If you’ve ever opened an issue of Country Living and wondered where the homeowners of many of the beautiful homes featured purchased their textiles and upholstery fabrics, you might have stumbled into the world of “to-the-trade fabrics” and then felt confused as to why you couldn’t purchase these fabrics by the yard directly. It’s a more common question than you might think. Fabrics and wallcoverings that are sold as “to the trade” only can only be purchased by licensed interior designers and architects with approved tax identification numbers. (In fact, access to these exclusive fabric options is one of the top reasons most people choose to hire designers.) While it’s never been easier to work with an interior designer thanks to sites like The Expert, actually hiring a designer may not be in your budget. So, how do you get these exclusive fabrics? Below, I’m sharing the five most common ways plain ol’ consumers like you and me can buy to-the-trade fabrics and wallcoverings, along with my own favorite places to shop for them.Related StoriesOnline Retailers The best (and easiest!) place to purchase to-the-trade fabrics by the yard (and wallpaper, too!) is from online retailers like Decorator’s Best, The Expert, or Perigold, who sell select options from storied fabric houses such as Lee Jofa, Scalamandré, and Schumacher. These brands offer fast shipping, return windows (though sometimes a restocking fee is applied), and sales giving you prices you wouldn’t typically find or have access to. The one downside is their limited selection, meaning, if you have a specific fabric in mind, you may not be able to find it available on these sites.Read McKendree Sample Sales Occasionally, designer fabric houses will have sample sales offering discounted fabric online or in person to the general public. For example, designer favorite Chelsea Textiles usually hosts a large warehouse sale each spring where their fabrics and furniture are available at a hefty discount. To stay on top of these designer sales, I recommend signing up for email lists and regularly checking the brands’ social media feeds on a regular basis as these sample sales are often announced shortly before they happen. I also recommend following your local design center, which are found in select major cities across the U.S. The to-the-trade showrooms inside those centers will often hold sample sales where they offer fabric, floor model furniture, pillows, art, and more at discounted prices. These sales are also a great place to shop for custom fabric lampshades! Design Center Referral ProgramsSpeaking of design centers, some of the larger design centers where multiple showrooms are located (which are all open to the public to come and browse, btw!) do offer services to help non-trade consumers purchase to-the-trade fabrics. For example, New York’s Decoration & Design (D&D) Building has their Consulting & Buying Program that gives consumers the opportunity to look at and purchase fabrics at to-the-trade prices, plus a nominal fee, as does the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Other design centers, such as the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC), offer referral services to connect you with a designer for consultation and purchasing. David HillegasSecondhand SourcesShopping fabric remnants secondhand is an easy way to build up your fabric stockpile, especially if you aren’t looking for anything specific. Designers and workrooms often offload remnants they no longer have use for on sites such as Etsy, Chairish, and 1stDibs, the latter two being great places to find exclusive or luxury fabrics. These aren’t just small pieces, either! You’ll often find full bolts or multiple yards of fabric available. If you’re up for more of a hunt, check local estate sales or Facebook Marketplace for fabric remnants. You might even find vintage or discontinued fabric options shopping this way. Fabric ShowroomsAs a last resort, you may be able to order fabric directly from the local design showroom. It’s not guaranteed and is not a common practice, but it’s worth calling around to showrooms near you and asking if they could place an order on your behalf. If they turn you away, ask if they have local workroom (upholsterers or fabricators who work with designers to create custom upholstery, window treatments, pillows, etc.) recommendations who then might be able to place the order for you. The workroom method is especially helpful if you are looking to recover or reupholster an existing piece. There are also showrooms open to the general public, such as Calico Corners, that offer some to-the-trade fabrics, but again, their selections are usually more limited than what you could access if you were working through a designer. Related StoriesAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.