Trustpilot
Green highland check sofa

Why choose Highland checks for your sofa at home?

31st May 2021

Highland checks make up one of the key styles of fitted sofa covers that we offer here at Cover My Furniture, and one of our most enduringly popular! Our Highland checks are available in several different shades, but all share the same distinguishing characteristics; their eponymous check-like arrangement, otherwise known as a sett, which is repeated over and over again across the entire fabric.

Highland checks were originally made famous for their inclusion on traditional Scottish garments such as kilts and Glengarry bunnets, but today they’re a worthy choice for any style of interiors – including yours! So, let’s unpack a bit more about what people love about this enduring style.

Their rustic and traditional appeal

By their very nature, there’s always been a strong sense of tradition surrounding Highland checks, and obviously, much of that is rotted in their Scottish heritage. In fact, they’ve been hailed as one of Scotland’s greatest icons.

Now, their exact origins are a little hazy, and they’re probably not quite as old as most people first think. However, whatever the specifics of their history, there’s no disputing that Highland checks (sometimes referred to as tartan) have long been associated with Scottish clans, who wore it as part of their everyday garb for hundreds of years. Queen Victoria was known as a great fan of it during her reign, and we probably have her to thank (at least partially) for its wider popularity across the rest of the United Kingdom.

As well as that sense of storied history and culture, modern Highland checks are also closely associated with the beauty and majesty of nature, conjuring images of rugged moors and heath, soaring mountains and sprawling lochs. This makes them quintessential choice for rural settings and country houses, especially traditional environments with their own histories, such as listed buildings or village cottages.

Their diverse but distinctive style

As you may already know if you’ve browsed our range of loose sofa covers, Highland checks come in a wide variety of styles. Some estimate that there may be as many as 5000 already in existence. (Obviously, we’ve been a little more selective in terms of what we stock here at Cover My Furniture!) So as well as imbuing your interiors with those core characteristics of history and natural charm, it gives you a wide range of individual choice of Highland check fabrics to choose from, so that you can specifically match them to the style you want for your interiors.

For example, our Highland Check Red fitted sofa cover is a dark, strong colour that works perfectly as an anchor for your interiors, giving them a highly distinctive personality all of their own. But if you’d prefer something a little lighter, our Highland Plaid Sky is ideal for a more neutral and understated colour scheme. Those are just two examples – it’s all up to you!

They’re comfortable and cosy

For many people, this is the deciding factor for choosing Highland check fabrics. Quite simply, even their very design just looks very inviting, doesn’t it? Part of that is probably to do with our seasonal associations of Highland checks. After all, Scotland isn’t exactly known for its tropical weather, and tartan and Highland checks have historically been used for heavier and thicker fabrics to help ward off the cold. What’s more, their traditional colours of red and green mean that they’re a popular option throughout the winter, closer to Christmas.

As a result, that sense of warmth and comfort has become ‘woven in’ to modern Highland checks, and it’s something we generally associate with them all year round. Stylish, comfortable, and with a huge range of choice available – what’s not to love about Highland checks?

You can browse your favourites right here on our site, or alternatively take your pick from any of the other styles we have available here at Cover My Furniture. We take care to provide a comprehensive range of sofa covers, chair covers and more in a wide variety of colours to choose from, so that you’ll always be able to find plenty of options to suit you.

And if you’re having trouble making a decision, or you’re looking for something in particular, don’t hesitate to let one of us know. You can get in touch using the contact form on our website, or through our Facebook or Instagram. We’re always happy to hear from you!

Order your free fabric swatches

Discover the quality and texture of our fabrics first-hand.
Order your free fabric swatch today, choose up to 5 from our collection.