There are endless options for upholstering furniture in your home. Some of them look especially impressive and delight guests, while others are considered cheaper options and do not arouse much interest among wealthy people. However, everyone will have certain arguments for and against, in addition to the cost of the upholstery material itself. Still, upholstered furniture is not used as a decorative element, and the practicality of its operation and the complexity of its care speaks volumes. So, a sofa upholstered in velor – is it worth purchasing something like this? What are the pros and cons of this upholstery option?
What is furniture velor
Velor is a popular material for furniture upholstery. It attracts with its incredible softness and velvety texture, which gives the interior pretentiousness and originality. In terms of performance characteristics it is considered one of the best. Such upholstery retains its original appearance for a long time, is durable and wear-resistant, and does not require maintenance.
The fabric of the material is dense, with thick, low pile. Can be made from natural or synthetic fibers, for example: cotton, viscose, polyamide, polyester. Combining different types of raw materials will result in fabrics with maximum stability and strength.
The most popular types of material:
- smooth, with straight pile and uniform texture;
- shaped, with fibers of various lengths located obliquely;
- printed, with a pattern printed on the surface;
- embossed, with pile arranged in a certain order, forming a characteristic pattern.
Production of single web material
The main feature of velor fabric is the presence of pile. Velor material is produced by weaving 5 threads (two for the lower base and two for the upper), with a pile part. Furniture velor is made using warp-pile technology, the fleecy part is woven with warp threads. The fabric is produced in the form of one or two pieces of material.
Rolls of velor material
A rod is placed under the main fabric, resulting in loops. After creating the loops, the rods are removed. Further:
- the loops remain intact - loop pile;
- loop threads are torn - split.
Single-sheet version of velor material
Velor for furniture upholstery: pros and cons
The material has many advantages:
- does not stretch over time, keeps its shape well;
- not susceptible to mechanical influence;
- requires simple regular care;
- does not fade in the sun;
- practically does not accumulate static electricity;
- hypoallergenic and pleasant to the body;
- looks beautiful.
Despite the large number of advantages, velor has several disadvantages:
- accumulates dust;
- attracts pet fur;
- requires careful handling, since greasy stains are very difficult to remove from the surface;
- high-quality material is much more expensive than analogues.
Double-panel production
Fabric production using two-web technology is a more complex process. The warp is made with 2 warp threads, and additional weft threads weave another layer located above the warp. Both fabrics are joined with a single thread pile in a zigzag manner. Next, the fleecy part is cut and 2 parts come out, obtained using the five-strand method. With this technology, loop pile is not provided.
Double-panel version of velor material
Comparison with other furniture fabrics
If you haven’t fully decided what kind of sofa you want, compare other upholstery options with velor.
What is better for a sofa: chenille or velor
Unlike velor, chenille is softer and more pleasant to the touch. The material repels odors and does not attract dust, but if you spill water on the surface, it will instantly be absorbed, forming stains. In addition, chenille fades in the sun and is less wear-resistant. Any mechanical influences, for example, iron elements on clothing or animal claws, can create a snag and ruin the upholstery.
Velor or faux suede: which is better for a sofa?
Faux suede is made from a weave of cotton and polyester threads. The combination of these fibers gives the material unique characteristics: cotton adds softness and hypoallergenicity to the fabric, and polyester adds strength and wear resistance. The service life of artificial suede is not affected by sunlight and other harmful factors. Just like velor, suede does not withstand exposure to moisture, and unlike it, it also does not tolerate animal claws or strong thorns. In addition, it gets dirty quickly and costs more than velor.
What is better jacquard or velor for furniture?
Jacquard is an expensive material with a complex pattern obtained by a certain thread weaving technology. There are natural and synthetic. It has high performance characteristics, durable and wear-resistant. Unlike velor, jacquard is rougher and less pleasant to the body. However, such material is much more expensive.
Which is better - velor or matting for upholstery?
Matting is a dense and rough material. It is a fabric woven from dense threads in a checkerboard pattern. It is characterized by maximum wear resistance and durability, but is rarely used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Unlike velor, the material is less pleasant to the body due to its rough structure. Also, matting fades greatly in the sun and does not tolerate exposure to heating devices.
Velor or flock?
The flock upholstery is very reminiscent of velor. The material is just as durable and wear-resistant, velvety and pleasant to the body. Does not fade in the sun. Unlike velor, flock is quickly erased and is actively saturated with odors. At the same time, the material tolerates moisture well, so it is easy to clean.
Velor or micro-velor: which is better for a sofa
The latest generation of materials includes microsuede. This is a slightly different material than velor. The technology of weaving such fabric has been improved, which is why microsuede is more durable and wear-resistant, but less soft, since its pile is slightly shorter. In addition, the manufacturer coats the fabric with special impregnations that repel dust, so that the material does not become dirty for a long time.
Velor or microfiber: which is better for a sofa
Microfiber, like velor, can often be found as upholstery for upholstered furniture. Unlike velor, the material is less durable and can tear easily. This is due to different production technology and the cost of the raw materials used. Here the pile is not woven in, but simply glued to the base. At the same time, microfiber repels dust and dirt, which cannot be said about velor. In addition, the material is undemanding in maintenance, lasts a long time and has high performance characteristics.
Which to choose?
The choice of a velor sofa should be approached with great responsibility. The color of the product plays a very important role when choosing.
Designers recommend choosing the shade of the sofa that will harmoniously combine with other interior items and become its important component. In this case, it is necessary to take into account your lifestyle, as well as your character.
After all, some people like bright colors, while others are delighted with calmer shades.
Each interior style includes a combination of certain color schemes, which should definitely be taken into account when choosing a velor sofa. They all have individual characteristics:
- Red . For some it can cause aggression, but for others it can become a symbol of romance and comfort. The most original way such a sofa complements interior design in the style of Art Deco, High-Tech, Constructivism and Techno.
- Blue. Psychologists say that this color has a positive effect on the human psyche, conducive to relaxation and tranquility. They can often be found in a classic style.
- Green. A velor sofa in this color can become the center of everyone's attention. It goes well with yellow, blue, pink and red items. This shade can cause drowsiness. It complements the Baroque style well.
- Brown. The presence of such a sofa ensures the creation of comfort and coziness. It is used in Country, Empire, Renaissance, Classic and Rococo styles. It goes perfectly with beige, yellow, blue, lilac, orange.
- Black. A beautiful velor sofa in this color looks original in bright and spacious rooms. It goes well with gray, red, yellow, turquoise and burgundy. It is often used in the Minimalist style.
- Grey. A sofa in this color fills the room with clarity and conciseness. It goes well with yellow, red and purple. Used in gothic and minimalist style.
- White. This sofa brings light and newness to the room. Therefore, it can often be found in the Art Nouveau style. Combines harmoniously with golden, beige and gray colors.
Caring for velor furniture
If you decide to buy velor furniture, be prepared for the fact that the material requires special regular care. The surface practically does not repel dust, so stains will appear on a sofa or armchair quite often. To at least slightly prevent their occurrence, have your upholstery professionally cleaned with a steam generator every six months or a year. Steam will not only clean the surface, but also destroy bacteria and microorganisms.
Carry out regular dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner at least once every 7 days. Buy a special brush and roller for caring for velor, which will collect stuck lint and dust.
Proper use in interior design
Noble velor is a fabric for expensive furniture, for lush classical interiors - palace style, baroque, rococo, gothic. The upholstery on modern interior items often looks tasteless, cheap, and simple.
There are several tricks that can expand the use of upholstery material:
- Complex structural forms - a voluminous armrest, a twisted part, a decorative screed, the presence of massive parts - allow the canvas to demonstrate shine, shades, and reflection of light from different angles.
- An advantageous color for a sofa, sofa, armchair, and other representative parts of the interior is the shade of a precious stone - bright ruby, rich emerald, thick sapphire.
Tip: Luxury furniture should not be framed in anthracite black, as it will absorb light, turning the piece into a dull hole.
How to clean a velor sofa at home?
If stains from food and drinks, as well as other origins, appear on upholstered velor furniture, wet clean the surface. In doing so, observe the following rules:
- Start cleaning immediately after a stain appears; the longer it remains on the surface, the more difficult it will be to wash;
- Do not rub the surface under any circumstances, as you risk damaging the pile;
- your movements should be careful in the direction of the pile;
- do not use aggressive chemicals, acids and alkalis, or hard brushes for cleaning;
- as a detergent, use a solution of laundry soap and water, moistening a sponge or soft rag with the product;
- You can remove stubborn stains using a solution of alcohol and water; you can also apply a mixture of salt and soda to the stain, leaving the product on the surface for 2-3 hours.
Velor is a velvety material used as upholstery for upholstered furniture. The material attracts with its amazing softness and chic appearance. A velor sofa will add comfort and sophistication to the room. The material does not lose its qualities over a long period of time and requires simple but regular maintenance.
Differences from microfiber
Another fairly popular material, which is often confused with velor, is microfiber. It would be more correct to call the fabric microvelor.
Its pile is quite short, the fibers have different directions, and the material is characterized by high density. The breathable structure of microsuede absorbs moisture more slowly than other materials, and it can be shaken off before the stain is absorbed.
This is the main difference between this fabric and others. In essence, the product is a synthetic microfiber with a Teflon coating that protects against moisture penetration.
By the way, this coating is completely invisible.
In addition, microsuede is more durable. Unlike regular velor, it is more resistant to abrasion and does not accumulate dust and dirt. The strength and durability of the fabric is ensured by weaving in the form of microscopic honeycombs, while a different technology is used in the production of classic velor.
