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Wool vs Cotton Furniture Upholstery: The Pros and Cons of Each

22 November 2016

Leslie Fleming

There are many different things to consider when it comes to furniture upholstery; even after you've chosen to use fabric instead of leather, then decided to use a natural fabric instead of something synthetic, you'll still need to decide on the exact kind of natural fabric that would be best.

When it comes to this point, many people find themselves having to choose between wool and cotton. Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons that come along with each option.

The Pros and Cons of Wool Furniture Upholstery

Wool isn't the most common of choices when it comes to furniture upholstery, but it does come with a number of compelling benefits.

Perhaps most convincing is the fact that wool tends to feel and look a lot softer and more luxurious than cotton. Wool is so relaxing because it traps air effectively between its fibres; this creates a natural insulating layer to maintain heat when it's cold or cold air when it's hot. This is why many articles of hiking clothing will be made using wool. If you're looking for first-class comfort and the kind of style that you won't see in many other homes, wool can be ideal.

It's also a surprisingly durable and hardwearing material. Wool can resist mould and mildew since it effectively repels moisture, letting it pass through its fibres instead of retaining it. It also won't be as marred as cotton by soil, and it's even flame-resistant.

Of course, wool upholstery isn't without its drawbacks. This material tends to be far more expensive than cotton, so expect to raise your budget a little. It's also much rarer, so you might find it hard to find the exact style that you're after.

The Pros and Cons of Cotton Furniture Upholstery

In spite of the fact that wool is more comfortable, cotton is a far more common material for furniture upholstery. This is mostly for practical reasons, but that isn't to say that it doesn't feel nice; cotton will still feel comfortable against your skin, it just isn't quite as soft as wool.

Cotton really pulls away from wool when it comes to practicality. This is a much cheaper material, and you'll find far more styling options. If you're after a certain colour or print, you might only be able to find it when you go with cotton. It's also a hypoallergenic material, so dust and pet hair won't be retained to create allergy flare-ups.

The main problem with cotton is that it takes stains a lot more easily than wool. If you spill a drink or drop some food, you're probably going to have problems.

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