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Used widely across fashion and interiors, velvet has long been a go-to fabric for creating a high-style look. But it can come off as a little intimidating—you might feel it reads too extravagant or that caring for it is too troublesome. We’re here to dispel those rumors and to let you know that velvet is in fact a practical option for any home. Read on to see what makes it one of our favorite fabrics.
The fabric feels and looks more luxurious than most textiles, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less adaptable in the home. Because it’s available in such a wide array of forms—from large pieces such as upholstered beds to smaller options like throw pillows—you can go all-out or keep it simple.
It also transcends trends and styles beautifully: Its luminous sheen makes it especially fitting for a glamorous room, but it can feel equally at home in relaxed or modern spaces.
There are several schools of thought as to where and when velvet originated, but it’s generally agreed that it was somewhere in the Far East—likely China—around the 13th century, if not earlier. Velvet then made its way west along the Silk Road, becoming immensely popular during the Italian Renaissance. (In fact, the world “velvet” comes from the Italian word velluto, meaning “shaggy.”)
Before the advent of modern industrial looms, velvet was quite costly to produce—and therefore available only to wealthy and royal families. Nobles in particular were drawn to its ability to accept richly hued dyes.
Because it’s not a flat-woven fabric like linen, velvet requires more yarn and takes multiple steps to produce. Yarn is first woven together on a loom between two layers of backing. The fabric is then split down the middle, creating two identical pieces, each with the upraised pile that provides its soft, heightened texture.
Velvet can be woven from any type of yarn. While in the past it was typically woven from silk, today cotton, linen, wool, and synthetic fibers (often in combination) are commonly used.
It’s a common misconception that velvet is high-maintenance. In truth, the fabric isn’t all that delicate and can last for decades if properly cared for. Even in a family room that gets a lot of action, a velvet sectional is a functional option that will hold up beautifully to years of wear.
You’ll notice that when you sit on a velvet piece, the pile often ruffles up, or becomes what experts call “bruised.” If you’re not a fan of these marks, don’t fret. Over time, the pile will return back to its natural state, or you can gently steam it to smooth it out. Some heavier marks will become permanent, but think of them as a patina that will give the piece a greater sense of character. Velvet is just like leather (or a fine wine): It gets only better with age.
The simplest way to maintain your velvet is to incorporate it into your regular cleaning routine. When vacuuming the carpet, use the hand-held nozzle on any velvet pieces to get up dirt that might be caught inside the pile.
As far as spills are concerned, velvet is often treated with stain repellents, so you should be able to gently dab the liquid up with a damp towel. It does get a little trickier once the stain has dried—because velvet can be made with so many types of yarn, it’s best to consult the manufacturer to figure out the best way to proceed. (Or play it extra safe with our exclusive collection of stain-resistant performance velvet upholstery.)
From deep-emerald sofas to navy accent chairs, we often associate velvet furnishings with richer colors—and with darker, more decadent spaces. And while it certainly shines in this palette, velvets in softer shades are equally alluring. Here, a pastel-purple sofa is paired with other spring-y hues for a look that feels light and utterly fresh.
While we love the all-out glam spaces in which we typically see velvet, it works just as well in a palette-cleansing, masculine space. Here, a taupe velvet-upholstered bed provides a warm but sophisticated backdrop for the rest of the room, playing off the breezy blues and relaxed textures for an easy, polished look.
Most people I know (with young children) wouldn’t dream of getting velvet upholstered dining chairs. It’s kind of a crazy idea even from me, but as you know I like to stand out from the crowd. Technically they’re not wrong by the way. Velvet is a relatively high maintenance material and children tend to be quite messy. I read somewhere that you shouldn’t buy fabric dining chairs until your kids are 18. How depressing is that? So, by the time you get your dream chairs your grandchildren will arrive soon enough to destroy them. No thanks. I’d rather risk it and get myself some velvet dining chairs right now.
I went against all the (sensible) advice I was given and bought myself some new velvet dining chairs to go with my new wooden table. My girls are a little bit older now (soon 4 and & 7) and I no longer have to worry about toddlers and babies in the house. They’re still kids though and make a more of a mess than grown ups do (obviously). I decided to go for darker colours to hide any immediate stains. Unfortunately they don’t hide breadcrumbs or hairs though. Quite the opposite but it’s easy to remove them with a lint brush which is the main thing.
I placed the black and white chairs on the tops as my children won’t be using them. These are our ‘adult only’ chairs. They are actually softer than the black ones (they are velvet polyester rather than cotton). I wouldn’t dream of buying light coloured dining chairs for my girls just yet. It’s not that they can’t be cleaned, I would just hate to maintain them looking pristine. So that’s why I opted for black chairs in the middle (plus they go with the decor too!)
In all honesty, I have found the black velvet chairs absolutely fine in the last 2 weeks. The worst stain we’ve had so far was yogurt and it wasn’t that difficult to remove. I got rid of the stain with a bit of kitchen roll and a damp microfiber cloth. My kids aren’t very messy (or so people tell me) but we are still going to get the odd stain every now and then. But this will happen no matter what material you go for. Our old dining chairs were (faux) leather and they were easy to wipe clean, but showed every single finger print. I had a much more relaxed approach (thanks to the wipeable material) and they never actually looked clean. Having velvet chairs means I need to be a bit more proactive and clean stains when they appear. I don’t wipe them daily. I only clean them if a see a mark which is probably few times at the week. I do have to get rid of the breadcrumbs daily though!Here are some tips how you can keep your velvet chairs clean and dust free..
1) HOOVER THE CHAIRS
If it wasn’t for my Miele hoover I don’t think I would have had the courage to buy the velvet chairs. My hoover comes with a furniture attachment (although I tend to use it without it as it’s more effective). You need to make sure the suction isn’t too strong for furniture (it has a separate setting for this) and I do use the furniture attachment for our sofa, curtains etc. The trouble is that it marks the velvet so I prefer to use it without it. Once a week I hoover the chairs but I only do this because I suffer from allergies. I try to keep our house as dust free as possible, so a hoover with a HEPA filter is a must.
2) USE A MICROFIBER CLOTH
I love microfiber cloths and this has been ideal with the velvet chairs. I regularly use a damp microfiber cloth to remove any marks/stains. You should always use kitchen roll first if the seat is wet to get the moisture out. Then I just clean the stain with a slightly damp cloth. I don’t even need to add any detergents, warm water works just fine. You could always add a bit of dishwasher detergent for more stubborn stains (remember to dilute it with warm water). The fabric just seems to spring back to normal after using a microfiber cloth. I love it.
3) TEACH YOUR KIDS TO CLEAN THEIR HANDS AFTER EATING
I always have extra kitchen roll on the table for the kids to wipe their hands after eating. Good table manners don’t cost anything, so you might as well start them young.
4) BUY A STEAM CLEANER
I’ve never actually used a steam cleaner on the velvet chairs but a lot of people swear by it. There are mixed opinion on this online so it’s always best to check with your chair manufacturer first. The great thing about steam cleaners is that they can be used on all soft furnishing (curtains, sofas, carpets etc) and steam also kills dust mites which means they are great for allergy sufferers like me. I’ve added one to my wish list now.
5) CLOTHES BRUSH
This is not a necessity but brushing the chairs occasionally is apparently very good for velvet. It’s also a handy way to get the breadcrumbs/dirt off the chair. It’s better to use the soft side as some velvets (like silk) can be very delicate. Also, make sure you’re brushing it to the right direction where the velvet fibers are woven. If you do end up with a large wet stain, brushing the velvet will help you to restore the fibers after cleaning it.
6) BABY WIPES
A lot of people use baby wipes to clean smaller stains but I personally prefer a damp microfiber cloth. Both work just fine. Baby wipes are probably more convenient though.
7) HAIRDRYER
I bet you’re a bit sceptical about this one. Apparently larger spillages and deep cleans require a bit of heat and air. Water can leave nasty watermarks on the chairs which is why drying with a hairdryer afterwards is recommended. I’ve used the hairdryer method on our light grey sofa but never on the new chairs. I find that they dry fine on their own but you may need to do some extra work with lighter colours/bigger stains.
8) VELVET CLEANER
You could buy a cleaning solution for your velvet chairs or make your own with baking soda. Luckily I haven’t had the pleasure to resort to any cleaning solutions yet, so please do it at your own risk or try it on a smaller area first (at the bottom of the chair).
9) STICKY BRUSH
These are handy, especially if you have any pets or long haired ladies in the house. I have one but I don’t really use it. It’s too much hassle and I usually just stick with my damp microfiber cloth.
10) PROFESSIONAL CLEANERS
For bigger stains I would always hire a pro. It’s so much easier and hassle free and they really can do miracles. It’s probably not a bad idea to get them annually professionally cleaned (same with carpet and rugs).
I’m going to be 100% honest with you here and say that velvet is not a carefree material (if that’s what you’re after). It’s beautiful and luxe, but yes it’s also more work than leather or wood for example. I do find it easier to maintain than regular flat weave fabrics though. Our light grey couch shows stains and watermarks so easily. If you want a (more) low maintenance velvet stick to darker colours (blacks, dark greys, navy, greens etc) or go for ‘clever velvets’ that are made of synthetic materials. I find my new chairs so comfy that I don’t mind looking after them. They also aren’t as much work to maintain as people think. If you think I’m hoovering and dusting them daily you couldn’t be more wrong. I have two small children and I don’t have time for that. I only clean the chairs when I see a stain and hoover them once a week and that’s it. I do think going for darker colours makes a huge difference. I don’t know how long they’ll last but I’ve heard that good quality velvet (especially cotton) can look good for decades. Of course the chairs can be upholstered too but whether I still want velvet chairs after 10 years is a different story. Velvet dining chairs are not for everyone but I don’t think you should rule them out just because you have children.
What are your thoughts on velvet? Would you consider velvet chairs if you have children?
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