If you’ve been shopping for upholstered furniture or looking into reupholstery services recently, you might have encountered the acronyms COM or COL. It’s important to understand what these terms mean because they can affect the cost, process, and timeline of your project. Knowing the details can help you make the best decision for your furniture and your budget.
What Does COM Mean?
COM stands for “Customer’s Own Material.” This term is used by furniture manufacturers and upholstery shops to indicate that you, the customer, will be providing your own fabric for the project. Instead of choosing from the options provided by the manufacturer or upholsterer, you might have a specific fabric in mind that you want to use. For instance, you may have found a fabric that matches your curtains perfectly or one that adds a personal touch to your space.
What Does COL Mean?
Similar to COM, COL stands for “Customer’s Own Leather.” This is when you supply your own leather material for a piece of furniture. Just like with COM, COL allows you to have a more customized look. Maybe you’ve found a unique leather that isn’t offered by most manufacturers, or you want to use leather you already own.
Why Choose COM or COL?
Choosing COM or COL can be an excellent option if you want a completely custom look for your furniture. Maybe the offered selection doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, or you’ve fallen in love with a specific fabric or leather that you found elsewhere. Using COM or COL can also be a way to repurpose fabric or leather you already have, which can be both economical and eco-friendly.
What to Know Before You Go COM or COL
While the idea of using your own material might sound exciting, there are a few things to consider before making that decision. Here at Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing, we offer a wide range of fabric materials and brands to choose from in our showroom. We’ve curated these options because we trust their quality, durability, and long-lasting appeal. If you decide to go the COM or COL route, it’s important to understand a few things:
- Quality and Durability: When you purchase fabric through us, you’re choosing from reputable brands that we know and trust. We stand behind these materials because we’ve seen how well they perform over time. On the other hand, when you provide your own material, we can’t guarantee its quality or durability.
- Warranty Considerations: One of the biggest advantages of purchasing fabric through our shop is that the fabric is covered under our craftsmanship warranty. If you provide your own material, this warranty doesn’t apply, which means that if something goes wrong with the fabric, we won’t be able to cover it.
- Cost: Surprisingly, choosing fabric through us might actually save you money. Because we work directly with manufacturers, we get significant discounts that we pass on to our customers. Sometimes, the cost of buying the fabric through us is the same or even less than if you were to purchase it on your own and provide it to us from similar-quality vendors.
- Timeframe and Shipping: All fabrics ordered through us are specific to your job, meaning we don’t keep them in stock. It typically takes about two weeks from the time you place a deposit and we order materials to the time we receive the fabric and are ready to start the reupholstery process. However, if you provide your own fabric, there might be additional delays, especially if there are shipping issues or if the fabric doesn’t meet our guidelines.
Guidelines for COM and COL
If you decide to go ahead with COM or COL, it’s crucial to follow some guidelines to ensure the process goes smoothly. Most reupholstery shops like us have specific requirements for the fabric or leather you provide. For example, we often require the material to be sent in one long piece rather than small cut pieces, as this makes it easier to use for upholstery. Additionally, the fabric should be sent on a large roll rather than folded, as folding can create creases that are difficult to remove on some material types.
Is COM or COL Right for You?
Choosing COM or COL opens up a world of possibilities for your furniture, allowing you to create a look that is uniquely yours. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before making your decision. At Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing, we’re here to help guide you through the process, whether you choose from our carefully selected fabrics or decide to go the COM or COL route. With the right information, you can make the best choice for your space and your furniture.
Next time you’re shopping for furniture or considering reupholstery, remember what COM and COL mean and how they can help you achieve the perfect look for your home or commercial space.
