Best Velvet Sofas 2022: Soho Home to Oka

By Aaron Toumazou

Giving living rooms five-star hotel suite appeal since the seventies, the modern-day velvet sofa moment is going nowhere. Here's GQ's pick of the best you can buy

From tailored dinner jackets to sumptuous curtains, velvet denotes luxury wherever it goes. The same can be said of velvet sofas; first made popular by seventies glamazons and now a mainstay of luxury members clubs and only the best-designed homes. More than providing a plush texture that will instantly add a sense of elegance to a living space, the best velvet sofas are also among the cosiest and most comfortable seating options you can choose. With abundant styles, colours and designs to choose from, while velvet sofas are a natural fit for period properties, plenty also adheres to contemporary interior design codes.

Looking to invest in something a touch more formal and a tonne more inviting? You’re in the right place. Sit back, get comfortable (at least, as comfortable as you can be in the substandard seat from which you’re reading), and heed our advice on the best velvet sofas available right now.

Soho Home does a great job of bringing the glam seventies into the 2020s with the Wyatt sofa. Along with a look that’ll command attention in any living room, its deep seats, plush back and cushions that extend right over its arms make this the comfiest sofa in our edit.

Think velvet sofas, think the Graham & Green Doze. It has everything we could ever ask of a timeless velvet sofa, from its voluptuous shape to its immaculate colour and wooden, wheeled legs.

Finding a budget velvet sofa that doesn't look tacky is no mean feat, but Swoon's Wright sofa bed does all that and more by also offering a place for guests to rest their heads.

The aesthetic value of a velvet sofa is one of its main draws, giving off a plushness and soft sheen that brings an instant sense of sophistication. If its seventies appeal isn't necessarily the vibe you’re going for, the fact that the fabric is associated with European nobility, particularly the renaissance period, should assure you of its timelessness.

Velvet sofas deliver on more than just looks, though. They also boast ample comfort to back up their appearance and a tactile softness that's perfect for snuggling up on nights in. You can leave your durability preconceptions at the living room door, too; velvet is actually surprisingly hard-wearing and relatively easy to maintain. Care for it well and it should see you through many a season (and by that, we are of course referring to House of the Dragon).

Think velvet, think jewel tones. Ruby reds, emerald greens and sapphire blues go with velvet sofas like blockbuster films go with Sunday afternoons. Not only do these richer colours catch the light better than most, but they also perfectly translate the elegance a velvet sofa can bring to a room.

That said, there's no need to limit yourself to these darker, more sumptuous hues, with many brands now offering a whole rainbow of vibrant or more muted velvet colourways to choose from. Of the 42 colour choices available in Loaf's "clever velvet" range, for example, shades like "flushed cheek", "gardening glove green" and "pudding spoon" offer more powdery palettes for those who want to keep colour schemes neutral while still benefiting from velvet's plushness and comfort.

Not all velvet is created equal. While silk tends to be the primary material of high-quality velvet, cheaper varieties incorporate linen, cotton, wool and synthetic fibres. Sourcing a quality velvet sofa means checking the density of its fibres and ensuring the pile runs consistently in the same direction.

While budget-friendly velvet sofas do exist, for the most part, they’re more expensive than cotton or linen sofas, and thanks to their generally bigger, bolder designs, they’re not always the best fit for smaller spaces. Certain types of velvet can be harder to maintain and susceptible to stains; worth mulling over if you own a pet looking to get in on something plusher than their chewed-up dog bed.

Finally, though sheen can be a major part of a velvet sofa's charm, it should only be subtle enough to catch the light – too shiny and it will look cheap and artificial. Given this kind of thing can't often be told through online imagery, we’d recommend ordering sample fabric swatches (and testing them in different lights) or going to see the model you’re interested in before you invest.

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Sometimes simplicity is the best solution for your interior choices, and the sleek and simple Battersea sofa by Darlings of Chelsea delivers on all fronts. The low and deep, cushionless sofa is perfect for lazy days, encouraging feet up and a full season of reality TV in one sitting. Of all the sofas in our edit, Darlings of Chelsea offers the greatest choice when it comes to velvet finishes, going from its "house" fabric to easy clean velvet, linen-look velvet, matt, Moleskine, recycled – you name it. All are available in a core range of colourways, and we’d recommend going for something light and bright to upkeep the minimalist vibes. That said, it's hard to resist the richness of hunter green, which is sure to get guests complimenting. From £1,254. At darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

If you spend your weekends perusing antique markets for G-plan storage solutions, we have a feeling you’ll like this one. Soho Home's Atlanta sofa takes things in a rather different aesthetic direction to others in our edit thanks to its solid oak frame and rattan arm panelling – feeding into all our mid-century dreams. The olive green hue of the velvet and details like antique brass leg caps lend it a typical luxe edge, while two smaller cushions on each side ensure comfort doesn't come second to those members club vibes. More than just a place to sit, this sofa sells a lifestyle – we’re picturing an extra dirty martini and a good Murakami book. £2,795. At sohohome.com

With styles that span modular chaise longues to classic chesterfields, the beauty of Loaf's vast sofa selection comes in the customisation. Our pick, The Crumpet, synergises perfectly with the elegance of velvet by offering exceptionally plump seat cushions, bulbous arms, and a selection of large scatter cushions to sink into at the back. It's available in four sizes, from small (160cm long) to extra large (252cm) and among a grand total of 135 fabrics you can buy it in, 42 come in its "clever" spill-resistant velvet.

The Italian-sourced fabric is especially durable and easy to upkeep, and, in our humble opinion, comes into its own in a vivid green hue like "grass clippings". Not convinced it can withstand the rigours of your mucky pup? Loaf's Castelan Protection provides cover for five years against accidental damage. Added extras include the option to raise the legs and add a corresponding footstool, while advanced website tools mean you can get a good grasp on what you need without necessarily having to visit a showroom. From £2,285. At loaf.com

So nice we listed them twice, Soho Home's range of velvet sofas is as good as it gets when it comes to choice right now. Each of its sofas offers a sense of sophistication and elegance to mirror its namesake global members clubs. None more so, however, than the Wyatt. Leaning into the velvet sofa's seventies heyday, it emanates the relaxed glamour of Soho House's LA warehouse space. Thanks to cushions that extend up and over its arms, the Wyatt is asking to be jumped into after the kind of day's work that only an evening of television can revive you from, while a deep seat and plump back cushions offer immense comfort. Like all of Soho Home's range, it's worth investing in a Soho Friends membership before you buy – it’ll score you a saving of just under £500. £3,295. At sohohome.com

Velvet isn't always the most forgiving material, so it's often easier to tell apart a cheap velvet sofa from an expensive one. Arguably, the best case for cutting costs is when you’re looking for a velvet sofa that doubles as a bed in your spare room or study. That being said, Swoon's Wright sofa bed comes with strong main character energy if you’re working with smaller spaces and could use the extra sleeper. The navy blue hue sits between timeless and vibrant and is a natural pairing for this sofa's gleaming gold-toned legs. The ridged seat gives it a more contemporary feel and, for many people will constitute a pleasurable texture to sleep on. It's worth noting, though, that dozing directly on velvet can be a cause for a clammy night, especially in the summer months, so investing in a good mattress topper for when you’re sleeping guests is a must. £475. At next.co.uk and swooneditions.com

Evoking the style of a country manor, Graham and Green's Doze sofa is exactly what springs to our mind when we think of a velvet sofa. From its inviting rounded shape to its plush seat cushions, wood legs and brass castor wheels, plus a colourway that is entirely in keeping with today's hottest interior trends, there's so much to love about this classic style. Made in England, if it's not right for your house right now, put it pride of place on your future manorhouse renovation mood board. £2,495. At grahamandgreen.co.uk

When buying a chesterfield-style velvet sofa you can either lean into its period charm with a jewel tone or completely subvert the look in something bright and bold. John Lewis offers plenty of opportunities to do just that with its colour options, of which lurid harriet red could be just the thing for a minimalist room or one plastered in modern art. John Lewis is known for its reliability and doesn't disappoint with large furniture investments like sofas. The trusty retailer offers a 15-year frame guarantee and rigorous quality tests on its fabrics to ensure they exceed the industry standard for domestic wear. £2,049. At johnlewis.com

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Much like in fashion, where you can often distinguish an item's value via subtleties in its colour tones, Oka's Coleridge sofa gets across an instant sense of luxury thanks to the richness of its sapphire navy blue hue. Due to the lustre of the fabric, which is instantly apparent from the moment you clock it in a room, this is the kind of sofa you want to stroke. The Coleridge takes on a classic, versatile look with a high back and plump seat cushions, easily factored into a room of eclectic period artefacts, but just as quickly made modern with the addition of some well-placed geometric cushions. Speaking of versatility, wheeled legs mean it's easily moved around, a plus for anyone who likes to regularly experiment with room layout. £2,595. At oka.com

Living proof that what we’ve been saying about velvet sofas not having to belong in Victorian townhouses is true, Heals Isola sofa looks straight out of a Pierre Koenig grand design in the Hollywood hills. Designed by up-and-coming London designer Lucy Kurrein, the contemporary look is given by its unique curvature, which comes into its own when situated in the middle of a room, rather than pushed up against a wall. There's also the option to buy it with a corresponding ottoman that perfectly echoes the curves of the sofa, while also making it more appealing for lounging. Beyond its eye-catching design, the Isola sofa boasts comfort that stands up to plumper-looking velvet sofas by employing luxurious memory foam for total support and comfort. £4,079. At heals.com

Swyft's modular 03 sofa is something of a furniture icon thanks to a double-whammy of contemporary sophistication and total versatility. Beyond being able to chop and change its configuration as you please, with three core seats and a chaise for lounging, it's available in a smorgasbord of stain-resistant fabric types and boasts four different ranges of velvet alone. As well as its standard collection, there are even more sumptuous royal velvet options, textural and tactile mottled velvet, and recycled eco-velvet for those looking to furnish their homes with more planet-friendly choices. In a hurry? Swyft's sofa-in-a-box-business model does away with the common 12-week lead times, with new made-to-order options available in a record 10 days and core fabrics available with even speedier 24-hour delivery. While there are 21 colours to choose from, we think keeping things neutral is the way to go with Swyft's modular style, so don't cower from a lighter shade like bone. Swyft's stain-free technology is industry-leading, after all. £3,130. At swyfthome.com

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