Velvet Sofa Buying Guide

If you want to bring an element of decadence into your interior (and who doesn’t), a velvet sofa is a perfect place to start. It exudes a real richness and depth of colour, feels great to touch and is easy to maintain and yet there is a still a perception that a velvet sofa can be high maintenance and costly to purchase. We’re here to dispel that myth and talk through the different types of velvet sofa available, the incredible variety of velvets to choose from and some simple tips to keep it looking as good as the day it was delivered. If you’re considering a velvet sofa for your home but aren’t sure it’s the right choice, read on to find out more!

How velvet is made?

Did you know that velvet can be made from silk, wool, or artificial fabrics like polyester? Whichever fabric is used, the principle remains the same: two lengths of cloth are woven face to face, with lengths of fibre stitched through from one to another. Then they are cut apart, leaving the soft nap that is made up of hundreds of tufts of the cut fibre, making velvet the uniquely soft, warm, and cosy material that we know and love.

One of the advantages of velvet is that each tuft of fibre is a single cut strand, rather than a loop or woven pattern, meaning that it can’t be snagged by pet claws or stray bits of clothing or retain bits of dirt and dust. So, while velvet is perceived to be a difficult fabric to look after, it’s actually hard-wearing and resilient to damage, and it’s also very easy to clean with just a vacuum cleaner.

Style-wise, velvet has both softness and shine, which are great ways to add texture to a space that is either very plain and neutral or dominated by more rugged textures like leather, wood, or exposed brick. This sort of contrast in texture and tone makes space really come to life, particularly given the modern preference for varied, surprising and occasionally even ironic design touches. It also means that velvet is easy to fit into almost any space and a whole range of different design aesthetics without clashing or looking out of place.

Types of Velvet

We now know how velvet is made but there’s not just one type of velvet – there are lots of varieties to choose from. At Darlings of Chelsea, we offer seven different types of velvet, in an array of shades, with certain velvets more suitable for certain interior styles and different lifestyles. Our velvets are as follows:

Easy Clean Plush Velvet

A wonderfully soft velvet with a matt finish and feel. It’s an incredibly durable fabric, offering the look and feel of a velvet sofa without the maintenance. Perfect for those with busy lifestyles who want that touch of elegance in their interior.

Linen Look Velvet

This is sumptuously soft velvet with a textured finish and lustrous sheen. With a linen look and a velvet feel it combines the best of both worlds and will add an elegant aesthetic to your home.

Easy Clean Matt Velvet

Combining practicality and decadence is no easy feat but this velvet achieves it. It’s soft to touch, durable and available in a range of beautiful shades.

Easy Clean Recycled Velvet

Part of our sustainable fabric collection, this velvet is easy to clean, soft to touch and kind to the environment. Available in a wide range of decadent shades, this velvet ticks all the boxes.

Stain Resistant Moleskin Velvet

A high quality, durable velvet with stain resistant properties which keep it looking as good as it feels.

Vintage Velvet

Perfect for those looking to create a vintage or mid-century modern style in their interior. This rich looking velvet has a textured finish, lustrous sheen and is available in a wide range of shades, making it ideal for those wanting to make a design statement with their sofa.

Stain Resistant Cotton Velvet 

Styles and Sizes of Velvet Sofa

When it comes to sizes and styles of velvet sofa, the world really is your oyster. From contemporary to traditional, and bold to streamlined, there is a wide range of styles available to suit any interior. If you want your velvet sofa to take centre stage in your room, consider a Chesterfield sofa – its iconic design will be elevated even further in a velvet finish.

From small sofas to large corner sofas and all in between, you can select a velvet sofa size to suit your room. As well as sofas, if you have a smaller space, there is also an extensive range of velvet armchairs and accent chairs, which will make just as much of an impact in your interior. Make sure to measure your intended space before committing to a size, and make sure to factor in space around your new sofa, including space between any existing furniture and walkways.

How to clean and maintain your velvet sofa?

To keep your velvet sofa looking good year after year, here are our recommended tips:

• When your sofa arrives, it will come with some care information – make sure to read this to understand the best way to look after your sofa.
• Due to the depth and richness a velvet sofa provides, keep it out of the sun – direct sunlight has the potential to fade your material.
• To keep it looking fresh, give your sofa a regular hoover, which will quickly remove any dust and crumbs from your upholstery.
• If you spill something on your sofa, act quickly to mop and blot the liquid with a clean white cloth. If this doesn’t solve the problem, take a cloth with some water and blot to draw out the liquid. Be aware this could itself cause damage so only do it if it’s necessary.
• To ensure your seat cushions don’t develop long-term wrinkles, it’s advisable to move, turn and shake them every so often.  

Where possible, it is worth getting velvet upholstery cleaned properly by a specialist on a regular basis even if there are no particular spills or damage, as this will prevent dirt, grease or stains from building up, and will keep the sofa looking new and fresh for as long as possible.

What are the best colours for a Velvet Sofa?

Whichever colour you choose for your sofa, the beauty of velvet is that it will bring your sofa and your décor to life.

If you’re thinking of a more neutral finish, there are plenty of calm, elegant shades to choose from, including creams, ivories and greys. For a more vibrant finish, bold shades such as plum, navy and emerald will really make your sofa stand out. Before making any decisions, consider your existing colour scheme and what you think will complement your interior. If you’re not 100% sure, order some free samples from our website to see the velvet in person and in situ. 

Blue velvet sofas

A blue velvet sofa is one of the easiest colours to work into any room, and it happens to be one that works particularly beautifully in velvet.

Dark navy blues are lifted by the textural variation and sheen offered by velvet, making them look deeper and more interesting than a plain, dark colour otherwise might. They work particularly well in neutral spaces dominated by white or cream, where they bring an attractive seaside feel to a room, but can fit equally well with yellow or light brown, or softer shades of blue.

Perhaps the essential sofa colour of the last few years is teal. A gentle green-blue, teal is vibrant and unusual, but without being overly jarring or prone to dominating a room. Although a teal sofa can look wonderful in a whole range of fabrics, it works especially well with the shine of velvet, enhancing its sea-like appearance and giving it a range of tones from navy to almost white as light falls on the soft nap of the cushions at different angles.

Green velvet sofa

For a lot of people, when they think of a velvet sofa, the image that will pop into their mind will be of something in bottle green. A design classic, especially in a style like the Chesterfield, dark green velvet sofas give a sense of warmth and welcome, especially ones that are otherwise very light or neutral. They pair well with warm yellows, such as sunflower tones or small amounts of other dark, rich colours, such as purple or aubergine.

Green velvet sofas aren’t limited to these classic darker hues though; perhaps the perfect green shade for velvet, in our opinion, is a lighter and brighter emerald colour. The natural shine of velvet gives it a richness and a, frankly, jewel-like look that looks fantastic in almost any space. Depending on the exact style of sofa you choose, emerald velvet can have a classy, art deco feel, a warm Victorian look, or a sleek and modern vibe.

Grey Velvet Sofa

Lacking the rich colours of some of our other picks, grey may not seem like a natural choice for velvet. On the contrary, however, the shine and softness of velvet are perfectly suited to a colour like grey, which can contain hints of colours from pink to green to purple, yet still maintain calm neutrality that allows it to fit into any space it’s placed in.

The variation in tone provided by the nap will keep a grey velvet sofa looking interesting no matter how the light falls on it, and it can then be lifted with splashes of all sorts of different colours; try pink velvet cushions, for example, or place it on a dark green backdrop.

Alternatively, having a sofa in grey velvet can be a perfect way to maintain a monochromatic colour scheme without it becoming dull. The velvet offers difference and interest through texture rather than through different colours.

Pink velvet sofa

Given the softness and richness of velvet, pink seems like an obvious colour for it, although the exact tone is worth selecting with care to avoid a look that is too ‘nursery’ in appearance. With pale or pastel pinks, a pink velvet sofa in a very neutral, white or pink background runs the risk of disappearing a bit. Instead, we love pale pink velvet put into very ‘natural’ colour schemes dominated by wood, blues and greens, and by plants. In these sorts of environments, pink sheds its associations with femininity or the nursery and instead looks soft and natural, particularly given the variation in shade and hue from the velvet.

Alternatively, velvet looks amazing in darker pinks such as salmon or, of course, even hot pink for those bold enough to choose such a statement piece. Those shades often do work better in more neutral rooms, so they have room to stand out but the more vibrant colours don’t take over entirely.

Black velvet sofa

As mentioned with many of the colours above, the joy of velvet is that it’s never really one colour. The sheen of the nap means patches of light will make it look almost white, while other areas will be dark, maybe even almost black. That makes it particularly exciting and attractive in any colour but comes particularly to the fore with black.

A black velvet sofa in almost any other fabric tends to look just, well, black.f A black sofa in velvet will look white, grey, black and even silver, with gradations of tone and depth as the light falls on corners, edges and cushions at different angles. That makes a black velvet sofa work especially well in those styles that naturally have a lot of curves and shapes, such as deep-buttoned sofas like the Chesterfield.

The lighting effect can be made even more pronounced with a crushed velvet sofa in black. The crushed velvet makes the effects of light on the fabric a little more random and varied, giving it a rich and glamorous appearance.

Commonly Asked Questions

Velvet sofas are a worthy and stylish investment but it’s understandable to want to feel reassured before you make a final decision. These are the most common questions asked about velvet sofas.

How durable is a velvet couch?

Velvet sofas are incredibly durable – it’s almost impossible to snag the material, it can be easily cleaned and will retain its colour if kept out of the sun.

Do velvet sofas get dusty?

It’s inevitable in a busy household that some dust will settle on your sofa. The good news is that with a quick hoover, the dust will be no more.

Can I have a velvet sofa if I have kids?

Absolutely! It makes sense to choose a velvet that is stain-resistant or easy clean when you have kids, and the durability of these sofas makes them a great choice for a family.

Are velvet sofas comfortable?

The good news is that a velvet sofa feels as good as it looks. The comfort of the sofa will largely depend on the sofa style you choose – look at your seat cushions and if possible, head to showroom to try it for yourself before making a decision.

Is it hard to maintain a velvet sofa?

If you adhere to the steps above (i.e. keeping it out of sun, a regular hoover and a quick clean up of any spills), it’s not hard to maintain a velvet sofa.