What's good about velvet?
This dense silk fabric is used for upholstering upholstered furniture and creating textile decor: pillows, curtains and covers. Velvet makes the interior cozier, so it is ideal for the cold season. You can, for example, spend your evenings in a classic Raolo armchair with a cup of hot cocoa.
Thanks to its very thick pile, velvet has a special depth of color. Moreover, it is able to change its color depending on the time of day and lighting. It also absorbs noise very well. Thick velvet curtains or carpets cope with this function.
Velvet in different interior styles
There is a misconception that velvet furniture does not fit into a modern home. Too many people think that velvet fabric can only be used in styles such as baroque, empire or classical style. And in ordinary houses and apartments, velvet furniture looks absolutely terrible, but is it really so? It should be noted that velvet fabric, especially silky and high-pile, makes the furniture too bulky, and the interior as a whole will be too heavy. Therefore, such furniture does not look very good in a small apartment. And colorful velvet curtains will squeeze the room even more and will be completely inappropriate. Velvet in the interior should look harmonious so as not to create a conflict of styles.
A completely different situation occurs when this difference and contrast in styles is created on purpose. This can often be seen in modern styles such as loft, Scandinavian and hi-tech. Combining rough or shabby brick or plaster finishes with delicate velvet in one room is a very impressive phenomenon. This move will undoubtedly make any interior special and exceptional. Therefore, you can decide that expensive shiny velvet looks best in an equally noble interior or, conversely, an ultra-modern one, creating an extraordinary contrast of styles. But matte velvet fabric in neutral or pastel colors will fit perfectly into any elegant interior.
How not to overdo it?
Velvet must be used with great care. It is unlikely to be suitable as the main material in a room, but is good for accents. It is better if there are no more than two items in velvet upholstery in one room, and let one of them be small. For example, a neat Nice armchair in a fashionable purple shade and a soft geometric Parade rug.
In a small room it is better not to use this fabric at all - it visually reduces the space.
Pink and cream colors
If blue is too cold for you in winter, why not opt for warm cream or pinkish shades? This is a great option for restoring a boudoir, cottage or idea for a balcony. The main element is pillows. They can be large and full-fledged, or they can act as soft seats on chairs. By the way, pink velvet bed linen with brown pillows can transform a bedroom. And if you get tired of it, you can always hide the set until the next cold weather.
In general, pillows are a win-win option to update the interior without radical intervention. The very fashionable shade of “potter’s clay” this season looks good in any interior and adds coziness and warmth.
What styles is it suitable for?
There is a myth that velvet is only suitable for chic interiors like classic or empire, but this is not true. It is also added to the loft to slightly soften the daring and brutal nature of the style. And in minimalist and bright Scandinavian interiors to add coziness. For the latter, for example, Kirsten's pale blue bed is suitable.
Of course, velvet is also appropriate in such bright styles as boho or eclecticism. But it definitely won’t decorate country or Provence.
Green velvet
Another universal option is green velvet . A sofa or sofa, in shades of lush green, will fit perfectly into any interior: both in a setting inspired by the 60s, and in a completely modern version, which just begs to add a little floral and herbal notes.
The velvet sofa is too massive for you, and the pillows are not to your taste at all, no problem. Even an armchair or chair can be made velvety-winter: sit down, Santa Claus, relax, and leave more gifts for the company!
Which color scheme should I choose?
Designers often use bold, deep and noble colors like emerald, purple, blue or burgundy. It’s not easy to choose such shades; you need to build on the overall color scheme of the room.
If you are afraid of going overboard with color, choose soft pastel shades of beige, blue or pink. For example, the small and cozy Marta sofa is ideal for a bright interior.
Nuances and features of velvet in the interior
Even more than a couple of velvet items in one room may not give the best feeling. But if you decide to take a risk, then it is important that one of these items is small. For example, when creating the interior of a living room, you could use velvet upholstery for a sofa and a small ottoman. In the bedroom you can put a bed with a velvet headboard, and you can complement it with a small chair made of the same material at the dressing table. If you oversaturate a room with velvet furniture, it will become too heavy and unattractive. And the smaller the size of such a room, the smaller the amount of velvet should be. If you want to use velvet in the kitchen or dining room, then chairs would be an excellent solution. They go well with glossy, glass and chrome surfaces. The maximum effect of the interaction of these materials can be achieved precisely by using velvet only on the chairs. Actively combine velvet in the interior with other materials. Remember that the more varied textures in the interior, the more interesting and comfortable it is.
What to combine with?
With fluffy rugs and understated throw pillows like the Crop and Martos dark gray models, copper, brass and a marble Eichholtz Cocktail coffee table in the background.
It is not at all necessary to match velvet with products made from the same fabric. For example, next to a velvet sofa, an armchair made of matte fabric and an Eichholtz pouf with a metal base will look great.
Classic version
Of course, a classic option would be a Victorian-style sofa. And this does not mean at all that your entire apartment should turn into the set of a film about Jane Eyre.
On the contrary, velvet pillows or a velvet sofa can become a powerful accent of the room in the trend of the current time, without overloading it with echoes of ancient times.
This is exactly the option - a blue velvet sofa, which brings color to the decor and visually adds volume to the space. And it doesn’t matter what size sofa you choose. The rich and rich color looks great on both a compact living room sofa and large velvet sofas. By the way, blue rooms or blue furniture promote relaxation. Especially if there is a warm and pleasant rug on the floor, and the chairs look like beach ones. Your blue velvet sofa can become your personal piece of the sea.
The same goes for a personal cloudless blue sky. Velvet curtains and drapes are back in trend . And if you get bored with them by spring, you can always repeat Scarlett’s idea from Gone with the Wind and sew a dress out of them.
Varieties
Products made from these materials come in various types. The most common and in demand products are:
Curtains with eyelets. Such modifications can be classified as lightweight products. They do not visually reduce the height of the ceiling in the room, and the fabric is distributed evenly and neatly.
In Italian style. These models do not move along the cornice. They are fixed in one position, so they cannot regulate the degree of illumination in the room.
"Bishop's Sleeve" Such products are mainly used to decorate: doors, open cabinets, various niches.
In Roman style. These curtains are made mainly of panne velvet. But you need to take into account that such products can only be used in cases where they do not have to be lifted frequently. Otherwise, the pile part will quickly be erased.
Caring for velvet at home
As a truly royal material, velvet requires special attention and care. One of the best ways to clean a velvet sofa and armchairs is the baking soda and lemon juice method. First, you should vacuum your sofa using the brush attachment. Then mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with lemon juice until foamy. Apply it to the surface of the sofa using a soft cloth and remove, trying to avoid friction and stick to straight strokes along the pile. They also sometimes mix warm water with dishwashing detergent, but also shake it to make it foamy.
So, what do you say? Do you like velvet sofas, or do you still think they are outdated?
