Updated : November 28, 2025
Published : March 28, 2025
Guides

There are so many options to choose from that settling on the best fabric for your sofa or bed can be difficult. But what’s even more challenging is finding a material that’s tough enough to stand up to the demands of your lifestyle.

As we know a fair bit about upholstery, we thought it only right that we share our tips and tricks of the trade when it comes to deciding between the different fabrics on offer.

Upholstery material for sofas and beds

So, which fabric is right for you? Firstly, we will break down the different bed and sofa material types. There are many options, but most can be grouped into larger categories.

Here are the different fabrics that we use when we’re making sofa beds and storage beds.

Linen
Wool
Faux suede
Velvet
Woven fabrics
Patterned fabrics
Leather

Trending bed and sofa upholstery fabric

The trending fabric for upholstery by a long mile continues to be velvet. There are so many different types of velvet, all of which will give your furniture a different look.

Low-pile velvet sofas are a great alternative for those who don’t like the change in pile that velvet can often create. ‘Change in pile’ refers to the effect you get when you swipe your hands across the fabric. It provides a textured look that some people love, and others hate.

High-pile velvet is extremely soft and provides a luxurious finish. Crushed velvet is slightly more traditional, giving a more aged finish to the fabric.

Child-proof upholstery fabric

Of all the fabrics you can choose from, leather upholstery is one of the most child-proof. Easy to wipe down, spillages can be lifted off in a matter of minutes.

We have some beautiful leathers to choose from – some distress over time, but most don’t.

What is recycled leather?

At Furl, we also offer a range of recycled leather options. This eco-friendly fabric is made from the leather off-cuts from shoes and bags that would otherwise be thrown away.

It comes in a range of colours, including classic chestnut and mahogany. Child-proof and fire retardant, this versatile fabric is suitable for upholstering sofas and storage beds.

If you don’t like leather sofas but you need something child-proof, you could look into using Guardsman protection on another fabric. Cover against accidental damage and spillages for five years starts from £100.

This treatment coats the fabric without affecting the colour or feel. It prevents any liquid from soaking into the material. If you do struggle to remove a stain, then in most cases, you can still claim on your insurance.

Cat-proof sofa material types

Pets are another common topic of conversation when discussing which fabric might be the best for you, particularly when you have cats.

Cats… how we love them, but they do like to scratch. Okay, not all cats do, and those that do, don’t mean to damage your furniture. If this concerns you, then faux suede is just the fabric for you.

Cats cannot get their claws into this fabric, and the brand we use – Warwick Macrosuede – even claims its faux suede is cat-proof.

If your cat is persistent, then you do have other options. A quick Google search reveals a range of cat deterrents, from sprays to tape, that you can use with your sofa.

The easiest sofa upholstery fabric to clean

Aside from leather, wool is officially the easiest fabric to clean. It might surprise you to learn that wool is used for airport seating due to its durability and rub count. There are many sneaky tricks of the trade to clean wool, which can all be found on Google.

As an alternative to wool, linen is also relatively easy to clean. It can get a little wet as a washable fabric, so spot cleaning is ok.

We suggest using an upholstery cleaner and a damp cloth to spot-clean your furniture. Not all cleaning cloths are suitable because the die can transfer to the furniture.

Before you start, check that your furniture cleaner doesn’t contain bleach. It’s always worth testing a small section of your upholstery first, somewhere near the back where it can’t be seen.

What is the toughest fabric for a couch?

All of the fabrics we use at Furl are incredibly strong. A lot of research has already gone into selecting the most durable fabrics, so when you’re choosing between them, you can be sure you’re getting the best of what’s available.

If you decide to provide us with your own fabric, there are a few things to know.

The fabric must have a rub count of over 20,000 on the Martindale rub test to qualify for upholstery use. Fabrics that pass will have a small sofa symbol on the back.
The fabric must be FR treated (fire retardant). This is a legal requirement in the UK for upholstery products such as sofas and beds. If your fabric isn’t FR treated, we may be able to add an FR liner for you.

If you’re still unsure of the best fabric for your sofa or bed, then why not order some free fabric samples from our website? That way, you can see what they look like in your home.