Reupholstering a sofa with a custom-made cover is the first step in transforming a living room from coastal vibes to a Hollywood allure. Picking the right upholstery silhouette and fabric takes a few weeks to do.
The sofa in the picture started with a contemporary off-white cover in an Upper East Side apartment. Living on the Upper East Side, coastal style helps bring sunlit weekend vibes to a dense urban environment in the winter.
When I moved this sofa to a coastal neighbourhood with a natural saltwater breeze in the air, embracing a more glamorous and playful style inspired by Hollywood Regency interiors was an easy decision.
Finding inspiration in Hollywood
A lot of the bars and restaurants I like to visit on vacation in warmer places have a heavy Hollywood Regency influence. Interior designers today turn to an Old Hollywood inspiration for the way in which it brings glitz to a room without sacrificing warmth and comfort.
The influence of early 20th century Hollywood styles has persevered over the years, and, close to a century later, may even be viewed as “classic”. Blue velvet might not be an intuitive choice for making a contemporary interior more approachable, but it is a well worn and popular choice that has stood the test of time.
In the classic ’80s soap opera Dallas, oilman Clifford Barnes’ has a luxurious living room furnished in blue velvet. While the show’s set was not my inspiration, it is a beautiful illustration of the lasting Hollywood design influence.
Choosing an upholstery silhouette and fabric
When I decided to reupholster this sofa, I was initially driven by the fact that I wanted something more fun to sit on during the COVID lockdown. I was spending more time in my home and wanted guests to enjoy being hosted.
When I started browsing mom-and-pop shops that could make a cover, there were two decisions to be made: silhouette and fabric. The main silhouette decision that you’ll make when reupholstering a sofa is whether or not to include piping. I knew I didn’t want piping as it shows wear and tear and can feel a bit old fashioned.
I ordered a lot of fabric swatches from the shops I was exploring. Reviewing fabric swatches is important because sometimes fabrics appear differently in the light of your home than they do in the studio where they are photographed for a website or catalogue. Fabric swatches also allow you to touch the fabric before purchasing.
I chose velvet for this cover because it is soft and fuzzy. The tactile appeal of velvet is what makes it “playful” or “fun”. Out of all the velvet swatches I reviewed, the blue swatch was the most sophisticated. I chose blue because I wanted to maintain a feeling of dignity in the room.
The reupholstered blue velvet sofa anchors the ambience of the redecorated living room and exudes Hollywood comfort and glamour, while maintaining the contemporary sophistication of the original, off-white coastal style. Learn more about modifying your furniture with articles on upholstery and hardware.
