What are Sanderson fabrics?
Sanderson fabrics are interior textiles with botanical, floral and narrative patterns for curtains, furniture and decorative details. The range includes both prints and weaves, from soft floral motifs to animals, gardens and historically inspired designs. This page focuses on fabrics, while the brand's broader range can be found in other collections. Do compare several colourways and consider how the pattern meets the floor, wall and existing textiles as a whole.
Which Sanderson fabrics are most popular?
Popular choices are often patterns that work across several rooms and colourways. Anthos Fabric, Angelique Fabric and Amelia Rose Fabric represent floral expressions, while Ancient Canopy Fabric and Bamboo & Bird Fabric offer more narrative motifs. Do compare several colourways and consider how the pattern meets the floor, wall and existing textiles as a whole.
Where do Sanderson fabrics work best?
Sanderson fabric suits bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and children's rooms depending on motif and quality. Lighter prints work beautifully as curtains, while denser weaves and upholstery fabrics can be used on armchairs, headboards and chairs. A large botanical pattern needs space, whereas small-scale florals and checks are easier to combine with other textiles. Also consider how the motif changes in folds and across seams.
How do you choose the right Sanderson fabric?
Start by deciding on the intended use, then check the material, pattern repeat, fabric width and recommended application. For curtains, drape, light and pattern scale matter most. For furniture, you need to assess durability and how the motif will sit across seams and cushions. Consider how the room's daylight and evening light affect the colour before deciding. Do compare several colourways and consider how the pattern meets the floor, wall and existing textiles as a whole.
What sets Sanderson's fabrics apart from one another?
The difference lies in motif, printing technique, weave and the idea behind each collection. The National Trust collection draws inspiration from historic settings, while Sanderson One Sixty gathers reinterpretations of the brand's heritage. Some patterns are dense and botanical, others airier or more graphic. The structure of the material also determines how colour and pattern are perceived. Do compare several colourways and consider how the pattern meets the floor, wall and existing textiles as a whole.
Can I get help choosing Sanderson fabric?
Yes. Start with the visualisation on the product page when you are logged in and assess scale and colour. Then bring photos, measurements and material samples to the showroom at Sturegatan 20 in Stockholm. There you can compare fabrics and get help with curtains, furniture, pattern matching and combinations with wallpaper, rugs and lighting. Do compare several colourways and consider how the pattern meets the floor, wall and existing textiles as a whole.
Arthur Sanderson & Sons and a long textile heritage
Sanderson has worked with wallpapers and textiles since the 19th century and is known for its nature-inspired world of pattern. That history is visible in archive motifs and in the way new collections return to gardens, landscapes and decorative art. This does not mean the fabrics only suit traditional rooms. Many motifs work just as well with simple furniture and modern colour palettes.
The collection A Celebration of the National Trust is based on historic settings and nature motifs, while Sanderson One Sixty Fabrics highlights the brand's long history of pattern. For a broad comparison, you can also see fabrics.
Floral patterns and botanical motifs
Sanderson is particularly strong on floral fabrics. Anthos Fabric, Angelique Fabric and Amelia Rose Fabric show different degrees of detail and colour. A larger floral motif works well on curtains, while a smaller pattern sits more easily on an armchair or headboard.
Motifs such as Anaar Fabric, Icaria Fabric and Ancient Canopy Fabric create more narrative surfaces. Let one of the fabric's colours reappear in rugs or the wall colour rather than matching everything.
Chintz, curtains and upholstery fabric
Chintz is a term often used for denser cotton fabric with a printed pattern. In practice, it is the intended use that determines whether a fabric suits curtains or furniture. A curtain fabric needs the right drape and light transmission, while an upholstery fabric must withstand wear and allow pattern matching across seams.
For curtains, Manila Fabric or Merrington Fabric can give a softer expression. For more structured projects, weaves such as Annandale Weave may be of interest. Always check the product information and see the fabric on a piece of furniture in the visualisation to assess colour and pattern.
Playful motifs and children's rooms
Sanderson's collaborations also include well-known stories and animal motifs. Sanderson 101 Dalmatians Fabric, Sanderson Alice in Wonderland Fabric and Sanderson Bambi Fabric can be used in children's rooms, but also work as playful accents in smaller projects.
A richly patterned fabric does not need to cover the whole room. A Roman blind, cushion, headboard or small armchair may be enough. Under bedroom and living room you can see how textiles can be combined with furniture and light.
How to combine Sanderson fabrics
Start with a main pattern and then choose supporting textiles with a smaller scale or a plain texture. A floral curtain can meet a checked cushion and a plain piece of furniture if the colours are kept together. Avoid using several large motifs with the same contrast within the same line of sight.
Also see wallpapers, furniture and lighting when planning the whole. For curtain making, reupholstery or made-to-measure work, there is more information under bespoke and on brands.
Pattern matching and sewing
A Sanderson pattern can change a great deal depending on how it is cut. On curtains, the repeat should be positioned so that the motif has a natural start and continuation. On furniture, you need to decide which motif should sit at the centre of the back or seat. This is especially important for birds, trees and larger flowers.
Also plan how several curtain drops meet. A consistent starting point gives a calmer result, while random placement can make a beautiful pattern feel restless. Extra fabric for matching is therefore part of the quality of the finished work.
Lining, light and function
Curtain lining affects drape, light transmission and how the colours are perceived. A light lining protects the print and adds body, while blackout suits bedrooms but makes the curtain heavier. In sunny windows, you should also consider how direct light affects the textile over time and choose a solution to suit the room's aspect.
The room's light and a safer colour choice
Give the colour choice a few days before you decide. Consider how the colour responds to morning light, shade and evening lighting, and see the fabric on a piece of furniture in the visualisation. Patterns with green, blue or red can change noticeably depending on the surrounding colours.
Also take the materials that will remain as your starting point. A wood species, a rug or a wall colour can bring out entirely different parts of the pattern than what you saw in the shop or on screen.
Keep the product details
Do note the product name, colourway and any batch information. This makes it easier if you later want to add more cushions, a curtain drop or a reupholstered piece and need to compare colour and material against the original order.
