What is bouclé? – Bouclé fabric explained

Bouclé is extremely popular lately, and for good reason! Bouclé fabric looks fantastic in most homes and it’s very versatile, being used for all sorts of different use cases in interior design. From chairs and sofas to cushions and curtains, we’re sure that you’ve seen it before – even if you didn’t know exactly what you were looking at.

Due to its popularity, we thought we’d dive deeper into what bouclé fabric is in this post, as well as cover some of the best bouclé furniture we have in stock.

So, if you want to learn more about this wonderful material then keep reading!

 

The bouclé furniture we offer

We stock a broad range of bouclé dining chairs and bouclé bar stools for every home and they’re one of our best-selling categories! If you’re in the market for a nice set of bouclé bar stools or dining chairs, then feel free to check out our store by clicking on the links above or clicking on the respective category on our main menu at the top of this page. Have any questions while browsing? Then feel free to reach out to our customer support team. They’re always happy to help and answer any questions you might have.

 

What is bouclé fabric

Bouclé is a type of fabric that’s made of loops of yarn that are interwoven to create a textured, knotted surface. It’s a type of textile that has been used for a long time now but has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is used for a vast range of products, ranging all the way from cushions and sofas to curtains and other home furnishings. It can also be used for various items of clothing too, as well as other textile products.

The size of the yarn loops used in the fabric impact the way it looks and feels, making it highly versatile and perfect for a broad range of use cases. Although it’s typically made of wool, it can also be made of a variety of other materials/fibres, including cotton, silk and various synthetic blends.

What is bouclé made of?

Bouclé can be made of a large variety of different materials which is what makes it such a versatile textile. That being said, it’s usually made of wool. Some of the other materials it can be made of include cotton and silk, but it can also be made of blends or other similar materials. The material that’s used ultimately impacts the look, feel and strength of the textile, as well as various other characteristics. Depending on what it will be used for and what the manufacturer is looking for, materials/blends can be chosen to improve the end result.

 

The history of bouclé

Bouclé first became popular in the early to mid-1900s, when fashion designers started making suits, jackets and other clothing items from it. It wasn’t until the 1950s, however, when bouclé really started taking off when brands like Givenchy and Dior started featuring this material in their collections. Today, it’s still used to create various items of clothing by both large and small fashion designers, but it is also being used in a vast range of other textile products.

Due to the material being highly versatile, it is also used in various kinds of furniture and other textile products. Curtains are one of the best-known use cases, but it is also used on chairs, cushions, sofas and pretty much every other home-textile product!

 

Boucle or bouclé?

Boucle and bouclé are two different spellings commonly seen online, but the correct one is bouclé. It’s a French term that means “loop” used to refer to the loops that fabric is made of. Since UK keyboards don’t always make it easy for you to find the é-character, many people settle for “boucle” instead.

 

What does bouclé fabric look like

Once you know what bouclé fabric looks like, it becomes really easy to spot as it has a very distinct appearance. It’s made of loops of wool or other materials that are woven together, giving it a somewhat textured look and feel. Since it can be made of different materials that can be dyed, this also means that it comes in a broad range of colours. We’ve added an image below for your reference.

 

[image boucle bar stool fabric]

 

 

What are bouclé bar stools?

Bouclé bar stools are bar stools where the seat and/or backrest are lined with bouclé fabric. Although they look very similar to regular old bar stools, they are made of a different material and therefore have a number of different properties. Bouclé fabric looks fantastic on a bar stool and can work wonders for your home interior, but it also has some small drawbacks. For example, like fabric bar stools, they stain easier than, say, plastic or PU leather varieties. That being said, the pros tend to outweigh the cons for those looking for a bouclé stool.

 

Our top 3 bouclé furniture

To give you an idea of some of the bouclé furniture we stock, here are three of our favourites:

Waldorf Bar Stool Grey Boucle

With a gold-coloured frame and leg tips, this grey bouclé bar stool is great for those looking for a high-end look and feel. The black and gold legs are contrasted beautifully with the grey bouclé fabric the seat and backrest are made out of and it works well in most interiors. This bar stool comes with a backrest height of 39cm and a seat height of 68cm.

 

Lule Carver Dining Chair Cream Bouclé

Our Lule dining chair is one of the most popular dining room chairs in our store, and the cream bouclé variety is no exception. This chair is super comfortable and looks super stylish too. It’s made of a cream-coloured bouclé textile and has chrome legs. It boasts a high backrest and sturdy armrests to provide optimal comfort and has a seat height of 47cm.

 

Hamilton Bar Stool Grey Boucle

This grey bouclé Hamilton bar stool comes with a silver middle frame and silver leg tips which are contrasted by jet-black legs and a light grey bouclé fabric. The grey and silver complement each other nicely and since this stool features only soft colours, it’s perfect in a broad range of different interiors.

 

Is bouclé easy to clean?

Since bouclé can be made of a broad range of different fibres, answering the question of whether or not it’s easy to clean isn’t so easy. Some materials make cleaning a lot easier than others and can also make the fabric more durable and more stain resistant.

Wool and other natural bouclé are going to be more delicate and therefore take a little more work to clean. However, in general, there’s not much difference between cleaning bouclé and other soft/natural materials like natural leather and fabric. Always check the instructions provided by the manufacturer to see how to clean the fabric and which products you can/can’t use. Although some bouclé fabrics need to be washed by hand, there are those that are machine washable too. If you’re just spot cleaning or you just want to remove the crumbs and dirt, using a warm, wet cloth or vacuum cleaner should be fine.

 

Which chemicals can damage bouclé furniture?

Harsh chemicals used to clean certain surfaces can damage bouclé and other textiles, so it’s important to avoid these at all costs. Harsh chemicals can not only damage the material itself and cause tears and rips, but they can also cause nasty discolouration which can’t be undone. Some of the chemicals you should avoid include:

Ammonia – Although it’s a common cleaning agent, ammonia is highly alkaline and can damage and stain bouclé fabric. Some cleaning solutions contain ammonia, so make sure to check the bottle before using it on your bouclé fabric.

 

Abrasive cleaners – Abrasive cleaners like baking soda and scouring powder are great for removing stains and dirt from tough-to-clean surfaces, but they’re not suitable for use on (most) fabrics. The small particles in these cleaners can damage the delicate bouclé loops and should therefore be avoided at all costs.

 

Bleach – It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use bleach to clean bouclé fabric. Not only is it extremely harsh and can damage the material, but it can also cause very nasty stains on most fabrics.

 

Fabric softeners – Although this one might seem counter-intuitive since bouclé is technically a fabric, fabric softeners aren’t suitable for bouclé. It can dull the texture which can leave your bouclé products looking worse for wear.

 

Any undiluted cleaning solutions – Pretty much all cleaning solutions should be diluted before use since most contain some sort of acidic or alkaline chemicals. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t do their job. So, even if the manufacturer recommends a certain cleaning solution, make sure to dilute it correctly if this hasn’t been done already to prevent stains/damage.

 

As well as avoiding these things, it’s also a good idea to avoid using too hot water. This is especially true when spot cleaning since warm water can cause the material to stretch unevenly.

 

 

How to maintain bouclé fabric furniture – 4 tips

Maintaining bouclé fabric is a lot like maintaining other kinds of fabric, but there are a few caveats due to the way the fabric is made. Below are four tips for maintaining your bouclé furniture:

Avoid direct sunlight

There’s nothing worse than realizing your bouclé products have faded or are showing signs of discolouration. You might wonder whether you’ve been using the wrong cleaning solution, but the sun can actually cause discolouration too! Direct sunlight will cause fading and discolouration to even the most heavily-treated items over time, so it’s worth keeping bouclé furniture out of direct sunlight for most of the day. Luckily, most bouclé furniture is for indoors, so this isn’t generally a cause for concern. However, it can be worth moving them away from the window if they’re directly in the sun for most of the day.

 

Vacuum regularly

The loops of wool or other materials that make up bouclé fabric look fantastic, but they create small nooks and crevices that dirt and debris can hide in. Therefore, it’s a good idea to vacuum your bouclé furniture regularly to ensure it remains clean. Use the clothing attachment on your vacuum cleaner to avoid any sharp edges from potentially causing damage and vacuum it at least once per week – more if there are any notoriously messy eaters in your home ????.

 

Rotate the cushions

Another obvious one and also a very simple tip to implement, but rotating your cushions somewhat regularly can help keep your furniture looking better for longer. Since wear and tear happen over extended periods of time, rotating your cushions can help keep your cushions looking good for nearly twice as long.

 

Clean spills immediately

This one goes without saying, but it’s important to clean spills immediately to prevent them from turning into stains. Use a damp cloth and lukewarm water to clean any spills as soon as they occur. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before using any cleaning solutions or machine washing the fabric to ensure you’re cleaning it in the right way.

 

Conclusion

Bouclé fabric is a wonderful material for a range of different products, including furniture. In this post, you learned what bouclé is and what bouclé furniture we offer here at Lakeland Furniture. You also learned how to clean and maintain your bouclé furniture to keep it looking good for a long time to come.

If you have any questions after reading this post or you have any questions about the products we stock, please feel free to reach out to our customer care team. They’re always happy to help and answer any questions you might have.