Decorating Using Velvet

Care Considerations

• Due to the cleaning challenges it can present, velvet made from silk is best suited to environments where you can protect it from excessive wear, soiling and stains. Whether it's made from silk, cotton or synthetic materials, velvet furniture and drapes may require professional cleaning. If you have pets, keeping them off of velvet furniture can reduce soiling and the risk of damage. A pet-friendly suggestion that could help to save a velvet couch: put a piece of velvet in the dog's bed, suggests Apartment Therapy.

Velvet Decorating Effects

• Used sparingly, velvet furniture brings opulence to a decorating scheme. A velvet armchair, a classic or cutting-edge velvet couch, a plush chaise lounge in the bedroom reminiscent of classic Hollywood movies -- a single piece of velvet furniture adds a rich feel to a room. Pairing velvet drapes with matching accent cushions instantly softens a room, and velvet drapes can improve a room's acoustics. Their sound-dampening properties and lush draping make them popular with theaters, and they may help reduce exterior noise. Red, maroon, midnight-blue, black and dark green and brown are classic velvet furniture colors. You can find velvet furniture and accessories in other colors, including unexpected neon pink, lime, turquoise or peach.

Velvet Decorating Ideas

• Pairing velvet with contrasting materials creates an updated effect. For example, add a velvet comforter to the bed with velvet pillow shams and a velvet accent cushion on a bedroom chair. Center a chrome vase on the dresser and chrome lamps on each nightstand. Display photos in chrome frames and stereo equipment on open wood and chrome shelves. Combining shiny silver with the rich velvet nap creates a contemporary effect, helping to avoid a dated bachelor pad or bordello look -- one of the risks of using velvet in the bedroom.

Velvet Decorating Tips

• Velvet would make an impractical choice for major items of furniture in a household with small children, pets that climb furniture or household members prone to spilling food and beverages on furniture. Cotton velveteen offers a similar texture to velvet and is more durable and easier to clean. Use a butter knife or the edge of a spatula to carefully scrape a food spill off of velvet. This helps get the residue off of the fabric without pushing it deeper into the velvet nap. Avoid rubbing a spill on velvet as this drives the stain deeper into the fibers. Gently blot up liquid spills.