If there’s one fabric we’re really excited about this year, it’s boucle. This super-soft material is cropping up all over our Pinterest and Instagram feeds and is showing no signs of slowing down in the home decor world. This week we’re catching up with Swyft interior stylist Kelly to get stuck into all-things boucle.

Q: When did you first see boucle coming through as a trend?

Kelly: “The resurgence of boucle in general happened about 2 years ago now - I saw it coming through the trade furniture market at industry events, and it was really big in the fashion industry before. I knew it would trickle through to homeware pieces, so that’s why it was on my list for our latest Made to Order sofa collection”.

Q: Do you think the boucle trend is here to stay?

Kelly: “Absolutely - it’s such a versatile and easy-to-style fabric so it’ll continue to be a favourite in homes. Most boucle comes in a plain block colour which makes it simple to incorporate into loads of living room styles. It's used for so much more than just Scandi-neutral now”.

Q: What’s special about Swyft’s new boucle fabric?

Kelly: “We spent a long time sourcing the right one. I wanted it to be durable enough as I think that’s most people’s concern when buying a boucle sofa or armchair. Ours has a rub count (a kind of fabric stress test) of 60k, which is well above the industry average of 30k. As well as this we’ve branched out from the bright white to offer boucle in Sand (a warm beige) and Fern (a deep green). I think those plus the classic Ivory are going to be really popular”.

Q: What ways can I style my home with boucle? 

Kelly: “Here's a quick guide to everything you need to consider when decorating with this fabric”.

Where to start

Sometimes going all-in with an emerging trend just isn’t feasible, or you’re not ready to go big (shout out to all our interior design lovers on a budget). If you’re unsure if boucle will work in your space, it’s ok to start small.

Use it in cushions and sofa throws to add a layer of warmth to your living room, without the commitment of a new furniture piece. Feel free to play with different colours here. This is a good way to build your confidence with new textures.

What to pair it with

Although boucle is a statement fabric, its plain block colours make it really versatile for pairing with other textures. To get it right, contrast Boucle’s tactile, looped detailing with smooth, flat finish decor pieces.

Here, Kelly pairs our Model 02 sofa in Ivory with an accent cushion in Velvet. The caramel tones of the cushion help bring this brighter white shade of boucle back into warmer-toned territory. Size up the looped effect with a wool bobble rug for a softer Scandi look.

Where it works best

Let’s face it - we couldn’t write a guide on boucle without mentioning sofas. At the moment we’re seeing a lot of super curved sofa silhouettes in boucle fabric - a nod to the 1940s design of Eero Saarinen’s ‘womb’ chair. The truth is, boucle fabric works well with angular shapes too - as seen here on the Model 03 sofa.

Flatter, boxy shapes show off the looped textures of boucle sofa details in a slightly different way. This shape combined with the fabric gives a contemporary element that looks at home in even a traditional style room like this. We’re big fans of how boucle brings added comfort to modular furniture and sharper silhouettes.

Chilled-out corners

We’ve talked about creating feature corners before on the Swyft blog, and boucle’s perfect for this armchair trend. Add one to your living room for an updated, contemporary look that’s a little bit different to the norm. Combine boucle armchairs with a small side table and overhead floor lamp for a perfectly inviting reading corner that looks the part.

In this social space, Swyft stylist Kelly used a Boucle Model 01 armchair in Fern green, sat opposite a 3-seater sofa. In a nod to the much-loved retro resurgence, a storage ottoman in Caramel completes the look in this sunny conservatory room.

How do you style a boucle sofa?

• Use velvet, linen or cotton cushions
• Choose coffee tables with a smooth finish 
• Highlight the details with an arched floor lamp
• Experiment with other colours of boucle

Does velvet go with boucle?