Velvet is a smooth and luxurious fabric type that has transcended centuries and remains highly desirable in the present day for its captivating texture and timeless appeal. Often associated with royalty and sophistication, velvet adds a touch of elegance to everything it graces, from clothing and accessories to home decor. Rich and indulgent, velvet is more than just a decorative choice, it boasts surprising practicality and diversity too. Shop our range of velvets here.
What is Velvet?
Renowned for its softness and decadent drape, velvet typically comprises a short, dense pile of evenly cut fibres, giving it a smooth, velvety feel. This pile gives it a unique ability to change colour slightly with movement, creating a shimmering effect for another layer of visual interest. Traditionally made from silk, velvet can now be made from various materials like cotton, linen, wool, synthetic fibres and blends which host a range of benefits from practicality and durability to affordability. Some fabric houses have even developed mindful, eco velvets using fully or semi recycled materials.
There are various types of velvet available, with different pile variations and weaving techniques to create its own unique texture, look and feel (i.e. flat, silky, wrinkled, raised or patterned). Plush velvet is the classic and most popular type, offering an incredibly soft and luxurious finish. Other types include crushed, panne, Devore, Lyons and cut velvet. When choosing a velvet for your home, consider your desired look, feel, budget and intended use to find the perfect match for your project.
Benefits of Velvet Fabrics
- Versatility: Available in an array of colours, textures and types, velvet can complement various interior styles and can often be used for a range of applications including soft furnishings and upholstery.
- Softness and comfort: The dense pile gives velvet a wonderfully soft and smooth texture, making it incredibly pleasing to the touch.
- Durability: When properly cared for, velvet can last for years thanks to its strong, tightly woven construction.
- Warmth and insulation: The dense pile retains heat well, making velvet suitable for cold climates and winter wear.
- Stain-resistance: Some velvet types, particularly synthetic ones, have good stain resistance due to their smooth surface and tightly woven fibres.
- Sound-absorption: The dense pile can help to dampen sound, making it suitable for use in noisy environments.
Care and Maintenance
Like any luxurious fabric, velvet requires a little extra TLC. Regular brushing and gentle vacuuming help maintain its pile. Spot clean spills promptly. With proper care, your velvet pieces will retain their beauty for years to come.
Fabric Collections
We are delighted to offer a vast selection of opulent plain and patterned velvets from some of the top fabric houses and designer brands. These include Designers Guild, Romo, Warwick, Clarke & Clarke, Harlequin, Morris & Co., Sanderson, Prestigious Textiles, Kobe, Laura Ashley, Sara Miller, Clarissa Hulse and more! Sumptuous and inviting, these fabrics are designed to elevate your soft furnishings with a hint of understated glamour.
Plain Velvets
Plain velvets hold a special charm all on their own. They showcase the fabric’s inherent beauty in its purest form, offering elegance and the versatility to effortlessly blend into various design styles. Plain velvets come alive in a breathtaking spectrum of colours, from deep jewel tones to soft pastels. Use on their own as a statement piece or combine with patterned features of a room, picking up on colour accents for a cohesive look.
We particularly love the luxurious Velluto velvet by Designers Guild, a magnificently soft, wide width plain with a subtle sheen, available across a rich palette of 50 shades. This fabric is shown in image 1 below, used for a client’s beautiful curtains across their extra wide patio doors. Read the full story here.
For a touch of decadence, you may also wish to consider the stunning Temperley London x Romo Frida velvet. Dense and stain resistant, this sophisticated plain velvet oozes style and indulgence. See image 2 below for roman blinds made up in the slate colour way for a client’s stunning lounge project. Other great choices include Clarke & Clarke’s Martello velvet, Warwick’s Lovely and Plush Velvet fabrics or the Morris & Co. Wardle Velvet. The Kobe Scala cotton-rich velvet also offers tremendous versatility with its extensive palette of nearly 200 colours.
Patterned Velvets
If you’re looking for something bold and statemental, a patterned velvet may be your perfect match. Enriched with texture and interest, these fabrics will add depth and dimension to help enhance your rooms with a layer of luxury. Go confident with a mix of designs or take a calmer approach with a single pattern subtly introduced to accentuate your scheme.
Printed velvets are a popular addition to home decor. They can breathe life into a room with their rich colours and stunning designs, whilst bringing an air of maximalist character and drama to the space. Make a statement with the Temperley London x Romo collection, with bold and whimsical designs such as Bonita, Euphoria, Fantasia and Delilah.
If you’re feeling bold, the printed velvets in the Sophie Robinson for Harlequin collection are also a great choice. Choose from vibrant rainbow stripes and impressionistic florals that exude colour confidence. We particularly love the Wildflower Meadow and Dappled Leaf designs (shown opposite).
Other go to ranges for bold printed velvets include the versatile Harlequin Colour collections and the Prestigious Textiles Painted Canvas Collection. Designer ranges such as Clarissa Hulse’s Wiltshire Meadow also feature some fantastic velvet prints, as well as the Sara Miller London collection comprising signature tropical designs that complement our exotic trend. Alternatively, the Raine velvet is available as part of our express curtain and roman blind making service.
Other types of patterned velvet can also create a luxurious look. For an air of subtle opulence, the Prestigious Textiles Volume collection is a great choice, comprising geometric and stripe cut velvets for an air of subtle opulence. If you’d prefer a bolder look with a rustic, retro twist, consider the beautifully tactile cut velvets in the Clarke & Clarke Urban range such as Delaunay, Orpheus and Kupka (see image opposite). We also love the Morris & Co. Wardle Velvets collection, particularly the sumptuous Bluebell Embroidery velvet embellished with detailed gradient stitching.
Finishing Touches
Finishing a window dressing with a velvet trim can add style and interest to your window dressing. Discover beautiful velvet designs across a range of colour ways to coordinate with your curtain or blind fabrics. We absolutely adore the Temperley London x Romo Leopard Velvet Braid, shown below in the Umber colour variation.
Cushions
Attention to the final details can really help to make a room look finished. We are proud to offer a beautiful selection of sumptuous velvet cushions to complete the look. We particularly love the versatile Nigella cushion by Laura Ashley. Available in 22 colour ways, this elegantly piped, feather filled velvet cushion will bring effortless style and sophistication to your home.
Overview
Velvet fabrics offer an enduring appeal with their versatility, sensory experience and timeless beauty complementing classic and contemporary interiors alike. Whether you’re drawn to their luxurious feel, rich history, or their endless possibility, velvet fabrics truly have something to offer everyone.
If you would like any help, advice or fabric samples sending out, please do get in touch. We also stock a range of fabric books in our showroom in Brockenhurst, should you wish to browse our collection. If you would like any help pulling a full room solution together, we do offer a bespoke design service and can provide fabric, design and paint colour advice to help you create a home you love. We can also make up your perfect window dressings with our bespoke, made to measure curtain and roman blind making service.
Email sales@thehomeofinteriors.co.uk or call us on 01590 615775.
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