Matching a Fabric That Is No Longer Made: What to Bring

Sooner or later most families run into the same problem. A piece of furniture needs repair, or one chair has to match the rest, and the fabric was discontinued years ago. People often assume that's the end of it. It usually isn't, though the outcome depends on what you bring with you. One of our customers described exactly this in a Google review, and it's a good example of what's possible.

A real example: 27-year-old material

The review tells the story. The customer stopped by to ask whether we could recreate a missing door panel. He went home, returned with the panel and, after a short discussion, someone came out with a perfect piece of matching upholstery. He pointed out that the material being matched was 27 years old, so he hadn't expected much. Impressed, he brought in a couple more pieces to be re-covered. We didn't have quite enough of the original match to do all of them, but we had another piece with a slightly different pattern and a perfect color match. He was happy with that outcome, and so were we.

Why a close match is often possible

Fabric lines come and go, but the weaves, textures and colors behind them tend to repeat. A shop that has worked with fabric for decades builds up remnants, sample books and a good eye for how color and texture sit together. Solid colors and simple weaves are the easiest to match. Printed and woven patterns are harder, and the older the fabric is, the more the original dye may have shifted. We can't promise every fabric can be matched, and we'll tell you if it can't. What we can do is show you what's closest, in daylight, next to your piece. Looking at it indoors under fluorescent bulbs is a common way to be fooled, because two fabrics that agree under one kind of light can disagree under another. Daylight by the door is the fair test, and it's the one that matters once the piece is back in your home.

What to bring to the showroom

A little preparation makes the match faster and better. Bring as many of these as you can.

• The piece itself, or the largest part of it you can carry, so we can hold fabric against it.
• A hidden scrap from inside a seam, under a cushion or behind a skirt, where the color hasn't faded.
• Any tags, labels or paperwork that give a maker, a pattern name or the fiber content.
• Photos of the whole piece, taken in daylight from a few angles.
• Every other piece in the set, if you want them all to coordinate.

The hidden scrap matters most. Fabric that has sat in sun for years fades on the surface, so the exposed side may be a shade lighter than what the piece looked like when new. A scrap from inside a seam shows the original color, and then we can decide together whether to match the faded look or the original.

When the match is close, not exact

Sometimes the best we find has the right color but a slightly different pattern, as it did in that review. That can still work well. A near match can go where the eye doesn't land first, such as the backs of cushions, inside panels or a secondary piece in the room. A plain coordinating fabric can also work for cushions, piping or trim. When there are several pieces, we can lay the options side by side in the showroom so you see how they'll look together before anything is cut. Seeing the pieces together answers most questions at once. In a room, color usually carries the eye further than pattern, and a near match in the right color can look exactly right.

One piece or the whole set

Even a perfect match can look different next to older fabric, because the old cloth has faded and the new has not. If only one panel or cushion needs replacing, a close match is usually fine. If it will sit right beside faded material, you may be happier re-covering the whole set in a fabric you choose fresh from the showroom's sample books. We'll walk through both options and let you decide. It also helps to say up front which pieces matter most to you. A family heirloom, a dining set used daily and a spare-room chair don't all deserve the same effort, and knowing your priorities helps us put the best fabric where it counts.

If you have a piece that needs matching, bring it to our showroom on International Speedway Blvd in DeLand, along with any scraps or photos you can find. Call 386-734-1809 if you'd like to ask a question first, and we'll give you a free estimate once we see what you have.