Fabrics play a vital role in setting the tone of a space and with the plethora of options available, the process of choosing fabrics can be daunting or downright overwhelming. Colors, patterns, textures and the durability of fabrics must all factor into the choice. Where do you even start?
We’re here for you! Our fabrics styling guide will help you narrow down the choices so that you can get on to the fun part … shopping!
1) Color Palette and Scale: You obviously want colors that coordinate well with the other colors in the space. You also want to ensure that the scale of the different fabrics used in the same room does not compete with one another.


Here’s a cheat sheet of different fabrics, suggested uses,
and pros and cons of each:
- Cotton: Different types of weaves and finishes in cotton fabrics dramatically impact the fabric’s durability. Although cotton is highly resistant to fading and wear, it is also prone to wrinkling.
- Wool: A great fabric for high traffic areas of the home, wool is known for its sturdiness and durability. Resistant to fading, pilling and wrinkling, you will get a long life out of wool fabric.
- Leather: Resilient and easy to clean, leather is a good choice for high-use pieces. Just a swipe with a damp cloth will keep it in good condition.
- Linen: Because linen is so delicate, it’s probably not a great choice for homes with children and pets. You’ll want to use a professional for cleaning to avoid mishaps such as shrinking the fabric.
- Silk: Similar in characteristics to linen, silk is delicate and not suited to heavy wear. Use it only in lower traffic areas that have limited access to kids and pets.
1) Color Palette and Scale: You obviously want colors that coordinate well with the other colors in the space. You also want to ensure that the scale of the different fabrics used in the same room does not compete with one another.

Here’s a cheat sheet of different fabrics, suggested uses,
and pros and cons of each:
- Cotton: Different types of weaves and finishes in cotton fabrics dramatically impact the fabric’s durability. Although cotton is highly resistant to fading and wear, it is also prone to wrinkling.
- Wool: A great fabric for high traffic areas of the home, wool is known for its sturdiness and durability. Resistant to fading, pilling and wrinkling, you will get a long life out of wool fabric.
- Leather: Resilient and easy to clean, leather is a good choice for high-use pieces. Just a swipe with a damp cloth will keep it in good condition.
- Linen: Because linen is so delicate, it’s probably not a great choice for homes with children and pets. You’ll want to use a professional for cleaning to avoid mishaps such as shrinking the fabric.
- Silk: Similar in characteristics to linen, silk is delicate and not suited to heavy wear. Use it only in lower traffic areas that have limited access to kids and pets.
