Velvet curtains: luxury in a modern interior, what they are and how they combine with different styles

Velvet and its varieties

Velvet, like silk, was learned to be made in Ancient China, and in Europe they became familiar with it closer to the 13th century. The material is made by weaving two independent thread warps; the fiber that forms the pile passes between these warps. The usual fabric with a pile on the front side is formed after cutting the bases.

Initially, velvet fabric was made exclusively from natural silk. Silk threads provide special softness to the fabric, its pile is short, thick and pleasant to the touch, and silk velvet is still the most expensive material.

Velvet Source www.tkania.ru

Later, more affordable varieties of fabric were invented, in which cotton or linen, and later synthetic fiber, became the raw material for the base. These fabrics have a decorative appearance due to the preserved method of weaving threads, and their characteristics and practical qualities are determined by the type of raw materials used. The following types of velvet are used for sewing curtains:

Velveteen. The material is most often made of cotton. It is easily recognized by its specific pile, which forms a ribbed pattern on the front side. Thanks to its vertical pattern, corduroy can improve the proportions of a small room, visually raising the ceiling.

Velvet Source cs2.livemaster.ru

Velours. The basis of the material is cotton fiber (cut velor) or synthetic knitwear (loop velor). Velor appears thinner than velvet due to its thinner backing, although its pile is slightly longer. Depending on the laying of the pile, smooth, shaped, and embossed types of fabric are distinguished.

Velor Source mebel-avenir.ru

Velvet devore. Textured material with a transparent or translucent base and an exquisite velvet pattern obtained using chemical etching. Modern fabrics include natural (silk, cotton, linen) and synthetic fibers (viscose, polyester). The voluminous ornament makes velvet devoré a frequent choice when sewing curtains and tulle.

Panne. A type of pile material on a cotton or silk basis. A three-dimensional design (usually a plant pattern) on the front surface is obtained by pressing at high temperature. Panvelvet is thinner than velvet, the pile height does not exceed 2 mm.

Panvelvet Source tkaniitalii.com

Types of velvet fabrics

Currently, there are many fabrics created on the basis of classic velvet.

The most common and most often used in interior design are the following:

Rubber velvet, better known as corduroy or semi-velvet. Its distinctive features are a longitudinal rib and special strength.
Chiffon-velvet on a thin fabric base. Its variety, panvelvet, is especially popular. This material has a base of silk fibers. Its characteristic feature is the lightness and beautiful iridescent shine of the pile.
Sisel velvet. This material has an interesting looped structure.
Bagheera. Rough to the touch. It is considered one of the most durable and dense velvet fabrics.
Velvet devore. It is made from viscose, and the base is natural silk. This allows you to create different patterns on the fabric.
Lyon velvet. It is characterized by short pile, a rigid base, as well as durability and great thickness. It is made from natural or artificial silk, cotton and synthetic materials.
Velvet mother-of-pearl. Made from silk. It got its name for the beautiful, almost moiré tints that are formed through the use of silk threads of different shades and colors. It is better to use it for draperies or curtains, since it is the deep folds of various shapes that will allow the full richness of shades and tints of this fabric to fully manifest themselves.
Moquette, trip and chenille are modern synthetic velvet fabrics intended for upholstery and room decoration.

Synthetic and combined velvet fabrics are inferior to natural materials in quality and, in general, look less elegant. It is better to use them when decorating a room in a modern style than in a classic interior.

Velvet fabrics can be not only smooth, but also patterned.

Drawings can be applied to them in the following ways:

Print (printed velvet).
Embossing. With this method, the pile is laid into a pattern and then secured using a hot press.
Embroidery. In the old days it was done exclusively by hand, but now machine embroidery on velvet is much more common.

Advantages and disadvantages

Window decor made from various types of velvet has the following positive qualities:

Appearance. The living room windows framed in velvet have an elegant, festive look, and velvet curtains in the bedroom interior create a cozy atmosphere.
Density. Dense material blocks sunlight well and protects from drafts.

In vintage style Source opt-838922.ssl.1c-bitrix-cdn.ru

Design possibilities. Velvet decor fits into a variety of styles. If desired, the canvas is supplemented with decorative elements, tiebacks, and lambrequins.
Range. Fabrics in a wide palette of shades, depending on the raw material, have a matte or shiny surface. Manufacturers offer fabrics coated with mother-of-pearl, silver or gold, with a printed pattern or print.

For every taste Source rehouz.info

Decor based on natural fibers is characterized by hygiene. They absorb and evaporate moisture well, helping to regulate the microclimate of the room.
Decor based on polyester and viscose (for example, velvet devoré) does not fade in the sun, is wear-resistant and has a long service life.

The negative qualities of velvet curtains include the following disadvantages:

Not suitable for all rooms. Such voluminous decor makes the perception of a small room heavier, making it visually smaller.

With a touch of retro style Source www.shtora.info

Price. Decor made from natural fabric can hardly be called budget.
Weight. Heavy fabric forces you to take care of durable curtain rods (inexpensive plastic models may not withstand).
Taking care of cleanliness. Velvet materials, due to their fluffiness, are excellent dust collectors; they will need to be cleaned frequently.

Royal splendor Source rehouz.info
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the construction of turnkey country houses

Recommendations for interior solutions

To ensure that the selected curtains are appropriate in the room and only emphasize the advantages of the interior, it is recommended to listen to the tips on using velvet in decoration:

The luxury of velvet is most appropriate in bedrooms, offices and living rooms. It is in these rooms that velor in the interior looks rich and organic.
The best companions for such curtains will be high-quality furniture with plush upholstery.
Velvet curtains are completely unsuitable for decorating a nursery, as they can create a too oppressive and heavy atmosphere.
It is not advisable to choose velvet as a material for a canopy.
In small rooms with low ceilings, velvet is appropriate only in tandem with antique pieces of furniture.
The best room to use velvet curtains is a spacious living room with high ceilings.

Velvet curtains are ideal for sophisticated and luxurious interiors. The practicality of the fabric allows you to use curtains for a long time without losing their properties and color brightness.

Popular colors

The choice of color is determined by the color palette and interior style; Preference is given to the following colors:

Shades of brown. The palette includes all colors, from beige, sand and nut, to caramel and chocolate. Brown curtains look not only elegant, but also harmonious and create a cozy atmosphere.

Coffee with milk Source img.aviarydecor.com

Pastel. They refresh the interior, giving it a touch of discreet elegance. Fits perfectly into a white or beige interior. Cool colors are suitable for spacious rooms: turquoise, ultramarine, mint, lilac. For little ones, it is more appropriate to use warm pastel colors: carrot, pale pink, peach.

Pale pink curtains in a bright interior Source decoratorist.com

Shades of green. Low-key options are popular: olive, pine, dark green. Blue-green, jade, and sea green became popular during the Art Deco era; today they are often chosen for boudoir-style rooms.

With red trim Source opt-838922.ssl.1c-bitrix-cdn.ru

Shades of gray and blue. A favorite choice for modern styles, fabrics come in a variety of rich colors.

In a beige-gray interior Source design-homes.ru

Shades of red. They are rarely used in private interiors because they attract too much attention. An interior with red curtains will be harmonious in a large room furnished with classic furniture.

Oriental motifs Source www.housedecorinteriors.co.uk

Interior use

The ancient nobility used velvet due to its softness and rich appearance, and drapery from it created an atmosphere of pathos and identity in the room, giving comfort and respectability.

One of the features of velvet is its significant weight, unlike cotton or linen. Because of this feature, the material is very difficult to cut and experts advise contacting a tailor.

To make it more impressive when using velvet, it is recommended to use non-standard curtains of any elaborate shapes. The curtains themselves can be decorated with lambrequins made of the same material, tiebacks decorated with massive tassels. But don’t forget about tulle, which should be in harmony with the color scheme of the curtains.

At the same time, interior designers insist that this type of curtains should be used exclusively in large and bright rooms. In small or low rooms, velvet curtains will add weight to the atmosphere, which will put pressure on a person.

To create solemnity, you should use dark colors (purple, brown, burgundy) for curtains, but for bedrooms, ready-made velvet curtains with bright yellow or golden trim, tassels and fringes in brown, dark green or burgundy colors are suitable.

Styles and interiors

Expressive, forming beautiful folds in the drapery, velvet curtains can become part of the following interiors:

Classical (rococo, baroque, empire). Velvet fabrics of symmetrical shape are appropriate here; You should be careful with intricate details and decor.

Neoclassicism Source berkem.ru

Modern, art deco. Velvet curtains in the modern aesthetics are multi-layered, asymmetrical, often combined with other fabrics and create a feeling of dynamics. Fabrics in natural shades are preferred.

Art Deco Source www.homez.design

High-tech, minimalism. For these areas, choose curtains made of velvet with a matte surface in gray or discreet blue shades; dark (even black) options are also suitable. The form is the simplest, the decor is minimal.

In high-tech style Source homeli.ru

Loft. In most cases, a loft interior gets by with very modest window decorations in the form of blinds (sometimes even this is missing). If you can’t do without curtains, opt for corduroy curtains with eyelets. If the room has a brick surface, the color of the paintings is chosen depending on it: dark gray or plum color will set off the red brick, beige and light gray are suitable for white.

Loft in the bedroom Source decorationinfo.ru
Velvet curtains look great in the living room, bedroom and office, but in most cases they are absolutely not suitable for the kitchen and nursery. If the living room is spacious and the ceilings are high, any heavy and majestic models will do. Velvet curtains in a small living room will be a good addition if the room is furnished with antique furniture.

In a white bedroom Source otdelkakvartir1.ru

When choosing velvet curtains for your bedroom interior, you need to be careful. Here it is good to use matte velvet or velor in pastel shades; models with eyelets are preferred. For the office, choose strict models of soft colors; the room itself should be spacious enough.

In the office Source www.archrevue.ru

Care

These are very demanding curtains, so experts advise to properly care for the material:

The best way is to have your velvet curtains dry cleaned.
If you wash the fabric at home, then such curtains must be turned inside out and placed in a special bag. The water should not be higher than 30 degrees.
You can't wring out velvet. The fabric must be wrapped in terry cloth and gently compressed in several places.
You need to dry the curtains unfolded.
It is necessary to iron without steam, according to the growth of the pile, without much pressure.

Once a week, velvet curtains are cleaned with a special brush or vacuumed with a soft nozzle. You can't beat out velvet!

Complex weaving cords, tassels, and fringes are used as decoration.

Description and characteristics

Velvet curtains are made from fabric with thick, shortened pile located on the front side.

The characteristics of the product are determined by the type of fabric used for sewing:

Variety	Characteristics
Natural	A type of silk. Dense, heavy, with a characteristic shine of the pile. The width of the canvas is 150 cm.
Artificial	Thinner, lighter, drapes well. Canvas width – 280 – 300 cm.

Application

The main direction in which fabric is used is tailoring. The peak of corduroy's popularity occurred in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century. But even today the material is used for sewing trousers, overalls, skirts, suits, as well as raincoats, coats and jackets. The fabric is great for jackets - men's and women's.

corduroy brooch

corduroy jumpsuit

corduroy sofa

women's corduroy jacket

Corduroy fabric has found application in the manufacture of furniture for covering sofas and armchairs. Thanks to a large selection of colors, you can choose a shade that fits into any environment. Curtains are often made from corduroy when decorating vintage interiors.

Matter is used in other ways as well.

This:

tailoring of designer shoes;
production of covers for car seats;
creation of accessories, interior items.

Corduroy fabric looks beautiful and impressive in the photo and in real life.

Velvet curtains in other rooms

Velvet curtains will also look beautiful in your office. It is not advisable to use such curtains for a children's room, as they tend to accumulate dust. Adults prone to allergies should also not decorate their apartment windows with velvet curtains.

Blue and light blue velvet curtains will look discreet and at the same time luxurious in the dining room or in a comfortable bathroom. Such interior elements will bring bold charm and beauty to these rooms.

Photos of velvet curtains

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What material is used for curtains?

Velvet is a material made from cotton fiber, having both natural and synthetic composition. The most popular varieties are:

corduroy is an artificial, beautiful pile fabric with a velvety surface.
velor is a durable, fairly dense material with a rough surface.
panvelvet is a fabric with a slightly voluminous pattern, characterized by a unique shine.
Devore velvet is a material with a transparent base and fleecy patterns.