Description
Austin velvet is a collection in which colour plays first fiddle. Twenty-one shades give designers and venue owners a freedom rarely experienced when choosing an upholstery fabric. You can match the hue to your brand logo, the colour of the walls, the wood on the bar or the tiles by the entrance, and be sure the palette will contain a shade close to what you are looking for.
At LumoMeble, we upholster made-to-measure venue furniture in Austin velvet: booths, restaurant chairs, bar stools and benches. This page is for choosing a colour and ordering a swatch. Below we describe where Austin works best, how to make use of the wide palette in your interior design, and how to care for velvet upholstery in a venue with heavy traffic.
What is the character of Austin velvet?
Austin is a velvet with a short, soft pile that gives the surface a velvety look. Like any velvet fabric, it reacts to light: looking at a piece of furniture from different sides, you will see subtle transitions from a lighter to a deeper tone. This effect makes the upholstery look lively and natural, and gives tufting and stitching more definition.
The softness of velvet also has a practical dimension. Guests are more willing to sit on upholstered seats at the bar and stay longer in a booth, which in a pub or restaurant translates into a more pleasant evening atmosphere.
The palette of 21 colours in practice
A large choice of shades opens up several possibilities worth using when designing a venue:
Your brand colour on the furniture
If your brand has a distinct corporate colour, upholstering booths or bar stools in a similar shade is one of the simplest ways to make the interior recognisable. Austin gives you a good chance of hitting a hue that works with your visual identity.
Consistency across several venues
Restaurant chains, cafes and franchises often want every location to look similar. Choosing one collection and one colour number makes it easier to order further sets of furniture for new locations. For large orders, it is worth ordering furniture for the whole venue at the same time, so that the upholstery comes from as few fabric batches as possible.
Zones within one room
In a larger venue, the colour of the upholstery can hint to guests at the layout of the space: one shade in the bar area, another in the restaurant section, and yet another at the tables in the winter garden. This keeps the room organised without making it look monotonous.
To compare several shades side by side, order the swatch with the full set of colours or take a look at our sample books, where you can see the full palettes of the collections.
Where does Austin velvet look best?
We especially recommend the collection for interiors that are meant to be both distinctive and welcoming:
- Pubs and bars - bar stools and seats at the counter in a saturated colour liven up the bar area and go well with dark wood.
- Casual dining restaurants and bistros - booths along the walls and chairs at the tables in one collection, but in two matching shades.
- Cafes - light and cheerful colours suit venues with large windows and light worktops.
- Hotels and hostels - reception, breakfast area and bar, where upholstery brings warmth to an interior with high guest turnover.
- Made-to-measure built-ins - long continuous seating and bar booths fitted to unusual alcoves, corners and curves.
Before you order: a short checklist
Before you order a set of furniture in Austin velvet, answer a few questions for yourself. They will help you choose the right fabric for your restaurant:
- How many guests sit on the furniture each day, and how long do they usually stay?
- Are drinks often spilled in the venue, for example at the bar or with takeaway coffee?
- Does the venue have requirements regarding the flammability of fabrics, for example in a hotel or banquet hall?
- Do guests come to the venue with pets?
- What light dominates the room in the evening: warm or cool?
If any answer raises doubts, write to us. We check the detailed technical parameters of the collection, such as composition, weight or abrasion result, against the technical data sheet and pass them on before you order. When the requirements of your venue are exceptionally high, we will also suggest an alternative from the other velvets in our range.
Caring for Austin velvet upholstery
Velvet repays regular, gentle care. In a venue, the best approach is a simple routine carried out by staff after the dining room closes. Vacuum seats with a soft brush or an upholstery nozzle, moving it in the direction of the pile. Pay attention to the gaps between the seat and the backrest of a booth, where crumbs collect.
Mop up a spilled drink immediately by pressing an absorbent paper towel on it, without rubbing. Remove the stain with a cloth dampened with water and a little mild detergent, working from the edge to the centre, and finally wipe the area with a clean damp cloth. Do not use bleach, solvents or strong stain removers, and always test new products in an inconspicuous spot. Once dry, brush the pile so that the upholstery regains a uniform look. In the busiest season, it is worth planning professional upholstery cleaning.
How to order furniture upholstered in Austin velvet
Start with a swatch. On this page, add a swatch with all colours to your basket. It costs PLN 15 net and lets you see the shade, sheen and softness of the fabric in your interior. You will find other materials in the fabric swatches section.
Once the colour is chosen, go to the furniture page and click “Configure”. The configurator lets you set the dimensions and finish, and in the material step you select Austin velvet and the colour number. We make all furniture to order, so you can order booths, chairs, bar stools and tables that form a coherent set for your venue.
Frequently asked questions
How many colours does Austin velvet come in?
The collection includes 21 shades. You can order each of them as a separate swatch.
Is Austin suitable for a pub or bar?
Yes, it is one of our favourite uses for this collection. The saturated velvet colours look good on bar stools and booths at the bar, especially alongside wood and warm lighting.
Can I match the upholstery colour to my brand colour?
The wide palette increases the chance of hitting your corporate colour. Order swatches of the several closest shades and compare them with your brand materials in the light of your venue.
Will I receive the technical data sheet of the fabric?
Yes, write to us before ordering. We will check the available technical data for the collection and help you assess whether Austin meets the requirements of your venue.
Will a later order come in an identical shade?
Fabrics are produced in batches, and slight differences in shade may occur between them. For larger projects we recommend ordering furniture for the whole room at the same time, and when buying additional furniture, give the colour number and the date of the previous order.
