Bright living room with a bouclé sofa, alongside upholstery samples in leather, velvet and corduroy

Sofas by material and colour

Leather, velvet, corduroy or bouclé – which sofa suits you best?

The upholstery determines how your sofa feels, how it ages and how it shapes your room. You’ll find guidance here – and you can feel all the fabrics for yourself in our furniture showrooms.

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Materials

How would you like your sofa to feel?

A sofa will be with you for many years. How well it fits into your everyday life depends largely on the upholstery: it determines the feel, how much care it requires and how the sofa copes with children, pets and sunlight.

Cognac-coloured leather sofa with visible grain against a light-coloured wall

Leather sofas: durable and becoming more beautiful with age

Leather is the ideal material for anyone who wants their sofa to last a long time. It quickly absorbs body heat, is easy to wipe clean and becomes more supple with every passing year. Genuine leather develops a patina that many people particularly appreciate.

Genuine leather

breathable and comfortable in both summer and winter
very durable, becomes softer over time
Every piece of leather has its own natural characteristics – each one is unique

Faux leather

uniform surface, free from natural characteristics
very easy to care for, no re-oiling required
An attractive entry-level option and a choice free from animal-derived materials

Leather types and prices: Pigmented leather is robust and ideal for families – and the more affordable entry-level option. Semi-aniline leather combines a natural feel with light protection. Aniline leather is particularly soft and open-pored, and represents the top end of the price range.

Care advice

Remove dust regularly with a soft cloth and condition genuine leather two to three times a year with a suitable leather care product. Keeping the sofa away from radiators and direct midday sun will help keep the leather supple.

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Bottle-green velvet sofa with brass side table; the light reflects off the pile

Velvet sofa: soft, with depth in the light

Velvet has a short, dense pile that catches the light. This makes every colour appear deeper and richer than on a smooth fabric. Run your hand over it and the shade changes slightly – that’s precisely what makes velvet so appealing.

Popular colours

Bottle green
Petrol
Rosé
Cognac
Midnight blue
Taupe

Style combinations: Velvet goes well with Art Deco featuring brass and marble, with mid-century styles featuring walnut – and adds a lovely accent as a soft contrast in minimalist interiors.

Care instructions

Vacuum regularly using the upholstery nozzle, following the direction of the pile. Seat marks usually disappear if you lift the pile with a soft brush or briefly refresh it with steam. Modern polyester velvet is significantly more hard-wearing in everyday use than traditional cotton velvet.

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Caramel-coloured cord sofa with a woollen throw and a wooden side table

Cord sofas: the textured trend

Cord is back. The fine ribs add texture to the sofa and are reminiscent of the 1970s – yet in muted tones, they look surprisingly modern. Fine cord is understated and elegant, whilst wide-wale cord is more striking and casual.

Colour options

Sand
Caramel
Olive
Rust
Taupe
Grey

Styling: Combine corduroy with natural wood, wool and linen for a warm look – or break up the retro effect with clean, modern sofa designs.

Easy to care for and a top buy

Corduroy is hard-wearing: vacuuming in the direction of the ribs is usually sufficient; dab stains rather than rubbing them. When buying, look for a tight rib – and examine the pattern in daylight, as corduroy looks slightly different depending on the light.

View cord sofas

Round bouclé sofa in cream in a bright room with wooden flooring

Bouclé sofa: as soft as a cloud

Bouclé is the fabric you’ll want to touch straight away. Small loops give it its soft, textured surface. In cream and natural white, a bouclé sofa almost looks like a sculpture – especially with its rounded, organic shapes.

With pets: Ask for tightly woven fabrics with small loops. Claws are unlikely to snag on these, so you’ll be able to enjoy the cover for a long time to come.

Care instructions

Vacuum on a low suction setting; dab stains gently. If a loop forms, do not cut it off – simply push it back into the fabric with a needle.

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Other fabrics that are currently in demand

Chenille

Velvety soft, yet more hard-wearing than velvet. A good choice for the family sofa, where meals are occasionally enjoyed.
Linen and linen-effect fabrics

Natural, lightweight and with a lively texture. Genuine linen stays pleasantly cool in summer, whilst linen-look blends retain their shape better.
Woven fabric and flat weave

The all-rounders: dense, robust and available in almost any colour. Ideal when the sofa has to withstand a lot of wear and tear every day.
Easy-care covers

With covers such as family CARE, many stains can be easily removed with just water – perfect for families with children and pets.

For comparison

Five upholstery options at a glance

Feature	Leather	Velvet	Corduroy	Bouclé	Woven fabric
Texture	smooth, becomes softer over time	soft and velvety	textured ribbed	soft and supple	dense and pleasantly neutral
Care	Wipe with a damp cloth; re-grease genuine leather	vacuum, fluff up the pile	vacuum in the direction of the weave	vacuum gently, dab at stains	vacuum; many stains can be easily removed
With children and pets	very good; hair can be wiped off	works well with polyester velvet	good, hard-wearing fabric	well suited to tightly woven fabrics	very good
Impact on the room	high-quality and timeless	elegant and rich in colour	warm and casual	soft and sculptural	calm and versatile
Goes well with	Classic, Industrial, Mid-Century	Art Deco, Mid-Century	Retro, Boho, Scandi	Japandi, minimalism	almost any style

Tip: For sofas used on a daily basis, fabrics with a Martindale rating of around 20,000 cycles or more are recommended. Your sales assistant will tell you the rating for each cover.

Which sofa colour suits your room?

The colour of your sofa sets the mood for the whole room. Light shades create a sense of space, dark shades provide a sense of stability, and bold shades make a statement.

Beige sofa with cushions in sand and caramel, with light oak flooring behind it

Beige sofa: warm, light and calming

Beige instantly makes a room feel more relaxed. A light-coloured sofa reflects the light, makes smaller rooms feel more spacious and provides a calm backdrop against which cushions, throws and pictures can be changed.

Room atmosphere: natural, serene, cosy – ideal for Japandi, Scandinavian interiors and modern country house style.

Goes well with

Light oak
Linen white
Terracotta
Sage

Styling tip

Combine tone-on-tone colours: cream, sand and caramel side by side look more sophisticated than a single shade of beige. With easy-care upholstery, a light-coloured sofa is also hassle-free in everyday family life.

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In our furniture stores

Feel the fabrics for yourself rather than guessing from a screen

Colours look different on screen than they do in your living room – and you can only really tell how bouclé or velvet feels by touching it. Your adviser will place the fabric samples next to your chosen model and give you honest advice on what will suit you best in everyday life.

Samples available in-store
Honest care advice
Delivery on your chosen date

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Leather and faux leather can simply be wiped clean with a damp cloth. When it comes to fabrics, tightly woven fabrics and covers with stain protection such as family CARE are particularly low-maintenance – many stains can be removed with water alone.

Our material comparison guide provides a quick overview.
Both work well. Animal hair can be easily wiped off leather, and robust pigmented leather is forgiving of minor marks. For fabric, tightly woven fabrics and microfibre are a good choice.

Your adviser will be happy to show you upholstery fabrics that have proven their worth in everyday life with pets.
Modern bouclé fabrics made from polyester or blended fabrics are suitable for everyday use. Look for small, tightly woven loops. Regular, gentle vacuuming is sufficient; it is best to dab stains out carefully.
Beige, grey and black remain timeless for many years and can be combined in ever-changing ways. Cognac-coloured leather is also considered a classic. You can flexibly incorporate trendy colours such as green with cushions and throws.
White, greige and warm beige are safe choices. If you’re looking to create more atmosphere, opt for sage or a muted petrol blue. The undertone is key: warm grey pairs well with warm wall colours, whilst cool grey suits lighter shades.
Vacuum the cover regularly using the upholstery nozzle, following the direction of the pile. Dab fresh stains with a slightly damp cloth without rubbing. Seat marks can be smoothed out using a soft brush or a little steam.

Please also always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
Yes. In our furniture showrooms, you’ll find fabric samples in a wide range of qualities and colours. It’s best to book a consultation – that way, your adviser will take the time to help you and will have suitable samples ready for you.

Leather, velvet, corduroy or bouclé – which sofa suits you best?

How would you like your sofa to feel?