Performance Fabrics come in a wide variety of colors and textures. Courtesy of Lane Home Furnishings

Let's face it, when it comes to having a home that's "lived in," most of us will confess to committing a few of life's little indulgences.

We really do put our feet up on the cocktail table or sofa. We let "Fido" curl up next to us on the sofa or chair (sometimes just after being let in from the rainy outdoors!). We even eat in the family room and therefore occasionally drip our ice cream or tip our coffee or beer. It's inevitable, accidents do happen and viola; the messes that make a house into a home suddenly appear. It seams we are all guilty of allowing our guests, our children and ourselves to get away with certain habits that can jeopardize the longevity of our furniture.

The fact is homeowner's have always dreamed of having good-looking pieces of furniture that can withstand the rigors of everyday life. We want our furniture to look like it came straight off the set of one of those Designer's-Home-Life reality shows we see on HGTV. But, on the other hand, the fabric has to be able to take just about whatever the kids, the dog or the company haphazardly dishes out. We want tastefully stylish furniture that truly embraces life as we know it and doesn't showcase the stains to tell about it.

In the past, in order to arm oneself against such perils of home life, a consumer's options equated to either choosing between a fabric that looked like it belonged in a reception area or choosing an attractive one that compelled the buyer to register as "certifiable" on the paranoia "don't spill" scale! Today, that is no longer the case. It is a reality that has come home to the heart of consumers and designers alike who desire to "have both their cake and feet up, too."

Photo: Performance Fabrics repel stains, resist fading, endure wear and retard germs. Courtest of Lane Home Furnishings.

Fashionable form and formable function have come together and made a truce through the new and ever improved performance fabrics. Thanks to recent technological advances, performance fabrics are taking the "reality-home-life" by storm. Although "wear-and-tear" fabrics have been available for years, it has only been recently that these fabrics are now available in fashionable looks and comfortable feels. Performance fabrics now possess a good look and feel, and can repel stains, resist fading, endure wear and even retard germs.

As with the last two years, the fabrics at this year's furniture marketing expo commanded much of the attention. Manufactures displayed their rich and colorful performance fabrics and attested that they were exactly what many consumers and designers had been vying for: fabrics that look and feel like home! Each furniture manufacturer also named their favorite brands/lines. Hickory Hill and Norwalk mainly showcased Sunbrella® fabrics (once known for their outdoor patio print furniture, Sunbrella® has now expanded their durable fabric line to "fit in" indoors). Other manufacturers, such as Lane and La-Z-Boy, stepped up to the plate and showcased the durability of Microfiber as faux suede and other textures. Harden, traditionally known for their quality case goods and higher-end upholstery pieces, likewise followed suite and presented more durable fabrics in various textures able to compete in today's market. Temple and Hickory Hill also joined the cause by offering beautifully styled fabrics that also rate "high performance" for their upholstered lines.

Photo courtesy of Temple Furniture, Inc. with fabric from Quaker

Thomasville introduced the Extreme Fabric line, which has an impressive 180 fabric choices that are all kid, pet and company friendly. They invested a lot of forethought into developing their Extreme Fabric line with the understanding that "home" is where family and friends come to gather. Their philosophy states that in a day and age when family and friends are most needed, why dread family gatherings for furniture wear-sake? Therefore, Thomasville felt that making user-friendly fashionable fabrics would be at the heart of creating those cozy and inviting spaces we like to call home. Aunt Loraine may spill a bit of her third glass of wine or long time family friend "Uncle Tony" may inadvertently land his nacho-scooping attempt on the sofa, and though it may dampen your furniture, it need no longer do the same to your evening.

When it comes to choosing the type of fabric you need for your home, understand that there are a variety of performance fabrics available from a number of different manufacturers. Keep in mind that most furniture companies all get their fabric from fabric mills, but there are only a dozen or so mills in the USA. So even though a mill may produce an exclusive line of fabrics for a particular furniture manufacturer, many other fabrics of similar make-up can be found in the market, just under different names. This allows most furniture companies the ability to offer a wider range of durable fabrics for custom selection. Some top signature fabric names to look for include Crypton®, Ultrasuede®, Sensuede™ and Microban®, Microdeniers and Microfiber.

Photo courtesy of Harden Furniture

With all of the options now available, designers are an excellent source in helping consumers determine which product best suites their particular project. As with any fabric, the colors, styles, patterns and textures will vary, allowing designers to create an atmosphere rich in complimentary and coordinating interests to satisfy any personal taste. When it comes to cost, performance fabrics are usually considerably more than the traditional conventional fabrics. A non-performance labeled fabric selection for example, runs between $45-$75 a yard. Although performance fabrics can be double that price range, many concede that the peace of mind it affords, along with the good looks and soft feel it provides, makes it a worthwhile investment!