Fabrics8 min read
Bouclé vs velvet: which fabric is right for your bed?
Both fabrics are soft and both look expensive. Velvet shows pressure marks and pale bouclé shows dirt, so the right choice comes down to your headboard, your household and how much you lean on the bed.
In this guide
- What is the difference between bouclé and velvet?
- Crushed velvet vs plush velvet: which velvet?
- Do velvet beds show marks?
- Do bouclé beds get dirty?
- Bouclé or velvet with pets and children?
- How do you clean a bouclé or velvet bed?
- Which bed styles suit bouclé, and which suit velvet?
- What is the best fabric for a bed frame?
- Questions
Key takeaways
- Velvet has a short, dense pile with a sheen that catches the light. Bouclé, our Teddy fabric, has a deep, curly, looped texture.
- Plush velvet shows pressure marks where the pile gets pushed one way. They are not damage and brush out by hand, and crushed or marble velvet hides them.
- Bouclé hides everyday marks well, but pale shades show dirt sooner than mid tones.
- With cats or dogs, velvet is the safer choice: its short pile is less likely to catch on claws than bouclé’s loops.
- Buttoned, pleated and Chesterfield headboards suit velvet. Curved, winged and modern shapes suit bouclé.
- Samples are free. Order both fabrics and look at them in your own room before you decide.
What is the difference between bouclé and velvet?
Velvet has a short, dense pile of cut fibres that stand upright and catch the light, which gives it a soft sheen. Stroke it one way and the colour looks lighter; stroke it back and it looks darker.
Bouclé takes its name from the French for “curled”. The yarn is looped, so the surface is a mass of small curls with a nubbly, textured feel and a matt look. Our bouclé is called Teddy, and it has a deep, curly pile.
| Velvet | Bouclé (Teddy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Smooth, with a sheen that shifts in the light | Textured and matt, with soft curly loops |
| Feel | Soft and smooth under the hand | Deep, soft and nubbly |
| Marks | Plush velvet shows pressure marks that brush out; crushed and marble velvet hide them | Texture hides everyday marks; pale shades show dirt sooner |
| Pets | Short pile, less likely to catch on claws | Loops can snag on claws |
| Cleaning | Vacuum with a soft brush, going with the pile; blot spills | Vacuum with a soft brush; blot spills |
| Best for | Buttoned, pleated, fluted and Chesterfield headboards | Curved, winged and modern shapes |
| Colours at Bedline | 34, across three velvets | 11 |
In a room, the two read differently. Velvet reflects light, so colours look deeper and the bed looks more formal, even a little glamorous. Bouclé absorbs light, so even a dark shade looks soft, and the bed feels relaxed and cosy, closer to a favourite armchair than a statement piece.
Both are comfortable to lean against. Velvet feels smooth and even against bare skin. Bouclé feels deeper and more textured, which some people love and others find too much on bare shoulders, so feel a sample before you decide.
Crushed velvet vs plush velvet: which velvet?
Bedline beds come in three velvets, and they behave differently in daily use.
- French Velvet is a plush velvet with a short, dense pile and a soft sheen, in 16 colours. It gives the classic smooth velvet look, and it is the one that shows pressure marks.
- Delta Velvet is a crushed velvet. Its pile runs in every direction, which gives it an uneven shimmer and hides marks. 9 colours.
- Soft Marble is a washed velvet with a subtle marbled pattern. Like crushed velvet, it hides pressure marks. 9 colours.
If you love the even look of plush velvet, choose French Velvet and accept that you will smooth the headboard with your hand now and then. If you would rather not think about it, crushed or marble velvet is easier to live with. Browse crushed velvet beds or all velvet beds.
Do velvet beds show marks?
Plush velvet does. Lean a pillow against the headboard overnight and you may find a shaded patch in the morning, where the pile has been pressed flat in one direction. The light catches that patch differently from the fabric around it.
It looks like wear, but the fabric is undamaged. Brush the patch with your hand in the direction of the pile and it disappears. Crushed and marble velvet hide these marks because their pile already runs in different directions. Bouclé has no pile direction, so it does not shade this way.
Do bouclé beds get dirty?
Pale bouclé shows dirt sooner than mid tones. The curly texture hides everyday marks well, but a cream headboard that you lean against every night will start to look grubby first where your head rests.
The answer lies in the shade you choose. If you want the bouclé look on a bed that gets heavy use, a mid tone gives you the texture without the worry. If you have set your heart on a pale shade, vacuum it every few weeks and keep a pillow between your head and the headboard.
Pale bouclé makes most sense where the bed gets light use. In a guest room, nobody leans on the headboard every night, so a cream or ivory shade stays fresh for far longer.
Bouclé or velvet with pets and children?
With cats and dogs, velvet is the safer choice. Its short pile gives claws little to hook into, while bouclé’s loops can catch and pull. A cat that kneads the headboard, or a dog that scrabbles up onto the bed, is the main risk.
Pet hair clings to both. On velvet, a lint roller or a quick pass with the vacuum brush lifts it. On bouclé, hair tucks into the loops, so the vacuum does a better job than a roller.
With children, colour matters more than fabric. Sticky fingers and spilt drinks show on pale fabric of any kind. Crushed and marble velvet hide marks best, and a mid-tone bouclé is a sensible choice too. Whichever you pick, blot spills straight away with a clean, damp cloth.
How do you clean a bouclé or velvet bed?
The routine is the same for both, with one extra step for plush velvet.
Vacuum every few weeks
Use a soft brush attachment. On velvet, work with the pile so it lies even. On bouclé, use light strokes to lift dust without dragging the loops.
Brush out pressure marks
On plush velvet, smooth any shaded patches with your hand in the direction of the pile. Crushed and marble velvet hide them, so you can skip this step.
Blot spills straight away
Press a clean, damp cloth onto the spill and lift. Don’t rub: rubbing spreads the stain and works it deeper into the pile.
Skip household cleaners
Sprays, solvents and stain removers can mark upholstery fabric. Water and a clean cloth are enough for everyday spills.
Keep it out of strong sun
Strong direct sunlight fades fabric over time. If the headboard faces a sunny window, draw a blind or curtain in the brightest hours.
Which bed styles suit bouclé, and which suit velvet?
Velvet’s sheen picks out every fold and edge, so it suits headboards with detail: pleats, fluting, buttons and deep Chesterfield tufting. The shading between raised and recessed parts gives the headboard depth, and Chesterfield beds look their richest in velvet for that reason.
Bouclé works the other way. The texture is the feature, so it suits simple shapes: curved headboards, soft wings and clean modern lines. Narrow fluting and fine pleats lose their definition in the loops, while a curve or a wing looks soft and relaxed.
Think about the room as well as the bed. Panelled walls, brass and deep colours sit well with velvet. Pale wood, plaster tones and plenty of daylight suit bouclé. Browse our bouclé beds to see the shapes side by side.
Shapes made for bouclé
Shown in Teddy bouclé.
Choose fabric and size
WingedChoose fabric and size
Choose fabric and sizeFor velvet, choose a headboard with detail for the pile to catch. Crushed velvet adds shimmer to buttons and fluting without the pressure marks.
Detail that suits velvet
Shown in Delta crushed velvet.
ChesterfieldChoose fabric and size
Choose fabric and size
WingedChoose fabric and sizeWhat is the best fabric for a bed frame?
The best bed fabric suits your household and hides the marks your bed will get. Bouclé and velvet are two of six fabrics at Bedline, and two of the others are worth a look if neither feels right.
- Austin is a smooth, matt plush in 11 colours: the softness of a pile fabric without velvet’s sheen.
- Mayfair Linen is a linen-look weave with a natural texture, in 16 colours. It suits pale, natural schemes, though like bouclé, its palest shades show dirt soonest.
- colours across six fabrics
- 72
- velvet colours
- 34
- Teddy bouclé colours
- 11
Screens show colour badly, especially creams and greys, so judge any shade from a sample in your own room, by daylight and by lamplight. Our fabric guide compares all six fabrics side by side.
The verdict
Choose velvet if you have pets, want a buttoned, pleated or Chesterfield headboard, or like a fabric with sheen; pick crushed or marble velvet if you want it to hide pressure marks. Choose bouclé for a curved, winged or modern bed and a softer, more relaxed look, in a mid tone if the bed gets heavy use. If you are torn, order samples of both. Hold them side by side and the choice gets much easier.
Questions people ask
Are bouclé beds good?
Yes, if you like texture and choose the right shade. Bouclé hides everyday marks and suits curved and modern shapes, but pale shades show dirt sooner and the loops can snag on pet claws.
Do bouclé beds get dirty?
Pale bouclé shows dirt sooner than mid tones, though its curly texture hides everyday marks well. Vacuum it with a soft brush every few weeks and blot spills straight away.
Is velvet or bouclé better with cats?
Velvet is the safer choice. Its short pile is less likely to catch on claws than bouclé’s loops.
What is the difference between crushed velvet and plush velvet?
Plush velvet has an even pile with a soft sheen and shows pressure marks that brush out by hand. Crushed velvet’s pile runs in every direction, which gives it a shimmer and hides marks.
How do you get marks out of a velvet bed?
Pressure marks on plush velvet are the pile pushed one way, not damage. Brush them out with your hand in the direction of the pile.
About Bedline
Bedline makes upholstered beds, ottoman beds and TV beds to order in Britain, in six UK sizes and 72 colours, and delivers them free to the UK mainland. Our guides are written by the team who help customers choose their beds every day on WhatsApp, so they answer the questions we are actually asked.
