100% cotton velvet for sofas....a good choice?

9 years ago

Now that I'm seeing the error of my ways in choosing a rayon, cotton, poly blend velvet for my keeping room settee (nap seems to change permanently when you sit on it!), I'm incredibly concerned that the two sofas I ordered for my family room will also be purchases I regret. I chose Hickory Chair velvet that is 100% cotton. I am doing a water spot test on my sample now, but the sample is too small for me to sit on with jeans and try to leave a mark the way our keeping room's velvet settee now has. Is this 100% cotton an equally impractical choice?

Featured Answer

Circus Peanut

9 years ago

Three,

I have cotton velvet on a number of sofas and chairs - I'm addicted to velvet in all forms. 100% cotton will be fine, as long as we can presume it's a decent upholstery-weight cotton, which I think we can in your case -- Hickory's a reputable brand -- and it holds up (and cleans up!) better than the part rayon velvets. The cotton has even held up pretty well to regular abuse by my cats.

The only thing that wears better is mohair (or regular wool) velvet. Mohair isn't for everyone, esp. not for informal settings or warmer climates, but it's incomparable for holding up under lots of use stress.

What color velvet are the sofas? Inquiring minds...! :)

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Comments (26)

suero
9 years ago
I have a 100% cotton velvet on my sofa that's lasted over 30 years. It is a Schumacher fabric. Based on my experience, I'd say that 100% cotton velvet is a very practical choice.
chispa
9 years ago
The Schumacher velvet that I mentioned this past year, the one that was damaged by plain water, is 88% cotton & 12% viscose. The water changed the color and the feel of the nap. Eight fully upholstered dining chairs had to be recovered.
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theclose
9 years ago
My mother and aunt always swore by 100% cotton velvet. I had it on my last couch for 12 years and it looked great. I ended up giving the couch away 3 years ago, which is the only reason I don't know how it is faring today! I now have a different 100% cotton velvet on our current family room couch. 3 years later it still looks new. I have an almost 4 year old and a 1 year old. Love it.
roarah
9 years ago
My living room furniture is 100% cotton velvet and after almost three years, numerous kids snacks, cats and sun exposure they look as good as when brand new. I was told to avoid any blends when choosing upholstery. They pillar and wear poorly. Good luck!
three3apples
Original Author
9 years ago
thanks, all. i'm calmer now.
three3apples
Original Author
9 years ago
It's a deep red with a hint of persimmon. They arrive mid-June. I poured water on my sample and you'd never know. Wish I never chose the vcwt I did for the keeping room. I'm just going to let the cushion be used and flip it over when it begins to look awful. I just hope the back and arms don't become awful. I just can't believe that the weight of my body is enough to damage the fibers. Live and learn I guess.
ddunn3
7 years ago
Thank you for all the info I am thinking about a velvet sofa purchase. I am excited!!!
PRO
4Heidesign
7 years ago
I made a slipcover for my couch this year using 100% cotton velvet. It’s held up beautifully well, with dogs slobber, napping husband and food spills, and looks like new. I love cotton velvet!
PRO
Lars/J. Robert Scott
7 years ago
I've made cotton velvet drapes (not for myself) and the main issue I had with them was that they catch lint more easily than rayon or silk.

At JRS, we use 53% Silk 47% Cotton velvet, or a 68% Cotton 32% Poly velvet for our furniture. I prefer the silk/cotton blend.
powermuffin
7 years ago
Most real upholstery weight fabric has a rub count. It is something you should check before choosing any sofa fabric. My cotton velvet had a very high rub count and looks like new.

Sofa fabric durability
Heather Watson
7 years ago
1. Hello All, I know this is an old thread but thought I ask a few questions anyway. I have a vintage Sherrill Chippendale w/mahogany feet which I'm thinking to recover in a Como Velvet, the JB Martin 100% cotton line not the cotton blend. I have 3 dogs who are not dirty or messy but are on the furniture quite a bit. Any thoughts about the Como? Any thoughts about emerald vs jade vs indigo? I'm leaning to green but it's on a 7 week back order and the indigo is available and on sale for ridiculous price! Thanks!
My3dogs ME zone 5A
7 years ago
Without seeing your other furniture, it's hard to make a color recommendation.

There are some 11 yard pieces on eBay in 'Hot Pink', 'Bark Brown' and 'Army' that are great buys, under $275. HERE.

Indigo -

Emerald -

Jade -
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
7 years ago
I'm considering green velvet to recover my beloved Norwalk sofa. So from what I'm reading I need to look at either 100% cotton or a silk cotton blend?
Heather Watson
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks my3dogs! Here's a pic of my living room now:
with my youngest girl who owns the sofa. When she's not on the sofa she's on that tufted ottoman in the middle of the room. I'm thinking Cannes Sage:
Como Emerald:
Heather Watson
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Or Como Indigo?
or maybe cognac (safe color lol):
theclose
7 years ago
Como Emerald is absolutely gorgeous!
aprilneverends
7 years ago
Emerald!! But I'm not objective-I love everything emerald.

(and everything velvet too, lol)
Heather Watson
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I love that Como Emerald too! One sofa manufacturer told me he thinks that cotton velvet ages more gracefully than the poly/poly blends. He said that as the pile wears down cotton develops a certain patina that you can't get with a poly. I've seen some really beautiful poly/poly blend velvets but I think I will probably end up going with a cotton velvet just because of the classic style of the sofa. He also told me that como emerald is back ordered by months everywhere. I double checked this with a few other suppliers and he was correct. Also I will eventually change the color of the hideous tufted ottoman/dog bed. Any opinions on Como Jade for a sofa?
theclose
7 years ago
I like the Jade but I LOVE the emerald. If this were for me (and I do hope to have a velvet sofa one day in emerald) I would wait for the emerald but you need to do what you think you will love.
My3dogs ME zone 5A
7 years ago
I'm going to put a pic of the 100% cotton velvet in 'Army' here. Unfortunate name, but it's not incredibly far off from the Jade just above. I'm a huge bargain hunter, so just have to share. :-)

11 yards for $330 on eBay, free shipping

Also, Bark Brown, 11 yards for $236.80, free shipping
patty_cakes42
7 years ago
Dogs, i'm loving the *Army* green! I think it's sort of sage-like and neutral. As for brown it seems to be so overused these days so I'm a naysayer when asked 'what about brown'. ;)
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Anglophilia
7 years ago
My favorite velvet is a linen/cotton blend. The linen gives it a slightly "rougher" look so it doesn't show wear or stairs as easily as a flat cotton velvet. It's less expensive than 100% linen velvet and I've had great success with it. Kravet used to make one - haven't looked recently.
Heather Watson
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thank you all for the comments and insights. Patty Cakes-thanks for the links! I'm a huge bargain hunter also! As you can see in the pic the room is mostly neutral and pretty stripped down. It's a reflection of my recent (last 2 years) love affair with federal style furniture. I bought this sofa and loveseat on CL and unloaded my grey velvet lawson sofa....also on CL. I'm on the fence about the ottoman but my dog loves it so....sigh. I live in a Victorian Cottage, ca. 1870, all the rooms are approx 13x13 with 12' high ceilings. The house is also 2 blocks from Main st. in our small town....small city lot.....lots of trees on the property but after going crazy with neutrals I now feel the room needs a little color....like green. Loving the Emerald green but a little scared of it too! I want it to pop but not scream lol! Having said that...I keep coming back to stare at that Como Emerald!
Heather Watson
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Anglophilla, can you post any pics of linen/cotton velvet? And do you know if the double rubs are high on that type of fabric? Thanks!
Shaune Palmer
3 years ago
What about the 100% cotton velvet bruising marks? I have 10 month old chairs (indigo blue) with all kinds of bruising despite a 250 rub count from Lee Industries. Is this part of the patina I’m to expect over time?