Linen Furniture: What It Is and When to Choose It

Linen is a natural fabric woven from fibers of the flax plant. It is stronger than cotton, breathable, and cool to the touch, which is why it shows up on so much good upholstery. One thing to know before you buy: linen creases easily and wears a relaxed, lived-in finish rather than a crisp one.

Linen is woven from flax fibers and can be up to three times stronger than cotton.
It breathes and feels cool, but it wrinkles; the look is relaxed, never crisp.
Most linen pieces we carry retail between about $250 and $2,100.

3x
Stronger than cotton: Flax
The plant it is woven from: Cool
How it feels to sit on: $250 to $2,100
Typical retail

What linen is

Linen comes from the stalk of the flax plant, not from a seed head like cotton. The fibers are longer than cotton's and wrapped tighter, which makes linen yarn up to three times stronger. Flax fibers also conduct heat well, so the fabric feels cool when you sit on it, and they absorb and release moisture quickly.

The texture is part of what you are buying. Flax fibers have irregular cross-sections, so woven linen carries a slightly coarse, slubby surface that reads as natural rather than uniform. And because the fiber has very little elasticity, linen wrinkles. A linen slipcover or cushion will always look a little relaxed. If you want upholstery that springs back crisp, linen is the wrong fabric. If you like furniture that looks a little rumpled, it is the right one.

Is linen good for upholstery?

Yes, with the right expectations. The strength that made linen a workhorse fabric for centuries carries straight into seating: it stands up to daily use, breathes in warm rooms, and does not trap heat the way synthetic velvets can. That is why upholsterers keep reaching for it on the pieces people sit in every day.

Brands often blend linen with other fibers to soften the wrinkling, so read the materials line on any specific piece to see what you are getting.

Linen across the catalog

More than 35 of the brands we carry put linen on furniture, from Sixpenny's slipcovered seating to Pottery Barn's upholstered beds, among over 400 top brands in all. Most linen pieces cost between about $250 and $2,100 at retail. Designer Discount Club members pay 10% to 40% off that, an average of $3,246 a year, and joining costs nothing. Find the sofa or the bed you actually want and request your member price on it.

Three linen pieces to compare

CB2

Marguerite 90" White Performance Fabric Sofa

Retail $2,299Member price unlocks below retail

📏 90.0"W x 41.0"D x 29.0"H

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Pottery Barn

Harper Non Tufted Upholstered Bed, Without Nailheads

Retail $2,599Member price unlocks below retail

📏 85.0"W x 65.0"H x 91.0"L

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Sixpenny

Neva Chair

Retail $1,549Member price unlocks below retail

📏 44.0"W x 41.0"D x 33.0"H

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is linen stronger than cotton?

Yes. Flax fibers are longer and more tightly wound than cotton fibers, and linen yarn can be up to three times stronger than cotton yarn. That strength is a big part of why linen upholstery holds up to daily use.

Does linen wrinkle too much for a sofa?

Linen will always wrinkle; the fiber has very little elasticity. On a sofa that reads as a relaxed, lived-in look rather than a flaw. If you want upholstery that stays crisp and smooth, look at a blend or a different fabric.

Why does linen feel cool?

Flax fibers conduct heat better than most textile fibers, so linen pulls warmth away from your skin. It also absorbs moisture and dries quickly, which is why linen furniture and bedding feel comfortable in warm rooms.

What does linen furniture cost?

Across the pieces we carry, most linen furniture costs between about $250 and $2,100 at retail, from accent pillows and benches up to sofas and beds. Members pay 10% to 40% off that, so open the product page for today's retail figure and request your member price on it.

Which brands make linen furniture?

More than 35 brands in our catalog use linen, including Sixpenny, Pottery Barn, CB2, Crate and Barrel, and Four Hands. The full roster of over 400 top brands is on our brands page, and members buy from any of them at 10% to 40% off retail.

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