Skip to main content

Velvet is a luxe material – here’s how to style a gorgeous couch

Glam up your space by using these tips to style your luxe velvet sofa

Purple jewel toned couch in modern living room design

It’s hard not to love the luxe and elegant aesthetic of a classic velvet sofa. For maximalists, vintage lovers, whimsigoth interior fans, and those who favor a glamorous design, velvet couches are a fantastic way to heighten the elegance of your home.

However, velvet couches come with their own unique challenges. Aside from knowing how to properly clean the furniture, a velvet sofa needs to be styled appropriately to best exude its opulent aura. So, here are some of our best tips for styling this gorgeous couch.

Make your velvet sofa a statement

The best thing you can do for your velvet couch is let it have the spotlight. Velvet sofas make a statement in any space, and when you lean into that; they can become a stunning feature in your home. To make your velvet sofa a statement, center it in the room rather than push it up against the wall.

Additionally, keeping clutter, piles of blankets, and tons of pillows off the couch will allow it to become a centerpiece and focal point in your space. Place blankets in a nearby basket or storage ottoman to keep them on hand but off the couch.

Blue velvet couch and table

Mix and match materials

We all know that velvet adds a hint of luxury to a space, but too much velvet can be overwhelming. If you have a velvet couch, you might consider skipping on velvet curtains. Velvet is a heavy material, often visually weighing down a space.

To uplift the fabric, consider adding lighter materials like linen, cotton, and sheer fabrics to the space. Additionally, if you want to decorate your velvet couch, do so with a variety of materials, from non-velvet decor pillows to nearby side tables made of wood or metal for a more organic look.

Velvet couch close-up

Remember to focus on color

Velvet couches often come in darker tones like evergreen, navy blue, plum, mauve pink, or burnt orange. These darker hues look vibrant and luxe in the home, but they may not always suit a dark palette. Depending on the aesthetic you’re aiming for, it could be a good idea to choose lighter paint tones or softer hues decor items to offset the dark nature of the velvet couch. Try to maintain a balance of color in your palette and use the couch as an accent tone so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in your space.

Green living room walls with velvet green sofas

When using velvet, it’s OK to go bold

If you’re decorating a velvet couch, you need to go bold. The couch is a statement piece, and velvet is an elegant material that demands attention. A simple, greige interior with minimal decor won’t work with an opulent green velvet couch. Your space needs to feel as luxe and eclectic as the sofa. Spruce up the room by adding metallic decor, and more opulent touches like figurines or statues, and lean into more luxe materials in your rugs and draperies.

Velvet couch in living room

Less is more

While glam and maximalist styles can get away with lots of clutter, layered fabrics, and vivid patterns, some homeowners might find that less is more with their velvet sofa. Keep pillows and blankets at a minimum so the sofa can truly shine. Add small but luxe decor pieces that don’t detract from the look. You want the space to flow, feeling neither barren nor crowded.

Styling a velvet couch is all about knowing what to pair with it. While adding a velvet ottoman or opulent decor pieces is OK, you’ll want to keep those additions minimal and instead focus on adding lighter materials to the space that give the room a more cohesive look. Mix and match your textiles, and don’t shy away from letting your sofa become a feature in the space.

Editors' Recommendations

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She enjoys topics on productivity…
These are the top home design trends, according to Zillow listings
These are the must-have designs according to Zillow
indoor outdoor decor ideas patio area

If you love looking at homes (whether you're in the market or not), Zillow is one of the premiere sites to do so. Not only does it give a good idea of what's available and coming available in your area, you can get home prices, up-and-coming neighborhoods, and plenty of design ideas when perusing homes. According to a recent study of millions of active for-sale Zillow listings, they even help to identify this year's most sought-after design trends. Here's what they had to say.

Outdoor spaces
Gorgeous outdoor spaces are having a moment, and for good reason. People are still spending more time at home post-pandemic, and having space outside to soak in the sun and be in nature is important. Backyards were mentioned 22% more often in for-sale listings last year when comparing them against the year prior. "The rising popularity of outdoor features suggests the pandemic has changed the way we want to live for good, priming the backyard for a 2023 evolution,” said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “When the pandemic forced all entertaining outdoors, homeowners reclaimed their backyards from the kids or the dogs.”
Mirror, mirror on the wall
While outdoor spaces make sense, this next one may surprise you. Mirrored walls, like those that were popular circa 1970-1980s are coming back. "Mirrored walls and even mirrored ceilings have been showing up 12% more than the year before," according to the study, but with a bit of a twist. This time, more antique or vintage-inspired mirrors are on trend, especially when they make a small or dark room feel more spacious and bright.
Other notable mentions
Other trends rising in popularity over the last year are private nooks in a home, even in ones that are more open concept. Think reading nooks, private yoga spaces, or just a quiet, well-thought-out space where you can spend some time alone. Another mention is continuing the use of vintage materials like wood and muted metals to keep a home feeling warm and lived in. Finally, kitchen islands are continuing to stay popular as we use our kitchens for entertaining, family dinners, work, and play. The bigger, the better, and the use of color that offsets them from the rest of the space are still very much trending.

Read more
These are the best online sites to buy thrifted furniture
Snag your next thrift find from one of these amazing online vintage stores
Vintage decor with grandmillenial chaise lounge and traditional cabinet

When it comes to snagging amazing thrift finds, we often head straight to our local shops. However, while local thrift and vintage stores can be a great way to save money and find unique pieces, they can also be a bit hit or miss.

Thankfully, online marketplaces offer us a chance to find original pieces for affordable prices and from the comfort of our homes. These online stores provide all the benefits of thrifting without the hassle of driving to your local store and sifting through the decor section for hours, only to walk away empty-handed. So, here are some of the best online places to buy vintage and thrifted furniture.

Read more
These living room wall decor ideas make your room classy, modern, and fun
Revamping your living room? Try these tasteful and inviting decor ideas
Living room with wall decor

If you're decorating — or redecorating — your living room, you know that the wall decor sets the tone of the room. You want this space to be classy and modern, yet fun, comfortable, and inviting. So which living room wall decor ideas do you choose?

For living room walls that are just as tasteful as they are warm and exciting, try these six living room wall decor ideas.

Read more