Why Don't You

Velvet Upholstery

There’s some sort of spring situation happening with our sofa that needs repair. It might be that our couch is just too good at being a trampoline substitute (how can I tell the girls no when I don’t give them a backyard to play in?!). Those springs have taken years of play from my girlies,…

There’s some sort of spring situation happening with our sofa that needs repair. It might be that our couch is just too good at being a trampoline substitute (how can I tell the girls no when I don’t give them a backyard to play in?!). Those springs have taken years of play from my girlies, so I won’t blame one or two of them for surrendering.

I haven’t talked to my upholsterer yet about the fix, but I’m secretly hoping it will be an excuse to change out the fabric. The Sunbrella velvet has been really amazing these past two years or so. Stains wipe up really well. And the fabric is soft and super comfortable. But I’m ready for a change again. (what’s new)
I’m sold on the idea of choosing velvet again. It’s just so soft, and if a rogue juice sippy makes it over to the living room and spills on the couch, the liquid just sort of beads up on top for about 30 seconds before starting to soak in. I call it the golden window of opportunity. Cotton and linen velvets are awesomely kid-friendly.
I’ve let myself get excited by the idea of almost every color velvet under the rainbow. You know, I can honestly say there isn’t a color I don’t love or wouldn’t ever use in a room in some way. After some serious thought yesterday I’ve nailed down the color options to:
Rusty peachy orange (technical term)
Miles Redd
Pinky coral (though not this pink. The sample I have is a little more orange.)
Charcoal. Pretty neutral and hides a multitude of stains.
MSL
Mint. (the obsession continues!)
Kelly green (my easy console DIY convinced me that green is a good choice for that room! I have new plans for the tv anyway. Ch-ch-ch-changes!)
Palmer Weiss
Which color is your favorite?
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100 thoughts on “Velvet Upholstery

  1. Our sofa is upholstered in velvet and it has really stood the test of time, 3 children, one dog and it still looks good. I think velvet ages like fine wine. It gets better.
    pve

  2. oooh i love velvet – especially on a sofa and done in colour. i like all of the colours you posted – i'm sure whatever you choose will look great.

    (btw am also planning to get an english roll arm upholstered in velvet when i'm home from india and redecorating..i also plan to go for colour instead of a neutral – good to see someone else 'going for it'!)

  3. I love velvet. It's such a shame that my husband cannot stand the texture of it, else every seat in my living room would be upholstered in it!

  4. I have a gray tufted couch from Arhaus and I love it, especially in the winter, its a great couch for scrunching up on and getting cozy in front of the fire and you're right it hides everything! I love all your color choices but Miles Redd's couch sorta wins for me but its probably because Miles Redd designed the room!! (:

  5. I am such a safety girl when it comes to big upholstery– I say go with charcoal. But maybe the emerald… I feel like it acts as a popping neutral. I just can't get behind mint or rusty-orangey-pink:-)

  6. I have had a emerald green velvet sofa for almost 30 years – still great – and I have never tired of it. Justlike grass I think it is a neutral that works with every color.

  7. Oh my, I just love large velvet pieces! I think my favorite out of these is that charcoal guy – definitely good at hiding the stains and would make such a beautiful large piece!

  8. I have to admit I've never thought of velvet for my sofa, but I'm loving the idea. Our living room sofa needs to be recovered…I may just jump on this idea-thanks!
    Loving the mint green and charcoal.

  9. i LOVE kelley green!!! i have been looking for a kid friendly one for our couch too – please let me know what you find! Does sunbrella make a kelley green velevet??
    Your use of color is inspirational!!! i am a dedicated neautral user – 'safe' decorator and i LOVE what you do to make rooms feel 'happy' and fresh but not juvenile. INCREDIBLE!

  10. i feel you regarding wanting a change. i got married and moved into a new apartment last year. we bought brand new sofa. new chairs. new rug. etc.

    now we're moving to nyc and i want ALL NEW EVERYTHING. its awful.

    but i really hate the sofa. have hated it since the moment it was delivered. sigh.

  11. I like the rusty orange (neutral with a twist) or the charcoal, cant go wrong with that, throw on a few hermes scarf pillows and
    boo-yah!

  12. I love velvet. My grandmother gave me two of her chairs after she passed that were gold velvet. Sadly they were in bad shape and I reupholstered in another fabric choice. However the rusty peachy orange is my favorite !!! Can't wait to see what you choose.

  13. I love, love, love velvet. Just did a chair in black velvet. I would vote for rusty or charcoal. Mostly because I have two rusty velvet Brno chairs and my sofa is charcoal, though not velvet.
    Can't wait to see yours.

  14. I love all of your options! I have a charcoal gray velvet sofa and love it. The rusty orange would be a cool choice, I'd love to see it. I also like the idea of emerald green. So pretty!

    Charlotte
    Collect5.blogspot.com

  15. I'm to chicken to go for anything but the charcoal. But, like someone else said, you'll probably end up changing it in a few years, so go for what you love…mint!

  16. My camelback sofa was once pink, now its upholstered in velvet taupe. It's fun because the look is changed with pillows throughout the year. I love the blue and green velvet.

  17. That Kelly green is gorgeous and the charcoal has appeal,I am not so fond of the mint….
    I am sure you'll find the right color.

    Happy New Year!
    V.

  18. I can't choose just one. They are all gorg and current color obsessions of mine as well.

    Please choose velvet again, though! My long-time-love-affair with velvet hasn't weakened at all, but unfortunately my fiance can't stand it. That's the one off-limit fabric. And after a few tears were shed (I joke..) I came to terms with the fact that I love him more than the fabric. So I suppose I'll be living vicariously through you :)

    Live Inspired,
    Heidi
    athousandlaughingstarfish.blogspot.com

  19. Of course the charcoal is my favorite. I like to switch up colors and pillows so I like a nice base color. I got our sofa from best slipcover company. It's a slipcover but looks completely tailored and the best part is it's all machine washable. I love it! I see you with something bolder though. Emerald Green is my favorite color right now too!

  20. No joke I spent half the day yesterday scouring Etsy and the web for apricot velvet fabric which you have eloquently described as Rusty peachy orange. I think it is warm and would work in every season. The charcoal would seem too heavy when Spring arrives. You can use the charcoal in the pillows!

  21. I'm in the middle of reupholstering 4 Parsons dining chairs, including the legs, in a gorgeous charcoal Robert Allen velvet. I'm in love with it. I repainted my dining room Sherwin Williams Creamy and Raisin (a beautiful dark purple with some black and chocolate hues) with a white chair rail. The charcoal color looks great with it, but it's also nice to have a neutral that will still work the next time I decide to repaint!

  22. Question for Jenny or any of her readers: Just any upholstery velvet? pvedesign believes velvet ages like fine wine–is this all upholstery velvet? Is the Sunbrella velvet as good as others?

    signed,
    desperately seeking velvet.

  23. I think you have solved a huge dilemma for me, thank you Jenny! I have been bitten by the velvet upholstery bug! (Although I am still torn between kelly green and charcoal…

  24. I love velvet! I have a sad sofa waiting patiently to be reupholstered. A warm velvet would go nicely with the cold leather sofa in the same room.

    I can't find a source – online or retail store – for the Sunbrella velvet. JoAnn's and Calico carry their regular outdoor fabric, but I haven't found the velvet. Where have you found it?

  25. oooo so gorgeously soft and comfy. I love velvet sofas, they take me back to my childhood. I like one in blue one day…when we stop moving house!

    Charcoal is great and you can then accessorize with the colors you wish but if you're ready to make a statement go for a bright color.

  26. love that rusty orange. any idea how Sunbrella velvet (or velvet in general) handles abuse by housecats (i.e. scratching)?

  27. I like the charcoal or the green.

    Velvet is such a great fabric for a sofa. My sofa is currently being reupholstered in a chocolate brown {which I'm hoping will hide more than the blue velvet it used to be upholstered in}.

  28. I say the gray. You like to switch stuff out so often, you might get sick of the others too quickly. Or the green. I do love the green.

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