Guides · 4 min read
Rub counts, weaves and fibres explained simply, so your sofa still looks good after three years of chai and children.
By Tara Menon · 25 Aug 2026
A beautiful sofa in the wrong fabric is a short romance.
Check the rub count
For a family sofa, look for at least 30,000 Martindale rubs. Anything under 15,000 belongs on a decorative chair.
Prefer tight weaves
Tight weaves resist snags from pets and jewellery. Loose boucle is lovely but needs a gentle household.
Think about the climate
In humid cities, linen blends and performance cottons breathe better than velvet.
Keep reading
Earth Tones Are Back, and This Time They Are Staying
Terracotta, ochre and clay are replacing cool greys in Indian homes. Here is how to use them without making a room feel heavy.
Small Flat, Big Storage: Seven Joinery Ideas
Window benches, sliding partitions and full-height wardrobes: the joinery moves that make a 1BHK feel twice its size.
Plants That Actually Love Indian Apartments
Low light, high humidity and the occasional forgotten watering: eight plants that thrive anyway.