This is the perfect time of year to bring nature into your home. Natural and organic fabrics and decor will add warmth to your space, and will also help create a relaxing environment. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when considering adding natural elements to your decor:

What kinds of natural fabrics are available for my furniture?

There are more natural fabrics on the market than ever before, it just depends on the brand and the retailer.

Some furniture brands, like Brentwood and Decor-Rest offer the ability to customize your pieces by choosing from a range of fabrics. These fabrics may include the following natural fabrics:

• Leather
• Cotton
• Linen
• Silk
• Jute
• Wool

It is important to consider that different natural fabrics offer different levels of wear.

For example, silk is more delicate and is not meant for high-wear areas, like sofas. On the other hand, leather is extremely durable and wears well over time, which makes it ideal for sofas.

What kind of natural fabrics are best for my furniture?

Choosing which fabric will work best for your sofa, accent chair, or other furniture pieces comes down to how the furniture will be used. Key questions to ask yourself include:

• Who will be sitting on the furniture?
• Will children use the furniture?
• Will pets be allowed to sit on the furniture?
• Will there be food or drink consumed (i.e. dining chairs)?
• Will it be placed by an entryway (i.e. dirty footwear)?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you may want to consider a more durable and easy-to-clean natural fabric, like Crypton fabrics.

Crypton fabrics have built-in stain repellency, built-in odor resistance, and enhanced abrasion resistance. Smitty’s carries a range of Crypton fabrics and our team will be happy to review what is available for your particular furniture item.

What kind of natural decor should I get?

When choosing a natural, decorative item, it really comes down to your personal style.

It is very on-trend to decorate with wooden elements like naturally-shaped wooden bowls. However, wood isn’t to everyone’s liking.

If wood isn’t your thing, you may want to add a glass vase and some floral arrangements to your dining table, coffee table, or side table.

Another great way to bring some natural design elements into your space is to add a rattan or bamboo tray. This tray could be placed on a coffee table and hold other decorative items, like candles or books, or it can be used functionally to serve snacks or beverages.

Whatever your style, at Smitty’s, we can help you find natural elements to suit your taste and your lifestyle. Visit us for a free interior decorating consultation to learn more.