If you’ve ever dreamed of having a light-colored sofa but assumed they’re just for magazines and people without kids or pets, then keep reading! Upholstery fabric has made leaps and bounds in recent years. In most cases though, you get what you pay for.

Higher quality, more durable and stain/fade resistant fabrics generally cost more. Before purchasing your upholstered piece think about how much use it will get. If it isn’t going to be subjected to everyday use, kids, pets, and/or food, then you can likely get away with a “light use” (i.e. less expensive) fabric. However, if you’re shopping for your main sofa, you’ll want to purchase a medium or heavy use fabric. Heavy use fabrics are often referred to as “performance fabrics” and are made to stand up to daily use.

In addition, if you have small children or pets, I highly recommend purchasing a sofa with washable cushion covers. They easily zip off and on and can go right through your washing machine, making clean up super easy.

The 3 best tools I have found for maintenance of light-colored upholstery fabric are a lint roller, a fabric shaver and baby wipes. Start by lint rolling, then shave off the pills, then dab (don’t rub) any spots with baby wipes. Regardless of the fabric you choose, be prepared to spot clean regularly; no sofa will stay looking like new without a little effort.

01.
How to Use Light Upholstery in your Space LIKE A PRO

Style Spotlight

designer tricks to achieve the look you love

(Even if you have kids and pets!)

If you’re looking to add a splash of color or pattern to a room, wallpaper can be an excellent option. There are thousands of choices available, from bold and colorful to subtle and neutral. If your room already has abundant color, look for a wallpaper that coordinates with a few of the colors from around the room. If the room color is neutral, then wallpaper is a great way to add visual interest and contrast. 
 
You can choose to cover all the walls, a single “feature” wall, half of one wall (there should be a chair rail or wainscot to separate the halves), or even the ceiling. If you decide to wallpaper a feature wall, choose the wall that will be the focal point of the room; having more than one focal point in a room can be confusing.
  
Always order a sample before purchasing the roll(s). Wallpaper can look very different in person than it appears online. If you’re still nervous about using wallpaper than look for a peel and stick option. These enable you to remove the wallpaper at any point without damaging the walls.

02.
How to Make Wallpaper Work Beautifully

(Even if you're scared of pattern!)

A few of my favorite places to shop for wallpaper are:

Lulu & Georgia, Anthropologie, Graham & Brown and Wallpaper Direct.