Why Material Matters in Home Decor, Part 1: Velvet
Designer: Leigh Ann Hardie
Something all luxury homes have in common is the incorporation of high-quality fabrics into their design: natural linens, crisp cottons, merino wools, delicate silks, or soft velvets. A thoughtfully selected velvet, in particular, combines luxurious quality with functionality when added to your upholstery and window drapery.
In this ongoing fabric series, we’ll take a closer look at the materials we use throughout the home, why each one matters, and how to thoughtfully incorporate them into everything from upholstery to custom drapery.
We’re starting with one of our favorites: velvet.
Velvet upholstery can elevate the design of any space and bring long-lasting quality to furniture and drapery. Today, we’re breaking down the different types of velvet, the techniques that give each its distinctive character, and how to choose the right one for upholstery and drapery throughout your home.
What is Velvet Fabric?
Velvet is a type of closely woven fabric that is typically made from silk, cotton, or synthetic fibers. It has a short, dense, and even pile that gives it its renowned soft, luxurious feel. There are many kinds of velvet used today that have been created for different purposes and budgets. Its applications span from decorative accent pillows to grand window treatments.
While velvet is recognized by its signature soft pile, not all velvets look, feel, or perform the same. One of the biggest differences comes down to fiber content, which influences everything from sheen and softness to durability and everyday use.
The Types of Velvet
Silk Velvet
Pure silk fabric is a high-budget, luxurious fabric. It requires more care than other velvet options but is also typically much softer and more lustrous. Many silk velvets are offered as a blend with other fibers, such as cotton and linen.
Cotton Velvet
Compared to pure silk velvet, cotton velvet is a little more durable with a little less luster. The velvet is still a beautiful, soft fabric and is ideal for pillows, accents, and trims. As with silk fabrics, cotton blends increase the velvet’s durability and longevity.
Performance Velvet
Velvet production has evolved to meet functional needs and now offers performance fabrics. This kind of velvet fabric is made of synthetic fibers and is best used in very high-traffic areas or in high-use furnishings. These are a popular option for families with young children and those looking for stain-resistant options that won’t compromise a space’s design.
The Techniques of Velvet
Beyond fiber content, velvet can also be woven and finished in different ways to create distinctive textures, patterns, and levels of sheen. From the dimensional look of crushed velvet to the intricate patterns of ciselé, these techniques give the fabric its unique character and offer even more ways to incorporate velvet into a space.
Crushed Velvet
Crushed velvet, as the name suggests, has a crushed appearance that adds dynamic texture. This velvet works great in cushions and throw pillows, as well as window treatments for living rooms and upholstery for sofas in sitting rooms.
Embossed Velvet
If you want a patterned design, embossed velvet is a refined way to accomplish it. Embossed velvet is perfect for pattern mixing and pairs well with bold decor decisions in a space. This velvet option can help add subtle texture and warmth to a dining room in the fall and winter seasons.
Ciselé Velvet
For statement pieces, ciselé velvet is the go-to. Ciselé velvet has raised patterns, formed by cut pile, that add interest to a design, especially to those with a lot of neutrals. Common patterns are florals and geometrics.
Hammered Velvet
Similar to crushed velvet, hammered velvet adds texture to the classic velvet fabric. Light catches on its patterns, creating the illusion of spots. As light moves across the fabric, its subtle variations become more pronounced, making it a beautiful choice for upholstery, accent chairs, pillows, and drapery.
How to Pick the Best Velvet for Your Upholstery
With so many combinations of fiber, texture, and finish available, selecting a velvet is about more than choosing the one that catches your eye. Where the fabric will be used, how often it will be touched, and the role you want it to play within the room can all help narrow the options.
For a hardworking sofa: Performance velvet
For a tailored accent chair: Cotton velvet
For luxurious drapery: Silk velvet
For a statement piece: Embossed or ciselé velvet
For movement and sheen: Crushed or hammered velvet
Of course, these aren’t hard-and-fast rules. The right specification depends on the individual fabric, its performance rating, and the needs of the space. This is where working with a fabric specialist can be especially helpful.
In our Franklin showroom, we have a curated selection of high-quality velvet options and offer guidance for specific interior design projects that want to integrate velvet intentionally. Once the right velvet is selected, how and where it’s used can bring an entirely new layer of depth, softness, and character to a room.
Velvet Upholstery for Chairs and Pillows
Velvet is especially beautiful on upholstered pieces, where its soft pile brings depth and richness to a room. From a tailored accent chair to a generously sized sofa or a pair of custom pillows, the right velvet can introduce color, texture, and a sense of luxury at almost any scale.
For an accent chair, cotton velvet offers a soft, substantial feel that works beautifully alongside pattern, whether paired with a bold wallpaper or layered into a more collected interior. Crushed and hammered velvets bring even more movement and dimension, making them especially striking on decorative pillows or smaller statement pieces.
For hardworking furniture like sofas and sectionals, performance velvet is often a practical choice. Its durability and easier-care qualities make it well-suited to frequently used spaces while still offering the softness and elevated appearance we love about velvet. For rooms with significant natural light, we recommend checking the specific fabric’s lightfastness rating to select an option suited to the space.
Designer: EH Interiors
Velvet Window Drapery for Bedrooms and Living Rooms
Another popular use of luxurious velvet fabric is in custom window treatments. A silk velvet creates beautiful draperies in large spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and sitting rooms. Hammered velvet draperies in classic neutral colors are great for oversized windows that are a natural dramatic focal point in a living room. Similarly, crushed velvet layered over sheer drapery for arched windows contributes to their impact in a living room.
In bedrooms, luxury velvet fabrics with rich colors can be used as trims in Roman shades for a design that wants to avoid the heavier effect of velvet draperies in deep colors that work best in living rooms. The velvet trim in window treatments can be paired with custom throw pillows in the same velvet fabric.
Elevate Your Interiors with Custom Velvet Upholstery and Drapery
Velvet adds refined elegance to a home’s furniture and window treatments. Velvet upholstery can transform a simple chair into a statement piece, and a velvet window treatment can expand upon a room’s luxury interior design. Custom velvet window treatments can be created to fit any aesthetic, from rustic French country to timeless traditional design
Here at Brave Maggie Designs, we select high-quality fabric to transform a home’s interior design in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood. We partner with designers and homeowners to create custom draperies, wallpaper, and upholstery suitable for luxury interiors. Our commitment to excellence ensures that each piece reflects your vision.
Ready to elevate your Nashville home with luxurious velvet? We'll help you understand which pillows work best in your space and which fabrics work best. Schedule your visit to our showroom and let's bring your project’s vision to life.