Modern bedroom with a plush upholstered bed frame, wooden nightstands, and large windows bringing in natural light.

Do you follow along with the hottest interior design trends? If so, you’ve probably noticed the recent popularity of mixing and matching upholstery. When done boldly, this trend can add visual interest to an individual piece of furniture, turning a ho-hum chair or sofa into an objet d’art. Or, you can mix and match upholsteries throughout the room for a more subtle change of texture.

What is Upholstery?

Generally speaking, upholstery refers to the materials that make up the soft coverings of chairs, sofas, and other furniture. While the word upholstery generally calls to mind the fabric or leather used to cover the furniture, it also refers to the springs, padding, and webbing that actually determine how comfortable a given piece of furniture feels.

Mixing Upholstery: The Basics

“You don’t have to have everything matching anymore. It’s a lot more fun to mix things up… and it adds interest! The mixed upholstery trend is really gaining momentum due to the popularity of the “eclectic” design trend. The upholstered piece itself can even stand out on its own as eclectic.” – Heidi Jewell, Upholstery Buyer at Star Furniture.

How to Mix Upholstery

Once you decide that you love this mixed up trend as much as we do, you’ll need to figure out how much you want to mix it up. You can go bold or subtle, or somewhere in between. While you may be able to find some furniture sets that mix upholstery, if you decide to create your own combinations, here’s what you’ll need to consider:

Consider Color

Is it contrasting, complementary, or matching? Before you get started, try choosing a custom color palette and using it throughout the room.

Material Matters

Do you like different the way different textures look mixed together? Try pairing a smooth leather with a rough velvet. Want something more subtle? Try pairing similar fabrics of different colors.

Solids Vs. Patterns

Do you want to go bold? Try mixing two different but complementary patterns. Feeling more conservative? Try pairing a solid with a bold pattern.

Not sure how to get started? Star Furniture offers complimentary interior design services at its locations throughout Texas, as well as a huge selection of loveseats, accent chairs, sofas, sectionals, and cocktail ottomans. In the meantime, check out our furniture blog where we cover everything from how to coordinate furniture to the 10 most common interior design mistakes to avoid.