Bouclé is a fabric woven or knitted with a looped yarn structure, which gives it a distinctive nubbly, textured surface rather than a flat weave. The name comes from the French word for curled, describing the small loops on the fabric's face. It is most often made from wool or a wool blend, though cotton and synthetic versions exist too.
On a sofa, bouclé adds visible texture and a soft, tactile surface that suits both scandi and more classic living rooms. Because the looped yarns can catch and pull, it needs a little more care around pets and sharp objects than a flat weave such as linen. See our sofa fabrics guide for how it compares with other textured upholstery fabrics.