Sumptuous in texture and rich in its range of colours, velvet is one of the most useful weapons in a decorator’s arsenal. Although printed and woven textiles might get more attention in an interior, plain fabrics are extraordinarily useful. As interior designer Alidad recommends, it’s best to ‘cover the main, large surfaces in your rooms in plain fabrics, then use cushions, rugs and ceramics to add pattern.’ ‘Velvet is a good plain fabric to use as it comes in beautiful colours,’ says interior designer India Mahdavi. ‘I use velvet a lot because it’s soft and curvy and I like straight flashes of colour in a room.’ The soft, inviting nature of velvet makes it particularly good for places like Britain, where we spend much of the year trying to avoid the cold, rainy weather outside – it’s a lovely option for sofas and chairs, and can also work well for door curtains when you want to add extra warmth to a space.
Wondering which velvet to choose? India Mahdavi recommends ‘Opera’ cotton velvet from Pierre Frey, while Rachel Chudley loves ‘Schumacher’s sumptuous signature cotton velvet, called ‘Gainsborough’. I love it for the colours, there are nearly 300 of them! ‘ Max Rollitt, like many other designers, opts for ’Rose Uniacke’s velvet options – delicious both in mohair and in cotton.’
