So, what is velvet? We put together this guide about this trending material and why you would want it in your home. Check it out below and you'll never have to ask “What is velvet?” again.

What Is Velvet?

What is velvet? Velvet is super sleek and super soft. It is a man-made fabric constructed of polyester, rayon, and silk. Traditional velvet was made from pure silk, which means it was even more supple and luxurious than the velvet we know today. The best part about velvet furniture and accent decor is how soft it is, making it ideal for pieces that will be close to the skin. Bonus: Because velvet looks as good as it feels, it is a multisensory fabric. All velvet everything? Yes, please.

Why Choose Velvet?

Aside from being soft and warm, velvet also has the ability to create depth and definition. Because velvet has a deeper pile than other fabrics, colors look more intense and richer on a velvet sofa compared to a cotton or linen sofa. The sheen in velvet also makes it reflect light instead of absorbing it, making velvet furniture great in dark rooms.

Velvet is a hearty fabric that can withstand years of use, making it a great choice for family room furniture. It does not pill, but it can get crush marks (more on that below). One con about velvet furniture is that it does tend to pick up a lot of pet hair. If you're worried about this, opt for furniture in a color that matches your cat or dog.

Pro Tip:

Cat owners, rejoice! Cats have a harder time getting their claws into velvet than into a fabric with a more obvious weave, like linen. You won't have to worry about leaving them alone with your velvet furniture.

Caring for Velvet

Aside from looking and feeling amazing, velvet is also an extremely durable fabric. If treated with proper care, velvet can last for years. In this way, it's similar to leather (and a good red wine) – it just keeps getting better with age. To care for velvet, use the handheld nozzle of a vacuum cleaner to clean up any crumbs or dirt. Use a damp towel to dab spills while they're still wet. If the liquid dries, consult the manufacturer to see what the next best plan of attack is.

How to Avoid Crush Marks

Getting crush marks on your velvet furniture may seem inevitable over time, but there are a few tricks you can use to avoid them.

• Rotate the cushions on a velvet sofa regularly to prevent pressure marks from forming where the cushions meet.
• Brush velvet furniture weekly with a velvet brush or a clothes brush.
• Don't let objects with hard edges rest on velvet furniture for a long time. A TV remote or book can leave a mark on the velvet if it stays in one spot for too long.
• Plump up velvet cushions and throw pillows often to keep them from wrinkling.

If you do see crush marks, first try to brush them out with a velvet brush. If that doesn't work, check the fabric tag to see if water-based cleaning solutions are OK to use. Then spray the crushed area with a little bit of water and gently brush it. Be careful where you place leather furniture, as rich-hued velvet can fade over time if it's left in direct sunlight.

Pro Tip:

Too much hassle to clean and care for velvet fabric? Look for crushed velvet pieces. Crushed velvet is made by scrunching and twisting velvet fabric before it dries. The result is an intentional, distressed look that adds a new dimension to velvet fabric by creating contours in the pile. Go all out with a sofa featuring crushed velvet upholstery or start simple with a couple throw pillows to add depth to your living room.

History of Velvet

Velvet was very expensive to produce in the past being made from silk, so it can still sometimes be associated with the finer things in life or royal families. With the invention of the modern industrial loom, velvet became a lot cheaper to produce, making it affordable (but still plush!) enough for everybody. Now velvet fabric is typically made with a combination of natural fibers like silk and semisynthetic fibers like rayon. However, it can also be made using mohair, wool, and cotton.

Types of Velvet

In addition to traditional velvet and crushed velvet, there are other types of velvet fabrics used to create velvet products like upholstery furniture. Check out these examples to sharpen your velvet expertise:

Pile-on-Pile Velvet

Pile-on-pile velvet is the velvet type commonly used for upholstery fabric. It's made with woven piles and the piles are made up of different densities and heights to create a desired look or pattern.

Panne Velvet

A kind of crushed velvet, panne velvet achieves its look when wet fabric gets pressed in a specific direction of the fabric's pile. The result is a much more subtle, crushed velvet look.

Plain Velvet

This type of velvet is made using cotton, making it less shiny but still soft and refreshing.

Embossed Velvet

Also commonly used as an upholstery fabric, embossed velvet is created by applying heated pressure to the fabric's woven pile.

Velveteen

Also called faux velvet, velveteen gives you the look of velvet without the price.

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