6 Choosing the Right Couch Material for Your Lifestyle

From family movie nights to quiet weekends, your couch sees it all. Choosing the right material helps it stay comfortable and stylish for years. [1] In this guide, you’ll explore what to expect from different couch materials and how Acima Leasing can help you bring home one that fits your space, lifestyle, and budget.

How to Choose Couch Materials That Last

When picking out furniture, pay attention to texture. It’s one of the easiest ways to make your space feel balanced and visually interesting. Mixing finishes and materials helps create interest without making the room feel cluttered. [2]

When choosing upholstery, think about how the fabric will look and feel in your space.

Here are a few key points to consider [2]:

• Sustainability and Natural Fibers: If you want your couch to feel inviting and grounded, natural fabrics like linen, cotton, and wool can add comfort while connecting your space to a more relaxed, organic feel
• Tactile Comfort: Textured fabrics such as bouclé and velvet can make a room feel cozier and more layered without needing bold patterns or colors
• Color and Mood: Choosing richer hues and earthy tones can help your space feel warmer and welcoming

These details can change how your couch looks and feels day to day, helping you make a choice that matches your style and comfort preferences.

Why Cotton and Linen Sofas Feel Fresh and Timeless

Cotton and linen are natural fibers that bring comfort and breathability to any room. Each offers a different balance of texture, durability, and upkeep. [3] Their appeal comes from how effortlessly they adapt to both modern and classic spaces, feeling both relaxed and polished. [4]

• Linen: Lightweight and airy, linen gives furniture a crisp, natural look that softens over time [4]
• Cotton and Cotton Blends: Cotton’s versatility makes it a go-to for everyday comfort, offering both durability and a clean, classic look [4]

Linen is known for its strength, thanks to longer, tightly woven flax fibers that make it more durable than cotton. Cotton feels softer and more flexible, while linen holds its structure and lasts longer over time. [4] Together, these natural fibers balance comfort and resilience, creating a smooth transition to synthetic options like polyester, which build on those same qualities for added durability and easy care.

The Benefits of Polyester and Blended Couch Materials

Polyester is known for being durable and easy to maintain. Blended materials combine polyester with natural fibers to offer a balance between softness and stain resistance.

Here are some things to know about polyester [5]:

• Durability: Polyester is strong and resistant to tearing, fading, and stretching, making it ideal for high-use areas
• Wrinkle Resistance: It stays smooth and doesn’t need frequent reshaping
• Color Retention: Polyester holds vibrant colors longer than natural materials like cotton or linen
• Low Maintenance: It’s easy to clean at home without worrying about fading

Many couch materials use blended fibers to combine the best features of each material. These blends balance the durability and easy care of synthetics like polyester with the softness and texture of natural fibers for both performance and style. [6] As you explore richer textures, fabrics like velvet and chenille continue this idea, offering softness and depth that bring comfort and warmth to your living space.

How Velvet and Chenille Sofas Add Warmth and Texture

Velvet and chenille are known for their soft texture and luxurious look, making them popular choices for adding warmth and depth to living spaces. [7][8] Each fabric offers a slightly different experience in how it feels and performs over time.

Here are some things to know about velvet [7]:

• Texture and Feel: Velvet has a plush, smooth surface that reflects light beautifully
• Durability: High-quality velvet can withstand daily use, but it’s best suited for medium-traffic spaces since it can show marks or pressure lines over time
• Insulating Qualities: Velvet naturally retains warmth, helping furniture feel cozy and comfortable

Here are some things to know about chenille [8]:

• Texture and Feel: Chenille has a soft, fuzzy pile created by short yarns
• Durability: It’s durable enough for daily use but may need occasional vacuuming or light brushing to prevent matting
• Pet Resistant: The dense weave and slightly fuzzy surface of chenille can make it less likely to show snags or pulls from pet activity.

Both fabrics bring visual depth and a sense of comfort to your space. Velvet works well when you want a touch of elegance, while chenille is ideal for a relaxed, inviting feel. To expand your options, leather and faux leather offer different kinds of textures to consider.

What to Know About Leather and Faux Leather Sofas

Leather and faux leather are valued for their classic style, durability, and manageable care. [9] Each type offers a slightly different look and feel, which can help you choose what works best for your space.

Here are some things to know about leather [9]:

• Full-Grain Leather: The most natural and durable type, made by removing only the hair from the hide before dyeing for a tough surface that softens over time
• Top-Grain Leather: A popular choice that’s been lightly buffed for a smoother, softer finish right from the start
• Split-Grain Leather: A more affordable option made from the lower layers of the hide, but still maintains the look of leather
• Bonded Leather: Made from leather scraps and fibers bonded with adhesive, it maintains the look, scent, and texture of genuine leather

Here are some things to know about faux leather [9][10][11]:

• Durability: Bonded and faux leather sofas typically have a shorter lifespan, lasting about three to seven years
• Emerging Subsets: New vegan leather options are gaining attention for offering the same smooth, easy-to-clean surface as faux leather, without the use of animal-based materials.
• Water Resilience: Faux leather is non-porous and does not absorb water, making it resistant to spills and easy to wipe clean

Both couch materials provide a refined appearance and can complement a variety of décor styles. As you shift from smooth finishes to textured designs, materials like bouclé and other woven fabrics offer a new way to bring dimension and softness to your space.

Why Bouclé and Textured Couches Are Trending

Bouclé continues to capture attention for its tactile texture and cozy appearance. This looped-yarn fabric endures in design because it combines emotional comfort with ongoing material innovation, making it both inviting and adaptable. [12]

Here are some things to know about bouclé [12]:

• Texture and Feel: Recognized by its looped weave, bouclé offers a soft, tactile surface that adds warmth and dimension to furniture
• Design Appeal: Designers credit its continued appeal to nostalgia and timeless comfort
• Versatility: While once reserved for statement sofas, bouclé now appears on accent chairs, headboards, and mixed-material designs

Bouclé remains a preferred choice because it represents comfort with substance—soft textures paired with modern innovation that fits both minimalist and expressive spaces.

How Acima Leasing Can Help You Bring Home the Right Couch

With Acima Leasing, you can have access to shop without using credit with a lease-to-own option at checkout. (Not a credit or financing transaction. Approval will require review of consumer reports.) This can make it easier to shop at retailers near you or online and bring home functional furniture that fits your style.

How do you get started? You can begin by either:

• Finding a retailer that offers lease-to-own with Acima Leasing
• Browse for a retailer near you through the store locator on the Acima Leasing website or app
• Browsing online retailers through the Acima Leasing Marketplace or mobile app

Whichever is your preferred way to shop and apply, your next couch is only a click away. Learning what materials fit your lifestyle is the first step. Acima Leasing helps you take the next step toward a couch you’ll enjoy living with.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need to apply for Acima Leasing

For your application to be eligible to get approved for a lease with Acima Leasing, you need the following required materials:

• An active checking account with at least $750 of income per month 
• Three-months of income history with your current source of income 
• Government-issued photo ID and a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number 

How do I contact Acima Leasing customer service?

You can contact Acima Leasing customer service by phone or through the online chat feature on the website. 

The Acima Leasing FAQ page covers topics like:

• What is Acima Leasing?
• What items can you lease with Acima?
• How does the application process work?
• Where can I access a copy of my Lease Purchase Agreement?
• What if I need to change the date for my lease renewal payment process?

If you are already a customer, you can directly log in to your account in the customer portal for more specific assistance. 

The content of this article is provided solely for general interest and should not be relied upon or construed as any form of advice, whether legal, financial, or otherwise. Receipt or use of this information does not create any sort of relationship between us.

Sources:

1. Forbes x Houzz. Bulletproof decorating: Upholstery that stands up to anything
2. Veranda. Upholstery details that make your home look expensive
3. Architectural Digest. Fabric trends ruling interiors now
4. Better Homes & Gardens. Guide to upholstery fabrics
5. AllModern. Linen vs. cotton guide
6. The Fabric Mill. What is polyester fabric?
7. Ice Fabrics. Is velvet good for upholstery?
8. HN Leading. Chenille fabric pros and cons
9. Architectural Digest. Leather sofas comeback
10. Homes & Gardens. Best vegan leather couches
11. Leatherborne. Full-grain vs. faux vs. vegan leather
12. Architectural Digest. Bouclé fabric spotlight