Is boucle furniture right for your space? Learn more about this trending furniture type.
What Is Boucle Furniture? The New Trend, and What It Means for Your Home
Updated on Aug. 23, 2024
Cozy interiors are trending, and boucle furniture fits right in with this shift. If you browse Pinterest or Instagram for decor inspiration, you’ve probably seen curved boucle accent chairs or creamy boucle sofas on your feed.
A little bit upscale and seriously cozy, boucle furniture is a lovely choice to soften contemporary decor styles. It helps that boucle furniture can be soft and comfortable, too. Learn more about boucle furniture and if it’s right for your home ahead.
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What Is Boucle Furniture?
Boucle furniture is upholstered with boucle fabric, a textured material made of looped yarn. The textile is soft, dense, and cozy, often described as having a “nubby” texture.
In part, boucle furniture’s popularity is due to its welcoming and warm appearance, which can add dimension to modern rooms. “Boucle’s cozy, inviting texture complements a range of design aesthetics, particularly mid-century modern, Scandinavian, and minimalist styles,” explains Natane Boudreau, interior designer and founder of Studio Boudreau. “It works well with neutral color palettes and organic shapes, offering a balance between visual interest and understated elegance.”
Traditionally made with wool yarn, fabric options are also more plentiful nowadays, with natural and synthetic boucle available.
What Makes Boucle Furniture Different?
Boucle is one of many textured upholstery fabrics that can add coziness to a piece of furniture. Its “nubbiness” is really what sets it apart. Knobby loops of material make it more textured than smoother fabrics like microfiber, chenille, or velvet. It looks somewhat similar to sherpa and sheepskin fabric, albeit less fluffy, which actually works to its advantage.
Boucle tends to be easier to clean than these plush materials. A major benefit of boucle is that it isn’t prone to matting either, a common complaint with sheepskin or sherpa furniture. This is part of why boucle furniture has a decent reputation for durability, too.
How Much Does Boucle Furniture Cost?
Boucle furniture isn’t cheap, but it’s not eye-wateringly expensive either. Its reputation leans more high-end and luxurious. However, its popularity means it’s available at a reasonable price range as budget retailers try to keep up with trends.
It’s possible to find some boucle sofas under $1000 from retailers like Amazon or Wayfair, but you’ll find a lot more boucle couches in the $1000 to $3000 price range. That’s about the price you can expect from retailers like West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and similar stores that sell trendy furniture.
As expected, the smaller the piece of furniture, the lower the price tends to skew. So, a boucle accent chair will often be more affordable than a boucle sofa.
If you want to incorporate the material on a budget, opt for accessories instead, which tend to be the most cost-friendly. Boucle ottomans, poufs, and cushions can come with a lower price tag but still bring that cozy visual interest.
Is Boucle Furniture Easy to Clean?
Boucle is not the easiest to clean, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the material. It’s not easy to wipe it down like with leather and vinyl couches. However, it won’t hold onto crumbs and dirt as much as fluffier fabrics. Expect something in between. The fabric is pretty sturdy and vacuuming can help remove debris from the textured weave.
Boucle can be carefully incorporated into homes with children or pets. As Boudreau notes, “While boucle is fairly durable, its textured surface can be challenging to clean, especially in households with young children or pets.” She suggests considering placing boucle furniture in lower-traffic areas or opting for pieces with removable, washable covers.
Pantea Bionki, owner and lead designer at Bionki Interiors echoes the fabric’s durability, and recommends dark colors in dirt- or stain-prone areas. “Bouclé’s thicker weave and higher pile make it more durable, so it holds up well over time. Its texture also helps conceal dirt and wear, particularly in darker colors, making it a practical option for everyday use.”
Ease of cleaning can depend on material as well, so shop around according to your needs. Wool is naturally stain-resistant. Nowadays, there are durable synthetic options that are treated to be spill or stain-resistant. Some pieces, like couch and cushion covers, can also be washable.
Is Boucle Furniture Right for My Home?
If boucle furniture really catches your eye, you can find a way to use it in your home. It’s perfect if you’re looking for furniture that’s luxe and modern but also cozy and homey. Bionki notes, “Bouclé furniture is an excellent choice for those seeking comfort, texture, and an organic feel in their homes. [It] complements modern and organic design aesthetics, adding an element of softness and warmth to any space.”
Boucle furniture comes in various types and styles. It’s also available in many colors, though neutrals tend to be most popular. Even its texture can vary in its knobbiness, so there are many ways to incorporate it into unique home styles.
Since it’s not the easiest to clean, homes with young children or pets might want to stay away from using boucle furniture in high-traffic areas. In particular, think about how pets might react to the texture. The nubby loops are likely to catch on claws, causing damage to the fabric. It can prove irresistible to some cats, so if you have a furniture scratcher, keep that in mind.
Boucle accessories can be a great alternative to furniture, especially if you love the fabric but don’t want to invest in a furniture piece that kids or pets may damage. You can still make a statement with an affordable boucle cushion, boucle curtains, or a cozy boucle rug.
About the Experts
- Pantea Bionki is the owner and lead designer at Bionki Interiors. As a certified interior designer and home stager, she specializes in creating bespoke interiors, down to the finishing touches.
- Natane Boudreau is an interior designer and the founder of Studio Boudreau, an interior design and creative consulting company that aims to create spaces that are true to people’s authentic selves.
