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I just bought a beautiful Victorian sofa from an estate sale that needs to be completely reupholstered. I have done a little upholstery work before on easy things like dining chairs and piano benches, but this would be my first "high traffic" piece. I read somewhere that I shouldn't use printed fabrics for high traffic areas because they will fade, but I don't know where to find fabrics that aren't printed. As the title states, I'm also looking for fabric that is very durable as we have four small dogs who like to jump on/off of the couch frequently (though they aren't actively destructive or anything). Does anyone have any recommendations on the type(s) of fabric that would be suitable for a project like this? Also, if anyone has any recommendations for online stores to buy upholstery fabric from I would appreciate it very much!
Some context: I am 21F. I have always been a crafty person and I have some basic sewing experience but I’ve never reupholstered anything in my life. I have a couch in my apartment that my mom bought off of FaceBook Marketplace for $50 about two years ago. It didn’t LOOK great when we bought it, but it mostly in good shape physically, and I was covering it in pillows and blankets anyway. I absolutely love it; it’s so comfy and sturdy. However, the fabric is really degrading. It’s looking worse and worse, and since I only ever sit on one side of the couch, that cushion is severely flattened. I want to try and reupholster it by myself, but I’m worried I’ll ruin it. It only cost $50, and I can’t help but wonder if the cost materials will be more expensive than just buying a new couch second-hand. I really love it though so I’m not sure what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.