Velvet in Interior Design: A Trend You'll Love

In the 1960s of the twentieth century, velvet was at the peak of fashion and has recently become a trend again. Together with the Design and Interior Center "Expobuild on Nakhimovskoe", we tell you about this ultra-modern material and offer nine ideas for its use.

What is great about velvet?

This dense silk fabric is used for upholstering soft furniture and creating textile decor: cushions, curtains, and covers. Velvet makes the interior cozier, so it is ideal for cold seasons. For example, you can spend evenings in a classic Raolo chair with a cup of hot cocoa.

Due to its very dense pile, velvet has a special depth of color. Moreover, it can change its color depending on the time of day and lighting. It also absorbs sound well. This function is performed by dense velvet curtains or rugs.

How not to overdo it?

Velvet should be used with great care. It is unlikely to suit as the main material in a room, but it works well for accents. It is better if there are no more than two items upholstered in velvet in one room, and one of them should be small. For example, a neat Niçoise chair in a fashionable purple shade and a soft geometric rug Parade.

Niçoise Chair

Howard Sofa

Kirsten Bed

Garda Decor Chair

Parade Rug

Raolo Chair

In a small room, it is better not to use this fabric at all — it visually reduces space.

For which styles is it suitable?

There is a myth that velvet suits only luxurious interiors such as classic or empire, but this is not true. It is added to lofts to slightly soften the bold and brutal character of the style. It also works in minimalist and light Scandinavian interiors to add coziness. For these, a soft blue Kirsten bed would be suitable.

Certainly, velvet is appropriate in such vibrant styles as boho or eclecticism. However, it definitely won't decorate country or Provence.

What color palette to choose?

Designers often use bold, deep, and noble colors like emerald, violet, blue, or burgundy. These tones are not easy to select; they must be based on the overall color scheme of the room.

If you are afraid to overdo it with color, choose soft pastel shades of beige, blue, or pink. For example, a small and cozy Marta sofa is ideal for a light interior.

What to combine with?

With fluffy rugs and subdued decorative cushions like Crop or Martos dark grey, brass, bronze, and on a marble coffee table Eichholtz Cocktail.

It is not necessary to match items made of the same fabric. For example, a chair made of matte fabric or Eichholtz pouf with a metal base would look great next to a velvet sofa.

How to care for velvet?

Velvet is very demanding in terms of care: it easily collects dust and pet hair. At the same time, it is quite difficult to remove stains from it; aggressive cleaning agents, washing, and vacuuming are not recommended. The most appropriate option is to send it for professional cleaning.

9 Ideas on How to Use Velvet in Interior Design

• Only accents: cushions, chairs, rugs, curtains.
• In combination with marble furniture items.
• Several differently sized items: bed + chair.
• With variously colored decorative cushions.
• In modern styles: loft, Scandinavian, high-tech.
• In classical style, baroque, and empire.
• Deep noble colors — emerald, burgundy, blue, violet.
• With soft fluffy rugs.
• Pastel shades — pink, blue, gray, or white.