The Beauty of Bouclé

Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week, we look at tips for incorporating bouclé into your interiors.

Bouclé, taken from the French word boucler, meaning “to curl,” is fabric comprising looped yarn that’s nubby to the touch and often done in wool, cotton, linen or silk. 

Traditional bouclé is more textured than it is super soft, but snuggly teddy bear-like iterations have taken hold lately in everything from chairs to outerwear. 

“A favorite of our customers and designers, cozy and luxe fabrics like bouclé, shearling and mohair are having a moment,” said Stephanie DeAngelis, design adviser at Maiden Home in Manhattan. “The nubby texture of bouclé creates added depth and interest, perfect for designing in neutral color palettes of the moment.”

For ideas on incorporating a fuzzy touch to your interiors, follow these tips from the design pros. 

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Create a Layered Look 

“When designing with bouclé, its rich texture is best paired with free-flowing, organic silhouettes. Shearling offers a luxe, touchable texture that imparts style and the ultimate cozy feel to any piece. 

“Bouclé is a highly versatile material that can be used on a variety of pieces. It looks especially beautiful if you’re building a monochromatic palette; layering textures creates a cozy, intentional space. We love the contrast of a smoother upholstered fabric on a sofa or sectional with an accent piece in bouclé, such as our Bond Chair. It also looks fantastic on a bed, creating visual interest while keeping a cozy vibe. As a more statement-making material, shearling lends itself well to accent pieces like lounge chairs and ottomans. Its commanding texture creates a layer of luxury within a palette.  

“Because shearling is so rich and luxurious, we recommend opting for a neutral color palette to let the texture do the talking. As bouclé is a bit more subtle in its texture, it does allow you to go bolder if you choose. Mohair is a great material to play with color given its smoother texture. It’s a particular standout in shades of blue—our Slate Blue Mohair is one of our most beloved materials.”

— Stephanie DeAngelis, Design Advisor at Maiden Home in Manhattan 

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Use Restraint 

“Bouclé, fur and other fuzzy fabrics remind us of our stuffed animals as kids and add comfort to a space—comfort is something we all need now. Fur, whether real or faux, provides that visual softness and tactile touch.

“You can use it on a large piece of furniture—a chair or a sofa–or as an accent such as a bench, pouf or pillow. 

“Keep it natural. If you introduce dyed colors, it can make it cartoonish. Use other elements in a room for your color. 

“The key is to mix in other natural materials like leathers or wools. You can stray into tactile overload if you have too much of the fuzzy stuff.”  

— Seattle-based designer Kirsten Conner 

Vary Textures 

“Bouclé feels like you’re wrapping yourself in a comfy blanket or your favorite sweater. Aesthetically, it adds a rich layer of texture to the overall design of a room. 

“The sky is the limit with bouclé. It works beautifully on sofas, armchairs, throw pillows and headboards. You can’t go wrong with a bouclé on any upholstery application.

“You wouldn’t want every surface in your home to be upholstered in bouclé. A variety of layered textures is a hallmark of great design. So, keep things interesting by throwing in a little linen, velvet or a dash of pattern.

“Today most fabric houses make bouclés in a variety of colors and even in multi-color combinations. So, it really depends on the color story you choose for your room. Multi-colors bouclés are great fabrics for throw pillows, because they can unify the color scheme of a room. When choosing a color, always consider the application and use. To achieve livable beauty, you might opt for a darker bouclé for dining chairs, for instance.  

“Never be afraid to mix and match textures and fabrics. Recently we reupholstered a 1940s chair in a blush bouclé from Rogers and Goffigon and then chose a contrasting creamy white linen for the chair’s welting and button tufting. The results were breathtaking.”

—Joshua Smith, principal designer at Joshua Smith Inc in New York 

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Stick to Neutrals

“I love using bouclé to add subtle texture to a room. It allows for some visual interest while still grounding the room with a solid fabric piece. It is very versatile, but I typically opt to use it as a more interesting neutral in a room with many other prints and patterns. I’m also more drawn to using it as furniture, as it is interesting and unique but still makes for very comfortable seating.

“Creamy colors add to the coziness factor of the fabric. It also keeps it looking fresh. Since I like to use bouclé as a neutral solid, the more textures and prints the merrier.

“Bouclé is a great choice for any room that you want to add an element of coziness to. If you are hesitant to go big with a piece of furniture, poufs are a great way to introduce it into the room.”

— Jennifer Hunter, owner of Jennifer Hunter Design in Manhattan 

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