Velvet Care Guide

Beautifully soft and sumptuous, it’s easy to see why velvet is a popular choice for interiors and upholstery. Read our guide to choosing and caring for this luxurious material.

There are many different types of velvet that each have their own qualities and levels of durability. The most common velvets used in the home are cotton velvets. These are beautifully soft to the touch and produce wonderfully rich colours. They are more hardwearing than traditional silk velvets and are often used for decorative accents such as cushions or throws.

Cotton is also commonly blended with other fibres such as polyester to make an even more durable velvet. These kinds of velvets are perfect for upholstery on larger items of furniture such as accent chairs, headboards or sofas.

If you’re looking for a velvet that will experience a lot of use, we recommend choosing a velvet made from 100% polyester. These are durable and easy to clean – some can even go in the washing machine – yet they retain the characteristically soft feel of velvet. Because their piles tend to be shorter, you are less likely to see the ‘crushing’ or ‘bruising’ of velvet over time.

Velvet is a great choice for sofa upholstery – its richness of colour and soft texture make it undeniably stylish. It’s important, however, to choose a velvet that will suit your needs.

If your sofa only sees occasional use, you can opt for cotton or cotton blend velvets that are durable but have a lustrous pile as well.

If you are considering investing in a family corner unit that will see a lot of use, for example, we recommend choosing a 100% polyester velvet. These still retain the soft feel of velvet but tend to be more resistant to stains and spills. The delicate fibres are also less likely to become crushed or displaced over time.

Our sofas are available in a wide range of velvet fabrics, each with their own characteristics and colours. We make sure to only stock velvets that will stand the test of time.

Materials are given a Martindale Rub Count, which measures how many times a materials can be rubbed against a standard abrasive surface before it wears through. This simulates the natural wear of a seat cover - the higher the number, the longer the fabric will last.

Martindale Rub Count: 50,000

Varese velvet is a hallmark fabric made from 100% cotton. It is beautifully soft and supple and its short pile gives it a matte finish. Available in a number of rich colours, it is a versatile choice for upholstery and brushing it back and forth won’t affect its finish.

Available on the Tailor, Snooze, Pillow, Cumulus, Mistral, Wallis, and Eton.

Martindale Rub Count: 60,000

Our smart velvet is made from 100% polyester making it water and stain resistant as well as incredibly hardwearing. It has a luxuriously soft feel that is unlikely to bruise or mark over time, even with plenty of use. When brushed back and forth, its finish darkens and lightens thanks to the suppleness of the pile.

Available on the Richmond, Snooze, Balmoral, Pillow and Eton. 

Martindale Rub Count: 65,000

Our Nobilis velvet is also made from 100% cotton with a short pile that gives it a matte finish. While not as strokeably soft as the other velvets, it is slightly more durable and its short pile means it won’t bruise or mark over time.

Available on the Matera sofa.

Martindale Rub Count: 100,000

The Heal’s velvet is made from 100% cotton and is our most durable velvet. It subtly glints as it catches the light and it is a suitable for heavy domestic use. It is available in a number of jewel like colours that maintains its matte finish when brushed back and forth. Because it is made from entirely from cotton, the fabric will develop a subtle patina over time, adding character to your sofa.

Available on the Hampstead, Torino, Tailor, Richmond, Snooze, Balmoral, Pillow, Ravello, Nimbus, Cumulus, Mistral, Wallis, Eton, and Oscar.

To get the most out of your velvet sofa or accessories, we recommend incorporating it into your cleaning routine. We suggest gently vacuuming with a special upholstery attachment or using a soft hand brush once a week. This will remove any dust or fuzz that has formed on the surface of the fabric and prevent displacement of the pile over time. If you don’t have an attachment, place a pair of tights over the nozzle – this will work just as well. When vacuuming or brushing, make sure you are doing so in the direction of the pile.

If you spill something on your velvet sofa or cushion, DO NOT attempt to clean it with water or rub it with a cloth. Liquids can stain velvet easily and rubbing may force the spill deeper into the fibres. Simply blot the surface with a dry, highly absorbent cloth, taking care to avoid rubbing or putting pressure on the fabric.

Once you’ve blotted the surface, simply air dry the fabric or use a hairdryer without heat at a safe distance to lightly dry the area.

If your spill is more severe, we recommend taking the fabric to a dry cleaner. Research a dry cleaner with expert knowledge of velvet to ensure it is returned in its best condition.

Over time, a velvet’s pile is likely to move and experience wear due to its delicate weave. If possible, you can try using a steamer on the reverse side to fluff up the fibres. Then gently brush in the direction of the pile.