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The Soho Home guide to velvet

We use velvet in our Houses because it's durable and tactile, and also a great material for creating a statement. Its deep pile enhances the depth of colour, adding a rich, vibrant quality to any interiors.

Selecting the right velvet fabric

The Martindale rub count is a great test to determine which fabric is best for a particular area. It allows you to see how many times a material can withstand wear and tear before showing a change in appearance - the higher the score, the more durable the fabric.

We use cotton velvet fabrics for the majority of our Soho Home designs. Expertly crafted in the UK, our velvets are naturally soft for comfort with a durable 40,000 rub count, making them ideal for busy homes. Our Belsa bed is the only style that comes in moleskin velvet. With a durable 30,000 rub count, it's easy to clean, less likely to bruise and resistant to stains.

Bed with blue headboard adorned with pillows and beige blanket, framed by nightstands and lamps, under a large abstract painting. Positioned between two tall windows and beside a marble fireplace in a bright, elegant room.

Colour, your way

Take your pick from our extensive made-to-order velvet colour palette in warm and cool shades, inspired by our Houses around the world.

Order complimentary swatches
Rust-colored fabric displaying a smooth, velvety texture, covering the entire frame uniformly.

Rust

A flat expanse of dark gray asphalt, devoid of any markings or objects, with slightly varying textures and light reflections suggesting minor surface inconsistencies.

Grey blue

Brown textured surface, resembling a smooth concrete floor, spread evenly across the image with no distinct features or objects present.

Camel

Dark brown, textured surface with a pattern resembling marbling. There are no discernible objects, actions, or text. The overall appearance is uniform and consistent.

Chocolate brown

A smooth-textured, olive-green carpet spans the entire frame with no visible objects or variations, suggesting a calm, uniformly lit indoor setting.

Lichen

A solid, dark blue surface without any distinct features or additional elements. The color is consistent throughout, with no variations or text present.

Royal blue

A smooth, uniform, light beige surface with subtle texture variations, resembling plain paper or a wall.

Porcelain

A dark brown, uniformly textured surface with no distinct objects, actions, or detailed context present.

Olive

A smooth, dark brown surface extends across the entire frame, possibly a fabric or a textured material, with no distinguishable features or objects on it.

Taupe

A plain, consistent reddish-brown surface devoid of any distinct patterns or objects. The texture appears smooth and uniform, covering the entire visible area.

Antique rose

Soft, textured brown surface extends uniformly, evoking a sense of warmth and earthiness in an indoor environment.

Mustard

Our velvet range

Personalise your home even further with our made-to-order velvet furniture across sofas and beds, as well as House favourite designs including our Garrett and Theodore armchairs. You can also find our fabrics on stocked products below, available for delivery in under two weeks.

Shop our made to order range
Several elegant armchairs with dark green cushions and wooden frames accented by brass details are arranged in a spacious room with wooden flooring and white walls.
Circular, plush brown chairs are positioned on a light wooden parquet floor with a herringbone pattern. The chairs are tufted, creating segmented, cushion-like aesthetics, and are spaced symmetrically.

Shop our selection of stocked velvet furniture

What to expect from velvet fabric

As velvet has a short pile with dense fibres that raise over the surface, it has the ability to capture light, which causes the colour to change at various angles. We recommend ordering a few different swatches and testing them out in different kinds of light before you buy.

You should also consider that pressure marks are common and usually recover after brushing, however some may never fully disappear. This is one of the charming characteristics of velvet and should be considered an enhancement.

How to care for your velvet

To prolong the life of velvet, use a soft, dry brush and sweep in the direction of the fabric pile to remove any surface dirt, then vacuum to eradicate dust. When a spill occurs, gently blot the area with a clean, dry cloth and avoid rubbing. We recommend having upholstery professionally cleaned to ensure that it's treated correctly and the colour remains intact. Keep away from heat and direct sunlight to avoid bleaching.

Soho Home upholstered products made in the UK and US conform to all standards for domestic fire retardancy, with our made-to-order fabrics crafted using a minimum of 75% natural fibres.

How to style your velvet furniture

Soho Home Interior Style Manager Candy Murray often uses velvet as a key fabric when working with members through our design service, as well as contributing to the aesthetic of House spaces. Here, Murray shares her ideas on how to choose and style velvet in your home.

Create a mood board

'To help you choose the colour of your upholstery, it's always best to look at the whole palette of the room on a small scale. Order some of your favourite fabric swatches, paint swatches, a sample of your chosen flooring, and create a board. It helps you to see your colour scheme and materials together, and ensure that everything works.'

Various fabric swatches, color palettes, tiles, and a decorative dish rest on a marble tabletop, arranged for an interior design project.
A green cushioned sofa with a wooden frame sits indoors on a light-colored tiled floor, adjacent to a wooden coffee table with a marble top.

Collect inspiration sources

'Pull together all of the interior design images that you love and see if a pattern emerges. If there's something you're drawn to you, plan an overarching concept and work your furniture choices into that. I like to go for a neutral shell and then add colour through the furnishings, or go for a bold look and match the sofa to the wall colour.'

Mix fabrics

'Don't feel like you have to stick to one type of fabric in a scheme. We like to mix materials in our Houses, so you'll often see linen next to velvet ­- it creates depth. If you ensure the colours work together you can be quite playful with textures.'

Discover our swatches in our Studios

Soho Farmhouse Studio, UK

 A wooden table with books and chairs sits on a rug in a luxurious room featuring a grand double staircase, large artwork, lush plants, and elegant seating.

King's Road Studio, London

DUMBO Studio, NYC

 A cozy, modern showroom displays furniture, including sofas, lamps, and tables, with large glass windows revealing an outdoor patio and street view, adorned with plants and stylish decor elements.

Westbourne Grove Studio, London

 A large living room features a mustard-yellow velvet couch with patterned cushions, surrounded by modern decor, artwork, plants, wooden furniture, and hanging light fixtures under a vaulted, white ceiling.

Melrose Avenue Studio, LA

Chicago Studio

Austin Studio