Choosing Designer Fabric for Reupholstering Dining Chairs in Atlanta

We’ve all been there. You look at your dining chairs and realize they just don't feel like you anymore.

The secret to breathing new life into them isn't a brand-new set; it's finding the perfect fabric. For dining chairs, that means a material that marries high durability with impressive stain resistance—think performance velvets or tough-as-nails linen blends from exclusive textile collections.

It’s how you get a stunning refresh that’s built for real life.

Giving Your Dining Chairs a Worthy Second Act

Before you find yourself browsing high-end furniture stores in Buckhead or Roswell for replacements, pause. Consider the potential sitting right in your dining room.

Reupholstering is so much more than a simple fix. It's a design opportunity. A chance to inject your unique personality right into the heart of your home. We're not just talking about new fabric; we're talking about choosing a designer fabric that tells a story of quality, comfort, and enduring style.

All across Atlanta, from the elegant estates on West Paces Ferry to modern homes in Alpharetta, savvy homeowners and designers are rediscovering the power of custom upholstery. It’s about investing in the pieces you already own, ensuring they remain part of your home's story for years to come.

Why Reupholstery Is a Smart Design Choice

Opting to reupholster is a vote for craftsmanship over consumption. It’s a chance to build on a solid foundation.

• Preserve Quality: You get to keep the solid, well-made frames of your existing chairs. Honestly, they’re often far superior to what you’ll find in mass-market stores today.
• Achieve a Custom Look: This is your ticket to an exclusive world of designer fabrics you simply won't find on off-the-shelf furniture. The perfect pattern and texture are waiting for you at our Atlanta fabric showroom.
• Express Your Unique Style: Forget chasing trends. This is about creating a dining set that is perfectly, unapologetically you—whether your taste is classic, contemporary, or boldly eclectic.

To truly give your dining chairs a worthy second act, consider not just the initial effort but also the ongoing care, much like understanding practical guides on making items last longer for other cherished possessions. It’s about celebrating longevity and thoughtful design.

This guide will walk you through choosing beautiful fabrics that don't just look incredible but are truly built to last. Let's make sure your dining set becomes the stunning centerpiece it was always meant to be.

Understanding Durability and Performance Fabrics

Let's be honest. Your dining chairs work hard. They’re ground zero for morning coffee, impromptu homework sessions, and boisterous dinner parties.

That’s why durability isn’t just a nice-to-have when you’re picking a new fabric—it’s everything.

This is where performance fabrics shine. And if you’re picturing stiff, plastic-like materials from decades past, think again. Today's performance textiles are a game-changer, blending sophisticated style with the kind of resilience real life demands.

The demand for these tough-yet-beautiful textiles is exploding. The global upholstery fabrics market hit about $44.5 billion in 2023 and is on track to nearly double. This isn’t a fleeting trend; it’s a major shift in how designers and homeowners from Milton to East Cobb are thinking about their spaces. Investing in quality to refresh beloved furniture is a smart move. You can dig into the numbers in the full market research report.

Decoding the Double Rub Count

So, how do you measure a fabric's toughness? In the design world, it all comes down to the Double Rub Count. This number comes from the Wyzenbeek test, where a machine aggressively rubs a piece of cotton duck back and forth across the fabric. Each pass—back and forth—is a single "double rub."

For dining chairs that get used every day, you want a double rub count of at least 30,000. That’s the benchmark for heavy-duty use. It gives you peace of mind that your fabric can handle family life without looking worn out in a year. Anything less is really for pieces that are more for looking at than sitting on.

In our Buckhead showroom, we see clients from Forsyth County to Marietta who are genuinely surprised by how soft and luxurious a high-performance fabric can feel. The technology has come so far that you don’t have to sacrifice a beautiful hand-feel for spill-proof durability.

The Power Players in Performance Textiles

When you start exploring designer fabrics that can take a beating, a few names always come up. Brands like Crypton and Sunbrella are legends for creating elegant, life-proof textiles. They offer incredible resistance to stains, moisture, and fading without compromising on a high-end look.

• Crypton: This isn't a surface coating; it's technology engineered into every single fiber. This process creates an unbreakable barrier against stains and odors, making it a brilliant choice for homes with kids or pets. If you want to get into the science, our guide explains exactly what makes Crypton fabric so revolutionary.
• Sunbrella: While it made its name outdoors, Sunbrella now has stunning indoor collections that bring that same legendary fade and stain resistance inside. Imagine the relaxed vibe of Belgian linen but with the power to make a red wine spill bead up and roll right off.

Finding the perfect fabric for your dining chairs means finding that sweet spot where beauty and brawn meet. When you stop by our Atlanta fabric showroom, our experts can walk you through these smart solutions to make sure your chairs stay impeccable for years.

Before we move on, here's a look at some of the most popular high-end upholstery fabrics perfect for dining chairs. Each brings its own unique blend of style and substance to the table.

A Quick Guide to High-End Upholstery Fabrics

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your personal style and how you live. Whether you fall for the rich feel of velvet or the easy elegance of a linen blend, there's a durable, high-end option that's perfect for your project.

Mastering Pattern Scale and Color Selection

This is where the real fun begins.

Durability is the foundation. But the right pattern and color? That’s what takes a dining room from functional to unforgettable. It's a delicate dance between personality and proportion—a skill designers across Atlanta, from Buckhead to Marietta, have down to a science.

Choosing a fabric isn't so different from dressing a person; you have to consider the frame. A huge, dramatic print on a slender, Queen Anne-style chair can feel overwhelming. On the flip side, a tiny pattern might get lost on a substantial Parsons chair. The goal is always harmony.

Finding the Perfect Scale

Think of pattern scale as a conversation between your fabric and your furniture. You want them to complement each other, not shout.

• For Delicate Frames: Look for smaller, subtle patterns or a richly textured solid. A sophisticated pinstripe or a small-scale geometric can add interest without overpowering the chair’s elegant lines.
• For Substantial Chairs: This is your chance to go big. Larger chairs are the perfect canvas for a grand floral, a striking damask, or a modern abstract print. These patterns add visual weight and create a powerful focal point.

A secret from the pros: If you fall in love with a bold pattern but your chairs are on the smaller side, try using it on just the chair backs. Pair it with a coordinating solid on the seats for a custom, high-end look that feels perfectly balanced.

The Power of Color and Texture

Once you’ve nailed the scale, the next layer is color. This single choice sets the mood for your dining space. Are you aiming for serene and classic, or a room that's vibrant and full of energy? There’s no wrong answer, but there is a strategic one.

Timeless neutrals—warm greys, creamy ivories, deep charcoals—are the ultimate chameleons. They let the handcrafted forms of furniture from makers like Verellen or Lee Industries shine. This approach creates a sophisticated, gallery-like feel that’s popular in luxury homes across Roswell and Milton.

On the other hand, a splash of bold color can be transformative. Imagine classic dining chairs reupholstered in rich emerald velvet or a sapphire blue woven fabric. Suddenly, they’re not just chairs; they’re statement pieces. It's an excellent strategy for creating an anchor in an open-concept space.

And don't forget texture! The way a fabric feels is just as important as how it looks. A nubby bouclé adds a cozy warmth, while a crisp linen blend feels effortlessly elegant. Exploring different examples of woven fabrics can open your eyes to the character texture brings to a design.

In our Atlanta fabric showroom, we guide clients through thousands of exquisite textiles every day. We’ll help you find that perfect combination of pattern, scale, and color that complements your Wesley Hall or Ambella furniture and feels distinctly, wonderfully you.

How to Calculate Yardage and Plan Your Layout

Picking the perfect pattern is the fun part. Getting the numbers right is just as crucial.

It’s what separates a smooth project from a frustrating one. Ordering too little fabric stops you in your tracks, while ordering too much wastes a beautiful textile—and your budget.

Time to put on your planner hat. First, accurately measure your chairs. A standard dining chair seat typically requires about ¾ to 1 yard of fabric. A fully upholstered Parsons chair might need 2 to 3 yards.

The key is to measure each section (seat, back, arms) at its widest and longest points. Always add a few extra inches on all sides for pulling and stapling.

The Mystery of the Pattern Repeat

Solid fabrics are wonderfully straightforward. But when you’re working with a stunning designer fabric, you have to account for the pattern repeat. This is simply the distance, measured vertically, before the pattern starts over again on the fabric roll.

Why does it matter? A large, dramatic floral or a bold geometric will have a big repeat. This means you’ll need more yardage—often 10-30% extra—to ensure our craftspeople can perfectly align the design from one chair to the next. It’s this meticulous matching that creates the seamless, high-end finish you see in luxury furniture from brands like Verellen and Lee Industries.

This visual guide breaks down the core elements of selecting the right fabric, from understanding scale to picking the perfect color.

The process highlights how a successful project depends on balancing scale, pattern, and color to complement your furniture's design.

Your Investment in Quality

Choosing high-quality designer fabrics for custom upholstery is more than a style choice; it’s a smart financial one. The luxury upholstery fabric market is booming, expected to grow from $6.45 billion in 2025 to $10.70 billion by 2032. With North America leading the charge, homeowners in Atlanta and North Georgia are at the center of this movement toward quality and longevity. You can dig deeper into this trend in the global luxury upholstery market report.

A Pro Tip From Our Showroom: When you visit us, bring your measurements and a photo of your chair. Our designers can instantly help you calculate the precise yardage needed, including that all-important extra for any pattern repeat. We’ll make sure you leave confident and ready to go.

Knowing your numbers empowers you. You can walk into our Buckhead showroom, or any high-end furniture store in Roswell or Alpharetta, with the confidence of a pro. It ensures your vision for a beautiful custom upholstery project is built on a solid, practical foundation.

Bringing Your Vision to Life with Expert Craftsmanship

You’ve sorted through samples, landed on the perfect designer fabric, and figured out exactly how much you’ll need. You can see the finished piece in your mind's eye.

Now for the most important part: bringing that vision to life. This is where true craftsmanship makes all the difference.

A Collaborative Design Journey

Step inside our Buckhead showroom and you’ll understand why Lewis and Sheron has been Atlanta’s destination for exquisite furniture and fine fabrics for decades. From the handcrafted lines of Verellen and Wesley Hall to the curated textures of Lee Industries, every piece tells a story of quality, comfort, and design mastery.

This isn't just a store; it's a partnership with our complimentary in-house designers. We’re here to help you navigate thousands of options, whether you're drawn to the timeless elegance of Lee Industries or the modern comfort of a Wesley Hall sofa.

We believe the best decisions are made in your own home. That’s why we encourage you to take home generous swatches. See for yourself how a fabric looks in your space. Watch how the morning light in your Marietta dining room plays with a bouclé's texture, or how a bold pattern complements the Ambella furniture you already own.

Taking a fabric sample home isn’t just a helpful tip; it's the most crucial part of the selection process. Light changes everything. A fabric can reveal new depths and tones in your home that you'd never see in a showroom.

The Art of Execution

Once you've made your choice, our master craftspeople take over. This is where decades of hands-on experience come into play. They meticulously handle every detail, from ensuring each seam is perfectly straight to aligning every pattern flawlessly. This obsessive precision elevates a simple chair refresh into a lasting investment.

For those adventurous enough to tackle a project themselves, our guide on how to reupholster a chair offers a behind-the-scenes look at the detailed work involved.

This commitment to quality craftsmanship is more relevant than ever. The demand for premium upholstery fabrics is seeing strong growth in North America, with projections showing a 4%-6% increase through 2030. This is driven by a surge in home renovations as people create more personalized living spaces—a trend perfectly aligning with the custom, high-quality approach we’ve championed for generations.

A Premier Resource for Atlanta’s Design Community

For interior designers across North Georgia—from Roswell to Cumming and Forsyth County—our Lewis and Sheron Trade Program is an unmatched resource. We provide exclusive access to luxury furniture and fine fabrics, making us a key partner for high-end projects that demand the best. Our trade furniture program is a designer's secret weapon.

• Exclusive Sourcing: Get access to designer fabric collections you won't find anywhere else in the region.
• Expert Partnership: Lean on our team for seamless execution, from sourcing to final delivery.
• One-Stop Showroom: Consolidate all your project needs with our vast selection of fabrics, furniture, and custom workroom services.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to breathe new life into a cherished heirloom or a designer orchestrating a full-scale renovation, our team is here to bring your vision to life with skill, care, and a genuine passion for the craft.

A Few Common Reupholstery Questions

When you’re thinking about transforming your dining chairs, a few questions always come up. We’ve heard them all in our Buckhead showroom, from homeowners in East Cobb to designers sourcing for clients in Roswell. Let’s get straight to the answers.

How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Dining Chair in Atlanta?

This is the big one. The honest answer: it depends. Your total investment is a mix of the fabric you choose and the labor for custom upholstery.

The fabric for reupholstering dining chairs can range from hardworking options to exclusive designer textiles. The labor comes down to complexity. A simple drop-in seat is straightforward. A fully upholstered chair with tufting? That requires more time and skill from our artisans. We provide transparent quotes so you see exactly where your investment is going—into quality craftsmanship that gives you more long-term value than buying new, mass-produced furniture.

Can I Just Use Any Fabric?

Technically, you could. We’d never recommend it.

Dining chairs face a daily gauntlet of spills, crumbs, and constant sliding. This is no place for delicate materials like silk or lightweight cottons; they’ll show wear almost immediately.

We always steer our clients toward true "upholstery-grade" fabrics. Your best bet is performance textiles engineered for high-traffic environments. These materials have the luxurious look you want with the practical resilience your home actually needs.

Our designers—a complimentary resource for all our clients—are experts at finding that perfect balance. They’ll help you land on a selection that’s both stunning and smart.

How Long Does the Reupholstery Process Usually Take?

Patience is a virtue in custom work. The timeline boils down to two factors: fabric availability and our workshop’s schedule. If you fall in love with one of the thousands of in-stock designer fabrics in our Atlanta showroom, we can get started much faster.

If your heart is set on a specific custom-ordered textile, we’ll factor in the mill's lead time. Once the fabric arrives at our Collier Rd. design center, the hands-on work by our craftspeople typically takes a few weeks. A truly bespoke, handcrafted result is always worth the wait.

What Is a Pattern Repeat and Why Does It Matter?

A pattern repeat is the vertical distance on a fabric roll before the design starts over. Understanding this is critical for calculating yardage and getting a flawless finish.

A large, dramatic pattern has a large repeat. This means you’ll need more fabric—often 10-30% extra—so our craftspeople can perfectly match the design across seams and from one chair to the next. It’s that meticulous detail that creates the seamless, high-end look you’d expect from fine furniture found in homes from West Paces Ferry to Alpharetta.

Ready to find the perfect fabric and start your own transformation? Visit the Lewis and Sheron Textiles showroom in Buckhead to explore Atlanta’s most exquisite collection of designer fabrics and custom upholstery services. Our in-house designers are here to help you every step of the way. https://lsfabrics.com