Need a Little Luxury Right Now? 5 Easy Ways to Use Velvet at Home

As cooler temps creep in, you might find yourself cranking the thermostat or snuggling up by the fireplace with a cup of cocoa. We crave coziness this time of year, and almost no fabric says cozy quite like velvet. Plus, velvet adds a certain air of sophistication and luxury, which is something we could all use a little bit of right now.

So if you’re wondering, “What can I make out of velvet?”, keep reading! We’ve rounded up 5 DIY projects featuring soft, opulent velvet upholstery fabric.

1. Sew Your Own Velvet Pillows

Pillow covers are a great place for any DIYer to start, especially if you are starting with a new type of fabric. And rich velvet upholstery fabric adds a layer of luxury to the sofa just in time for the holiday season. (Though, in our opinion, velvet upholstery is gorgeous year-round!)

Need a super simple sewing project? Check out Back Road Bloom’s tutorial for a DIY velvet envelope pillow cover. It’s a great project for beginners because you don’t have to worry about adding a zipper. Featuring a small amount of velvet upholstery fabric, this pillow cover could work on a bed, a sofa, or your favorite reading chair.

Up for a bit of a challenge? Check out the quilted velvet pillow tutorial from A Beautiful Mess. Rachel adds an extra layer of sophistication with striped detail, but you could get creative with any pattern you choose. She even has a round velvet pillow tutorial here.

Finally, the crafters behind Paper n Stitch blog have created a step-by-step tutorial for color-blocked velvet pillows — in case you can’t decide on just one color!

2. Give Your Dining Chairs an Upgrade With Velvet Upholstery Fabric

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of transforming a tired, dated piece of furniture into a showstopper. And reupholstering dining chair seats offers a huge payout for little time or money. Plus, it’s a great project for non-sewers and younger DIYers, too.

This tutorial from HGTV shows you how to recover a dining chair seat, with a quick video how-to and step-by-step written instructions. Imagine transforming your dining room set in an afternoon using just a few yards of fabric, scissors, and a staple gun!

And if you’re wondering “Is velvet upholstery fabric durable enough for the dining room?”, the answer is — absolutely!

At KOVI Fabrics, we offer Crypton performance velvets in dozens of colors. Crypton’s ultra-durable upholstery fabrics are specially treated with a revolutionary VOC-free process that protects each fiber against spills, stains, and odors. So your hard work withstands family dinners for years to come. (Yep, even the toddlers at the table).

3. Create a Velvet Upholstered Bench Seat

Similarly, you can create a plush bench seat with velvet upholstery fabric. The husband and wife team at the Sunlit Spaces blog created super-simple upholstered bench seats for her kids’ playroom storage. The same tactic could be used for a velvet banquet in the dining room or eat-in kitchen.

If you’re ready for a more challenging project, check out this eye-catching button-tufted velvet upholstered bench DIY from Mr. Kate.

We got you covered with a similar vibrant blue performance velvet upholstery fabric here.

4. Add Some Drama With Luxurious Velvet Curtains

While it’s nice to have gauzy linen draperies in the summer, you might crave a change of scenery when winter comes. Especially this year, when we’ve been staring at the same interior spaces for months.

Making your own velvet curtains is an easy way to add a bit of luxury and coziness to your space. And basic curtain panels are a fairly straightforward DIY. For a rod pocket curtain top, you can follow this tutorial by House Beautiful.

Or, simplify your DIY even further by eliminating the pocket altogether and using curtain rings with clips. Just be sure to invest in heavy-duty ones that can handle the added weight of velvet.

PRO TIP: To get the length *just right*, let your velvet curtains hang for at least 24 hours before hemming them. Because of its weight, velvet upholstery fabric can stretch considerably.

5. Upgrade to a Luxe DIY Velvet Upholstered Headboard 

Statement headboards always give a bedroom a luxury hotel vibe. And since travel plans have been on hold for a while, why not bring a 5-star hotel makeover home right now?

There are tons of DIY velvet headboard variations out there, so take some time to find your favorite — or get creative and design your own!

The green velvet channel headboard tutorial from True Penny Table is incredibly thorough and easy to follow. And the final product is a stunning replication that could save you hundreds off retail.

For a less traditional version, check out this horizontal channel headboard at Emily Henderson. Perfect for a small room that needs a bold focal point.

If you’d like a more traditional look, try a tufted velvet headboard DIY. This tutorial at Hey There Home offers detailed instructions to recreate a classic silhouette.

Tips for How to Sew Velvet Upholstery Fabric

Classically beautiful, velvet is a great choice for upholstery because it’s timeless and durable. But its unique texture and plush pile can make sewing a bit tricky if you’re not prepared.

So here are a few quick tips to sew velvet:

  • Never iron velvet. The heat and pressure can crush the nap and ruin it almost instantly. Instead, use a handheld steamer (or the steam function on an iron) to gently remove wrinkles or creases.
  • Note the velvet’s nap. Velvet’s pile is directional, meaning it looks and feels different depending on your vantage point. When you run your hand over velvet, if it feels smooth and soft, you’re going with the nap. Conversely, if it’s coarse or prickly, you’re going against the nap. So pay attention to the nap as you cut patterns and piece them together to ensure a uniform look and feel.
  • Use spray adhesive to prevent shifting. You painstakingly piece and pin your work, only to have the velvet shift as you sew it. So frustrating! To prevent this, Threads Magazine recommends using a temporary spray adhesive along the seam line. Press together with your fingers, and sew. The adhesive will eventually dissipate, leaving your velvet plush like new. *It won’t clean up as easily from your work surface, though, so put down a scrap of fabric to prevent a tacky tabletop.

With a little bit of planning, you can tackle velvet upholstery projects with confidence — and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done!

Find the Right Velvet for Your DIY Project

If you’re looking to elevate your space and show off your sewing skills with velvet, take some time and find the perfect one. We’ve got a range of colors and velvet upholstery fabrics to choose from. 

Whether you’re looking for the season’s hottest colors, like deep teal velvet, or a sunny yellow for a pop of cheer, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our online collection at KOVI. We’ve even got bold patterns like this navy animal print velvet or emerald crushed velvet for a bit of old-world glamour.

Check out our full collection of velvets at KOVIFabrics.com — we’ve got more than a thousand options for your next upholstery project.

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