When I was a kid we had a sofa that felt like velvet, but it was much cheaper. Recently, I thought it might be microfiber, but the more I read about it the less sure I am. Could that be the right material? Does microfiber feel similar to velvet?
No, it does not. It was likely velveteen, very similar to velvet, less expensive and not as thick and luxurious. Microfiber is another class of fabric, way down on the quality list. I would never choose microfiber for anything but a duster and sofa material should be cotton or silk or velvet, which is a blend of silk and cotton. Fine metallic threads are a wonderful addition to upholstery fabric but, velvet is my favorite for chairs. A floral with metallic threads is great on a sofa, or velvet. I love velvet. But it should be upholstery quality - more durable than something you would wear. Microfiber is paper thin and cheap. Cheap, cheap and more cheap. Not suitable for upholstery.
