Velvet Cushions

How velvet cushions take the light

Velvet has a pile, a dense layer of short fibres standing up from its backing. Seen with the pile, the fibres lie flat and reflect light, so the surface looks paler and glossier; seen against it, the cut ends soak light up and the same cover reads noticeably deeper. That is why a velvet cushion seems to shift as you cross the room, and why its colour is best judged as a span of tones.

Stroke the front downwards to find the direction: smooth means the pile runs down and shows the lighter face, slightly rough means it runs up and shows the richer one. Turn a matching pair the same way up. The sheen also exaggerates shape, so a thin or tired pad shows every hollow, and a flat-looking velvet cushion often needs a plumper pad rather than a replacement cover.

Choosing between polyester and cotton velvet cushions

Most of our velvet cushions are polyester, many have cotton in their make-up, and a few mix velvet with faux fur or linen. Polyester pile tends to spring back after being leaned on, hold its colour in bright sun better than natural fibres and cope well with spot-cleaning, and its brighter sheen suits jewel colours such as green, blue and gold.

Cotton velvet feels drier and looks more matt, like the velvet on older upholstery. It shows pressure marks sooner and fades faster in a sunny window, so it suits a bed or a chair that sees lighter use. For a cushion facing strong light or daily leaning, check the material details on its product page first.

Velvet cushion colours for the light in your room

Because velvet absorbs light as well as reflecting it, the room around a cushion changes its colour more than it would a flat cotton. In a cool north-facing room a dark green or dark blue velvet can sink almost to black, while a mid-tone pink, gold or orange keeps its life; a bright south-facing room lets the deeper shades glow.

Lamplight matters as much, since evenings are when a sofa earns its keep: warm bulbs flatter earthy oranges and reds and give gold velvet a soft glow, but dull a cool blue a little. Cream and grey velvet read as texture more than colour, bringing sheen to a plain sofa without adding another shade. A reliable mix is one jewel-coloured cushion for colour beside a cream or grey velvet for texture.

Pairing velvet cushions with leather, linen and velvet sofas

Velvet looks deepest beside a fabric that does not shine, so on a linen, cotton or wool sofa even a quiet colour stands out. On leather the contrast runs the other way, soft and warm against smooth and cool, and it takes the chill off a hard-looking room. On a velvet sofa, cushion and seat compete unless one clearly leads: go well lighter or darker, or change colour family, such as gold on green or pink on grey, because an exact match disappears.

Most of our velvet cushions are modern in style, and many lean rustic or classic. In a rustic room velvet softens wood, wool and earthy colours; in a classic one it sits with darker woods and rich reds and greens. If a throw joins in, give it a different surface, such as a cotton weave or faux fur, so the velvet keeps its sheen to itself.

Velvet cushions against bed linen

Almost all of our velvet cushions suit a bedroom as well as a living room. Against crisp cotton or washed linen bedding, velvet lays a band of depth and sheen across the pillows. Bed cushions carry far less weight than sofa ones, so the bed is a sensible place for cream, or for a pink you might not risk on a busy family sofa.

Cushions on a bed come off at night, so give them somewhere to go other than the floor, such as a chair or blanket box, and stand them upright or face up, since a night under weight can mark the pile. Almost all of the range is small, with a few medium and large cushions, so check the dimensions against your pillows before you choose.

Keeping velvet cushions plush: crush marks, spills and pet hair

Crush marks are the commonest worry and often the easiest to fix. A shake and a few hours usually let polyester pile recover; for a stubborn mark, hold a steamer a short way off the surface so the fibres lift without being pressed, and never iron the pile flat. A soft clothes brush, worked the way the pile lies, finishes the job and lifts dust.

Blot spills at once with a clean cloth, working from the outside in, and never rub. Water alone can leave a tidemark on velvet, so test any treatment on a hidden patch and read the care label before anything goes near a washing machine. Pet hair clings to velvet but lifts with a lint roller or a damp rubber glove. A cushion in direct sun is worth turning now and then so any fading stays even.