How does your upholstery impact the design of your space?

Merino Laminates, March 11, 2025

There are multiple elements that determine the final look of your home. While the spatial planning of your home, which includes the arrangement of different rooms, placement of openings, columns and beams etc are the most basic and crucial factors that determine the look and functionality of your space, other elements like the surface finishes, furniture and upholstery used also play a significant role in how your space is perceived and the experience it gives both the residents and your guests. We have at length discussed how your surface finishes can be a game changer and how you can pick from over 500 options available at Merino Laminates to create the desired outcome, today, we will look at the impact upholstery has on the decor of your home.

Upholstery is one of the most fun, economic and creative ways in which you can elevate the look of your space. If you do not have a budget to give your home a complete makeover, a simple upholstery upgrade can really do wonders for you. Let us look at some parameters to bear in mind while you choose your upholstery to make your space look trendy and elegant:

1. Choosing the right material

When we talk about material, we predominantly talk about material for seating options like the material for sofas and the material we choose for curtains. Finishing our furniture in material like suede or velvet gives it a very rich and opulent look and this can be paired with embroidered and silk cushions and curtains to complete the look. This instantly enhances the ambiance and makes the space look sophisticated and grand.

If you want a more contemporary and sleek look, you can go for leather finish for your sofas and pair them with soft cushions, plain curtains layered with sheer and black out curtains in neutral colours. This creates a minimal and modern theme and works well for those who want something that is easy on the pocket and easy to maintain too.

Nowadays, in many homes, we also see a lot of homeowners go for jute seat covers and this works well with boho cushions, block print and sheer curtains to give a laid back and homely look while being extremely pocket friendly and easy to maintain.

2. Choosing the right colours

Depending on the theme of your home, you need to pick the colours of your upholstery carefully. If you are having a very minimalistic home, adding furniture in bold and flamboyant colours like maroon, forest green etc., is a great way to break the monotony. This can be paired with minimal curtains in the same shade as the walls to create a uniform canvas for the signature furniture piece to stand out. This is also a great way to create a sense of spaciousness if the space is small.

If you are someone who enjoys a bit of colour, you can match your curtains to the colour of your furniture or you can add more character by choosing curtains in a shade darker than your walls. If boho is a theme of your liking and you enjoy a colourful space, you can mix and match complimenting colours to create a fun and interesting space. However, one must be careful while doing so, as one can add too many colours and designs which might ultimately look like an unpleasant mishmash.

If you are also looking at installing rugs and carpets, depending on the size and function of the room, you can go for carpets that are soft and antiskid. Rugs with bold designs can be used as a highlight element if your home is otherwise minimalistic with very minimal or no patterns on the walls, curtains and the furniture. However, simple, minimal carpets can be used more for comfort than appearance if you already have a lot of designs in the other elements.

3. Choosing the right patterns

It is always advisable to go for curtains with minimal or self prints to ensure that they do not overpower the room or make the space look cluttered. A similar logic must be applied for the finishing of your sofas as going for material with too much design and contrast can make your space look tacky and unpleasant. Minimal or plain materials work best as you can add more texture and designs through cushion covers, art work, flowers, lights etc. Ultimately your upholstery must be functional and must offer a canvas for the other design elements to stand out. Likewise, you can also look at layering sheer, embroidered curtains with plain black out curtains if you want to create a more sophisticated look and have options of both plain and slightly more dressy curtains when you entertain guests.

4. Choosing the right size

Depending on the size of the room, ventilation and other parameters- the size of your upholstery will vary. While it is always important to go for a sofa size that allows ample circulation space and still makes a space look spacious, one must bear in mind the ultimate experience that a piece of furniture offers in the space it is housed in.

If you have a small living room, you can go for lighter coloured, sleek furniture rather than plush dark coloured furniture. This helps create a sense of spaciousness and helps make a space look airy and pleasant.

When your room is small and you want to create an illusion of space, you should opt for full length curtains in self or minimal designs in the same colour as your walls. Half curtains for windows break the space and make it look smaller, hence short curtains are best avoided.

Other than the aforementioned design elements, table runners, coffee table runners, placemats, curtain ties etc., also come under upholstery. These can be chosen based on the budget and aesthetic you have in mind. While you might find silk runners, unique placements and towels, they must be stored away for special occasions, and simple, easy to clean material must be opted for, to ease the burden of high maintenance.

We hope that these simple tips will help you choose the right upholstery for your dream home.