Velvet

Velvet is not a fibre, but a way of weaving fabric. The fabric is woven with a short, dense pile that stands up from the surface, and it is this pile that gives velvet its softness and lustre.

The pile catches the light and gives the colour depth, while also making the fabric feel soft and warm to the touch. Velvet is also dense and heavy, giving the curtain an elegant drape with deep, soft folds. It is this combination of a soft surface, rich colour and heavy drape that makes velvet feel so luxurious.

Tip: Feel the fabric sample and run your hand over it in both directions. You will notice how the pile changes both the feel and the colour.

Velvet changes colour because the pile reflects light differently depending on the angle. This is what gives velvet its depth and lustre.

The pile consists of short, dense fibres that stand up from the surface. When light hits them from different directions, the colour appears lighter or darker. This is especially noticeable in the folds of a curtain: where the fabric faces the light, it has a sheen, and where it turns away from the light, the colour appears deeper.

The colour therefore looks different depending on the time of day, the direction of the light and how the curtain hangs. This is a natural characteristic of velvet and a large part of its distinctive character.

Tip: Look at the fabric sample in your own window and turn it towards the light to see how the colour changes.

Heavy, dense fabrics like velvet can help reduce echo and create a quieter acoustic environment in a room, but they are not soundproof.

Textiles absorb some of the sound that would otherwise bounce between hard surfaces such as glass, walls, and floors. Generous velvet drapes with full, deep folds that extend from ceiling to floor can therefore make a room with many hard surfaces feel quieter and more inviting. However, they will not block noise from outside.

Tip: The more fabric and the deeper the folds, the more noticeable the difference. We recommend choosing double width.

Yes, and it is one of the easiest ways to achieve both light and darkness in the same window. Hang a voile or sheer linen curtain closest to the window, with a velvet curtain in front. During the day, draw the velvet curtain aside and let the sheer curtain filter the light. In the evening, close the velvet curtain for darkness and privacy.

The combination also creates a more considered look, with layers of fabric in different weights and textures. Choose shades from the same colour family, such as an off-white voile with sand-coloured velvet, for a calm and cohesive look. To hang two layers of curtains, you will need a double curtain track or two curtain poles.

Hang velvet drapes in front of a sheer curtain, such as voile or sheer linen. This gives you soft light during the day and a calm, cozy room in the evening, just like in a hotel.

Velvet is the classic choice for the outer layer. The soft, heavy fabric contrasts beautifully with the sheer layer behind it and makes the window a distinctive part of the interior. The sheer curtain can remain closed throughout the day, while the velvet drapes are drawn in the evening. If you want darkness for sleeping, choose our blackout velvet for the outer layer.

The easiest way to hang the curtains is on a double curtain track. When mounted to the ceiling, both layers can run from ceiling to floor, enhancing the sense of height and creating a more luxurious look. Choose double width for full, generous folds and keep both layers within the same colour family.

Tip: Read more about how to combine velvet with other curtains for a hotel-inspired look in Ask the Curtain Expert.