Idea To Steal: Bouclé
Having been around for a long time, bouclé fabric has been making a comeback over the past year thanks to adorable teddy chairs being shared all over Instagram and recent times meaning we are looking towards comfort driven design.
The origin of the trend is thought to stretch back to the late 1940s when Florence Knoll requested that Eero Saarinen design a chair that “was like a basket full of pillows…something I could really curl up in.” The result was Saarinen’s well known Womb Chair, debuted in 1948 in Knoll’s classic bouclé fabric.
Derived from the French word meaning curled or ringed, bouclé can refer to a yarn, made from a series of looped fibres, or the fabric made from it. Usually made from wool, this can then be mixed with other natural fibres (such as cotton, linen or silk) to give contrast / texture and with synthetics for durability / strength. Different colour shades can be added to add interest and change the depth of the fabric.
Bouclé fabrics are soft to touch with a fleecy, teddy bear-like appearance and the loops on the surface can range from tiny circles to much larger curls giving a variety of looks and uses for the material. The fabric is versatile and adaptable to its space, so can compliment a scheme whilst adding an element of warmth and sophistication.
Depending on how brave you are feeling, you can introduce the fabric to your home through upholstery, almost any piece of seating will look great in a tighter curled bouclé or you can stagger the introduction with a couple of cushions. More loosely woven bouclés also work well as soft window treatments. The options are endless…
