25 February
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1 mins
The Patterned Sofa Comeback & Personalised Upholstery
For years, plain fabric sofas have been the UK’s number one choice. Something that would “go with everything”. Upholstery was the quiet background to a room, not the feature. Pattern tended to be reserved for cushions and throws.
But not now - bold, heritage prints and textured weaves are back en vogue!
“After years of pared-back neutrals and safe plains, pattern is returning in a confident way. Not as a scatter cushion or an accent, but as the main event,” says Lucy Mather, interiors expert at Arighi Bianchi.
“In the same way people no longer want to wear the same outfits as everyone else, they no longer want the same sofa. And it’s leading to a noticeable rise in patterned sofas, statement chairs, upholstered headboards where people are choosing their own fabrics.”
This shift has been driven by customers discovering the breadth of design available through our interiors department, where selected sofas, chairs and accessories can be upholstered in a wide range of fabrics from across the store’s collections, including heritage design house Romo, whose fabrics are available across bespoke upholstery pieces.
“For a long time, upholstery felt like the thing you had to keep neutral because it was expensive and long-term,” says Lucy. “Now people are seeing it as an opportunity to bring personality into a room in a way that feels intentional rather than accidental.”
From ‘what sofa do you have?’ to ‘what fabric can I choose?’
“Not everyone is shopping for a finished piece of furniture anymore. Lots of customers are asking ‘what fabric can I put on this sofa or chair?’ From flowing, organic prints to geometric repeats and richly textured weaves, customers are embracing the idea that a sofa or bed can be as expressive as wallpaper or artwork.
“And when picking from Romo fabrics’ range, it’s characterful fabrics and richly detailed designs that are the most popular. As well as mixing and matching patterns within a whole room, achieving a cohesive, vibrant look.”
Upholstered headboards: the new feature wall
One of the biggest growth areas has been upholstered headboards, which are increasingly replacing painted feature walls in bedrooms.
“Headboards have become one of the biggest canvases for pattern in the home,” Lucy explains. “They’re large, visual, and perfect for introducing colour and print without overwhelming the space.”
At Arighi Bianchi, the upholstery department now operates more like a design studio, where customers are encouraged to explore fabric options first and then apply them across different pieces to create a cohesive scheme.
“When people see the full range of what’s possible with fabric, it completely changes how they think about furniture,” Lucy adds.
“Perhaps the biggest change is confidence. Homeowners are less concerned about choosing something that “won’t date” and more interested in creating a home that feels distinctive and personal,” says Lucy. “Patterned upholstery feels characterful, considered and far more reflective of how people want their homes to feel in 2026.”
Shop Romo HERE
“After years of pared-back neutrals and safe plains, pattern is returning in a confident way. Not as a scatter cushion or an accent, but as the main event,” says Lucy Mather, interiors expert at Arighi Bianchi.
“In the same way people no longer want to wear the same outfits as everyone else, they no longer want the same sofa. And it’s leading to a noticeable rise in patterned sofas, statement chairs, upholstered headboards where people are choosing their own fabrics.”
This shift has been driven by customers discovering the breadth of design available through our interiors department, where selected sofas, chairs and accessories can be upholstered in a wide range of fabrics from across the store’s collections, including heritage design house Romo, whose fabrics are available across bespoke upholstery pieces.
“For a long time, upholstery felt like the thing you had to keep neutral because it was expensive and long-term,” says Lucy. “Now people are seeing it as an opportunity to bring personality into a room in a way that feels intentional rather than accidental.”
From ‘what sofa do you have?’ to ‘what fabric can I choose?’
“Not everyone is shopping for a finished piece of furniture anymore. Lots of customers are asking ‘what fabric can I put on this sofa or chair?’ From flowing, organic prints to geometric repeats and richly textured weaves, customers are embracing the idea that a sofa or bed can be as expressive as wallpaper or artwork.
“And when picking from Romo fabrics’ range, it’s characterful fabrics and richly detailed designs that are the most popular. As well as mixing and matching patterns within a whole room, achieving a cohesive, vibrant look.”
Upholstered headboards: the new feature wall
One of the biggest growth areas has been upholstered headboards, which are increasingly replacing painted feature walls in bedrooms.
“Headboards have become one of the biggest canvases for pattern in the home,” Lucy explains. “They’re large, visual, and perfect for introducing colour and print without overwhelming the space.”
At Arighi Bianchi, the upholstery department now operates more like a design studio, where customers are encouraged to explore fabric options first and then apply them across different pieces to create a cohesive scheme.
“When people see the full range of what’s possible with fabric, it completely changes how they think about furniture,” Lucy adds.
“Perhaps the biggest change is confidence. Homeowners are less concerned about choosing something that “won’t date” and more interested in creating a home that feels distinctive and personal,” says Lucy. “Patterned upholstery feels characterful, considered and far more reflective of how people want their homes to feel in 2026.”
Shop Romo HERE
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