Outdoor fabrics are now available for indoor usage too.

I have active young girls at home who have equally active friends so I’m always looking for durable, yet beautiful, ways to design for families. Recently I discovered a new way to use outdoor fabric – you know, that upholstery on patio furniture – for high-usage items such as kitchen nooks, barstools and ottomans.

OK, I know what you’re thinking: use patio upholstery inside my house? Believe me, I thought the same thing until I started researching the fun and colorful new fabrics being produced by the same companies that make outdoor furniture, such as Sunbrella, which has hundreds of patterns to choose from. Most fabric vendors now carry some version of this, so you can even find it at your local Calico Corners or JoAnn Fabrics too.

I’ve included some samples below. Unlike that scratchy, waxy fabric of the past, this indoor/outdoor material is soft (some even feels like velvet!) while remaining practically indestructible. Spills can be wiped up easily, and it will keep its sheen for a lot longer than typical fabric. No more scolding your family about stained furniture if you upholster it with this!

If you are a DIYer, you can take your own measurements, order or buy the fabric, and upholster your bench seat, barstool or any other item. But we prefer to take the fabric and furniture to our professional upholsterer, who affordably creates the beautiful new piece for us.

Want to add some durability and fun flair to your home? Contact us for a complimentary design consultation.