Luxe Velvet Furnishings for Fall
How to Incorporate Velvet into Your Home this Season
Soft, smooth and luxurious are all adjectives that come to mind when one thinks of velvet. And what better time to add some of that warmth to your home décor than during the upcoming Fall season. Today, we’re giving you five tips for implementing this rich fabric into your spaces.
DECIDE WHAT COLOR STORY YOU WANT TO CONVEY
One of my favorite things about velvet is that it is available in virtually any shade of the rainbow and because the cut pile reflects so much light, every color appears deeply saturated and rich. Even neutral colors can be used to express a mood. Want a room that’s subtly luxurious? Use light tones like taupe, ivory, gray, or beige in your pillows and accent pieces like ottomans or benches. If bold and bright Is the language of your home, velvets in vivid colors like tangerine, sunflower yellow or aqua are a fun way to showcase a happy home personality.
THINK ABOUT YOUR CLIMATE
Of course you can incorporate velvet into your décor no matter where you live BUT it’s important to take into account the climate in which you’ve chosen to settle down. Because velvet exudes warmth, it needs to be applied in the right way. For example, if you live in New Orleans where the summers are hot and sultry, it may not be comfortable to have a velvet upholstered armchair as your go to piece to sink into at the end of a long day. Instead of feeling cool and comfortable, you’d just feel too warm and sticky. We recommend using a cotton or linen chair which tends to feel cooler against the skin with a velvet throw pillow to add that luxe touch. Or add a velvet ottoman to rest those weary feet after the workday.
DON’T OVERDO IT
It’s human nature to touch/pet anything as lush as velvet and while it’s easy to get caught up in wanting everything in the room to be soft and luxurious, it’s important to use this fabric with intention. There’s nothing wrong with making a statement in your living room by using a blush colored velvet sofa. However, let that gorgeous beast of a sofa be the star of the show and allow the rest of your furnishings and accessories to be the supporting cast. Use a variety of other textures like leather ottomans and shiny metal side tables to be the underpinnings for the main character. Everything is important but it’s best to leave one piece as the focal point.
NOT ALL VELVETS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Make sure you know what kind of velvet fabric you are using. There are a variety of fibers such as silk, cotton, mohair and synthetic blends that not only change the price point but give the fabrics a variety of characteristics. Some are easy to clean, others you should really only admire from afar (just kidding…but kind of not kidding). Others are meant to be indoor-outdoor fabrics and there are topical treatments out there for those that want the ultimate protection. Just make sure you do your research to determine if it’s the right treatment for your fabric and your lifestyle. There are environmentally friendly options out there but sometimes they are a bit harder to find. And ALWAYS test an inconspicuous spot first.
RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN
You live in your home, we don’t. So THE most important takeaway is if you disagree with any of the suggestions laid out above, ignore them. Just do you.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY
If you need help incorporating any of the above suggestions into your home, feel free to either reach out via email, phone or schedule a consultation (here). We offer virtual interior design services as well as full service design and can help you plan your home’s fall transformation.
