Cart
0
The fabric on an upholstered bed decides how it looks in daylight, how it copes with children and pets, and how much cleaning it needs. Legend Beds upholsters beds in velvet, plush, linen-look and teddy bouclé, and chenille is another common choice on UK beds. Each behaves differently in a real bedroom.
Bed fabrics compared
| Fabric | Look | Good at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed velvet | Reflective, patterned pile | Catching light; hides some creasing in the pattern | Water marks |
| Plush velvet | Smooth, even pile, rich colour | Deep colours, a classic look | Pressure marks that brush out |
| Teddy bouclé | Looped, matte, textured | Hiding light marks, a soft modern look | Snags from claws, buckles and jewellery |
| Chenille | Soft, low sheen | Hard-wearing everyday use | Fewer dramatic colour effects |
| Linen-look | Flat weave, matte | Keeping shaped headboards crisp | Pale shades show marks |
Plush velvet on the Luxor Wingback headboard.
What is the most durable bed fabric?
For heavy daily use, a tightly woven fabric in a mid-tone colour. Chenille is often chosen for this reason, and a flat weave copes well with leaning and sitting. Colour matters as much as fibre: a mid grey or taupe will look cleaner after a year than cream in any fabric.
Which fabric is best with pets?
Avoid teddy bouclé if a cat or dog uses the bed, because claws catch the loops. A flat weave or short-pile velvet in a colour close to your pet's coat is the practical choice. Hair lifts off velvet with a damp rubber glove.
Which fabric is best in a child's room?
A darker, hard-wearing fabric. Children's beds take spills, sticky hands and felt tips. Blot rather than rub, and choose a colour that won't show the first accident. The children's bed guide covers more.
Velvet or teddy bouclé?
This is the choice most buyers weigh. Velvet is reflective and colour-rich; it looks formal in deep shades and suits traditional shapes such as sleigh and Chesterfield. Teddy bouclé is matte and textured; it reads as soft and modern and suits curved, cloud and tall headboards. The teddy bouclé beds collection explains the fabric itself in detail, including how it compares with sherpa.
Teddy bouclé on the Sienna Teddy Bouclé Curved Bed.
A practical test: velvet shows where you've sat and brushes back; bouclé hides it but can pull. Decide which of those you'd rather live with.
Order swatches before you decide
Fabric is one of five decisions in the bed buying guide. Screens misrepresent fabric colour and texture, especially pile fabrics that change with the light. Legend Beds offers free swatches, and it's worth ordering two or three and looking at them in the bedroom morning and evening. Choosing a bed colour covers the colour side of the decision.
Beds by fabric
For bouclé, start with the Nimbus Teddy Bouclé Cloud Ottoman Bed or Sienna Teddy Bouclé Curved Bed. For velvet, traditional shapes such as the Roman Sleigh Bed and Florida Wing-Bed show it well. The full range is in all beds, and cleaning each fabric is covered in how to clean an upholstered bed.
Frequently asked questions
Is velvet a good fabric for a bed?
Yes. It's soft to lean against and takes colour well. It shows pressure and water marks more than a flat weave, but pressure marks brush out.
Does teddy bouclé pill or bobble?
Friction can raise loose fibres on any pile fabric. On bouclé, trim a pulled loop level with scissors rather than pulling it.
What is the difference between plush and crushed velvet?
Plush velvet has a smooth, even pile. Crushed velvet has its pile pressed in random directions, which creates a patterned, reflective finish.
Is a fabric bed warmer than a wooden bed?
An upholstered headboard feels warmer to lean against and softer than wood or metal, which is one reason fabric beds are popular against cold outside walls.
Can I get any Legend Beds design in any fabric?
Beds are upholstered to order from the Legend Beds swatch range, but some designs are made in a specific fabric, such as the teddy bouclé range. Check the product page for the options on each design.
