What are soft furnishings?
Soft furnishings are the parts of an interior made mainly from fabric. Hard furnishings are tables, cabinets, bed frames and other rigid pieces; finishes are floors, walls and ceilings. Soft furnishings sit on top of these and are the easiest elements to change, which is why they define the look of a room more than almost anything else.
The term is common in British English and widely used in the UAE. In American usage, the same items are often called home textiles or window treatments and upholstery. Some definitions include rugs and bed linen; in the trade, soft furnishings usually means pieces that are made up from fabric by a workroom, such as curtains, blinds, cushions and upholstery.
The main categories of home soft furnishings
The Fabric Room makes the first four categories to measure: curtains and blinds, upholstery, cushions and tailored covers.
| Category | Includes | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| Window treatments | Curtains, sheers, blackout curtains, roman and roller blinds, pelmets | Light, privacy, heat control |
| Upholstery | Sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, headboards, ottomans, majlis seating | Comfort and seating |
| Cushions | Scatter, lumbar, seat pads, bench, window seat, floor and outdoor cushions | Comfort, colour and detail |
| Loose covers | Sofa covers, chair slipcovers, cushion covers | Protection and change of look |
| Bed textiles | Bedspreads, bed runners, valances, throws, decorative pillows | Layering and finish |
| Table and other textiles | Tablecloths, runners, fabric wall panels | Decoration and acoustics |
What is soft furnishing fabric?
Soft furnishing fabric is any textile made for interior use rather than clothing. It is usually wider, commonly around 140 cm for upholstery and up to 300 cm for wide width sheers, and tested for properties that clothing fabric is not, such as abrasion resistance, light fastness and pilling.
Upholstery fabric needs strength, measured by the Martindale rub test. Curtain fabric needs good drape and colour that holds up to sun, so it is often lined. Outdoor fabric needs UV resistance, typically from solution dyed acrylic or olefin. Some fabrics, called dual purpose, are suitable for both curtains and light upholstery. Our fabric guide explains each type.
| Use | Key property | Typical guide |
|---|---|---|
| Light domestic upholstery | Abrasion | 10,000 to 15,000 Martindale rubs |
| General domestic upholstery | Abrasion | 15,000 to 25,000 rubs |
| Heavy domestic upholstery | Abrasion | 25,000 rubs or more |
| Commercial upholstery | Abrasion | 40,000 rubs or more |
| Curtains | Drape, light fastness | Lined for sun protection in Dubai |
Want this done for you?
Home visits across Dubai, written quote within 24 hours, fitted on a fixed date.
How to plan a soft furnishing scheme for a room
A good scheme starts with the largest fabric surfaces and works down to the smallest. Curtains and the sofa cover the most area, so choose them first. Cushions, trims and throws come last and carry the accent colours and pattern.
- Start with the light. Decide on sheer, dim out or blackout for each window before choosing colours
- Choose one main fabric for the largest pieces, usually a plain or textured weave
- Add a second fabric in a related colour for chairs, headboards or ottomans
- Bring in one patterned fabric for cushions, blinds or a single chair
- Repeat each colour at least twice in the room so it feels intentional
- Mix textures, such as linen, velvet and bouclé, so a calm palette does not feel flat
- Check every fabric in the room's own light, morning and evening, before ordering
Planning for Dubai homes
Strong sun fades fabric near windows, so line curtains and choose fade resistant upholstery for sunny rooms. Dust and sand favour mid tones and tight weaves. Double height living rooms need curtains with more fabric weight and often motorized tracks. Homes with children and pets benefit from performance fabrics and removable covers.
How much do soft furnishings cost?
Cost depends on fabric, size, construction and fitting. Fabric is usually the largest variable, and patterned fabrics with large repeats need more metres. Curtains are driven by width, drop, fullness, lining and the track or motor. Upholstery is driven by the size of the piece, the amount of fabric and whether foam or frame work is needed.
As market examples, a Dubai competitor listed blackout roller blinds from AED 180 and pinch pleat blackout curtains from AED 500 in November 2026, at set sizes. We quote in writing after a home visit. See how we price.
Why use made to measure soft furnishings?
Ready made curtains and cushions come in fixed sizes that rarely fit Dubai's tall windows, deep sofas or built in window seats. Made to measure pieces are cut for the exact space, with the right fullness, drop and pattern placement. They also let you match fabrics across curtains, upholstery and cushions, which is hard to do with off the shelf items.
At The Fabric Room, every piece is made to order in Dubai by our craftspeople to a written specification, inspected and photographed before delivery, then fitted by our team. Book a home visit to see the fabric library in your own light.
Soft furnishings glossary: 20 trade terms
These are the terms you are most likely to see on a quote or hear during a consultation.
Piping
A fabric covered cord sewn into a seam to define and strengthen the edge of a cushion, sofa or headboard.
Welt
Another word for piping, common in American usage. A double welt is two rows of piping used to finish raw edges where fabric meets a frame.
Tufting
Pulling fabric and padding inward at set points to create regular indents, with or without buttons.
Buttoning
Covered buttons fixed through the upholstery. Deep buttoning creates the diamond folds seen on Chesterfield sofas.
Martindale
A test that rubs fabric in a figure of eight motion to measure abrasion resistance. Results are given in rubs, and higher numbers mean more durable fabric.
Ripplefold
A curtain heading that hangs in even, continuous S shaped folds, created by carriers spaced on a track. Similar to the wave heading.
Pinch pleat
A tailored curtain heading where fabric is gathered into groups of two or three pleats and stitched at the top.
Eyelet
Metal rings set into the curtain heading and threaded onto a pole, giving deep, regular folds. Also called grommet.
Lining
A fabric sewn behind the face fabric of a curtain or blind to improve drape and protect it from sun. Blackout lining blocks light.
Interlining
A soft layer between the face fabric and the lining that adds body, insulation and a fuller drape.
Railroading
Turning fabric 90 degrees so the width runs along the length of a sofa, avoiding joins on long seat backs and cushions.
Pattern repeat
The distance before a pattern repeats, vertically and horizontally. Larger repeats need more fabric to match patterns across panels and cushions.
Box cushion
A cushion with a separate side strip, called a gusset or boxing, giving square edges. Used for seats, benches and window seats.
Knife edge
A cushion made from two panels sewn together at the edges with no side strip, giving a soft, tapering shape.
Bolster
A long, cylindrical cushion used on sofas, beds, daybeds and majlis seating.
COM
Customer's own material. Fabric supplied by the client or designer rather than chosen from the maker's range.
Fullness
The ratio of curtain fabric width to track width. Pinch pleat and wave curtains use 2 to 2.5 times, eyelet curtains 1.5 to 2 times.
Drop
The finished length of a curtain or blind, measured from the track or pole to the hem.
Puddle
Extra curtain length that pools on the floor, usually 5 to 15 cm, for a relaxed, generous look.
Return
The part of a curtain that wraps around the end of the track back to the wall, blocking side light and hiding the track.
