Velvet care guide
Beautifully soft and sumptuous, it’s easy to see why velvet is a popular choice for interiors and upholstery. Read our guide to choosing and caring for this luxurious material.
Our guide to choosing and caring for velvet
Despite its beauty, velvet is often plagued by the misconception of being high maintenance. While it’s not be the most hard-wearing of fabrics, velvet isn’t all that delicate and can last for decades if properly cared for.
What’s more, different types of velvets have different properties meaning some are a better choice for upholstery whilst others are more suited to decorative accents such as cushions or throws.
Which velvet should you choose?
For Decorative Accents
There are many different types of velvet that each have their own qualities and levels of durability. The most common velvets used in the home are cotton velvets. These are beautifully soft to the touch and produce wonderfully rich colours. They are more hardwearing than traditional silk velvets and are often used for decorative accents such as cushions or throws.
For occasional use
Cotton is also commonly blended with other fibres such as polyester to make an even more durable velvet. These kinds of velvets are perfect for upholstery on larger items of furniture such as accent chairs, headboards or sofas.
For family use
If you’re looking for a velvet that will experience a lot of use, we recommend choosing a velvet made from 100% polyester. These are durable and easy to clean – some can even go in the washing machine – yet they retain the characteristically soft feel of velvet. Because their piles tend to be shorter, you are less likely to see the ‘crushing’ or ‘bruising’ of velvet over time.
Is velvet a good fabric for a sofa?
Velvet is a great choice for sofa upholstery – its richness of colour and soft texture make it undeniably stylish. It’s important, however, to choose a velvet that will suit your needs.
If your sofa only sees occasional use, you can opt for cotton or cotton blend velvets that are durable but have a lustrous pile as well.
If you are considering investing in a family corner unit that will see a lot of use, for example, we recommend choosing a 100% polyester velvet. These still retain the soft feel of velvet but tend to be more resistant to stains and spills. The delicate fibres are also less likely to become crushed or displaced over time.
Which velvet should I choose for my sofa?
Our sofas are available in a wide range of velvet fabrics, each with their own characteristics and colours. We make sure to only stock velvets that will stand the test of time.
Materials are given a Martindale Rub Count, which measures how many times a materials can be rubbed against a standard abrasive surface before it wears through. This simulates the natural wear of a seat cover - the higher the number, the longer the fabric will last.
Varese Velvet
Martindale Rub Count: 50,000.
Varese velvet is a hallmark fabric made from 100% cotton. It is beautifully soft and supple and its short pile gives it a matte finish. Available in a number of rich colours, it is a versatile choice for upholstery and brushing it back and forth won’t affect its finish.
Available on the Tailor, Snooze, Cumulus, Mistral, Wallis and Eton.
Smart Velvet
Martindale Rub Count: 60,000
Our smart velvet is made from 100% polyester making it water and stain resistant as well as incredibly hardwearing. It has a luxuriously soft feel that is unlikely to bruise or mark over time, even with plenty of use. When brushed back and forth, its finish darkens and lightens thanks to the suppleness of the pile.
Available on the Richmond, Snooze, Balmoral and Eton.
Nobilis Velvet
Martindale Rub Count: 65,000
Our Nobilis velvet is also made from 100% cotton with a short pile that gives it a matte finish. While not as strokeably soft as the other velvets, it is slightly more durable and its short pile means it won’t bruise or mark over time.
Available on the Matera sofa.
Heal's Velvet
Martindale Rub Count: 100,000
The Heal’s velvet is made from 100% cotton and is our most durable velvet. It subtly glints as it catches the light and it is a suitable for heavy domestic use. It is available in a number of jewel like colours that maintains its matte finish when brushed back and forth. Because it is made from entirely from cotton, the fabric will develop a subtle patina over time, adding character to your sofa.
Available on the Hampstead, Torino, Tailor, Richmond, Snooze, Balmoral, Nimbus, Cumulus, Mistral, Wallis, Eton and Oscar.
Be inspired by our bestsellers
SHOP ALL VELVET SOFAS
New York Suite 4 Seater Sofa
Lilli Up 2 Seater Sofa
Matera Left Hand Facing Chaise Sofa
