What Furniture Can Be Upholstered?

What Furniture Can Be Upholstered?

Sofas tend to steal all the attention when people talk about upholstery, but they're really just the start. Almost any piece of furniture with a padded or covered surface can be upholstered, and quite a few that you might not immediately think of.

Before you get stuck into any of it, it's worth knowing that regular fabric and proper upholstery fabric are not the same thing, and that difference will matter whichever piece of furniture you end up working on.

Whether you have inherited an old armchair that has seen better days, you are building a window seat from scratch, or you simply want to know what is possible before you start browsing upholstery fabric, this guide covers the full picture. From classic sofas through to dining chairs, headboards, ottomans, and some more unexpected projects besides, here is everything you need to know.

Contents — What Furniture Can Be Upholstered?

Sofas and Sectionals

The sofa is where most people start, and for good reason. It is the largest upholstered item in most homes and the one that takes the most punishment day in, day out. A well-upholstered sofa, one where the frame is sound and the fabric has been chosen with real care, can last for decades. That is worth remembering when the price of good fabric feels steep.

Reupholstering a sofa is a significant project, but it is often the right call. Many older sofas, particularly those made before flat-pack became the norm, are built far more solidly than anything you will find on the high street today. Strip back the old fabric, replace the padding where needed, choose something you genuinely love, and you have a sofa that feels entirely your own.

For fabric, durability is non-negotiable here. You want a Martindale rub count of at least 25,000 for everyday use, and 40,000 or above if your household is a busy one. Tight weaves handle wear better than loose ones, and if children or pets are part of your daily life, a stain-resistant finish is not a luxury. It is common sense.

Can't get enough of upholstery? Check our guide — What is Upholstery? The Ultimate Guide. It contains everything you need to know, from understanding upholstery fabrics and materials to choosing the right upholstery for your sofa.

Armchairs and Accent Chairs

Armchairs are one of the most satisfying reupholstery projects there is. A classic chair with a good frame can be completely transformed, and because the surface area is smaller than a sofa, you can afford to be far bolder with your fabric choice. A striking velvet, a geometric print, a colour you would never dare put on a whole sofa. This is the place to go for it.

Accent chairs, the kind that sit beside a fireplace or in a corner of a bedroom, tend to see lighter use than your main seating. That gives you even more freedom. You do not need the highest rub count in the range. What you do need is something that makes a statement and feels right in the room.

Snuggle Chair

Dining Chairs and Benches

Dining chairs are somewhere people often underestimate what fabric can do. A plain set of wooden chairs with upholstered seat pads can be completely reinvented with a new cover. An upholstered bench can become the most talked-about piece in a kitchen or dining room, and with the right fabric, it really can.

The practical side matters here, though. Food and drink spills are not a possibility. They are a certainty. You want something wipe-clean, stain-resistant, or at the very least easy to treat in a hurry. Faux leather and performance fabrics are popular choices for dining for exactly that reason. If you prefer a natural textile, look for tight weaves and always check the care code before you commit.

Headboards and Beds

An upholstered headboard changes the whole feel of a bedroom. It adds softness and warmth and a sense of intention, that this room has been thought about, in a way that a plain wooden or metal frame simply cannot replicate. And because a bedroom sees far lighter use than a living room, you have more freedom here than almost anywhere else in the house.

This is the place for textures you might hesitate to use elsewhere. A deep pile velvet, a tactile boucle, a soft linen that feels calm and considered. Pattern repeats matter here too. A large-scale print on a wide headboard can be stunning, while the same pattern on a narrow single bed might feel overwhelming. Take your time with samples and look at them in your bedroom light, not just in daylight or on a screen.

Bed frames and ottoman storage beds can also be fully upholstered, either professionally or as a project in their own right if you have the patience and the right fabric.

Ottomans, Footstools, and Poufs

Ottomans and footstools are among the simplest reupholstery projects and among the most satisfying. A footstool that has been sitting in the corner looking tired can become a focal point with a new cover and a fresh layer of padding. An ottoman that pulls double duty as a coffee table needs something durable enough to cope with cups, books, and feet all at once. It is worth choosing accordingly.

Poufs are typically a different construction, often sewn and stuffed rather than traditionally upholstered, but the same fabric principles apply. Look for something that holds its shape, handles friction well, and cleans easily.

Footstool

Window Seats and Bay Window Cushions

A window seat is one of the most rewarding upholstery projects in a home. It creates a reading nook, a place to sit and watch the world outside, or simply a clever use of a bay or alcove that might otherwise go to waste. The cushion that sits on top is upholstered just like any other seat cushion, a cover, some padding, and a fabric chosen for how the space is actually used.

Window seats tend to catch strong sunlight, so fade resistance is worth factoring in. Deeper colours can look spectacular in a window seat but will show fading sooner than a mid-tone or patterned fabric. If your seat sits in direct sun for much of the day, it is worth checking the fabric's UV properties before you fall in love with it.

Storage Boxes and Blanket Chests

Storage boxes and blanket chests with upholstered lids are a more unusual project, but they are entirely achievable and look brilliant when done well. The lid is padded and covered just like a stool or seat cushion, giving you a practical storage piece that also works as seating or a surface at the end of a bed.

The fabric here sees moderate use, so a mid-range rub count is generally fine. What matters more is that the fabric sits flat over the lid without puckering at the corners. The weight and weave of the fabric both deserve some thought before you start.

Stools and Vanity Seats

Bar stools with upholstered seats, piano stools, dressing table stools, vanity seats. All of these fall within the scope of upholstery, and all are excellent candidates for a fabric refresh. These pieces tend to be seen up close and in spaces where style really counts, a dressing room, a bedroom, a music corner, so aesthetics carry more weight than they might in a family living room.

Vanity seats in particular are an invitation to do something a little decorative and personal. A stripe, a floral, a colour that pulls the whole room together. This is the place to have some fun with it.

Office and Desk Chairs

Office chairs are upholstered pieces too, though the construction is often more involved than domestic furniture. Traditional desk chairs with a wooden frame and padded back and seat can be reupholstered relatively straightforwardly. Modern office chairs with gas lifts and moulded shells are a different matter and usually less suited to a DIY approach.

For a home office chair or a classic desk chair, a durable and easy-clean fabric in a colour you enjoy looking at every day is a genuinely worthwhile investment. You spend a lot of time there. It should feel like it.

Unusual and Bespoke Projects

Beyond the obvious categories, upholstery turns up in some surprising places. Boat interiors, caravans, theatre seating, pub benches, built-in window seats in period properties, and bespoke pieces made entirely from scratch. The principles are the same wherever the project takes you. A sound structure underneath, the right padding for the purpose, and a fabric chosen with the environment genuinely in mind.

Cushions On A Boat

Choosing the Right Fabric for Each Piece

Different pieces have different demands, and the fabric that works beautifully on a bedroom headboard may not be right for a dining bench. The key questions are always the same. How much use will this piece get? Who will be using it? What environment will it live in, and how easy does it need to be to clean?

For high-use pieces in busy homes, durability comes first. For lower-use pieces where the look is the priority, you have far more freedom. And for anything in between, there is a fabric that does both. Something that looks exactly right and holds up to real life at the same time. That is always the goal.

Browse the full range of upholstery fabric at Yorkshire Fabric Shop. There are hundreds of colours, textures, and fabric types to explore, with samples available so you can see and feel them in your own home before you commit.

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