Boucle and the wool look
Due to the natural characteristics of wool, often wool look-alike fabrics are preferred in interiors, especially in upholstery fabrics. Whilst wool is desirable for some, the easy care, durability and expensive cost often mean alternative fabrics are sourced. Importantly, wool look-alike fabrics must have wool's naturally soft and inviting look to compete. The popularity of these fabrics is growing, and Boucle seems to be leading the trend. We've been exploring this woolly trend from fluffy fabrics to big Boucle and knitted finishes.
So, what is Boucle, and where does it come from?
Boucle is a hefty, bulky fabric with a lot of texture. It's constructed of nubby, looping threads. Whilst heavily textured, Boucle is extremely pleasant to the touch. Traditionally made of wool or mohair, Boucle refers to both the yarn and the fabric manufactured from the yarn. Today, Boucle fabric is woven from various materials, ranging from Cotton and Linen to Wool blends, Polyester, and Rayon.
The name itself is derived from French and basically means... curls! This fabric was first used in fashion and was championed by one of the world's most famous designers, Coco Chanel! In the 1950s, she designed the legendary jackets made of looped cloth, which are today the hallmark of the French label.
A timeless look
Despite its coarse, multi-dimensional, irregular texture, Boucle is pleasant to the touch, providing gentle and supportive body structure. It's tiny enough that you shouldn't worry about distortion over time, and the weaving method also improves the material's longevity. Boucle does not become matted down or shed like sheepskin or sherpa cloth. It can withstand sunshine and is generally resistant to fading, and its looped fibres are pretty robust. Boucle absorbs less liquid than other fabrics making spills easier to clean. These wonderful properties make upholstered bouclé furniture a timeless choice!
While you are more likely to see Boucle on sculptured modern sofas and chairs, this fabric is being utilised in various forms and sizes of a wide range of furniture and decor. White and cream dominate the Boucle colour spectrum; however, these colours can often be deemed impractical in a busy family environment. Therefore, we are seeing more natural tones coming through as designers and furniture makers aim Boucle at a wider audience.
Light colours like white and cream hold a status of high class, luxury furniture; So when selecting our colour palette for our own Boucle range Cologne, we considered the audience. We chose colours that kept the feeling of luxury and could work within a busy living setting. The woollen trend look provides a sense of comfort, escapism and peacefulness. Tones like muted browns and greys work perfectly on Boucle, giving that back to nature appeal.
Bringing Boucle into your home.
This trend adds sophistication and comfort and can be introduced through sofas, chairs, throws, cushions and rugs. The cocooning feeling of these textured fabrics offers a safe and harmonious environment. Combining well with wood, the natural effect fabric allows furniture designers to create softly shaped designs that are inviting and practical. The curve furniture trend pairs beautifully with Boucle, and many different styles are appearing in the market. The Boucle trend allows you to double up or just add that accent to a room. We are seeing living spaces with all Boucle seating or more subtle uses through a couple of accent chairs or a mixture of textured cushions on large sofa ranges.
Boucle is also popping up in other rooms like the bedroom. This relaxed feeling fabric is being used on headboards and works perfectly on a modern dressing room chair. Becoming a bigger focus room is the dining room, where people are spending more family time and investing in more stylish seating. Whilst not the most practical fabric for dining furniture, the introduction of colour in the Boucle allows more dynamic use of the fabric. Designers are using greens, blues and mustards to open up the traditional colour palette long associated with Boucle. This use of colour provides a new way of using Boucle through colourful accent chairs, cushions, rugs and beanbags.
Click here to explore our range of Boucle and woollen look fabrics
Mixing up the textures
While some people embrace a complete boucle look, the diversity of this fabric allows it to pair gorgeously with other fabrics. Boucle works well with velvet (another prevalent trend). The smooth finish of velvet complements the texture of the Boucle beautifully. Pairing a large velvet sofa with a couple of boucle chairs allows you to add colour and texture to a living room. Another great fabric that sits attractively with Boucle is a leather look. The natural dyes colours used in leather against the texture boucle give a classy finish and work stunningly. Alternatively, mixing Boucle with a smoother, more knitted wool look stays within the comfortable woollen trend but allows the use of different textures. Our Shetland range provides an exciting wool knit look, a blend of wool, viscose and polyester. Shetland is tactile with a soft woollen finish. Unlike Boucle, this fabric is more adaptable to colour, and the overall finish provides a multi-tonal look.
See more of our Shetland range
If Boucle isn't quite the look your going for, then something more fluffy feeling may suit. There's nothing more appealing than snuggling up on a soft sofa at the end of the day. Perfect for accent chairs or big beanbags, this type of fabric gives that wool look of complete comfort but with ease of care and within a more realistic budget. Our Malham range offers a softer handle than the more traditional Boucles and is perfect across a range of furniture designs. Available in a range of natural tones but also more popping colours like mustard, baby blue and heather.
You can further explore our range of Boucles and woollen look fabrics here.
