What Sux in Upholstery? Bouclé
This nubby, uneven cotton or wool fabric is on the outs mainly because it’s been so overused over the past couple of years, its ubiquity turning into a curse.
But that’s not the only reason you should look elsewhere. People love texture in fabric and that’s fine, but the pilled-up look of bouclé in many cases resembles an old towel being thrown on to protect the actual upholstery from pets. Claws, by the way, are this supposedly durable fabric’s kryptonite.
What ROX? Twill
This classic diagonal weave is more widely used in apparel but has lots of advantages as an upholstery fabric. Its timeless look and feel provides plenty of texture with a polish that outshines the shabby non-chicness of bouclé.
As long as the material has a tight weave, it’ll be quite stain-resistant and water-resistant, easy to clean and able to withstand abuse from animals as well as people, though no fabric is completely pet-proof. It’s got enough going for it to be virtually trend-proof!
