The Ideal Fabric for Your Pet

At Linen World, we constantly refine our approach to livable luxury—balancing beauty, durability, and practicality.
Our catalog features all-natural fabrics like linen and cotton, plus innovative recycled fabrics that are stunning, inherently robust, and soften beautifully over time. While none are classified as "performance" fabrics (we intentionally omit harsh stain-repellent chemicals), cleanup is simpler than you might expect—sometimes even effortless. Learn more in our "performance" fabrics post.

Through research and firsthand experience—plus reviewing countless adorable photos—we've learned "pet-friendly" is as unique as your pet's personality.
Rest assured, we'll guide you. While we can't pinpoint your pet's perfect fabric, we'll highlight key considerations for pet households.

Know Your Pet

No judgment here.

Only you can accurately assess your pet's habits

and potential impact on furniture. Before choosing

fabric, honestly evaluate: Do they treat furnishings

as scratching posts? Chew textiles?

Does their light-colored fur visibly coat surfaces?

Accidents occur—but how often will you disassemble

sectional slipcovers for washing?

Fabric Weave

If claws concern you, opt for tighter weaves like

Light Weight Linen, Cotton Canvas,

Thread-Dyed Cotton Linen,

or Recycled Poly Weave.

Their closely interlaced threads resist pulls and snags.

Fabric Weight

For heavyweight materials that withstand heavy use, consider Medium Weight Linen, Light Weight Linen, Cotton Canvas, and Recycled Poly Weave. These structured fabrics grow stronger and softer with age.

Color

While darker hues may seem more forgiving for accidents, we've found white/off-white fabrics like Pacific Pearl (Cotton Linen), Water Lily (Light Weight Linen), and First Light (Recycled Poly Weave) are surprisingly practical—they respond well to spot cleaning with non-brightening enzymatic detergents. Avoid brighteners which alter fabric tones.

We recommend enzymatic cleaners only for pure whites, but pale shades like Corn Silk (Washed Cotton Linen), Oat Flour (Medium Weight Linen), and Rain Drop (Recycled Poly Weave) show less fading than darker colors when washed.

Want vibrant color? Choose Thread-Dyed Cotton Linen. Its pigment-saturated fibers deliver exceptional colorfastness.

Care

All slipcovers are removable, dry-cleanable, and—with caution—machine-washable, making them ideal for pet homes. Remember all-natural fabrics' limitations: Pigment dyed linens fade significantly when saturated, and darker variants (Light Weight Linen, Medium Weight Linen, Washed Cotton Linen) fade most during washing. Spot cleaning isn't advised for these.

If frequent accidents are likely, consider Cotton Linen, Cotton Canvas, and Thread-Dyed Cotton Linen. If choosing pigment dyed fabrics, stick to lighter colors. For fabrics that excel at both spot cleaning and washing, explore Recycled Poly Weave.

INSIDE SCOOP: FEATHER DOWN VS. POLY FILL

Looks matter, but what's inside your sofa matters more. While fabric and style are easy to picture online, comfort is harder to gauge. We’ve broken down our two main fills to help you choose: