How to Care for a Velvet Corner Sofa Bed

Velvet is one of the most popular fabrics on corner sofa beds right now, and it is easy to see why. It feels soft, it gives colour real depth, and it makes even a compact sofa look more expensive than it is. The flip side is that velvet needs a slightly different kind of care from a flat woven fabric. Get the routine right and it will keep looking good for years; get it wrong and you can end up with crushed patches, water marks or a dull, tired finish. This guide covers simple everyday care, how to deal with spills, and how to choose a velvet sofa bed that suits the way you live, using real examples from our Corner Sofa Beds Mega Sale.

Why velvet behaves differently

Velvet has a short, dense pile: thousands of tiny fibres standing up from the backing. That pile is what catches the light and gives velvet its rich look. It is also why velvet can look lighter in one spot and darker in another, depending on which way the fibres are lying. This is called shading, and it is a normal feature of velvet rather than a fault. You will notice it most on deep colours such as greens, blues and charcoals, and on seats that get sat on every day.

Because the pile can be flattened, brushed in different directions and marked by water, velvet care is mostly about three things: keeping the pile clean, keeping it standing up, and treating spills gently.

A simple weekly routine

You do not need special products for day-to-day care. A few minutes once a week makes the biggest difference.

Vacuum with a soft upholstery brush. Use the brush attachment on a low setting and work in the direction of the pile. Dust and grit sitting in the fibres are what make velvet look dull over time.
Brush the pile back up. A soft clothes brush, gently stroked in one direction, lifts flattened areas and evens out the finish where people usually sit.
Plump and turn the cushions. Swapping scatter and back cushions around spreads the wear, so one seat does not end up more flattened than the others.
Use a lint roller for pet hair. Velvet tends to hold hair on the surface, and a lint roller or a slightly damp rubber glove lifts it off quickly.

Dealing with spills and marks

Spills are where velvet owners most often go wrong. The golden rule is to act quickly and gently.

Blot, do not rub. Press a clean, dry white cloth or kitchen roll onto the spill to soak it up. Rubbing pushes liquid deeper and can crush or twist the pile.
Check the care label first. Before using water or any cleaner, check the cleaning code on your sofa's care label or ask us. Different velvets need different treatment, and some do not like water at all.
Test somewhere hidden. If a cleaner is suitable, try a tiny amount on a part of the sofa no one sees, such as the back or underneath a seat cushion, and let it dry before going further.
Use as little moisture as possible. Too much water is what leaves rings and water marks on velvet. Work from the outside of the mark inwards so it does not spread.
Brush once dry. When the area has fully dried, brush the pile gently so it matches the fabric around it.

For stubborn stains or a full refresh, a professional upholstery cleaner is usually the safest choice for velvet. For more general advice, see our guide on how to clean a fabric sofa bed.

Protecting velvet day to day

Keep it out of strong direct sunlight. Like most fabrics, velvet can fade over time if it sits in bright sun every day. A blind or a slight change of position helps.
Keep it away from radiators and heaters. Heat can dry out fabrics and foam, so leave a little space behind and beside the sofa.
Watch out for sharp edges. Belt buckles, zips and pet claws can pull at the pile. A throw on the most-used seat is an easy fix for busy homes.
Protect it when it is a bed. When your corner sofa bed is in use for guests, put a mattress protector or a fitted sheet over the sleeping area so the velvet is not in direct contact with bedding all night.

Choosing a velvet corner sofa bed that suits your home

Good care helps, but choosing the right fabric and colour from the start helps even more. Here are three velvet examples from our range and what makes each one worth a look.

Dover Corner Sofa Bed with Storage

The Dover Corner Sofa Bed with Storage in M84 is a two-tone grey velvet, with a lighter shade on the seat and back and a darker shade on the base and sides. Mid greys are forgiving colours for velvet because they hide everyday dust better than pale shades. The corner lifts up to reveal a storage compartment of 130 × 90 × 41 cm, which is enough for a full double duvet, pillows and spare bedding, and the bed opens to a 218 × 130 cm sleeping area.

If you have children or pets, the Dover also offers an Easy Clean upgrade for £199. It swaps the velvet for a wipe-clean fabric, so most marks come off with a dry cloth and there is no shampooing or waiting for it to dry.

Kingston Corner Sofa Bed with Storage M77

The Kingston Corner Sofa Bed with Storage M77 comes in a blue velvet fabric and has a compact 222 × 133 cm footprint, so it suits smaller living rooms and studios. It has a pull-out sleeping area of 190 × 115 cm, ottoman storage for bedlinen, and armrest shelving that can be fitted on either side. Deep blue velvet shows off the shading effect beautifully, so a weekly brush keeps the finish looking even.

Ashanti 3-Way Electronic Corner Sofa Bed

The Ashanti 3-Way Electronic Corner Sofa Bed, shown in the photo above, is upholstered in a grey easy-clean velvet, so you get the soft feel of velvet with a more practical finish for everyday living. At 310 × 156 cm it is a generous family size, and it moves between a corner sofa, a lounging position and a bed, with an electronic relax mechanism you adjust at the touch of a button.

A quick word on colour

Velvet changes with the light more than most fabrics, and our product pages note that colours may look slightly different depending on your device, screen settings and lighting. If you are matching a sofa to a carpet, wall or curtains, ask us on live chat for a photo taken in daylight. Our guide to choosing a corner sofa bed colour goes into more detail, and if you have animals at home, our pet proof upholstery guide is worth reading too.

The bottom line

Velvet is not fussy, but it does like a little regular attention. Vacuum and brush it weekly, blot spills straight away, check the care label before using water, and keep it out of strong sun. If your household is busy, choose a forgiving mid-tone colour or an easy-clean velvet such as the Ashanti, or take the Easy Clean upgrade where it is offered, such as on the Dover. When you are ready to compare models, browse the full Mega Sale and the wider Corner Sofa Beds With Storage range, and send us a message on live chat if you have any questions about a fabric.