Your Guide to Choosing Smith Brothers Fabrics for Custom Furniture in 2026

Choosing the right fabric for a new piece of furniture is where the real fun begins. It’s the step where a sofa or chair starts to feel like yours. Smith Brothers fabrics are more than just a finishing touch; they are the starting point for creating a piece that perfectly fits your life, your style, and your home.

Begin Your Custom Furniture Journey

Here at Tanger's Furniture, our guiding principle has always been to help our neighbors "Love Their Home." It’s why we’re so selective about the brands we carry. We partner with companies like Smith Brothers of Berne because they share our deep commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and giving you the power to personalize.

Your journey to the perfect custom sofa in Ohio starts with that first touch of fabric.

This process isn't meant to be overwhelming. Think of it as a fun, creative exploration right here in our Bellefontaine showroom. Getting to see and feel the hundreds of fabric options in person makes all the difference. It's an experience that lets you truly appreciate the quality Smith Brothers has been known for since the very beginning. For a closer look at their furniture frames, check out our guide on Smith Brothers of Berne chairs.

A Legacy of American Craftsmanship

Our partnership with Smith Brothers gives our community access to an incredible piece of American history. With roots stretching all the way back to 1926, the company has grown into a true leader in American-made furniture. Today, more than 500 dedicated employees craft thousands of unique custom pieces each week in their nearly 500,000-square-foot factory. You can read more about their impressive story and see why their dedication to quality made right here at home matters so much.

For us, this partnership means we can confidently offer our Logan County customers bespoke sofas, sectionals, and chairs that blend lasting durability with deep personalization—all backed by our own local reliability.

Whether you're furnishing a family home for the long haul or outfitting a high-traffic Commercial Office, the Smith Brothers custom process delivers. We make amazing design accessible with our Low Price Promise and flexible Financing options, so your budget never gets in the way of your vision. And when your perfect piece is ready, our own in-house team handles the delivery and service.

Understanding Smith Brothers Fabric Families

Choosing the right fabric for your new furniture can feel a lot like standing in front of a giant wall of paint swatches. The options are exciting, but a little daunting. We've seen it countless times here at Tanger's.

To make it simple, we encourage our customers to think of the Smith Brothers fabrics not as a massive, confusing collection, but as a few distinct "fabric families." Each one has its own personality, strengths, and best uses.

The journey from a single fabric swatch to a beautiful, finished piece of furniture in your home is a rewarding one. This simple visual shows how that process flows, starting with the very first, and most important, choice you'll make.

As you can see, picking the right fabric is the foundational step. It sets the tone for the final look and feel of your custom furniture, ultimately shaping how you experience it in your home every day.

To help you get started, here's a quick high-level comparison of the main fabric families. This will help you quickly identify the best fit for your home and lifestyle.

Quick Guide to Smith Brothers Fabric Types

Now that you have a high-level view, let's take a closer look at what makes each of these fabric families unique.

The Everyday Heroes: Performance Fabrics

Performance fabrics have become the go-to choice for so many families, and for good reason. Think of them as the reliable, all-terrain vehicle of the upholstery world—they're built to handle whatever life throws their way.

• Best For: Busy households with kids, pets, and a love for movie-night snacks.
• Key Characteristics: These fabrics are specifically engineered to resist stains, moisture, and fading. Spills often bead right up on the surface, giving you precious time to grab a cloth before they have a chance to soak in.

Because they are so durable and easy to clean, they're a perfect choice for a family-room sectional or the favorite armchair that sees daily use. They're proof you don't have to sacrifice style for real-world practicality.

The Comfortable Classics: Natural Fibers

Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool are the comfortable, "classic white t-shirt" of the fabric world. They offer a timeless, breathable comfort that feels instantly welcoming the moment you sit down.

These materials bring an organic, relaxed feel to any room. Their unique textures and weaves can add subtle depth and character, making them a popular choice for achieving a warm, lived-in aesthetic.

While they may not have the same built-in stain resistance as performance fabrics, their inherent beauty and comfort are simply unmatched. They are ideal for creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere in a living room or a quiet reading nook. If you're curious to learn more about the specifics of different materials, our guide to upholstery materials is a great resource.

The Touch of Luxury: Velvets and Chenilles

Finally, we have the textiles designed for pure indulgence, like velvets and chenilles. If a performance fabric is the practical minivan, these are the elegant Sunday car—designed for comfort, style, and making a statement.

Their rich texture and incredibly soft hand-feel invite you to sink in and relax. These fabrics are perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to a formal living space or creating a cozy, high-end feel in a master bedroom.

Understanding these core families helps you speak the language of fabric. When you visit our Bellefontaine furniture showroom, you'll feel confident as you navigate the hundreds of options and find the perfect match for your home and lifestyle.

Making Sense of Fabric Durability and Cleaning Codes

Let's be honest, a beautiful sofa is only as good as its ability to handle real life in your Logan County home. It’s easy to get lost in all the gorgeous Smith Brothers fabrics, but we want to make sure the one you fall in love with is also the right one for you. That means knowing how durable it is and how to care for it.

Getting this part right ensures your investment looks fantastic for years, long after our local delivery team has set it up perfectly in your home. Think of it as the secret to long-term happiness with your new furniture.

Understanding Fabric Durability

You might hear our team or other furniture experts talk about "double rubs" or the "Wyzenbeek test." Let's cut through the jargon. All that really means is a durability score. It’s a simple number that tells you how well a fabric stands up to friction and everyday wear. The higher the score, the tougher the fabric.

• For a busy family room sofa: You'll want to look for fabrics with a high durability score. These are workhorses, built for heavy daily use—from kids and pets to movie nights and afternoon naps.
• For a formal sitting room or accent chair: Here, you have more freedom. A more delicate fabric with a lower score is perfectly fine, since it won't see nearly as much traffic.

Matching the fabric's durability to its intended use is a huge part of our "Love Your Home" philosophy. It’s all about making smart, practical choices that fit the way you actually live.

Your Guide to Cleaning Codes

Spills are a fact of life. But the good news is, every Smith Brothers fabric comes with a simple cleaning code to take the panic out of the process. These codes are your recipe for keeping your furniture looking brand new.

Knowing your fabric’s cleaning code is the single most important piece of information for long-term care. It removes the guesswork and prevents accidental damage from using the wrong cleaning solution.

Here’s a quick rundown of what each code means:

• W Code (Water-Based): You can spot-clean these fabrics with water-based upholstery cleaners or even just a simple mix of mild soap and water. This is the most common and user-friendly type.
• S Code (Solvent-Based): This one’s a bit different. It requires a water-free, solvent-based cleaner. Water can cause spotting or shrinking on these fabrics, so always reach for a product specifically made for "S" codes.
• W/S Code (Water/Solvent): This is the best of both worlds. These versatile fabrics can be cleaned with either water-based or solvent-based products, giving you more flexibility when messes happen.
• X Code: Treat this one with care. "X" means you should only vacuum or lightly brush the fabric to clean it. Steer clear of any liquid cleaners, as both water and solvents can cause serious damage.

Understanding these simple codes helps protect the beautiful custom piece you designed. Of course, true durability goes beyond just the surface fabric. Even the right choice of upholstery thread and needle during construction plays a key role in how well your furniture holds up over a lifetime of use.

Bringing Your Custom Vision to Life at Tanger's Furniture

So, you’ve waded through the fabric families, figured out durability, and landed on a Smith Brothers fabric that you absolutely love. Now for the exciting part: turning that idea into a real, beautiful piece of furniture for your home. Here at Tanger’s Furniture, we make that process personal, collaborative, and honestly, a lot of fun.

Your journey starts the moment inspiration strikes, whether you're browsing for a custom sofa online or walking into our Bellefontaine showroom. We're not an "out of the box" store; we see this as a partnership. Our design staff, who have been serving the Logan County community with a no-pressure promise since our design center opened in 1964, are here to guide you, not just sell to you. It's all part of our mission to help you "Love Your Home."

The Collaborative Design Process

The first step is getting hands-on with the possibilities. In our showroom, you can touch and feel hundreds of fabric swatches, holding them up against different frame styles, arm shapes, and leg finishes. It's an experience a digital screen just can't match. To get an even clearer picture, the design process often involves creating digital mock-ups to help you visualize different fabric options on the frame you've chosen.

Our team will help you sort through all the choices, making sure the final piece not only looks incredible but actually fits your family's lifestyle.

This deep level of personalization isn't just for homes. Thanks to our partnership with Smith Brothers of Berne and Flexsteel, we can bring that same incredible quality and customization to businesses. These brands offer thousands of options, including durable, commercial-grade fabrics and custom configurations to fit any professional space.

The custom order process is a journey we take together. From the first swatch to the final delivery, our goal is to ensure you feel confident and excited about the furniture you’ve helped create.

Once you’ve finalized your design, we handle everything else. We believe exceptional service is part of the deal, which is why we have our own local Service & Delivery team. They do all the heavy lifting, making sure your new furniture arrives safely and is placed exactly where you want it.

The whole process is made even more approachable with our Low Price Promise and flexible Financing options, which help make custom-designed furniture a reality for any budget.

For a complete walkthrough of what to expect from start to finish, check out our guide on getting started with a custom order.

Choosing the right fabric for your furniture is about more than just color or pattern. It’s about being honest about how you actually live in your home. Every room has a job to do, and the fabric you select should be up for the task.

At Tanger's Furniture, we've always believed in helping you make choices that are both beautiful and practical—that's a huge part of what "Love Your Home" means to us. It's not about chasing the latest trend, but about finding the perfect material for a room's real-world use.

Just think about your family room. It’s the hub of the home—the spot for movie nights, spilled juice boxes, and the dog's afternoon nap. This is where a durable performance fabric truly shines. These fabrics are made to handle the beautiful chaos of daily life, making them the only sensible choice for a sofa that's going to see a lot of living from kids and pets.

On the other hand, a quiet, formal living room or that peaceful reading corner has different needs. In these less-trafficked spots, you can have a little more fun with texture. Go for the decadent feel of a soft velvet or a plush, cozy chenille. Since you don't have to worry as much about constant wear, you can really lean into comfort and style.

For Your Living Room and High-Traffic Areas

When you’re picking out fabric for your main Living Room seating, durability has to be at the top of the list. We consistently find ourselves guiding Bellefontaine families toward the performance collections from Smith Brothers for this very reason.

• Scenario: A family with young kids and a golden retriever comes in looking for a new sectional.
• Recommendation: We'd point them to a performance fabric with a high durability rating and a simple “W” cleaning code. This gives them peace of mind, knowing spills can be blotted up and the fabric is built to last.

Choosing a durable, easy-to-clean fabric for your main sofa isn't a compromise—it's a smart investment in your home's comfort and longevity. It allows you to relax and actually live in your living room without stress.

For Commercial and Professional Spaces

Our work isn't just limited to homes. We also partner with our Commercial Office clients to outfit their spaces. For a professional setting like a waiting room or an executive's office, the fabric must communicate quality while being tough enough for public use.

Smith Brothers offers a fantastic selection of commercial-grade options perfect for these situations. We typically recommend tightly woven fabrics in neutral tones or colors that align with the company's branding. These are designed to withstand constant traffic from clients and staff, all while keeping a crisp, professional appearance.

Whether you're furnishing a new home or a new office, our design team is here to help you sort through the options. And with our Low Price Promise and flexible Financing, you can be confident you’re making the right choice for your space and your budget.

Making Quality Custom Furniture Affordable

Here at Tanger's, we believe that bringing a custom-designed piece into your home shouldn't feel like an impossible dream. As a family-owned business right here in Bellefontaine, we’re committed to making high-quality, personalized furniture a reality for every family in our community. We know a budget is a real thing, and we’ve built our entire approach to respect that.

This all starts with our Low Price Promise. It’s our simple guarantee that when you choose Smith Brothers fabrics and furniture from us, you’re getting exceptional value here in Logan County. We stand by our pricing so you can get to the fun part—designing the perfect piece for your home.

Flexible Financing and Exclusive Offers

We understand that furnishing your home is a big step. That’s why we offer flexible Financing options to help you manage the cost without putting your plans on hold. It’s a simple way to spread out payments, making it easier to bring home the beautiful, lasting furniture your family deserves. You can learn more about financing furniture and see just how straightforward the process is.

Creating the home you love is a journey, and we believe financial concerns shouldn't be a roadblock. Our goal is to provide practical solutions that put beautiful, lasting furniture within your reach.

To help your investment go even further, we invite you to join our Love Your Home Club. It’s much more than a newsletter—it’s your inside access to exclusive offers, early sale announcements, and expert tips sent straight to your inbox. It’s one more way we work to open the doors to custom design for everyone, backed by the support of our local Service & Delivery team every step of the way.

Your Smith Brothers Fabric Questions, Answered

Over the years, our design team has heard just about every question you can imagine in our Bellefontaine showroom. To help you feel completely confident in your choices, we’ve put together answers to a few of the most common ones we get.

How Long Does A Custom Order Take?

This is always one of the first questions we hear, and for good reason! While lead times can shift with demand, Smith Brothers has a stellar reputation for its efficient, all-American process.

Because every single piece is built from the ground up right in Indiana, they can often deliver custom furniture much faster than brands that depend on overseas parts and production. For the most up-to-the-minute timeline, just ask our design staff—we can give you a precise estimate when you’re ready to order.

Are Performance Fabrics Really Worth The Investment?

Without a doubt. If your home includes kids, pets, or you simply love to enjoy your living room without worry, performance fabrics are a game-changer.

These aren't your typical fabrics with a simple spray-on coating. They are engineered from the fiber level to actively resist stains and repel liquids. Spills are so much easier to clean up, keeping your furniture looking brand new for years. It’s a smart investment for any active household, especially on a new sofa or even a Speed Queen laundry appliance from our store.

We always encourage everyone to take fabric swatches home from our showroom. Seeing the colors and textures in your own home’s lighting is the single best way to know you've found a match you'll love for a lifetime.

When you choose American-made furniture like Smith Brothers, you aren't just buying a beautiful sofa. You're investing in a legacy of quality craftsmanship. It’s a difference you can see in the solid frame and feel in the perfectly tailored seams. And remember, our Low Price Promise and flexible Financing options make this kind of lasting quality accessible for your budget.

At Tanger's Furniture, we're here to guide you through every step, from your first question to your final decision. We are more than just a place to buy a sofa; we're also the top-rated mattress store in Logan County and your source for reliable home solutions.

Visit our showroom in Bellefontaine to see our custom options in person or browse our collections online to start your journey.

Have a specific design question? Contact our design staff today or join our Love Your Home Club for expert tips delivered to your inbox.