A Practical Guide to COM for Hospitality Furniture

Belle Meade Hospitality

2 days ago

3 min read

A designer-selected textile can help a furniture piece connect with the larger interior. COM, or Customer’s Own Material, makes that choice possible, with a coordination process that deserves attention before the fabric is ordered.

1. Confirm the material and its intended application

Start by sharing the textile supplier, pattern name, color, specifications, and intended furniture application with the manufacturer.

A fabric’s appearance is only part of the decision. Its backing, stretch, thickness, pattern, and handling characteristics can affect how it upholsters. A material that works well on a loose cushion may behave differently on a tightly shaped back or a detailed upholstered panel.

Ask the furniture team to review suitability before committing to the purchase. Where needed, provide a sample for evaluation. Any project-specific performance requirements should be reviewed for the actual material and furniture application rather than inferred from the COM designation.

2. Establish the upholstery direction

The same fabric can produce noticeably different results depending on how it is cut and positioned.

Confirm the face of the material, the intended orientation, and whether the textile is suitable for the proposed direction of use. Discuss the placement of stripes, large motifs, and directional textures across seats, backs, arms, and separate furniture pieces.

Pattern matching and centering should be agreed upon explicitly. A drawing, marked sample, or upholstery layout can be more useful than a written instruction alone. For a distinctive motif, clarify which parts of the furniture should receive the main visual emphasis.

3. Confirm yardage before ordering

Fabric quantity depends on the furniture dimensions, textile width, pattern repeat, cutting direction, matching requirements, and other characteristics of the selected material.

Provide the complete fabric information so the manufacturer can estimate the required quantity for the approved application. A yardage figure based on a plain textile may need to change when a patterned or directional fabric is selected.

Before ordering, confirm the quantity with the project team and discuss any additional material needed for approved matching, potential waste, or future repairs. Avoid assuming that one standard allowance will suit every textile and furniture design.

4. Coordinate shipping and identification

COM needs to arrive at the correct location with enough information to be matched to the order.

Request the manufacturer’s current shipping instructions before dispatch. Confirm the receiving address, contact details, order reference, furniture item numbers, and fabric identification required on the shipment. Share tracking information and the expected arrival date with the responsible coordinator.

For orders using several fabrics, prepare a clear schedule showing which textile belongs on each item and where it is applied. Include quantities and any special instructions so the receiving and production teams can work from the same information.

5. Leave time for receipt and review

Delivery of the fabric is an important milestone, but it should not be treated as automatic production approval.

Allow time for the agreed receiving checks and for any questions about quantity, identification, visible defects, or material differences to be addressed. If replacement material is required, discuss the implications for color consistency and the production schedule.

Clarify responsibilities for shortages, damage, additional purchases, and communication with the textile supplier. Agreeing on these details early gives the project team a clearer process if an issue arises.

6. Plan for the furniture’s life after installation

Keep a record of the approved fabric, orientation, supplier information, and care instructions. Discuss whether excess material will be returned, retained, or allocated for future use, and document the agreed arrangement.

Replacement material purchased later may differ from the original supply. Where appropriate, the owner or purchasing team can consider a repair reserve as part of the initial order.

Belle Meade Hospitality supports the COM process for custom furniture, helping coordinate designer-selected textiles with the intended upholstery application.