If you’re looking to buy new furniture or buy fabric to have your existing furniture re-upholstered, there’s a lot to be said for choosing velvet. As well as looking luxurious, feeling soft and being available in a wide variety of colours and designs, velvet fabrics have a host of other benefits going for them when it comes to using them on furniture. Here’s a guide to some of the benefits of choosing velvet for furniture.
The fabric is durable and made to last
Far from being a delicate fabric, velvet is designed to be hard-wearing and can last well for years, which makes it a good choice for furniture. The material has a flat dense pile, similar to a rug, which helps add to its durability. Plus, due to the way velvet picks up the light, the colours of velvet fabrics tend to have more depth to them than plain woven fabrics do.
As it doesn’t have raised weave or loose threads, it means that it’s actually less easy to snag velvet fabric, making it a pet-friendly option. Plus, dirt or pet hairs should be easier to brush off from the surface of the fabric.
Velvet is versatile
As a fabric, velvet is a really versatile material that works well when used in a variety of ways. It can be used to upholster both small and larger pieces of furniture, from footstools and chairs to sofas and headboards. Plus, you can use it to make coordinating accessories, such as cushions and curtains.
Velvet has a luxurious feel to it and it can help glam up the look and style of a room and make spaces feel more sophisticated and grown up. Yet it’s equally at home in a more cosy and relaxed space, where its soft touch can add a comforting and warming feel to a room.
The range of velvet fabrics available this days is immense and there’s a great choice of fabric designs to choose from, from rich vibrant colours and lively patterns, to more muted colour palettes. The selection of velvet fabrics by Yorkshire Fabric Shop are a good example of the wide range of contemporary options available.
Velvet furniture is easy to maintain
If you assumed velvet fabric would be hard to clean and maintain, think again. For cleaning purposes, you can simply use a brush to wipe clean the surface of velvet furniture or use the hand-held attachment of a vacuum cleaner to keep velvet furniture clean and dirt-free.
As with other fabrics, it’s best to deal with stains and spills immediately, rather than when they’ve dried in, to have the best success of fully cleaning it. Any form of liquid, including water, can leave stains on velvet, so blot it with a dry cloth (avoid rubbing), as soon as possible, then brush the pile to restore it.
The look of velvet can change after it’s been sat on – what’s known as a bruising effect – but it can be gently brushed back to achieve its normal state. A standard brush will do, but you can also get a special velvet upholstery brush if you wish.
Alternatively, you could try steaming velvet to get creases out and fluff up the fibres of the fabric. For the neatest effect, make sure you brush the pile in the same direction across the surface of the furniture, as this will create a smooth effect.
Like leather, some creases can be more reluctant to be removed, but over time they can help add to the aged charm of a favourite piece of furniture.
If you’re really concerned about velvet fabric marking or bruising, then look out for synthetic velvets, such as products made with quality polyester, as these are less likely to bruise.
Summary: Velvet furniture pros and cons
To summarise and help you decide whether or not velvet furniture such as a velvet sofa or velvet chair is right for you and your home needs, let’s take a look at the key pros and cons of velvet furniture.
Pros of velvet furniture
- Velvet fabric can elevate the look of furniture, making it seem more luxurious.
- Velvet upholstery fabric guides are available in a wide choice of colours, so it’s easy to find one that matches your interior colour palette.
- Velvet fabric is versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways, such as for covering footstools, chairs, sofas or making coordinating accessories such as a cushions.
- Velvet is a hard wearing and durable fabric.
- Velvet furniture is easy to clean and maintain, by wiping the fabric or using a hand held vacuum cleaner.
- Velvet furniture adds a sense of cosiness and comfort to a home.
Velvet furniture cons
- Pure cotton velvet fabric does bruise, so if you don’t like the way it looks after it’s been sat on, it may not be the right fabric for your chairs.
- Velvet furniture can attract dust more easily.
- If you have pets, velvet furniture may not be a practical choice, as pet hairs can easily cover velvet fabrics.
- Any liquid spills are soaked up quickly by velvet, so need to be dealt with promptly to avoid staining. If you have young children, it may not be the most suitable upholstery material for you.
- Velvet fabrics can weaken when exposed to sunlight, so a velvet sofa or velvet chair is not ideal for putting in front of a window.
Are you a fan of velvet furniture? Share your views on velvet in the comments below.
