Velvet vs. Chenille: Choosing the Right Sofa Fabric for You

Everyone deserves a comfy couch where they can relax at the end of the day. People want something plush that warms them up the minute they sit down. This dream is obtainable if someone covers their couch in velvet or chenille upholstery fabric. However, choosing the right sofa fabric between velvet and chenille can be challenging. Below, individuals can discover more about both materials so that they can make a more informed decision.

The Advantages of Velvet

It’s crucial to discuss the pros and cons of both fabrics so that people can decide what is right for them. There are many benefits of velvet upholstery fabric. Perhaps the most obvious advantage is that it’s soft. Velvet has a softness that other materials don’t. Furthermore, silk velvets drape beautifully, and polyester velvet is incredibly durable.

The Advantages of Chenille

Chenille upholstery fabric is one of the oldest textiles in the industry. Essentially, yarn is twisted and pulled together to create pile-ups. These pile-ups add dimension to the material that velvet doesn’t have. Furthermore, chenille retains heat, and it’s resistant to abrasion. It should also be noted that the fabric is thick and durable.

The Disadvantages of Velvet

Yes, there are some cons to using velvet as a sofa fabric. Also, silk velvet is incredibly delicate, meaning it’s not as strong as other fabrics. Stick with Polyester velvets to get a great look with no down side on performance.

The Disadvantages of Chenille

Like velvet, chenille isn’t perfect. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about chenille is that it’s prone to shrinking and stretching—it might not stay as structured over time. Additionally, chenille absorbs liquid quickly, meaning that spills can spell disaster.

Choosing between velvet and chenille to find the right sofa fabric is no easy decision. Readers can see that there are advantages and disadvantages to both materials. Luckily, The Fabric Outlet has tons of velvet and chenille fabrics to choose from. Shop our collection today and take samples home if you need more time to decide.