There’s a lot to consider when choosing bedding for your home — like thread count, material, comfort, and breathability, to name a few. You’ll also have to decide which colors and patterns work best for your bedroom’s style. That’s where fabric swatches can help.
But what exactly are fabric swatches, and how do you get them? What do you do once you have them? And how do you keep everything organized if you've requested multiple swatches?
Read on for more details about fabric swatches, how to use them, and step-by-step instructions on creating a fabric swatch book. We’ll even share how to request complimentary fabric swatches from Peacock Alley, so you can discover the best high-end bedding for your home.
What Are Fabric Swatches?
Fabric swatches are small cuts of fabric taken from the same bolt of material as the bedding you’re considering. (The swatch size depends on the store, but most are usually 2 x 2 inches or larger.)
Swatches help you decide on the perfect bedding for your home by demonstrating the color, texture, and pattern of the fabric. They’re also a great way to feel the softness and determine the quality up close.
Requesting fabric swatches ahead of time can add confidence to your purchase decision. By seeing first-hand how the bedding looks, fabric swatches eliminate any future surprises, ensuring the material fits well with your bedroom’s existing furniture and decor.
How to Get Fabric Swatches
You can get fabric swatches while shopping in person at a home decor store or while browsing bedding selections online. Many online bedding stores will send you fabric swatches for a small fee or the cost of shipping.
Peacock Alley offers complimentary fabric swatches for our duvet covers, coverlets, blankets, and sheeting.
How to Use Fabric Swatches
Once you have your fabric swatches, there are several ways to utilize them. First, if you've ordered multiple swatches, it's time to narrow down your selection. Then, when you have your top picks, you can see how the fabric swatches work with the colors and textures in your bedroom.
If you're still designing your bedroom, add your fabric swatches to a mood board to get a feel for the overall look.
If your bedroom has already been designed and you're adding new bedding, drape the swatches over your bed and see how they look and feel.
Leave the fabric swatches out for a while and check in on them at different times of the day to see how lighting might impact the fabric's color. For example, does the material look fantastic in the golden morning light but dull throughout the rest of the day? Gathering this information can help you with your choice and ensure you're finding the perfect bedding for your home.
How to Organize Fabric Swatches
If you've ordered multiple swatches from various stores, you may get overwhelmed with all the selections. A fabric swatch book can help you keep everything organized. It's also a great way to catalog all the information in one place, so you have all the details for future reference when buying your bedding.
How to Create a Fabric Swatch Book
A fabric swatch book doesn’t have to be fancy. It can instead be quite straightforward. All you need to do is attach the swatches (via tape, pins, paperclips, or staples) to a piece of paper and write down the details next to the fabric.
What Information to Include in Your Fabric Swatch Book
You can include any information on your swatch pages that makes sense to you and your decision-making process. Here are a few ideas for inspiration:
- Type of fabric (cotton, linen, etc.)
- Fabric content (for example, 62% cotton and 38% linen)
- Name of the design
- Where you bought it
- Thread count
- Care instructions
- Price
- Product Type
How to Organize Your Fabric Swatch Book
Once you’ve added your swatches and details to a piece of paper, you can store them in a binder or accordion file folder. You can randomly stick your swatch pages into your swatch book or take a more cataloged approach and group them by:
- Color
- Fabric type
- Shop
- Price
Inspiration Awaits at Peacock Alley
Select the swatch you’re looking for! From duvet covers and shams to sheets and blankets, Peacock Alley offers complimentary fabric swatches. Here’s how it works:
- Step 1: Select your type of fabric swatch
- Step 2: Choose a collection and explore more color options and swatches
- Step 3: Pick up to three complimentary swatches (additional swatches are $5 per swatch)
You’re one step closer to finding the bedding of your dreams. Request a complimentary fabric swatch today!
