Living room design

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They Don't Look Shabby in Two Years
When you pick up swatches to see how they'll look with your paint colors and furniture, take the opportunity to see how the fabrics live up to your lifestyle, suggests Anne Reagan, editor-in-chief of home renovation site Porch.com. Rub it—see if it stains or pills—or spill your favorite drinks on it and find out how easy it is to clean. If you love the fabric but find it's not very durable, consider using it on the back of a chair (and upholstering the part you sit on with a stronger fabric, like canvas, hemp or any cotton-blend).