Why Your Bed Fabric Matters More Than You Think
When you picture your dream bedroom, chances are you are not just imagining a bed frame. You are imagining how it feels. The softness when you run your hand across the headboard. The way the fabric catches the light. The colour that ties your whole room together.
At Britain Sleep, we know that fabric choice is every bit as important as the bed design itself. It is the difference between a bed you like and a bed you love. That is why we offer over 200 fabrics across velvet, plush, chenille, linen and more — so you can create something truly yours.
But with so many options, how do you choose? This guide breaks down the most popular bed fabrics, compares them side by side, and helps you pick the perfect one for your bedroom.
Velvet: The Timeless Luxury Choice
Velvet has been synonymous with luxury for centuries, and it remains one of the most popular fabric choices for upholstered beds in the UK. But not all velvet is created equal.
Types of Velvet
- Crushed velvet — Has a textured, shimmering appearance where the pile is pressed in different directions. Creates a glamorous, eye-catching look that changes with the light.
- Smooth velvet — A uniform, sleek finish with a consistent pile direction. More understated and modern than crushed velvet.
- Plush velvet — A denser, thicker velvet with a deeper pile. Incredibly soft to the touch and feels genuinely luxurious. (We cover plush in more detail below.)
How Velvet Feels
Velvet is soft, smooth and has a slight sheen that adds depth to any colour. Run your hand one way and it is silky; run it the other and the texture shifts. This two-tone effect is part of what makes velvet so appealing for bedroom furniture.
Durability
Good quality velvet is surprisingly durable. Modern velvet fabrics are typically made from polyester blends rather than pure silk, which means they resist wear, fading and staining far better than you might expect. A well-made velvet bed will look beautiful for years.
Maintenance
Velvet is easier to care for than most people think. Regular light vacuuming with an upholstery attachment keeps dust at bay. For small marks, a damp cloth and gentle dabbing usually does the job. Avoid rubbing — always dab.
Best For
Bedrooms where you want a statement piece. Velvet works brilliantly in both traditional and modern settings, and it is available in an incredible range of colours — from deep navy and emerald green to soft blush pink and silver grey.
Plush: The Ultimate in Softness
Plush fabric is essentially a premium grade of velvet, but it deserves its own section because the difference in feel is noticeable the moment you touch it.
What Makes Plush Different?
Plush has a deeper, denser pile than standard velvet. The fibres are longer and packed more tightly together, creating that sink-your-fingers-in softness. If standard velvet feels like stroking a cat, plush feels like stroking the world's softest blanket.
The Luxury Factor
Plush is the fabric customers choose when comfort is the top priority. It is warm to the touch, inviting and makes your bed feel like the centrepiece of the room. Many of our customers tell us that once they have felt plush fabric, nothing else compares.
Durability
Plush is hardwearing despite its softness. The dense pile means it holds its shape well and resists flattening over time. It can show finger marks and brush strokes (like crushed velvet), but many people consider this part of its charm.
Colours Available
At Britain Sleep, our plush range includes over 30 colours — from classic greys and creams to bold teals, mustards and deep burgundies. Every plush bed we make is built to your colour choice.
Best For
Anyone who wants the ultimate soft, tactile bedroom experience. Plush is particularly popular for ottoman beds and high-headboard designs where there is plenty of fabric surface to enjoy.
Chenille: Warmth and Texture
Chenille (pronounced "shuh-NEEL") gets its name from the French word for caterpillar — and when you see the fabric up close, you will understand why. The yarn has a fuzzy, textured surface that gives chenille its distinctive soft, almost woolly feel.
How Chenille Feels
Chenille is warm, textured and cosy. It does not have the sheen of velvet — instead, it has a more matte, natural appearance. Think of it as the fabric equivalent of a warm cup of tea on a cold Yorkshire evening.
Durability
Chenille is one of the most durable upholstery fabrics available. The twisted yarn construction makes it resistant to wear and pilling. It holds up exceptionally well to daily use, which is why it has been a favourite for furniture upholstery for decades.
Casual vs Formal
Chenille sits beautifully between casual and formal. It is refined enough for a master bedroom but relaxed enough for a guest room or teenager's room. It does not shout luxury the way velvet does — it whispers quality.
Maintenance
One of the easiest fabrics to maintain. Regular vacuuming is all most chenille beds need. It is less prone to showing marks than velvet and does not attract pet hair as readily.
Best For
Families, pet owners and anyone who wants a durable yet comfortable fabric that does not require constant attention. Chenille is a brilliant choice for everyday beds that need to look good and last.
Linen: The Natural, Breathable Option
Linen-look fabrics have surged in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. They bring a natural, relaxed elegance to any bedroom.
How Linen Feels
Linen has a slightly textured, breathable feel. It is lighter than velvet or chenille and has a casual, lived-in look that works beautifully in contemporary and Scandinavian-style bedrooms.
Breathability
If your bedroom gets warm, linen is an excellent choice. It is naturally breathable and does not trap heat the way denser fabrics can. This makes it popular for spring and summer, though it works year-round.
Easy Care
Linen-look upholstery fabrics are low maintenance and resist staining well. They tend to age gracefully, developing a subtle patina over time that many people find attractive.
Best For
Lighter, airier bedrooms. Linen works particularly well with natural wood furniture and neutral colour palettes. It is a popular choice for streamlined, modern bed designs.
Fabric Comparison: Side by Side
Here is how the four most popular bed fabrics compare across the features that matter most:
| Feature | Velvet | Plush | Chenille | Linen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softness | Very soft | Ultra soft | Soft and cosy | Light and smooth |
| Durability | High | High | Very high | High |
| Sheen | Yes (varies by type) | Subtle sheen | Matte | Matte / natural |
| Pet-friendly | Fair (shows hair) | Fair (shows hair) | Good | Very good |
| Kid-friendly | Good | Good | Excellent | Very good |
| Warmth | Warm | Very warm | Warm | Cool / breathable |
| Maintenance | Low-medium | Low-medium | Low | Low |
| Style | Glamorous / classic | Luxurious / modern | Cosy / versatile | Natural / contemporary |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Mid-premium | Mid-range | Mid-range |
200+ Fabrics: Your Bed, Your Choice
At Britain Sleep, we do not believe in limiting your choices. Every bed we make is built to order in our West Yorkshire workshop, which means you choose the fabric, the colour and the finish.
Our fabric range includes:
- Crushed velvet — 25+ colours
- Plush velvet — 30+ colours
- Smooth velvet — 20+ colours
- Chenille — 20+ colours
- Linen-look — 15+ colours
- Boucle, suede and specialty fabrics — 15+ options
That is over 200 fabric options in total. Whether you want a deep midnight blue plush velvet or a soft oatmeal linen, we have it — and if you are not sure, we will help you decide.
Order Free Fabric Samples
We know that choosing a fabric online can feel uncertain. Colours look different on every screen, and you cannot feel texture through a monitor.
That is why we offer free fabric samples delivered to your door. Touch the fabric, hold it against your bedroom walls, see the colour in your own lighting — then decide with confidence.
To order samples, simply get in touch with our team and tell us which fabrics interest you. We will post them out free of charge, usually within 1-2 working days.
Browse Our Bed Collections
Every bed in our range is available in any of our 200+ fabrics. Start browsing:
- Ottoman Beds — Our signature range with 18-inch deep side-lift storage
- All Beds — View our complete collection
- Bespoke Collections — Our premium handcrafted designs
- High Headboard Beds — Statement pieces with extra fabric impact
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fabric is best for pets?
Chenille and linen-look fabrics are the most pet-friendly options. They resist pet hair clinging and are easy to clean. Velvet and plush can show pet hair more, though regular vacuuming keeps this manageable.
Can I see fabrics before ordering?
Absolutely. We offer free fabric samples posted to your door. Just contact our team with the colours and fabric types you are interested in, and we will send them out within 1-2 working days.
Which fabric is most durable?
Chenille is the most hardwearing of the four main fabric types. However, all our fabrics are commercial-grade upholstery quality and built to last years of daily use.
Do velvet beds look too formal?
Not at all. Velvet is incredibly versatile. A deep navy velvet bed can look sleek and modern, while a soft blush pink velvet can feel warm and inviting. It depends entirely on the colour and bed design you choose.
What about allergies?
All our fabrics are synthetic or synthetic-blend, which means they are hypoallergenic and do not harbour dust mites the way natural fibres can. Regular vacuuming keeps them fresh and allergy-friendly.
Can I mix fabrics on one bed?
Yes. Some customers choose one fabric for the headboard and another for the base. Because every bed is made to order, we can accommodate custom fabric combinations. Just let us know when you order.