Wool Cushion Covers vs Cotton, Linen and Velvet
Choosing · 23 October 2026 · 6 min · Published by Raheem & Son for RS Living
Wool resists wrinkling and repels some liquid; cotton and linen are cool and absorbent but wrinkle unless treated, linen badly. Velvet is a pile weave rather than a fibre, so it behaves like whatever it is made of. Every RS LIVING cushion cover is 100% wool.
The four side by side
Every RS LIVING cushion cover is 100% wool; we sell no cotton, linen or velvet covers, so those columns describe the fabrics, not products of ours. The comparison draws on UGA Cooperative Extension's fibre guide. Our 126 wool covers cost ₹4,000 to ₹7,000.
| Wool | Cotton | Linen | Velvet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Warm and comfortable | Cool and comfortable | Cool, with a natural soft sheen | A pile surface; feel depends on the fibre |
| Wrinkles | Wrinkle resistant | Wrinkles unless treated | Wrinkles badly unless treated | Depends on the fibre |
| Liquid | Water-repellent; absorbent | Absorbent | Best wicking of the natural fibres; dries quickly | Depends on the fibre |
| Watch for | Moths and carpet beetles unless treated; may shrink and felt if laundered; damaged by chlorine bleach and dry heat | Mildew and strong acids; may scorch | Mildew; colour frosts on creases; weakened by repeated creasing | Can be made of silk, wool, linen or cotton |
Feel and warmth
Wool is the warm one: UGA Extension lists it as warm and comfortable to wear, where cotton and linen are cool. So wool suits a sofa used through a cold season, and cotton and linen are the cooler choice for a hot room. Velvet is a pile weave, so its warmth and feel come from its fibre.
Wear and wrinkles
Wool resists wrinkling; cotton wrinkles unless treated and linen wrinkles badly, and repeated creasing in one place weakens linen, according to UGA Extension.
Pilling
New wool pills a little where it rubs most: those are loose fibres working their way out, not a sign the cover is wearing through, and they become less frequent with time. Remove them with a fabric shaver or a wool comb. Our sources do not rate cotton, linen or velvet for pilling. See caring for wool cushion covers.
Care
Wool needs washing least and care most when it is washed: air and brush it, blot spills with cool water, and follow the label, hand washing cool or dry cleaning. UGA Extension warns that wool may shrink and felt when laundered and is damaged by chlorine bleach. For cotton and linen it advises pre-treating oil and grease stains before washing.
Fading
Strong direct sunlight fades every dye over time, whatever the fabric. If a sofa sits under a window, turn and rotate the cushions so they fade evenly, and store spare covers clean, dry and out of the light.
Price and choice at RS LIVING
Our 126 cushion cover designs cost ₹4,000 to ₹7,000, with a median of ₹5,400. Every one is 100% wool. Estimated production time is usually a few weeks. Prices as of 23 October 2026, in Indian rupees, before GST. For pairing a cover with your rug and sofa, read choosing pillows to go with a rug.
Sources
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Understand Your Fibers; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ramsay Ledger: Velvet, citing Florence M. Montgomery, Textiles in America. Each was read on 22 October 2026.
RS LIVING: caring for wool cushion covers and the materials guide; cushion cover material from the owner's statement of 15 October 2026; prices computed from the RS LIVING catalogue.
Questions
Are RS LIVING cushion covers wool?
Yes. Every cushion cover in the shop is 100% wool. We do not sell cotton, linen or velvet covers.
Is wool or cotton better for cushion covers?
Wool is warmer and resists wrinkling; cotton is cooler and absorbent but wrinkles unless treated. Choose by the room and how you clean.
Is velvet a fibre?
No. Velvet is a pile fabric, and it can be made of silk, wool, linen or cotton, so it behaves like the fibre it is woven from.
Why is my wool cushion cover pilling?
Loose fibres work out of new wool where it rubs most. Remove the pills with a fabric shaver or wool comb; it settles with time.
