Tiger Print Upholstery Fabric: How to Choose and Use It

Tiger print upholstery fabric is a patterned fabric, usually velvet or linen, printed with a tiger or big-cat motif for sofas, chairs, headboards and curtains. At Patience & Gough we design three tiger patterns, Tora, Panthera and Penrose Prowl, and print them in England on recycled velvet (from £179 per metre) and natural linen (£159 per metre). This guide covers how to choose a design, a base cloth and a scale, and where tiger print works best.

Our three tiger designs

• Tora: leaping tigers and winding vines in a flowing, all-over repeat.

• Panthera: big cats among botanicals and figures, in three repeat sizes of 44.66 cm, 67 cm and 134 cm square.

• Penrose Prowl: a geometric tiger pattern drawn after Escher's Penrose stairs, for interiors that lean architectural.

Velvet, linen or silk jacquard?

Velvet. Recycled velvet gives the deepest colour and a soft pile that suits upholstery: sofas, armchairs, dining chairs and headboards. It is the most popular base for tiger print. See all patterned velvet.

Linen. Patterned linen is lighter and more matt. It is the natural choice for curtains, blinds and light upholstery such as occasional chairs and cushions. See patterned linen.

Silk jacquard. Silk jacquard is woven rather than printed, so the tiger sits in the structure of the cloth. Tora Pistachio and Panthera Royal are woven in pure silk (£420 per metre) for cushions, drapery and statement pieces. See silk jacquard.

Getting the scale right

• Large repeats suit big, flat surfaces such as a sofa back, a headboard or a pair of curtains, where the whole animal can be seen.

• Medium and small repeats suit dining chairs, stools and cushions, where a large motif would be cut off.

• Order a sample and pin it to the piece before you commit. Seeing the pattern at full size, in your own light, is the only reliable test. Order fabric samples.

Where tiger print works

Tiger print rewards one confident use rather than many small ones. The places we see it work best:

• Headboards, where the pattern is seen whole. Our Tora velvet upholstered headboard is made this way.

• Dining chairs, including the Overgaard & Dyrman Circle dining chair, which we upholster in our own fabrics.

• A single statement armchair or ottoman in an otherwise calm room.

• Curtains in patterned linen, which soften the pattern and let light through.

Choosing a colourway

Tonal colourways such as Champagne, Savoy and Pistachio let the pattern read as texture from across the room. Stronger grounds such as Royal, Roisin and Rubrae make the tiger the focal point. If the room already has strong colour, choose a colourway that repeats one of its tones.

Tiger print upholstery fabric: common questions

Is tiger print velvet suitable for upholstery?

Yes. Our recycled velvet is made for upholstery as well as curtains and cushions. For heavy daily use, ask us for the technical specification of the colourway you are considering.

Where is it made?

Our velvet and linen fabrics are designed by Patience & Gough and printed to order in England.

How much does it cost?

Velvet starts at £179 per metre, patterned linen at £159 per metre and silk jacquard at £420 per metre.

Can I order a sample?

Yes. Samples of every colourway are available from our fabric samples page.

Do you work with interior designers?

Yes. Trade accounts give designers samples, project support and trade pricing.