Bouclé furniture is a style of upholstered furniture with minimalist, simple design. It is produced in sofas, armchairs, accent chairs, dining chairs, benches and more. The bouclé material may be organic or synthetic, usually tightly looped and woven, to create a comfy-cozy nubby surface that’s a pleasure to the touch.
This bouclé furniture guide describes the furniture and its style, the color palette, pros and cons of bouclé, care and maintenance tips and how to style bouclé furniture and accessories.
What Is Bouclé Furniture?
The definition of Bouclé furniture is furniture upholstered in a textured fabric made from looped yarn. The term is derived from the French word “boucler,” which means “to curl.” Bouclé loops may be loose for luxurious comfort or more tightly woven to produce a soft, nubby texture and appearance. Either way, the result is a fabric that boasts durability and a rich plush feel.
Bouclé is also the name of the yarn type used in Bouclé upholstery production. The yarns used are typically natural fibers including wool, cotton and silk, but synthetic Bouclé yarn is common too
Bouclé fabric is used in home décor such as throw blankets, pillows, wall hangings, and in fashion clothing in addition to furniture covering.
Tip: Bouclé is pronounced “boo-clay,” with the accent on the second syllable. However, you might hear it spoken with the accent on the first syllable.
What Are the Types of Bouclé Furniture?
Bouclé upholstered furniture is produced in living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture. Popular pieces include sofas, sectionals, armchairs and accent chairs, benches and ottomans, dining chairs, and headboards. Some pieces, of course, like a bouclé accent chair, are versatile enough to be used in any space.
Living room bouclé furniture: Bouclé upholstery is used on sofas, loveseats, armchairs, accent chairs, bench seats, and ottomans in styles including Modern Organic furniture and Scandinavian furniture.
Tips: When starting a bouclé furniture collection, many homeowners choose an accent chair or armchair first. It’s a good way to get a feel for the bouclé style without committing to a larger piece like a bouclé sofa. If you decide you love the look and feel of bouclé, then consider adding a sofa, an ottoman and additional chairs to the mix.
Dining room bouclé furniture: Dining chairs with bouclé covering are warm and comfortable, a good choice for unhurried meals and great conversation. Style ranges from casual to semi-formal.
Tip: As with any upholstered dining furniture, you may want to Scotchgard the bouclé to make it easy to clean.
Bedroom bouclé furniture: Bouclé is a sensuous material to cover a headboard in. And adding an accent bouclé chair, armchair, loveseat, ottoman or bench is a popular option when the bedroom is a favorite lounging spot.
Bouclé Furniture Colors
When it comes to colors, bouclé is not boring, as some think. Yes, classic white and creamy off-white are common neutral colors used to give a room a calm and mellow aesthetic. Other popular neutral tones are taupe, caramel, ivory, light gray, beige and greige (a gray-beige blend).
Bold colors provide an accent or contrast. These include lush emerald, deep forest green, olive green, ochre, sapphire and navy blue, ruby, terracotta, black and mustard.
You’ll find a spectrum of pastel pinks and blues plus earthy browns and tans too.
Pros and Cons of Bouclé Furniture
There are advantages and disadvantages to be familiar with when considering bouclé furniture.
Bouclé furniture pros:
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Bouclé is a stylish option anywhere in the house. Yes, it is currently trendy, but it is also a look with proven staying power – it is not a fad.
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The material is comfortable and luxurious. The soft, looped texture of bouclé makes it a tactile pleasure, and it adds warmth to a chilly day.
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It’s durable and wears well. The looped, woven fabric is tough as well as soft.
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Organic bouclé is ecofriendly.
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Maintenance is moderate. The material is easy to care for, doesn’t easily fade and continues to look good with regular care.
Bouclé furniture cons:
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Loops snag. Pet nails and similar pointed and sharp objects might occasionally snag in the bouclé fabric texture.
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If it get’s dirty, cleaning becomes more difficult. The looped texture traps dirt, and if it isn’t cared for regularly – or quickly after spills – it can become stained.
See Bouclé Furniture Care and Maintenance below for tips on keeping your furniture looking new.
How to Style Bouclé Furniture In Your Home
Styling bouclé furniture is something you can do with success at home with these tips related to the whole approach, textures, colors, and accessories. Here are the keys to bouclé interior design.
Bouclé styling is minimalistic and yet cozy. Choose furniture pieces with sleek, clean design – nothing overly ornate. Corners and turns in the furniture are more often curved than sharp, with softer lines like those found in Scandinavian and Modern Organic style furniture. Upholstery colors are typically neutral with contrast or brighter colors being supplied by accessories.
Bouclé furniture’s contemporary looks complement glass, metal and similar wood, for example, in a coffee table, console table or end table.
Mix and match textures. If you like material contrast, then pair bouclé furniture with leather furniture or darker wood. For something similar, consider bouclé-covered pieces alongside those with chenille, sherpa, linen or cotton upholstery. For accessories, consider plush rugs, pillows, and wall hangings.
Natural materials pair well too. These include stone in tabletops and flooring, wood frames, wicker and rattan.
For color, choose pieces with neutral upholstery as the only color or at least the main color. Off-white, beige, and similar tones are the most popular. Then increase visual interest with complementary colors (e.g. beige, ivory, greige, light olive, pale blue) or contrasting colors (e.g. forest green, medium brown, navy blue) by layering throw blankets over a bouclé chair arm or sofa back, and accessorizing upholstered pieces with accent pillows.
Layering with a throw rug and accent pillow
Keep the rest of the room’s décor simple too in order to keep the clean, understated feel throughout.
Lighting tip: Soft, warm lighting placed near furniture pieces creates the cozy feel many are looking for when creating bouclé style in their homes. A floor lamp next to a bouclé sofa or a table lamp on a console table, rather than relying on overhead lighting, is the right approach.
Bouclé Furniture Care and Maintenance
Bouclé is an intricate fabric, and so care and maintenance steps are essential to its long-term good looks. Here are proven tips for cleaning bouclé.
Vacuum the upholstery before it looks dusty. In dusty environments, a weekly vacuuming with the upholstery attachment is best. In other environments, every 2-4 weeks is a good routine. If pets use your bouclé furniture, then vacuuming becomes more critical. Remove hair every few days before it works down into the looped fabric and becomes harder to vacuum up.
Brush the bouclé occasionally using a brush with a soft or medium-stiffness. This perks up the fabric’s loops and keeps them from becoming matted and flat. Once or twice over the fabric in each direction works well.
Avoid direct sunlight! UV rays can fade any fabric including bouclé. The sunlight weakens the fibers too, which decreases durability. Use drapes and blinds to keep sunlight off larger pieces – and move smaller pieces seasonally to keep them out of the sun.
