A new sofa or armchair is a big investment—you don’t want to be second-guessing it a few months after it arrives on your doorstep. Choose the wrong material and you’ll find yourself battling snags and stains. Make a mistake on the color or pattern, and the whole room suffers (or you’ll wind up splurging to have the piece reupholstered). As you shop for an upholstery fabric, let your practical needs lead, advise Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, cofounders of the eponymous home-furnishings company. “First, consider how you live and who will use the piece,” says Williams. “This will help guide you on the type of material to choose.” Here, the duo explain how to zero in on a choice you’ll be happy to live with for years.

Some aspects of choosing upholstery fabric might seem pretty obvious such as selecting a color, which is usually the single biggest factor in fabric selection. However, while color is important, here are some other factors that should be considered first.