Everybody loves a good deal. But as you shop for upholstery fabric, it’s important to know that sometimes you get exactly what you pay for, and that can send your project into a spiral.
Stores, online sites, distributors and the manufacturers themselves often offer discount fabric, whether it’s from overruns, discontinued designs or through bulk ordering. Each way offers advantages and disadvantages, but when the cons outweigh the pros, looking for the lowest price isn’t always the best approach if quality matters.
Regardless, nearly every project has a budget, and as a designer, keeping your eyes peeled for a good discount on quality upholstery fabric can lead to a successful project outcome and happy clients.
Here are some of the options you have when searching for discount upholstery fabric:
- Dive into fabric store clearance bins
- Check out discount and outlet stores
- Visit online marketplaces
- Work through a fabric distributor
- Partner with a fabric manufacturer or supplier
Dive Into Fabric Store Clearance Bins
Visiting local fabric stores can be a fast way to find discount upholstery fabric,
especially if you need a small amount and aren’t picky about the fabric design you’ll get. Many stores have clearance sections or offer special sales, particularly during seasonal changes or inventory clearances.
Local stores may provide discounts on remnants or end-of-bolt pieces, which can be perfect for smaller projects or for mixing and matching fabrics.
Potential problems: For designers, this approach can be very problematic. Clearance sections and remnants often have limited quantities, which are not sufficient for larger projects. The selection can be inconsistent, making it challenging to find specific fabrics or maintain continuity across different projects, and you lose the option of customizing your project. Even though you’re in the clearance section, you may still pay higher prices than getting your furniture upholstery fabric another way, since fabric stores have some of the highest mark-ups of fabric.
Check Out Discount And Outlet Stores
Discount and outlet stores can be another potential source for finding discount upholstery fabric. Stores sometimes carry upholstery fabric at reduced prices. These stores often purchase surplus or overstock items from other retailers.
Visiting these stores can be a convenient option since they often carry other home goods and decor items, making it a one-stop shopping experience.
Potential problems: However, for designers, this method can also present several challenges. The inventory at discount and outlet stores is usually unpredictable and varies greatly from week to week, making it difficult to rely on them for specific fabric needs or large quantities. Because these stores focus on a broad range of products, the selection of upholstery fabric may be limited compared to specialized fabric stores.
Visit Online Marketplaces
Websites like eBay, Etsy, and Amazon offer a variety of fabrics that range in price.
Occasionally you can find discount upholstery fabric from sellers looking to clear out excess inventory.
These platforms provide the convenience of shopping for upholstery fabric online from home and accessing a vast selection of fabrics that may not be available locally. Reading seller reviews and ratings can help ensure you're purchasing high-quality materials from reliable vendors.
Potential problems: The primary issue is the inability to physically examine the fabric before purchasing, which makes it difficult to assess the true color, texture and quality. Shipping times can also vary, potentially causing delays in project timelines. While you have an Internet’s worth of variety from which to choose, finding the exact fabric in the required quantity can be hit or miss.
There also may be discrepancies in the product descriptions, leading to unexpected surprises upon arrival. Returns or exchanges can be cumbersome and sometimes costly, adding to the potential difficulties of sourcing fabric online.
Work Through A Fabric Distributor
Purchasing upholstery fabric through a fabric distributor can be a reliable way to access high-quality materials. Distributors often have extensive catalogs of fabrics from various manufacturers, offering a wide range of styles, colors and patterns.
If you need large quantities of upholstery fabric, a distributor can offer wholesale prices, giving you a discount when you place large orders.
Ordering through an upholstery fabric distributor ensures that you can order large quantities of fabric with consistency in quality and appearance, which is particularly beneficial for bigger projects. Distributors may also provide samples, allowing you to physically inspect the fabric before committing to a larger purchase.
Potential problems: One of the biggest challenges when sourcing fabric through a distributor is the potential for marked-up prices. Since distributors act as intermediaries between manufacturers and consumers, their prices often include additional costs, making the fabric more expensive compared to buying directly from the manufacturer. Your discount of being wholesale fabric may not seem as good of a bargain as you had hoped. This can be a significant drawback for designers working within tight budgets.
Partner With A Fabric Manufacturer Or Supplier
Purchasing upholstery fabric directly from a fabric manufacturer or supplier can be
an excellent way to secure high-quality materials at competitive prices. Manufacturers often offer a broad range of fabrics, ensuring consistency in color, pattern and texture.
Buying directly from the source can also provide opportunities for bulk discounts and customization options, allowing you to tailor the fabric to your specific project needs. This method can be particularly advantageous for large-scale projects where consistency and large quantities are crucial.
For example, the best upholstery fabric suppliers will allow you to customize:
- Colors: There are hundreds of colors that can match your client’s aesthetics. However, it’s important to not rely on the manufacturer’s website for color since dye lot variations are common. Instead, request a free swatch so you can see the color in person.
- Printing: There are two types of printing services available: Rotary/flat bed printing and digital printing. Rotary/flat bed printing is a direct-to-fabric printing technique where the image is engraved on precision-cut stencils, also known as screens. Multiple screens can be used to create a multi-color design. Digital printing, also known as direct-to-garment printing, is any ink-jet-based method of printing colorants onto fabric. This process allows for smaller minimums and eliminates screen charges.
- Backing: Consider fabric weight. The slightest change in fabric weight can make a difference in what your final product looks like. Manufacturers will often add backing to fabric to help prevent seams from slipping and to increase durability.
- Protective Coatings: Protective coatings include nano-coating, which is a very thin transparent plastic polymer film coating that helps repel dry particles, waster, oil and dirt, as well as Scotchgard and Alta treatments. Some manufacturers also provide antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal treatments that prevent the buildup of bacteria, fungi and dust mites.
If your project is commercial, you will likely need to choose an upholstery fabric that includes a fire rating. In California, all furniture must comply with TB117-2013. This regulation requires that upholstery fabric pass smolder cigarette tests.
Potential problems: One of the primary challenges when dealing with fabric manufacturers or suppliers is the potential for higher minimum order requirements. If you are working on small projects, you may have to get your upholstery fabric from a distributor or other source.
Which Way Is Best?
Of the choices above, getting your upholstery fabric from a manufacturer or supplier is one of the most cost-efficient choices you have available to you that doesn’t compromise quality. Not only can you benefit from lower prices when you buy in bulk quantities, you can take advantage of important features like customization and safety backings.
There is one additional factor you should consider when making the decision of where to get your discount upholstery fabric, and that’s lead time. If ordering upholstery fabric, make sure you and the company you are working with are on the same page of how long it will take to receive your order, especially if you’re taking advantage of customization opportunities.
Part of that lead time is transportation of your order. Picking a domestic wholesale fabric supplier can save you from potential issues when compared to international companies. Domestic suppliers provide advantages like shorter shipping times, as well as the benefits of easier communication and ability to visit the supplier in person if necessary, offering more recourse in case of order issues.
In the end, the choice of where to source your upholstery fabric will depend on your specific needs, including budget, project scale and timeline. Careful consideration of all these factors will help ensure you make the best decision for your design projects.
