By Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media LLC

Fabrics can have a profound impact on a tired, outmoded room. Like a fresh coat of paint, residential fabrics make powerful color statements. Fabrics go further to add pattern and texture, as well as set the tone and style of the space.

Yet unlike the inexpensive decorating pick-me-up that is paint, fabrics are an investment you’ll look at and live with for years. So, whether you’re choosing linen for custom window treatments, a blended fabric for a sectional, or silk for decorative pillows, you want to select the “right” fabric before the custom-made product is delivered to your door.

Before you fall for a certain pattern or color, know that not all fabrics suit all families, rooms and purposes. One of the most helpful tools in narrowing your search is the label on the fabric swatches you’ll find in retail stores, or the information pages you’ll browse at retail Web sites.

Arhaus Furniture and Calico Corners, for instance, offer recommended usage for each fabric. Ultimately, the composition of a fabric—is it woven from natural or synthetic materials or both—determines its application.

Natural fabrics, such as cotton, organic cotton, linen (flax), silk and on-trend newcomers bamboo and burlap, are coveted for their breathability, softness, durability and, in some instances, health benefits. A 100 percent cotton toile, for example, suits drapery, bedding, pillows and light-use furniture applications.

Synthetic fabrics, meanwhile, are made from fibers that are either completely inorganic, or natural materials combined with chemicals. Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, acrylic and rayon, often imitate the look and feel or natural fabrics, but are treated with chemicals to withstand heavy usage. Microfibers, for example, are constructed from polyester, and prized for their stain-resistance and wicking abilities.

Want to create a decorative statement in a guest bedroom? A cotton or linen fabric will suffice. Concerned about grape juice stains and unruly pets? Opt for a synthetic.

When choosing a fabric from a retail store, you have the option to buy a sofa or sectional, pillow, window treatment or bedding ensemble as it’s shown on the sale floor, of course. But if you venture into the realm of custom home furnishings, the options expand exponentially; a design associate references fabrics of varying styles to pinpoint your style preferences.

Favor a stripe in red, blue and white? Chances are you want a Coastal look. Drawn to the stately floral and paisley designs or the striped silk in jewel tones? You probably prefer traditional interiors. Tempted by a colorful geometric? Perhaps you prefer a more contemporary interior.

Ultimately, mixing fabric patterns, colors and textures creates a more personalized space. Consider today’s popular patterns:

• • Ikats and suzani fabrics are characterized by bold colors and a decidedly ethnic flair. These woven fabrics have garnered attention worldwide in both apparel and home furnishings and are easily recognizable for the striated effects (ikat) or brightly colored florals, vines and sunburst motifs (suzani). Block-printed linens deliver a similar look—John Robshaw Textiles.
• • Animal prints emerged several seasons ago as the accent fabric of choice. Both muted and brightly colored iterations that borrow only the patterns, not colors, found in nature—think lavender-and-white cheetah print—are keeping the category fresh.
• • Florals are a perennial when is comes to fabrics, weaving their way into seasonal collections in several ways. High-contrast graphic interpretations and medium-scale repeats are timely solutions for today.
• • Geometric fabrics with retro and even classical motifs (think a Greek key or fretwork motif), all done up in modern colors, have emerged as a popular fabric category all its own.

Up next: Top Color Picks for Fall 2011