As an interior designer, you’d think my home would be a flawless masterpiece of texture and tone, right? Wrong. Let’s just say my early fabric choices were… ambitious. If I had a time machine (or even just a friend willing to tell me the truth), these are the fabrics I wish I had used in my home from the start. And I’d tell past-me to drop the impractical fabrics and go for comfort, durability, and style that lasts.
1. Performance Fabrics – Because Life Happens
When I first designed my living room, I chose a dreamy, delicate linen sofa. It was stunning—until I actually sat on it. One spilled coffee, a pet with a mission, and a toddler with a juice box later, and it looked like a modern art experiment gone wrong. Performance fabrics, which repel stains and stand up to wear, should have been my first love. Lesson learned: aesthetics are great, but durability is a life-saver.
2. Velvet – But Not the Fancy Kind
I used to think velvet was only for those who never actually use their furniture. Turns out, modern velvet is basically magic. The right kind (performance velvet, I’m looking at you) is soft, durable, and pet-friendly. Who knew? Not me, apparently, until my cat turned my old boucle chair into a scratching post.
3. Indoor-Outdoor Fabric – Not Just for the Outdoors
In my early days, I scoffed at the idea of using outdoor fabric indoors. But you know what’s better than reupholstering your dining chairs every year? Not reupholstering your dining chairs every year. These fabrics resist stains, UV damage, and even red wine spills from dinner guests who talk with their hands.
4. Wool Blends – Cozy Without the Drama
I once thought pure wool upholstery would make my home feel like a chic Alpine retreat. Instead, it turned into an expensive lesson in maintenance and lint rolling. Wool blends, however, provide that cozy, warm texture without shedding more than my dog. So now, I limit my wool in my home to rugs, blankets, and throws.
5. Leather – The Good Kind
Ah, my misguided attempt at a sleek, faux-leather couch. It looked great for about five minutes before peeling like a bad sunburn. Real, high-quality leather ages beautifully, cleans easily, and—most importantly—doesn’t disintegrate at the mere sight of a scratch.
Final Thoughts
If I could go back in time, I’d tell past-me to drop the impractical fabrics and go for comfort, durability, and style that lasts. Until time travel is an option, I’ll just be here, carefully choosing fabrics like my home (and sanity) depend on it—because, well, they do.
The Fabric Fox has a number of upholstery that have been pre-fabric guarded for your practical enjoyment… and we delivery throughout South Africa via couriers.
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