Showrooms
Contact
My Account
Track Your Order
From Bed Sheets to Sofas: How To Select the Right Fabrics for Each Room
In partnership with Broadsheet
Photography: Alisha Gore
The fabric you choose has the power to make, break or bolster a room’s aesthetic.
In partnership with KING, Broadsheet speak to interior designer Marylou Sobel about how to make the correct choices for each room.
“I don’t design in isolation,” says Sydney-based interior designer Marylou Sobel. “I consider everything at once.”
An example: think about how you plan an outfit, says Sobel: “You need to think about the whole outfit at once. If you just go buy the shoes [first], how are you ever going to find the dress?”
Sobel pushes the comparison further. For those unsure about where to start with interior design, she says your own wardrobe likely holds the answer – there’s often a striking similarity between our personal and interior style.
“Pull out a bunch of clothing, throw it on your bed and start with that for your home,” says Sobel.
While Sobel admits aesthetics usually trump practicality in her line of work, she says selecting fabrics that are durable as well as stylish is a client’s ideal outcome. We asked Sobel to take us through a house and indicate what elements to look out for.
Featuring the Jasper Sofa in Whiteley Rustic, Crescent Ottoman, Cresent Coffee Table and Side Tables and the Bongo High Storage Ottoman.
Living
A sofa needs to feel inviting while also being robust enough to withstand daily use – there’s no point having a sofa nobody is allowed to sit on. Sobel says a sofa with a removable cover made from a cotton blend is ideal.
“The benefits are you can dry-clean it and put it back – a big plus for a busy family,” says Sobel. “You can also change the look of a room by getting a new one made in another colour. That’s a [cost-effective] way of giving it a facelift, rather than reupholstering.”
Sobel says a modular sofa such as the Jasper abides by her principle of “buy once, buy properly”, in part due to its removable covers which can be professionally cleaned. The sofa, which comes with a chaise, can also be reconfigured to fit different spaces, with the ability to add new pieces to it if needed.
For ottomans, Sobel likes a neutral coloured one, that can be used as both a seat and footstool, such as the Crescent Ottoman.
The right fabric and leather choice can transform the feel of a room.
Bedroom
A bedroom should be a sanctuary. Sobel says a long-lasting fabric bedhead, cushioned frame or linen valance, and 100 per cent pure cotton and linen bedding all lend a bedroom an intimate feel.
As for cushions, they’re mostly for show. Don’t worry too much about the fabric and instead use them to highlight the room’s point of difference. Sobel is partial to animal prints and soft cotton velvets.
Sobel is pictured on the Crescent Ottoman in Ashton Natural.
Dining
When selecting dining chair fabric, Sobel has one rule: “Find something that’s going to hide a multitude of sins.” In other words, go for a patterned fabric like plaid or a two-toned linen. Faux leather bar stools can also easily be wiped down each day.
Beyond practicality, if you can’t make a decision, Sobel has some advice. “When people say, ‘I just can’t make up my mind, I don’t know if I like that one or that one’, I often think they don’t like either [option],” she says. If undecided, go back to the drawing board.
Featured above is the Crescent Ottoman in Ashton Natural.
Lounge
Sobel says that since the lounge room is a less used part of the house and often reserved for special occasions, fine and intricate fabrics are welcome.
“If you’re looking for an occasional chair that’s not going to be sat on very often, you can do something with silk or a pattern because it’s not going to perish fast,” says Sobel.
A darker coloured rug, such as the Derwent, can be a great way to make the room more inviting as well as bringing the space together.
Sobel relaxes on the King Boulevard Chair in Boyd Basalt next to the Bongo High Storage Ottoman in Quilty Kelp.
Curtains
Sobel says the curtains you choose can offer a neat way to tie each room together. She almost exclusively uses pure linens for their light, dreamy feel – especially if in the bedroom with blackout lining to protect them.
“But if a room is in a sunny position [and doesn’t need blackouts], I would suggest [the curtains] have some acrylic in them so they don’t fade fast,” she says.
Tip: they also need to be hung with enough length so they puddle on the floor to account for them shrinking and expanding with the weather.
Original article published by Broadsheet.
For more inspiration, explore articles featuring leading interior stylists:
- Kerrie-Ann Jones on how to style with art
- How to get the most from a small outdoor space
- Neale Whitaker on occasional furniture styling
