What’s the big deal about boucle sofas?
Seen everywhere from celebrity living rooms to interiors magazines, boucle sofas are taking the world’s living rooms by storm. But what’s with all this excitement about boucle sofas? Is this a trend that’s here to stay? And would a boucle sofa be a good option for your home? Let’s find out…
What is a boucle sofa?
A boucle sofa is a sofa upholstered in a type of fabric known as boucle. Boucle is a soft, tactile fabric, woven from looped yarns to offer a matte look and textural interest on even simple shapes. Boucle’s teddy bear appearance adds texture you can see from across the room, making it a stylish, on-trend fabric choice for furniture that is cosy and tactile. Traditionally, boucle is woven from wool or mohair, but as these natural fabrics wouldn’t be hard wearing enough for a sofa, there are now versions made from durable polyester and cotton.
Is boucle a good fabric for a sofa?
Boucle is a great fabric for a sofa for a number of reasons. As well as feeling super cosy and soft, it’s easy to maintain, requiring a simple weekly vacuum to remove dust and dirt. Being a soft and malleable fabric, it’s ideally suited to the upholstery process, meaning it can be used on a wide variety of shapes with a great result. Due to its modernist matte look - that is a refreshing alternative to the many shiny fabric sofa options - it’s also enduringly stylish, having only grown in popularity in the last few years. Popular with everyone from celebrities to interiors magazines, boucle sofas are very unlikely to go out of fashion any time soon!
Are boucle sofas comfortable?
One of the biggest selling points of a boucle sofa is that this fabric is super soft and comfortable, creating a sofa that both looks and feels super snuggly without compromising on style. No wonder boucle sofas and armchairs are so enduringly popular!
Are boucle sofas durable?
It might surprise you to know that yes, boucle is actually an incredibly durable fabric for a sofa or armchair. Traditional boucle is made from natural fibres, but the boucle we use for our sofas is made from looped polyester yarn, giving it that same nubby appearance while offering long-lasting durability. Another advantage of boucle is that it has low liquid absorption, meaning spills and splashes are easier to clean up quickly, and are thus less likely to stain.
What are the disadvantages of boucle fabric?
There aren’t many disadvantages to boucle sofas but there are a few things to be aware of before you decide on one. The nubby texture of this fabric is known to hold onto pet hair more than other sofa fabrics, meaning you may have to vacuum more often if you have a long haired cat or dog.
Looking for tips on cleaning your boucle sofa? Or trying to get your head around how high-maintenance a boucle sofa would be? Read on to find out whether this trendy sofa fabric suits your lifestyle…
Best boucle sofas
From corner sofas to recliners, armchairs to modular sofas - there’s huge variety when it comes to styles of boucle sofas. Here are a few of our top picks…
Strangely, boucle has a bit of an unfounded reputation as being difficult to maintain, but we can confirm it’s actually one of the easiest sofa fabrics to look after. All you need to do (in addition to your normal cushion plumping regimen) is gently vacuum the sofa with a soft brush attachment once a week to remove dust and dirt. You also have the option of wiping down the sofa with a clean, soft, dry microfibre cloth - we recommend a white one to prevent any dye transfer.
Your boucle sofa should stay looking great if you follow the weekly vacuuming regimen, but as with any fabric sofa, if you do spill something on it, it’s best to take quick action to avoid staining. Boucle is known for having low liquid absorption, so for spills, the best course of action is simply to dab away the liquid with a clean, dry, white microfibre cloth.
For more stubborn spills, we advise lightly dampening your cloth with water and using the same dabbing technique. We don’t recommend rubbing a stain - this can push the spill deeper into the fabric - or using any types of off-the-shelf liquid or spray cleaning solutions that aren’t DFS approved, which may further damage the fabric.
Want extra peace of mind?
If you are worried about spills and splashes, you can opt for a Sofacare policy when purchasing your boucle sofa at DFS - which will cover you for 5 years for any spills and stains, as well as scratches, rips and much more.
Looking for styling tips for your boucle sofa? Read on for our favourite ideas for making this statement piece the heart of your home!
Is boucle out of fashion?
While it’s become increasingly trendy over the last few years, you might be surprised to know that boucle has been in consistent use on modernist furniture since the 1970s, when it was used on the famous egg chair by Arne Jacobsen. With new technology creating boucle fabric that’s more durable than ever, we’re now seeing it on everything from sofas and armchairs to beds and dining furniture - and we’re pretty sure this enduring fabric will be popular for a long time to come.
What colour boucle sofa can I buy?
While the classic colour option for boucle is white or cream, you might be apprehensive about investing in an all-white sofa - especially if you have kids or pets! Luckily, you aren’t limited to just these pristine shades when it comes to boucle sofas. Depending on the model you choose, other great options include various shades of classic grey, tan and black, as well as more unusual colours - like dark green and navy.
