Throw Pillow Covers: Velvet, Linen, Faux Fur or Chenille?

The coziest throw pillow covers are faux fur, velvet and chenille, because each has a soft pile or tufted surface. Velvet is smooth with a sheen, chenille is soft and slightly nubby, and faux fur is the plushest. Linen and cotton feel cooler for summer. For easy care, pick a zippered cover the label says is machine washable.

Most covers fit the standard insert sizes in our throw pillow size guide, so the cover is where you choose the look and feel, and how much washing you are willing to do.

Velvet, chenille, faux fur or linen: which feels right?

Velvet, chenille and faux fur describe how a fabric is made, not what it is made of. Velvet is a woven fabric with a dense, even pile. Chenille is a type of yarn. Faux fur is a pile fabric made to look like fur. Linen is the one true fiber name here: it is woven from flax.

Velvet covers: soft pile with a sheen

Most velvet is woven as two layers of cloth face to face, joined by extra pile yarns. The layers are then cut apart, which creates the pile. Velvet is made in many fibers, including silk, cotton, linen, wool, polyester, nylon, viscose and blends.

That pile is what makes velvet feel so soft and look rich under a lamp. It is also why velvet is harder to clean than flat fabrics. Care varies by fiber, so read the label. Hommey, an Australian cushion maker, says its 90% cotton, 10% polyester velvet cover can be machine washed cold on a gentle cycle, with no bleach and no tumble drying, and darks washed separately.

Choose velvet if you want color and sheen that look cozy at night, on a sofa that gets moderate use. Our guide to velvet throw pillows covers crushed velvet, pile marks and steaming.

Chenille covers: soft, nubby and matte

Chenille gets its name from the French word for caterpillar, which the fuzzy yarn resembles. Short lengths of pile yarn are held between two core yarns, which are twisted together. The result looks slightly different from different angles.

Chenille’s known weak point is tufts working loose, leaving bare patches. Many yarns now add a low-melt nylon to the core, which is heat set to help hold the tufts in place. Even so, avoid scrubbing chenille and check its care label.

Choose chenille if you want a soft, matte texture that looks less formal than velvet.

Faux fur covers: the plushest and warmest look

Faux fur is a pile fabric engineered to look and feel like fur. Makers use acrylic, modacrylic or polyester. Fenrir Throws, which makes modacrylic faux fur, calls modacrylic the fiber of choice for premium faux fur, and says most modacrylic faux fur should be dry cleaned, though some pieces allow gentle hand washing.

Heat is the enemy of any synthetic pile. Our comparison of sherpa, fleece and faux fur explains why hot dryers mat plush fabrics and how to wash them.

Choose faux fur if you want the warmest-looking winter cover and do not mind gentler care.

Linen covers: cool and relaxed for summer

Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. It is very strong and dries faster than cotton, which is why linen feels comfortable in hot weather. It also softens the more it is washed.

The tradeoff is wrinkles. Linen has low elasticity, so it creases easily. If you want crisp corners, a cotton or linen-cotton blend creases less.

Choose linen if you want a breathable, casual cover for spring and summer, or for a bedroom that runs warm. For pillows that live outside, see outdoor throw pillows instead.

How do you check what a cover is really made of?

A “velvet” or “faux fur” cover can be polyester or acrylic underneath, and that affects how it washes and wears. The fiber label tells you.

When shopping online, look for the same fiber breakdown in the product details.

Care instructions are a different matter. The FTC’s Care Labeling Rule applies to clothing and to fabric sold for making clothes; its list of covered items does not include pillows or other home furnishings. So a pillow cover may not come with care instructions at all. Check the listing or the maker’s page before you buy if machine washing matters to you.

Which covers are easiest to keep clean?

For pillows that get leaned on every day, washability matters as much as feel. Practical points to look for:

• A zipper closure. A cover you can take off is the only kind you can wash without the insert. Hidden zippers keep the front clean-looking.
• A washable fiber blend. Polyester and cotton covers are more often machine washable than silk velvet or modacrylic faux fur.
• Two sets of covers. Swapping covers by season lets one set rest while the other is in use, on the same inserts.

Once you have chosen a fabric, our guide to throw pillows for a couch covers how many to use and how to mix colors and textures. For a matching throw, see our wool and knit throws guide.