That’s a very smart question 👍 — because fabrics & upholstery are what make interiors feel warm, cozy, or luxurious. The wrong fabric can ruin a sofa in 6 months, while the right one can last 5–10 years. A good designer should balance aesthetics, durability, maintenance, and budget when helping you choose.

✅ How Designers Usually Choose Fabrics & Upholstery

Table of Contents

1. Based on Function & Usage

Living Room Sofas: High-traffic → durable, stain-resistant fabrics (polyester blends, performance fabrics, suede-touch poly).
Bedroom Headboards / Chairs: Lower traffic → can use luxe materials like velvet, linen, leatherette.
Dining Chairs: Easy-clean fabrics or leatherette (because of food/drink spills).
Kids’ Rooms: Washable, easy-care, darker colours.

2. Fabric Types Common in Delhi NCR

Cotton/Linen: Natural, breathable, soft look → but wrinkles and stains easily.
Polyester/Blends: Durable, affordable, wide range of textures → low maintenance.
Velvet: Rich, luxurious → best in bedrooms, formal living.
Leatherette: Easy clean, affordable, comes in many finishes → good for dining & office chairs.
Genuine Leather: Premium, long-lasting, but costly & needs conditioning.

3. Colour & Pattern Coordination

Match/contrast with wall colours, rugs, curtains.
Neutrals for base sofas → pops of colour in cushions, throws.
Patterns/textures for accent chairs.

4. Durability & Maintenance

Fabrics with higher Martindale rub count = more durable.
Ask for stain-resistant / Scotchgard-coated fabrics.
In Delhi’s dust → avoid too many light-coloured, high-maintenance fabrics unless you have staff/regular cleaning.

5. Vendor & Brand Tie-Ups

Popular in NCR: D’Decor, GM Fabrics, F&F, Bharat Furnishings, Shades of India, Nirmals (South Ex.), Kirti Nagar upholstery shops.
Custom stitching & fitting arranged via designer’s tailors/upholsterers.

💡 What You Should Ask Your Designer

Do you provide fabric swatches to match walls/furniture?
Which brands/vendors do you source upholstery from?
Are your fabrics stain-resistant / washable?
Do you help with custom stitching for sofas, chairs, cushions, curtains?
Can you show me mood boards/renders with fabric samples before finalizing?

⚠️ Red Flags

Designer only suggests generic fabrics without durability info.
No tie-ups → you’ll have to buy retail (higher cost).
Only recommends expensive brands, no budget alternatives.

✅ Pro Tip

For Delhi homes: choose blend fabrics (linen/poly, cotton/poly) for durability + style.
For formal areas: velvet or silk accents.
For family-use sofas: performance fabric or leatherette with Scotchgard.
Always ask for extra 1–2 meters of fabric for future touch-ups/repairs.

👉 Do you want me to make a Fabric & Upholstery Selection Chart (room-wise fabric type, colour, pros/cons, maintenance tips) that you can carry while shopping with your designer?

How do you choose fabrics & upholstery?