How to Choose Between Upholstery Fabric Grades
Fabric grades at Highland House Furniture, available through Sutter & Vale, are a pricing structure, not a quality ranking. Each grade groups fabrics by what they cost the manufacturer to source. A higher grade does not mean a more durable or more refined fabric. It means that fabric costs more to produce. Choose by specs, not by the letter.
What Are Upholstery Fabric Grades, and Why Do They Exist?
Grades exist to organize pricing, not to signal quality. When a manufacturer assigns a fabric to Grade A or Grade D, that placement reflects the fabric's sourcing cost. It says nothing about how the cloth wears, how it looks after five years, or how easy it is to clean.
Does a Higher Grade Mean Better Fabric?
No. Grade reflects cost, not performance. A high-grade fabric might be a rare hand-woven linen or a heavy outdoor-rated performance cloth. A lower grade might be a reliable polyester blend that outlasts either. When you choose a fabric, read the specs:
- Double-rub count: 15,000 or above for residential use; 30,000 or above for heavy-use seating
- Fiber content: natural fibers breathe and age well; performance synthetics resist staining
- Cleaning code: W (water-based cleaner), S (solvent), WS (either), X (vacuum only)
- Repeat size: a large pattern repeat increases yardage, which adds to total cost regardless of grade
Those numbers tell you durability. The grade letter does not.
How Does Grade Affect What You Pay for a Made-to-Order Chair?
The frame carries its own base price. The fabric grade adds a differential on top. On a made-to-order piece like the Catbird Chair, which measures 26.50" W x 25" D x 30.50" H, you select from Highland House's full cover range. A larger or more enveloping frame, such as the Truman Swivel Chair at 28.50" W x 32.75" D x 36" H, requires more yardage. More yardage means the per-yard grade differential adds up faster, even when the difference between grades looks modest on paper.
How Should You Match Fabric Grade to the Room?
Think about three things: use, light, and longevity.
| Room condition | What to prioritize |
|---|---|
| High-traffic sitting room | High rub count, performance fiber |
| Low-use formal space | Fiber content and visual texture |
| Strong natural light | Fade resistance; check lightfastness rating |
| Pets or children in the household | Tight weave, WS or W cleaning code |
A lower-grade fabric that meets your durability specs is a sound choice. A higher-grade fabric that won't hold up to how you actually live is not.
Can You Order a Highland House Chair in Your Own Fabric?
Yes. Highland House offers a COM (Customer's Own Material) option on many pieces, which lets you supply fabric outside their standard grade structure entirely. Browse the full accent chairs collection to see which frames are available for made-to-order configuration, then confirm yardage requirements with Sutter & Vale before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grade A fabric always the cheapest option?
Grade A is the entry point in the manufacturer's cost structure, so it typically adds the smallest differential to the base frame price. The fabric itself can still be high quality, and many Grade A options are well suited to everyday residential use.
Do fabric grades differ between furniture brands?
Yes. There is no industry-wide standard for how grades are lettered or numbered. A Grade C at one house may be equivalent in cost to a Grade E at another. Compare specs, not letters, when you are shopping across brands.
What happens if I choose COM for a Highland House piece?
You supply the fabric directly, and the manufacturer applies it to the frame. You are responsible for ordering the correct yardage and for confirming the fabric is suitable for upholstery use, meaning it passes the rub count and backing requirements the workroom specifies. Your Sutter & Vale contact can provide the yardage requirement for any specific frame.
The Sutter & Vale Team
