Choosing the Best Fabric for Reupholstering Chairs

Giving a beloved chair new life starts with the perfect fabric. The best fabric for reupholstering chairs isn’t just one thing—it’s the perfect collision of your lifestyle and a style you’ll adore for years.

For most homes, this sweet spot is a durable, beautiful material. Think high-quality linen blends, plush performance velvets, or resilient leather that only gets better with age.

Your Guide to Selecting the Perfect Chair Fabric

Choosing a fabric isn't just about color. It's about creating a piece that tells a story of your exquisite taste. Think of this guide as your personal consultation—your inside track to the world of designer fabrics, right here in Atlanta. This process should feel inspiring, never intimidating.

Whether you’re an interior designer sourcing for a client in a classic Roswell home or a homeowner on West Paces Ferry looking to refresh a family heirloom, the perfect textile is waiting for you at Lewis and Sheron. We'll help you navigate the nuances, from the honest elegance of natural fibers to the powerhouse resilience of today's performance textiles.

Making the Right Choice Simple

The goal? Land on a material that beautifully marries form, function, and a touch of luxury. This decision tree boils it down to the three factors that matter most: your lifestyle, durability needs, and personal style.

This visual guide confirms what we always tell our clients: the ideal fabric is deeply personal. It’s rooted in how you actually live. That’s the secret to an upholstered chair that’s both stunning and practical.

This quick reference table is a great starting point, outlining some of our most popular choices and where they shine brightest.

Quick Fabric Selection Guide

This is just a snapshot, of course. The real magic happens when you can feel the textures and see the colors in our Buckhead showroom, but this will help you narrow the field.

Fabric Selection and Craftsmanship

The art of fabric selection goes beyond visual appeal. The principles are surprisingly similar across different crafts. Just as tailoring demands careful material consideration—as you can see in this comprehensive guide on finding the best fabrics for suits—so does upholstery. It all comes down to understanding a material’s properties and how they align with your end goal.

Ultimately, the best fabric is an extension of your home's personality. It’s the final detail that transforms a simple piece of furniture into a real statement. From the handcrafted lines of a Verellen chair to a Wesley Hall sofa, the right textile elevates everything. Let’s find yours.

The Timeless Appeal of Natural Fabrics

There’s just something about natural fibers. They breathe. They have character. They connect a piece of furniture to the earth in a way modern synthetics just can’t. This isn't just about fabric; it's about a tactile experience that speaks to quality and craftsmanship.

Think about a classic Lee Industries chair wrapped in crisp Belgian linen—it’s the picture of relaxed luxury you see in beautiful Alpharetta and Cumming homes. Or imagine a cozy reading nook in Milton, where a plush chair in a soft cotton blend practically begs you to settle in. That’s the power of natural textiles.

Linen: The Epitome of Effortless Chic

Linen is the champion of sophisticated, casual design. It's effortlessly chic, with a subtle texture and a relaxed drape that feels both high-end and approachable. Because it’s so breathable, it’s exceptionally comfortable in any season—a key reason it remains a go-to for luxury furniture here in Atlanta.

Pure linen can wrinkle, it’s true. But modern linen blends solve that by incorporating other fibers to boost resilience without sacrificing that signature look. These designer fabrics offer the best of both worlds: timeless style with improved practicality. For a closer look at one of our most coveted collections, explore the world of Libeco Linen and its Belgian craftsmanship.

Linen tells a story of lived-in luxury. It’s not about pristine perfection; it’s about comfort, character, and a style that feels curated over time.

The beauty of linen is its versatility. It can bring a graceful touch to a formal Verellen sofa or create a breezy vibe for a sunroom chair. It’s a foundational textile for any designer working on a project from East Paces Ferry to Forsyth County.

Cotton: Softness and Surprising Strength

If fabrics were food, cotton would be comfort food. It’s soft, familiar, and wonderfully breathable. When you picture a chair you can truly sink into, chances are it's covered in a high-quality cotton or cotton blend.

It’s also an incredible canvas for color and pattern, absorbing dyes with a richness that brings designs roaring to life. From subtle solids to bold, intricate prints, cotton showcases artistry beautifully. Heavier weaves like canvas or denim offer surprising durability, making them excellent choices for custom upholstery projects.

Wool: A Rich and Resilient Classic

Wool is an absolute powerhouse. It offers incredible resilience and a rich, textural depth that adds dimension to any piece. It’s naturally flame-retardant, resists stains, and its fibers have a unique springiness that fights off wrinkling and crushing.

This built-in durability makes it a smart investment for high-end furniture that needs to stand the test of time. Picture a handsome Wesley Hall sofa in a stately Buckhead study or a tailored Ambella armchair that needs to maintain its sharp lines for years. Wool delivers performance and a deeply luxurious feel.

Back in our Atlanta fabric showroom, designers consistently turn to these classic textiles. While they might require a bit more mindfulness than their synthetic cousins, their aesthetic payoff is unmatched. They don't just cover furniture; they elevate it.

How Performance Fabrics Combine Style and Strength

Life happens. Especially in a busy home. Red wine spills, muddy paws appear, and kids with sticky fingers are a constant reality. That’s where performance fabrics come in—and let’s be clear, this is not the stiff, uninspired commercial fabric of decades past.

Today’s performance textiles, like the incredible collections from Crypton and Sunbrella in our Atlanta fabric showroom, offer a stunning combination of softness, style, and near-indestructibility. They are the unsung heroes for busy households from East Cobb to Milton.

These brilliant textiles are engineered from the fiber up to resist stains, moisture, and fading. This makes them the ideal choice for hardworking dining chairs or a family room sofa from a premium vendor like Wesley Hall. You get all the style with none of the stress.

The Technology Behind the Toughness

So, what makes a performance fabric perform? Advanced textile technology. Brands like Crypton embed stain-and-moisture-repellent tech into every single fiber, creating a permanent barrier. It’s not a coating that wears off; it’s part of the fabric itself.

Think of it this way: on a standard fabric, a spill soaks in. On a performance fabric, it beads up, waiting for you to blot it away. This is a game-changer for custom upholstery, especially for pieces that see daily use. It proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for peace of mind.

For Atlanta interior design professionals, specifying a performance fabric is a mark of savvy, client-focused design. It’s about creating beautiful spaces meant to be lived in, ensuring that exquisite furniture from partners like Lee Industries or Ambella maintains its beauty for years.

Today’s performance fabrics mean you can finally have that white sofa you've always dreamed of, even with kids and pets. The luxury is in the living, not just the looking.

Don't Sacrifice Designer Style

Long gone are the days when choosing a durable fabric meant settling for a limited palette of boring colors. Our Buckhead showroom is filled with designer fabrics that are also powerhouse performers. You’ll find rich velvets, textured chenilles, and sophisticated patterns all engineered to handle whatever life throws at them.

One of the most significant fabrics in this category has been performance polyester, prized for its durability. Driven by demand from families and commercial spaces, modern polyester blends now feature incredible stain-resistant and even bleach-cleanable finishes. In fact, fabric upholstery, led by these advanced blends, makes up around 55% of the total volume in the global upholstered furniture market. You can read the full analysis of the upholstery fabric market for more on this trend.

Where Performance Fabrics Shine

While they're a great fit anywhere, some areas of the home practically demand the resilience of a performance textile. Here’s where they truly make a difference:

• Dining Room Chairs: Ground zero for spills. A performance fabric means you can host dinner parties without worrying about every dropped forkful.
• Family Room Sofas: The hub of the home. A performance fabric on a Wesley Hall or Verellen sofa ensures it remains the centerpiece for all the right reasons.
• Sun-Drenched Rooms: In bright spaces common in Roswell and Alpharetta, standard fabrics can fade quickly. Sunbrella fabrics are engineered to resist UV rays, keeping their colors vibrant.
• High-Traffic Benches and Ottomans: These pieces double as footrests, extra seating, or makeshift tables. They need a fabric that can stand up to constant contact.

Ultimately, choosing a performance fabric is an investment in longevity. It allows designers and homeowners to select textiles with confidence, knowing their luxury furniture Atlanta will look stunning for years to come.

The Unmistakable Luxury of Leather and Velvet

When you're ready to make a real statement, some fabrics just hit different. For pure, unapologetic luxury, nothing compares to the rich character of leather or the decadent feel of velvet. These aren't just materials; they're an upgrade to a new level of style.

A Verellen sofa upholstered in buttery-soft, full-grain leather is more than furniture—it’s an investment. Over time, it develops a beautiful patina that tells a story. It brings a classic, confident energy to any space, from a Collier Rd. office to a sophisticated Roswell den.

The Enduring Appeal of Leather

In many ways, leather was the original performance fabric. It’s remarkably tough, a breeze to clean, and naturally keeps allergens at bay. Over the years, it doesn’t wear out; it wears in, getting softer and more personal. It's the kind of material that turns high-end furniture from partners like Lee Industries and Wesley Hall into instant heirlooms.

But not all leather is created equal. There's a world to explore:

• Aniline Leather: The most natural-looking leather, dyed exclusively with soluble dyes. It proudly displays the hide’s unique markings, giving it an authentic, high-end feel.
• Semi-Aniline Leather: A great middle-ground. It has a light surface coating with a hint of pigment, making it more resistant to stains and fading while still feeling soft and natural.
• Protected Leather: Also known as pigmented leather, this is your durability workhorse. A polymer surface coating with pigments makes it incredibly resilient—ideal for a busy family room sofa.

The Decadent Touch of Velvet

And then there's velvet. Its deep, luminous pile catches the light in a way no other fabric can, adding instant glamour and depth. One touch is all it takes to understand why it’s been synonymous with luxury for centuries. Even a simple armchair becomes a throne when wrapped in rich, jewel-toned velvet.

If you think velvet is delicate, think again. Modern velvets have changed the game. Many of the designer fabrics in our Atlanta showroom are performance velvets, often blended with durable fibers like polyester. This means you get that signature decadent softness with surprising resilience against crushing and stains.

Velvet is an experience. It’s the fabric you choose when you want furniture to feel as good as it looks, turning everyday seating into a moment of indulgence.

Whether you're designing a dramatic living room on West Paces Ferry or sourcing fine fabrics in Alpharetta, these materials elevate a simple chair into a work of art. For luxurious options, knowing how to maintain them is crucial. For instance, if you're considering a material with a similar soft nap, you might want to learn how to clean a suede couch to keep it pristine. These textiles make an unforgettable impression, which is why they remain a favorite for designers in our Lewis and Sheron Trade Program. They understand that sometimes the best choice is the one that makes the boldest statement.

Decoding Fabric Durability with Wyzenbeek Rub Counts

Let’s pull back the curtain and talk science. When we’re helping a client with a custom upholstery project, we always look at the Wyzenbeek rating, also known as "double rubs."

Think of it as a mechanical stress test. A machine rubs a piece of heavy cotton duck canvas back and forth over the fabric, over and over, until two yarns break. That final number—the total count of motions—is its double rub rating.

This single number tells a powerful story about how well your chosen fabric will stand up to daily life. It’s the difference between a fabric that looks pristine for years and one that shows its age way too quickly.

Translating Rub Counts into Real-World Use

So, what do these numbers mean for your furniture? A delicate silk might rate under 3,000 double rubs—perfect for an accent pillow, but a disaster for a chair seat. At the other end, a heavy-duty commercial fabric can top 100,000 double rubs.

Understanding this rating is crucial for making a smart investment. It ensures your custom upholstery project not only looks exquisite on day one but continues to look that way. This is the kind of know-how that sets a quality piece apart.

The double rub count isn’t just a number; it’s a promise of performance. It empowers you to match the fabric’s resilience directly to how you live, ensuring your investment is as practical as it is beautiful.

This is why we guide our clients—from homeowners in Buckhead to designers in our trade furniture program—through these specs. For that Wesley Hall sofa in a busy family room or a set of Lee Industries dining chairs, a higher rub count isn't a suggestion; it's a necessity.

Your Guide to Wyzenbeek Ratings

To make it simple, we've broken down the numbers into practical applications. This chart translates the technical data into clear recommendations, helping you choose the best fabric for any project.

Wyzenbeek Double Rub Count Guide

Translating rub counts into practical applications for your furniture.

Armed with this knowledge, you can walk into any fabric showroom with the confidence of an expert. You’re no longer just choosing a color; you’re selecting a textile engineered for longevity.

See and Feel Designer Fabrics in Our Buckhead Showroom

Reading about fabric online is helpful, but it’s only half the story. The real magic happens when you see and touch the world's finest textiles for yourself—and that’s why our Atlanta fabric showroom exists. It’s less a store, more a living library of texture and color, where your vision for the perfect custom piece takes shape.

Imagine: you're standing in our Buckhead showroom, a bolt of rich, designer fabric in hand. You drape it over a classic Wesley Hall frame, watching how the light plays across its surface. You compare its feel against another from our exclusive collections. This is where guesswork ends and clarity begins.

A Curated Collection for Atlanta's Finest Homes

We’ve spent decades building relationships with the world’s most renowned mills. The result? A hand-picked selection of fine fabrics you simply won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re sourcing for a high-end project in Milton or reviving a beloved chair in your East Cobb home, our collection is your playground.

• Discover Exclusive Textiles: Find patterns and weaves that make your design truly one-of-a-kind.
• Pair with Premium Furniture: See how fabrics look on frames from incredible makers like Verellen, Lee Industries, and Ambella Home.
• Get Expert Guidance: Our design consultants live and breathe this stuff. They are your dedicated resource, here to help you navigate options and choose with confidence.

When you can experience it firsthand, choosing the right fabric is no longer a shot in the dark. You’re not just picking the best fabric for reupholstering chairs; you’re making a smart investment in quality that will last for years.

Inspiration is tactile. It’s the moment you feel the perfect weave and know, instantly, that you’ve found the one. That’s the experience we create in our showroom.

Your Resource for Exquisite Interior Design

For the talented members of our local design community, we offer a partnership built on support and access. The Lewis and Sheron Trade Program is designed to be your ultimate Atlanta interior design resource, giving you a competitive edge on projects across North Georgia.

We love partnering with designers to source the perfect materials for high-end furniture, ensuring every detail aligns with a client’s vision. Whether you need a specific performance fabric for a bustling Roswell family home or fine fabrics Alpharetta for a sophisticated Buckhead residence, our trade program connects you to the finest vendors and textiles available.

Here in our showroom, inspiration becomes reality. It's where you can confidently select the perfect material to turn a simple piece of furniture into a masterpiece.

Common Questions About Reupholstering Chairs

When you’re ready to bring a piece of furniture back to life, a few questions always pop up. It’s normal. Think of this as your personal FAQ, pulled from years of helping Atlanta homeowners and designers get their custom upholstery projects just right.

We hear it all in our Buckhead showroom, from "How much fabric do I really need?" to "Can I use that bold pattern on this tiny chair?" Let's clear up these common hurdles so you can move forward with total confidence.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for My Chair?

This is always the first question, and for good reason. While every chair has its own quirks, a few reliable estimates can point you in the right direction.

• Simple Dining Chair (seat only): You'll typically need just 1 yard of fabric.
• Armless Dining Chair (seat and back): Plan for around 2 to 3 yards.
• Classic Armchair: A standard armchair usually requires anywhere from 6 to 8 yards.
• Wingback Chair: These larger, more complex shapes often need 7 to 9 yards.

Pro Tip: Always buy about 20% more fabric than you think you need. If you're working with a pattern, bump that to 30%. This extra yardage is crucial for matching up repeats, covering mistakes, and getting that flawless, professional finish.

Should I Tackle Reupholstery Myself?

Honestly, a simple, pop-out dining chair seat can be a fantastic and rewarding DIY project.

But for anything more complex—especially a beloved piece from a vendor like Wesley Hall or Lee Industries—we always steer people toward a professional. A seasoned upholsterer knows how to work with the grain of a designer fabric, create perfectly crisp seams, and ensure the chair's structure is solid. Their craftsmanship turns a good idea into a stunning piece of high-end furniture that lasts. Trusting an expert protects your investment.

What Other Details Should I Consider?

Beyond the fabric, a few key decisions can elevate your project. Think about custom details like contrasting welting (the piping along the seams) to define the chair’s lines, or elegant button tufting for a touch of classic sophistication.

This is also the perfect time to think about the chair's "guts"—the foam and batting. Replacing old, compressed padding will make your chair not only look but also feel brand new, ensuring the comfort finally matches its renewed style. For a deeper dive, be sure to review these 10 questions to ask when choosing upholstery to cover all your bases.

Starting a project like this is exciting. When you're armed with the right information, you can make choices that guarantee a beautiful result you’ll love for years to come.

Ready to find the perfect fabric for your next project? The design experts at Lewis and Sheron Textiles are here to help you select the ideal material from our unparalleled collection. Visit our Atlanta showroom today to get inspired.