Is Velvet Bedding Practical? Caring for Washable Silk Velvet
Velvet bedding looks like the most indulgent thing you could put on a bed, and it is. But is velvet bedding practical for real life, with real laundry? Ours is. When we started Linen Salvage et Cie, we wanted our fabrics to be natural, and we wanted them washable, with no time for dry cleaning. Here is what our silk velvet is, what we make from it, and exactly how to care for it.
What is our silk velvet?
Our silk velvet uses soft silk (from the silk worm's cocoon) and rayon (from the bamboo plant) together. Our velvet swatch is 82% rayon and 18% silk. It is small batch dyed in California, and many pieces are garment washed for a soft, relaxed hand.
Our first velvet bedding was Velvet Border. Nobody had mixed velvet and linen quite this way: very tailored, simple and chic. From there we added ruffles, rolled out velvet throws, and invented new styles using silk velvet with our own linen, all made in California.
Is velvet bedding practical? Yes, because it is washable
Our velvet bedding is washable luxury. The Isabella collection is machine washable, Velvet Border is machine or hand washable, and our silk velvet throws and Dream pillows are machine washable too. You do not need to dry clean any of them.
The other practical detail: our velvet bedding pairs velvet with linen. On Isabella and Velvet Border, the duvet body is washed linen and cotton, and the velvet is the ruffle or border that frames it. You get the richness of velvet with the breathable, relaxed feel of linen.
Our velvet bedding collections
Isabella Tatter Velvet Ruffle
We began our bedding journey with this romantic collection many years ago. The Isabella Tatter Velvet Ruffle Collection is crafted of small batch dyed linen and velvet, hand cut and artfully sewn. Full, rich gathered silk velvet falls around the bed for a relaxed chic look. The duvet has ruffles on three sides and zips closed, and the shams have ruffles on four sides.
Velvet Border
Inspired by a vintage 1960s mink trimmed coat, Velvet Border Linen Bedding is simple and luxurious, for a soft boudoir style without the ruffles. Softly washed linen is framed with a wide silk velvet border. Layer it with rows of matching shams and velvet pillows in different shades to create your own nest.
Velvet throws and velvet blankets
If you are not ready for a full velvet bed, a velvet throw is the easiest place to start. It drapes over the foot of the bed, a chair or a sofa.
Isabella Silk Velvet Tatter Ruffle Throws
Our most opulent boho style. Isabella Tatter Silk Velvet Ruffle Throws feature a flowing, full hand gathered ruffle capped by a tiny ruffle header. They come in two sizes, Medium 50" x 60" and Large 50" x 70" (sizes do not include ruffles), and are lovely on a chair, a bed or even worn as a scarf for a dramatic evening out.
Colette Silk Velvet Ruffle Throws
Colette Silk Velvet Ruffle Throws are framed on all four sides by full, gathered velvet ruffles and lined in soft washed linen. Toss one over a chair or across the bed. And the best thing about it: it is machine washable.
See every style, including our velvet frame throws, in Silk Velvet Throws.
Velvet pillows
Our silk velvet pillows are made in small batches in California. The Dream Velvet Pillows have a simple hem, are machine washable and come with an insert. The Isabella Tatter Velvet Ruffle Linen Toss Pillows carry the same ruffle as the bedding.
What about velvet sheets?
We love pairing velvet duvets and shams with our cotton poplin sheet sets.
How to wash silk velvet
From our wash care page, for linen and velvet bedding:
- Machine wash in cold water with gentle liquid soap.
- No bleach.
- Lay flat to dry or tumble dry on a cold setting.
- Dry clean if desired.
For our silk velvet throws, the product care notes say: machine or hand wash in cold water on a delicate cycle, tumble dry on a cool setting or lay flat to dry, no bleach, no dry clean.
For velvet pillows, remove the cover and machine wash in cold water on a delicate cycle, then tumble dry with cold air, no heat, or lay flat to dry. No bleach.
Always check the care notes on your product page, since each item lists its own instructions.
Ordering velvet: what to know
- Lead times. Our Linen and Velvet Collection typically needs a 2 to 3 week processing lead time before shipping. Our Velvet Pillows Collection needs 1 to 2 weeks. See Made to Order and Delivery.
- Order all at once. Velvet is dyed in small batches, and dye lots can vary slightly from lot to lot. Buy all the pieces you need together, such as pillows in pairs.
- See the color first. Order a Silk Velvet Swatch, about 4" x 4", in the color you love.
Where velvet fits in our two brands
Our velvet and linen collections sit closest to Linen Salvage Luxe, the brand we created for wholesale and trade customers who love sumptuous layering of soft velvet, linen and other natural fiber fabrics. Select Luxe collections, including silk velvet and linen bedding, velvet pillows and throws, are available to shop here. Learn more on our Linen Salvage Luxe page.