Upholstered furniture has become a focal point to many rooms and a simple change in fabric can alter the entire tone of a room.

One of Calgary’s custom furniture stores, Halstead, is at the head of the wave when it comes to the latest fabric trends.

Martin Haines, owner and president, says many of their customers are influenced by European and Asian designs, which are three to five years ahead of North America. “Our demographic is people who want demand instead of supply,” he says.

The evolution of mattress bedding, at a time when people wanted sustainability and health safety, spawned eco-friendly fabrics for furniture according to Haines. The result was organic fabrics and fabrics made from 100 per cent recycled material or is 100 per cent recyclable.

“This type of product has been available in Canada for only three months,” Haines says, noting it is already very popular. “Another cutting-edge fabric is engineered leather.”

While it looks and feels like real leather, it costs about one-third of the price and is much more durable. Engineered leather has real leather content but is combined with cotton and other material. It can imitate 100 per cent leather in almost every style except rustic leather—also known as scarring leather. No matter what type of leather, Haines says it is one fabric that is timeless.

Regardless of material, Haines says grey earth tones are taking the lead in colours. “People are looking for colour first before texture,” he says. Previously the store had their 7,000 fabric options set up by texture but has since organized their swatches by colour to accommodate their customers.

“A majority of our clients will buy a base colour, usually an earth tone, and add flash pieces like ottomans, throw pillows and small chairs,” says Haines. “That way bigger pieces don’t date easily.”

Microfibre, once topping Halstead’s sales at about 80 per cent, now makes up about 40 per cent. It has since moved to the average price point and is being carried by more furniture shops.

EQ3 Canada’s Merchandising Co-ordinator, Wayne Tung says microfibres continue to be a strong seller in the company’s line of furniture, as “they are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. In keeping with this trend we have introduced a new microfibre named Bella, which is available in 15 colours, ranging from rich creams to jewelled reds and purples.”

Tung credits the faux fabric’s popularity with its tactile benefits—velvety and plush to the touch, it adds another dimension to any room. And, while natural and neutral fabrics remain a staple of the company’s business, richly textured, patterned and coloured fabrics and leathers are also luring their share of buyers looking to add worldly elements to their home furnishings.

“Many of our fabrics are inspired by far away—such as tangerine oranges and acid greens from Bali to rich golds and jet blacks from Russia,” he notes.
And most popular in upholstered furniture is the fully upholstered bed frame in velvet, a line called Simone at EQ3. Meanwhile, many clients are turning to ottomans as an alternative to a standard coffee table to add softness to a room, but also for safety reasons—such as people with children looking to eliminate sharp edges.

Elizabeth Nandee, owner and principal designer of Basic Black Designs Inc., says she is seeing a shift towards multi-purpose fabrics and material combinations. “Fabrics with a wool and silk mix or suede and velvet combination helps give great texture to a space,” she says. “Another trend with fabrics is mixing different fabric pieces together in one application such as sewing different materials together to create a panel.”

Fabrics with lavish prints and exotic colours are also coming into play. As fabrics become a main ingredient in home design Nandee says, “the 60/30/10 rule is a good example of how important fabric is. Sixty per cent of a room is made up of ceiling, walls and floors. Thirty per cent is dedicated to furniture and window coverings, and ten per cent for accent.”

According to Nandee, the trend is moving towards luscious fabrics that tell more of a story such as Toile De Jouy patterns. “We’re inspired by Asian and Persian culture now and these fabrics are expressing them.”

Bold patterns such as paisley, stripes and plaids will never fade. These patterns are very popular for throw pillows and back cushions and, Nandee says, will inspire wall patterns as well. “Floral is still big but you’ll see a lot in back and white,” she says. “Black and white provide a big contrast and can be coupled with accent colours such as greens, bright or rusty reds, camel colours, and yellows.”

Living rooms, dining rooms, great rooms and bedrooms call for softer design, which allows more fabrics to be used according to Nandee.

“Some rooms have less fabric usage—offices, playrooms, bathrooms and kitchens—it doesn’t mean neglecting fabrics altogether,” Nandee says. “There is still room to play around with fabric treatments in these applications.”

As fabrics continue to dictate design in homes, trends toward texture, colour and quantity will evolve. But remember: fabric need not be permanent and can be changed quite regularly to influence mood and purpose. NL