BUYER GUIDES · FROM THE FACTORY

How to Choose Furniture Fabrics and Finishes from Overseas

2026-09-20 · TY Furniture Factory

When you order custom furniture from overseas, material selection deserves its own approval step. A room photograph can explain the style you want, but a named sample and written specification are a clearer reference for production.

Start with the room and how it will be used

Send photographs of the space, if available, and describe the furniture around the new piece. Mention the floor colour, nearby wood tones and whether you prefer a warm or cool palette. Also explain practical needs, such as frequent use, children, pets or a particular cleaning routine.

These details help narrow the discussion. At TY Furniture Factory, we work with fabric suppliers and can look for additional options when the initial selection does not suit your requirements. Availability should be confirmed before you settle on a specific material.

Ask for a small, clearly labelled shortlist

Choose a few candidates and keep their supplier or sample codes attached to every photo and message. “The beige one” becomes confusing when several similar fabrics are under discussion. A useful shortlist identifies the material, colour reference, texture and the piece of furniture it is intended for.

Ask for close-up and wider views. For fabric, a close-up helps show the weave while a wider view helps explain how the texture reads at room scale. With velvet and other directional surfaces, views from more than one angle can help you discuss the changing appearance.

Use photographs to shortlist, not to promise an exact colour

Lighting, camera settings and screens can change the appearance of a sample. Ask for consistent lighting and avoid relying on heavily edited reference images. If matching an existing item closely matters, discuss physical samples before approving production.

Confirm whether samples can be sent to your destination, what arrangements apply and how long that stage may take. Review a physical sample beside the other materials in your room, in both daylight and your usual evening lighting. Keep the reference code with the sample so your approval can be traced.

Confirm the specification beyond the colour

For upholstery, ask about composition, texture and the supplier's care instructions. If a particular performance characteristic matters, ask for the relevant specification or supporting test information for that exact fabric. Do not assume that every fabric described as a similar type performs the same way.

For wood, discuss the material, colour and sheen. For stone, confirm the material and expectations around pattern variation. For metal, identify the colour and surface finish. Natural materials can vary, so clarify what the sample represents and which variations are acceptable before approval.

Review the room as a coordinated set

A sofa, lounge chair and coffee table do not have to use identical materials to work together. Lay out the shortlisted samples together and compare the overall palette. If several pieces need to share the same fabric or finish, state that explicitly and ask the factory to confirm the sourcing and production arrangements.

Our furniture collection can be a starting point for selecting shapes. The final material choices should be linked to each product code or approved drawing, rather than left as a general instruction for the whole room.

Keep one final approval record

Before production, ask for a consolidated list linking each item to its approved material code, colour, finish and any special requirements. Check this against the drawings and your latest messages. If a material changes later, request a revised confirmation so an earlier choice is not used by mistake.

For bulk orders where a sample piece is agreed, use that stage to review the combination of shape, upholstery and finish. For a single item approved through a CAD drawing, remember that a drawing confirms the design; material selection still needs its own clear record.

A short approval checklist

Before saying yes, confirm: the correct furniture item; the material and sample code; colour and texture; finish or sheen; accepted natural variation; care information; and whether your choice affects the agreed timeline. Keep a copy of the final confirmation.

To prepare the rest of your enquiry, use our custom furniture quotation checklist. You can also read how customization works before discussing your design with the factory.