Best Fabric for an Upholstered Bed: Velvet, Linen, Boucle and More Compared

Choosing the right fabric for your custom upholstered bed is one of the most personal decisions in the entire process. The fabric determines not just how your bed looks but how it feels, how it wears over time, and how easy it is to maintain. With hundreds of options available, it can feel overwhelming.

This guide from The Custom Bed Company breaks down the most popular upholstery fabrics so you can make a confident, informed choice for your custom bed.

Velvet

Best for: Luxury statement bedrooms, dramatic color, hotel-suite aesthetic

Velvet is the most popular choice for luxury upholstered beds and it is easy to see why. The soft, dense pile catches light beautifully and gives beds a rich, hotel-suite feel that no other fabric can match. Velvet is available in deep jewel tones, soft neutrals, and everything in between.

Performance velvet — which we recommend for families — is stain-resistant and much easier to maintain than traditional velvet. It resists crushing and holds its shape over years of use.

Pros: Luxurious appearance, wide color range, excellent light interaction
Cons: Can show indentations temporarily, requires brushing to maintain pile

Boucle

Best for: Contemporary and Scandinavian interiors, texture-led design

Boucle has exploded in popularity over the past few years and for good reason. The looped, textured weave creates a tactile, visually interesting surface that looks incredible in natural and neutral tones. Cream, oatmeal, and soft grey boucle beds have become one of our most requested designs.

Boucle is a medium-weight fabric that holds its shape well and is reasonably easy to clean. It works beautifully with both modern and classic bedroom aesthetics.

Pros: On-trend, tactile texture, works well in neutral palettes
Cons: Loop texture can snag on sharp objects, limited dark color options

Linen

Best for: Relaxed, organic, Hamptons or coastal style bedrooms

Linen upholstery gives beds a relaxed, natural quality that velvet and boucle cannot. The slightly textured weave and natural color variations create an organic warmth that is perfect for coastal, Hamptons, or natural bedroom aesthetics. Linen beds photograph beautifully and have a timeless, unfussy quality.

Pros: Natural look, breathable, ages beautifully
Cons: Can wrinkle, less stain-resistant than synthetic options

Faux Leather

Best for: Contemporary, industrial, or masculine bedroom aesthetics; easy cleaning

Faux leather is the most practical choice for easy maintenance and is especially popular in households with children or pets. It wipes clean instantly, is highly durable, and has a sleek, modern appearance. Available in black, white, cream, tan, and various colors, it adds a contemporary edge to any bedroom.

Pros: Extremely easy to clean, very durable, modern look
Cons: Less breathable than fabric options, can feel cold to the touch

Chenille

Best for: Traditional and warm bedroom aesthetics, tactile comfort

Chenille has a soft, velvety texture created by its unique twisted pile construction. It has a warm, inviting quality and tends to work beautifully in traditional bedroom designs. Chenille is heavier than velvet, very soft to the touch, and highly durable when properly maintained.

Pros: Extremely soft, warm and inviting, highly durable
Cons: Can pill over time if low quality, heavier weight

Performance Fabric

Best for: Families with children or pets, high-traffic bedrooms

Performance fabrics are engineered specifically for durability and stain resistance. They mimic the look of natural fabrics — linen, velvet, or cotton — while offering superior resistance to stains, moisture, and wear. If you have young children or pets, we strongly recommend upgrading to a performance fabric option for your custom bed.

How to Choose the Right Fabric for Your Custom Bed

1. Consider your lifestyle. Families with kids or pets should lean toward performance velvet, faux leather, or performance fabric.
2. Consider your bedroom style. Velvet suits luxurious spaces. Boucle suits modern and Scandinavian rooms. Linen suits relaxed, coastal rooms.
3. Consider color longevity. Lighter fabrics show dust more easily but create a brighter, airier feel. Darker fabrics hide marks better but can make smaller rooms feel heavier.
4. Order fabric samples. Always request samples before committing. We offer fabric sample packs so you can see and feel the options in your own bedroom before you order.

Order Fabric Samples

Not sure which fabric is right for you? We offer fabric sample packs delivered directly to your door. See and feel the quality of our materials in your own bedroom light before placing your order.

Browse our luxury bed collection and contact us to discuss fabric options for your custom bed.