At Trent Furniture, we like to give our customers as much control over their order as possible. When you come to ordering new furniture, choosing the style and design is just the first decision you’ll have to make.
Once you’ve selected the chair, this will be followed by deciding on the type of finish - this will most likely involve a choice of dark oak, light oak or walnut. Then, if you would like the chair to have padded support, it will be upholstered. And you guessed it: you’ll be in control of what fabric is used.
So, as someone who most probably won’t have dealt with upholstery before, how should you decide which fabric to choose?

Choosing the best patterns
We recommend using subtle patterns on furniture intended for heavy use. It widely-known that patterns mask general wear-and-tear, meaning the fabric looks new for longer. Plain fabrics may appear classier but will involve higher maintenance.
For statement pieces of furniture, you might be more inclined to go for a more interesting pattern. Using a bold pattern is an easy way to make a chair look more interesting.
What colours are best?
When presented with their upholstery options, most are drawn to the colours before considering fabric. We recommend you do the above in reverse order. Fabric should come before colour.
Trends will come and go, so a safe option is to go for regular colours such as shades of red, blue and green. It’s also worth thinking of your branding too. You might want your choice of fabric colour to be in keeping with your colour scheme. Be mindful that lighter colours will stain easier, so if this is your desired choice be wary that the upkeep may be more so choose a fabric which is easy to clean.
Durability of materials
Whether you are a restaurant, bar, café or hospitality provider, the chair is going to see a fair amount of use. As such, you want a fabric to match the chair’s durability.
Woven patterns will last longer than printed ones. So if you are aiming for high durability, look for fabrics with high thread counts and tight weaves.
Material matters
For more casual dining spaces, faux leather may be a more suitable choice because of its east-wiping benefits. Faux leather is easy to clean and water-resistant making the material easy to maintain in a busy environment.
The fabric that you choose to upholster the chair with should complement both the piece of furniture and the decor of the space. There are many options available, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
Upholstered furniture suppliers
At Trent Furniture, most of our chairs and seating come with an upholstery option. This is where you can put your own unique stamp on the furniture. With so many fabrics and patterns to choose when upholstering seating, you can select fabrics depending on your current décor and match it with your vision.
The fabrics shown on our website are the basic range that we always have in stock. If you struggle to find one suitable for your desired décor, contact us with a description of the fabric that you would like and we will endeavour to find an appropriate match. We can even upholster the chairs in your desired fabric. Just confirm that this is your preference when ordering.