Velvet Sofas?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi,

We're in the process of choosing 2 sofas and an armchair for our living room, I've fallen in love with the idea of dark grey velvet for the sofas with the armchair in an (undecided!) accent colour. I'm just wondering how practical velvet would be??! I'd love some feedback if anyone has any opinions? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

aiexandrina
7 years ago
We used to have a suite in Draylon velvet which was lovely as well as very comfortable, the cushions didn't slide off and that fabric survived Vanish spray for cleaning periodically - not necessarily frequently though. Careful choice of colour would help this.
Ellie D
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Aiexandrina, great to get feedback!
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I wish someone would post on here, because I have the same problem! I have two really pretty velvet-ish burgundy sofas that look beautiful on their own, but I'm having a hell of a time designing a contemporary-looking room around it. I feel like maroon tends to quickly move toward a 90s discount furniture showroom look despite the fact that it's pretty on its own. Plus, I also have the dark room factor (north-facing room in a small, run-of-the-mill townhome) and not a whole lot of space to work with. Ugg. Anyway, I've been reading up like crazy, so I'll just post my ideas and maybe they'll help you. I want to paint a warmish medium gray on the walls (like Benjamin Moore Reverie Pewter or Feather Gray) and incorporate a strong accent color or two on the wall art and throw pillows (coral, yellow, or bright teal are favorites). As for paint, dark rooms need mid-tones (so I've read), because light colors will feel nonexistent and super dark colors will feel, well, super dark. If your room is dark, it might be worth it to try some Jedi mind tricks with your trim too. I have a chair rail and crown moulding, but I'm thinking of doing wainscoting beneath the chair rail and extending the crown moulding by placing a thin piece of trim about six inches below the moulding and painting the whole thing white. Then gray goes between the chair rail and that bottom crown moulding. I've liked the pictures I've seen with this done in small spaces. (I forget where this attached picture came from, but it shows how the wainscoting can be useful in a small room.) My end and coffee table right now are just black, second-hand placeholders, but I'm going to look for an affordable tufted ottoman and some lighter, more organic end tables. Wicker baskets have seemed to help make the room feel more updated too. So now with that paint scheme, I'm thinking throw pillows in gray and very light linen ikat (which is very chic but still homey), chevron, pale gray zebra, and other contemporary patterns. I found a great throw pillow that had kind of a native American cross stitch in coral and gray tones against a linen background, so I think that would go with the couch. I'm a graphic designer, so I'm going to throw in some subway art and other typographic pieces to modern-up the joint. Also I'm putting a large mirror either on the wall adjacent to the windows or propped in the corner at an angle. If you get a nice one it can look deliberate enough go with the rest of the room. Or, if you're down with slip covers, you can always do that and then paint the walls however the hell you want. A lot of places have them, and upholstery shops can make you a custom one that won't look as sloppy as some of the off-the-rack ones. Good luck, and please comment back if you made any progress on your room :-)
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Is the chandelier thing seeming a bit small for the room or is it just me? Given that your walls are plain, the sofa is plain how about a patterned rug? Do you like Persian rugs? I find that dark green wainscotting too heavy and would paint it a lighter color. Given you have just moved in I assume you are planning to be there a while. If you like traditional style do you want a fairly safe color scheme re walls and curtains, keeping future resale in mind. Or are u happy to decorate according to your tastes? The mirror seems a bit small to me.
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Hello aoifej, Firstly that is a good sized room... The fireplace is very interesting indeed! It is the main focus and so perhaps you want to consider painting it a darker shade still. The base a very dark shade of charcoal so it is separate and looks like a base stand....... Put a fabulous mirror over it... Something simple in design and squared or full circle like a convex. The red and wood box shelving, don't discard but consider painting it and then you could, if you have enough create a screen/divider for floor area arranged with gaps so it's not solid. Or mount in an interesting configuration on the walls for storage, and painted to match the walls... This then gives you something textured on the walls... that is somewhat bolder and would sit well with the fireplace which is really fantastic.. The sofa is the wrong period style for this room really as it's not old enough or rustic..for french style.. Also the french doors are very modern, so the room takes on a far more modern feel... So you will find it hard to make it sit right such as it is..... It would be best to place it to face the fireplace and leave the french doors free.... You want to be able to have them open so you can easily walk outside... So try situating it in the bay window but not too far in... You may like to have a console table behind the sofa in the window with a table lamp... To take the ornate feel of the sofa away and to make it blend more... Try a sheet over the entire sofa... Then add a throw over the back and both arms... Something you could layer perhaps to disguise it's design more... I think then it will sit better in the room... You then at least can use the sofa, whilst you work out what to do as a sheet will protect it, should you wish to sell it... but I think if you keep it, as it is you will struggle, so re-upholster would be my suggestion.. So have it upholstered in a dark plain fabric and a colour to blend with the wooden frame, charcoal or something dark like mole, earthy tones........ This too then makes it really solid rather than ornate... It will help to blend it into the room and allow you to coordinate furniture to go with it.. Old and new can sit well together if you know how and what to do to make it work..... So some ideas for you to consider if you modify the sofa accordingly.... With a bit of artistic licence as I have used the fireplace as a focus twice and brought the garden in.. simply to cover your sofa, so I could add a similar one in a darker colour to show you what I mean.. I have added a whole array of styles to illustrate how you can integrate many styles to create something interesting.. In reality you will have far more space... as you won't be looking at duplicates! It's done very quickly merely to offer you some ideas as to how to work with what you have, rather than start again! Good design is about working with rather than against what someone has... ... NB: The hare pictured is merely for styling purposes as I like to use it.... BUT I would always recommend natural expiration or accidental expiration for taxidermy as opposed to acquiring by any other less humane means! . : ))
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Hi Tatiana. As you haven't got an ideabook it would be great to have some idea on what styles and colours you like. The room looks lovely and bright, which way does it face? As the wardrobes are quite dominant I would go for something masculine in look but with feminine touches like the lamps, flowers, cushions, velvet, silk etc. so something along the lines of what I've pictured. If there isn't room for a sofa at the end of the bed I'd opt for a bed end stool. If you're not keen on 4 posters (although I might choose a simpler one) I'd consider a dark velvet bed with a feature ŵall or an oversized headboard. I'd also hang the curtain pole higher.
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noellec2005
7 years ago
Hi there, we have dark grey velvet John sankey sofas, we have them five years and they have stood up to family life (two boys a dog and two cats, (dog not allowed on sofas!!))really well I get them professionally cleaned every year or two, the seat cushions on these are reversible which helps! I change the throw cushions to change the look every so often, only down side is dark furniture does take a lot of light, from a room,Hope this helps, Noelle
Ellie D
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Noelle your sofas and room are gorgeous! I just love velvet....We're getting sofas made but the velvet is turning out to be expensive so I'm thinking of going dark grey in a 'regular' fabric (also have 2 kids and a dog!) and then doing 2 wingbacks in velvet....so hard to decide! That's interesting about the dark furniture / light, I want to keep the sofas fairly neutral so I can change the cushions etc too as the seasons change.....

Velvet Sofas?

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aiexandrina

Ellie D
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Velvet Sofas?

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aiexandrina

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