08 Apr What’s Hot in Upholstery Right Now? 2025 Trends You Need to Know
This isn’t your grandmother’s upholstery. 2025 is rewriting the rules, and fabric is taking center stage—not quietly, but with color, texture, contrast, and a little bit of sass.
Whether you’re a designer, a DIY upholsterer, or just upholstery-curious, the trends this year are impossible to ignore. They’re bold, tactile, and unafraid to take up space.
Forget subtle—fabric is making statements again
Say goodbye to flat greys and polite neutrals. We’re seeing a wild surge in saturated hues, earthy clays, botanical greens, and jewel tones that flirt with maximalism. But it’s not just about loud colors—it’s about intentional drama. Deep terracottas that feel sunbaked. Olive tones that ground a room. Burgundy velvet that practically purrs.
Even minimalist spaces are using upholstery as their moment of expression. A single, over-the-top chair. A sofa that commands attention. Texture is queen, and upholstery is her crown.
Textures are colliding—and it’s working
Rough meets soft. Nubby bouclé cozies up to buttery leather. Suede gets paired with matte canvas. The tactile mix is everywhere, and it’s not just for aesthetics—it’s sensory design. Upholstery in 2025 is built to be touched, leaned on, lived in.
Even commercial spaces are embracing this shift, ditching stiff, sterile fabrics for something more layered and emotionally warm. Think hotel lobbies that feel like living rooms. Offices with nap-worthy couches.
Here’s what the industry can’t stop touching:
- Wool-blend tweeds – Classic but with a modern cut. Tailored, textural, and unexpectedly chic.
- Velvet—still, always – But now in olive, rust, ochre, and dusty lavender. Soft, rich, moody.
- Vegan leathers – More convincing than ever, with a grain that actually feels right and holds up to wear.
- Patterned linens – Think subtle florals, block prints, and abstract geometrics—natural but not boring.
- Mixed-media upholstery – A chair back in canvas, a seat in velvet, the trim in leather. It’s the remix era.
Details are getting bespoke
2025 is the year of thoughtful accents. Upholstery isn’t just about fabric—it’s about finish. We’re talking contrast piping, decorative tack strips, exposed stitching, and antique-style nailheads used in modern contexts.
Upholsterers are now part artisan, part stylist. The details? They’re the punctuation marks in the story of the piece. And they matter.
Function isn’t fighting fashion anymore
Performance fabrics have leveled up. You no longer have to choose between beautiful and durable. Stain-resistant options look and feel just as luxe as the delicate stuff. Outdoor fabrics are moving indoors. And indoor-outdoor hybrids are becoming the go-to for high-traffic homes, boutique hotels, and anywhere pets and kids rule.
Which means designers have more freedom. And so do you.
So—what’s hot in upholstery? Personality.
The era of safe choices is fading. Upholstery in 2025 is about narrative. Mood. Risk. Texture. You can feel it before you see it. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Your chair doesn’t just hold you—it tells your guests exactly who you are. So why not let it speak up a little louder this year?