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A Guide to Patterned Contract Fabrics
By Kirkdale Studios
How to Specify Patterned Fabrics
Upholstery can give almost endless possibilities to customise contract furniture. Our team of experts prepared a brief guide on how to specify patterned fabrics and what to consider before using them for an hospitality project.
Kirkdale Studios is one of the leading suppliers of contract furniture and offers an extensive range of upholstery fabrics. Click here to access our complete fabric library.
Why Should I Specify Patterned Fabrics?
Customisation
A patterned fabric offers a powerful way to express a brand’s personality, bringing character and visual interest into a space. It can elevate even the simplest piece of furniture, transforming it from a functional item into a distinctive accent that draws the eye and adds depth to the overall design.
Patterned fabrics introduce movement, colour and contrast, helping to define the mood of a room. When chosen thoughtfully, they can tie together different elements of a scheme and create a sense of intention, making furniture feel unique.
Durability
Contract fabrics are designed to be highly durable and easy to maintain, making them ideal for hospitality spaces. They are engineered to withstand frequent use while retaining their appearance over time, helping furniture look better for longer.
What Should I Consider When Specifying Patterned Fabrics?
Large Patterns
When choosing patterned fabrics, it’s important to think about how the design will sit on the finished product.
Larger patterns often look best when key elements of the design are intentionally positioned or aligned. When this alignment is achieved, it can create a striking and high-impact result.
However, it’s worth noting that precise pattern placement isn’t always possible. The shape, size or construction of the product, as well as the scale and layout of the fabric design itself, can limit how accurately a pattern can be aligned or centred.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
When upholstering furniture with arms, the direction of the fabric could also be dictated by the style of the product.
Fabric Pattern Direction
Many fabrics, such as stripes and chevron, are directional, which means that the pattern follows a certain direction.
In these cases, it’s important to specify if the pattern has to run horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
Pattern direction can also be influenced by the construction and shape of the product, as they can limit how the fabric can be applied.
If no pattern direction is specified, the upholsterer will apply the fabric in the way they feel best suits the product or makes the most efficient use of the material.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
When upholstering furniture with round or curved shapes, it’s worth keeping in mind that there may be restriction on the placement of the pattern, as the fabric tends to be more stretched on a side due to weave.
Patterned Fabrics Cost
Depending on the pattern and the shape of the furniture, upholstering the piece could require more material than it normally would if using a plain fabric. The extra fabric needed can raise the overall price of the finished piece.
The price can also be higher when using high-value fabrics or when dealing with large patterns that require extra time and attention to be placed in a certain way.
While these factors may result in a higher price, thoughtfully chosen patterned fabrics can greatly enhance the final design, making them a worthwhile investment.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
Using patterned fabrics can help create focal points and highlight specific areas of the room.
Pattern Name Guide
Definitions and Names of Common Fabric Patterns
