Bouclé Bar Stools: Are They Practical, and How Do You Care for Them?

A good bouclé is hard-wearing: ours is rated for 50,000 Martindale rubs, well above the 30,000 rubs we treat as the threshold for heavy use. Its loops hide crumbs better than a flat weave, and its texture forgives small marks that would show on a smooth surface.

What bouclé does not like is rubbing: a stain rubbed into the loops spreads and can pull the yarn. Blot instead, and in our experience it stays looking good for years. If the island is used by small children every day, a darker greige or a wipe-clean vegan leather is the more relaxed choice; our upholstery guide compares all three fabrics.

Our bouclé is rated for 50,000 Martindale rubs, is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for harmful substances, and has been tested for resistance to pet claws under BS 8479, so a cat or dog climbing up is less likely to pull the loops.

The table sets out what those figures mean. The seat is upholstered by hand over cold-cure foam at 55 kg/m³, so, in our experience, it keeps its shape as well as its surface.

For spills, blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth, working from the outside in; never rub. For a mark that remains, dab with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, then blot dry. Test any method on a hidden area first.

We recommend avoiding strong detergents, bleach and hot water, which can shrink or discolour the yarn, and not scrubbing with a brush. For a stubborn stain on a light colour, a professional upholstery cleaner is the safest route. Our guide to cleaning bar stools covers the frame and other fabrics too.

On oak frames, Ted and Carl come in bouclé too, in natural or dark oak. Ready-made stools come in ivory, with greige on Ted and Carl and black on Svea; through Design Your Own, every model, Bruno included, comes in ivory, greige or black. All come in 66 and 76 cm seat heights.

The table sums up the bouclé options. On Freja and Svea the cushion is fixed with two screws and can be replaced, which is worth knowing with a light fabric.

On oak, bouclé completes a natural, Scandinavian look where wood and textured fabric work together.

As a rule of thumb, steel with bouclé suits a light, modern island, and oak with bouclé a warmer, more crafted kitchen. See oak bar stools and steel bar stools for each frame in detail.