Choosing the right fabric can completely transform a room, adding comfort, elegance, color, and personality to any space. But when it comes to upholstery fabric versus drapery fabric, many people aren’t sure what the real difference is. They may fall in love with a beautiful print without realizing it’s too lightweight for a chair cushion or too heavy for a flowing curtain panel.

At All About Fabrics, we help thousands of customers select the perfect material every year. With a wide selection of upholstery fabrics, decorator prints, drapery fabrics, and home décor textiles, we understand how overwhelming the choices can be, especially when you’re trying to match a specific design style or budget.

This practical guide will walk you through the key differences between upholstery and drapery fabric, how to choose the right material for your project, and the important terms you should know before buying. Whether you’re updating your living room or working on a DIY home décor makeover, this guide will help you feel confident in your fabric decision.

Why Choosing the Right Fabric Matters

Fabric is more than color and print, it's structure, durability, function, and performance. Using the wrong type of fabric can lead to:

• sagging cushions

• ripped seams

• fading and discoloration

• drapes that don’t hang correctly

• higher long-term costs

• having to redo the project sooner

Being intentional about choosing the correct type of fabric ensures your project looks beautiful, lasts longer, and fits your lifestyle.

Understanding the Difference: Upholstery Fabric vs Drapery Fabric

Although they may look similar at first glance, upholstery fabric and drapery fabric serve very different purposes.

What Is Upholstery Fabric?

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Upholstery fabric is designed to be:

• durable

• thicker and heavier

• resistant to friction and wear

• structured enough to hold shape

• perfect for chairs, sofas, benches, ottomans, and headboards

Most upholstery fabrics have a high rub count, which means they can withstand repeated use without wearing out. These fabrics are typically woven tightly and may include backing for extra strength.

Common upholstery fabric types:

• Chenille

• Velvet

• Twill

• Canvas

• Woven jacquards

• Faux leather

• Heavyweight decorator prints

If you need fabric for a piece of furniture, cushions, or anything that gets sat on or leaned against, upholstery fabric is the correct choice.

What Is Drapery Fabric?

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Drapery fabric is typically:

• lighter in weight

• more flexible and fluid

• designed to hang and drape beautifully

• ideal for curtains, valances, sheers, and soft home décor

The focus with drapery material is movement, not durability. It should hang softly from a rod, pool gently on the floor (if desired), and allow the right amount of light to pass through depending on your style.

Common drapery fabric types:

• Linen and linen blends

• Cotton and cotton blends

• Voile and sheers

• Lightweight decorator prints

• Polyester blends

• Jacquard drapery-weight fabrics

Drapery fabrics are perfect when you want softness, elegance, and a flowing appearance.

How to Choose the Right Fabric for Your Project

Now that you understand the difference between the two, here’s a detailed breakdown of how to choose the correct type for your home décor project. Use this section as a step-by-step guide whenever you’re shopping online or visiting a fabric store.

. Start with the Purpose of Your Project

Ask yourself:

Is this fabric going to hang… or be sat on?

This simple question often determines your entire fabric category.

• Upholstery?
  Choose durable, thick fabrics with structure.

• Drapery?
  Choose lightweight or mid-weight fabrics that move easily.

2. Think About Durability (Rub Count Matters!)

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Upholstery fabric often includes a rub count, measured through a durability test like the Wyzenbeek or Martindale test.

• Light use: 8,000–10,000 rubs

• Moderate use: 10,000–15,000 rubs

• Heavy everyday use: 15,000–30,000+ rubs

If you're upholstering a family room sofa, dining chairs, office seating, or anything that gets daily use, choose high-durability fabric.

Drapery fabrics typically do not display rub counts because they aren’t meant for heavy wear.

3. Consider Weight & Thickness

Weight dramatically affects how your project looks and performs.

For upholstery:

• Choose medium to heavy-weight fabrics.

• Look for thickness and structure.

• Avoid limp or overly flexible fabric.

For drapery:

• Choose light to medium-weight fabrics.

• Pick a fabric that hangs smoothly.

• Test drape by holding a corner and letting it fall.

If the fabric is stiff or bulky, it likely belongs in the upholstery category.

4. Pay Attention to Drape & Movement

Soft, flowing movement is essential for curtains.

Ask yourself:

• Does the fabric puddle elegantly?

• Does it fold into soft pleats?

• Does it move gently when you hold it upright?

If yes, it's ideal for drapery.

Upholstery fabrics, on the other hand, should not drape easily. They should hold shape and maintain structure when stretched over furniture.

5. Look for Backing or Reinforcement

Many upholstery fabrics come with a “backing”—often a thin, fused layer that gives the fabric more stability and strength.

You’ll rarely see this on drapery fabric.

If a fabric has backing, it is meant for heavy use and furniture applications.

6. Decide Whether You Want Light Filtering or Room Darkening

This only applies to drapery projects.

Light-filtering fabrics:

• Cotton

• Polyester blends

• Sheers

Perfect for living rooms, kitchens, and bright spaces.

Room-darkening fabrics:

• Velvet

• Linen blends with tighter weaves

• Drapery-weight jacquards

Great for bedrooms, media rooms, and nurseries.

If your priority is privacy or light control, drapery fabric selection becomes even more important.

7. Choose the Right Print or Pattern Scale

Both upholstery and drapery fabrics come in beautiful decorator prints, but scale matters.

For upholstery:

• Medium to large-scale prints make a statement.

• Small patterns can look busy on furniture.

For drapery:

• Large patterns are ideal for full panels.

• Vertical patterns can elongate the room visually.

• Small patterns work well for valances or kitchen curtains.

Before purchasing, visualize how the print will look across the width of your furniture or curtain length.

8. Consider Maintenance Needs

Upholstery Maintenance

Upholstery fabrics are designed to withstand:

• frequent use

• cleaning

• spot-treatments

• friction

Choosing a stain-resistant or easy-clean material for high-traffic homes (kids, pets, entertaining) is wise.

Drapery Maintenance

Drapery fabrics should be:

• easy to steam

• able to hang nicely after cleaning

• resistant to sun fading (if near windows)

If your windows receive direct sunlight, consider a fabric with UV resistance or plan on lining the drapes.

9. Matching Fabric Style to Your Home Décor

Your home’s aesthetic helps guide your fabric decision.

For modern or minimal interiors:

• Choose clean geometrics, textured solids, and monochromatic tones.

For traditional or classic homes:

• Try elegant jacquards, damasks, and refined florals.

For farmhouse or cottage style:

• Linen blends, cotton prints, checks, and stripes are ideal.

For boho or eclectic decor:

• Choose bold prints, global patterns, and rich colors.

Upholstery and drapery fabrics come in a wide range of styles, making it easy to coordinate colors and themes throughout your home.

10. When in Doubt—Test a Sample First

Especially for large projects like custom drapes or reupholstering a chair, ordering a fabric swatch helps you:

• check color accuracy

• feel texture

• test durability

• see how the print looks in natural light

This small step can prevent costly mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Fabric Makes All the Difference

Picking the right fabric—upholstery or drapery—creates a more polished, functional, and long-lasting result. Upholstery fabrics offer the durability, strength, and structure needed for seating and furniture projects. Drapery fabrics provide the softness, elegance, and movement needed for beautiful window treatments.

At All About Fabrics, our collection of Decorator Prints, Velvets, Upholstery Fabrics, and Drapery Fabrics gives you endless options for any home décor project. Whether you're reimagining a room, recovering a chair, or sewing custom curtains, the right material makes all the difference.