstery. Designers design dresses and design the furniture and fabric serves the same purpose..

It is important to distinguish a difference here between fashion for people and fashion for houses. There are styles of furniture that will always stay. Bauhaus, and Chippendale will always be around but the fabrics they are upholstered with may change, often subtly. Don’t get trapped into thinking you need to replace your furniture like clothing, quite often, changing the upholstery will be enough.