The teal velvet sofa in that picture feels familiar, right? That’s because you’ve probably seen it twice a week, or more, for as long as you’ve been following Monikh Dale.
There’s a reason why you feel like you’ve been inside the influencer’s South-West London flat: it’s the signature backdrop to most of her Instagram posts.
And while Monikh makes a living through sponsored fashion posts, styling and writing gigs, she has also become known for interiors by default.
Because in today’s curated world, social media posts are treated almost like an editorial – no detail goes unnoticed.
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A deep dive scroll through your favourite influencer’s grid will take you back to simpler days, when only the outfit mattered. But now, even a nonchalant mirror selfie will have a purposeful reflection – a well-placed plant or print perhaps, or some perfectly plumped Bella Freud pillows.
While the intentions may be well-meaning – all in the name of aesthetics, that is – the outcome is slightly more problematic: now your sofa is just as much of a statement symbol as your new It bag. The cycle of purchase pressure continues.
Still, the world of interiors and fashion has always been intertwined, with catwalk trends influencing decor and architecture influencing clothing. So you can’t blame influencers such as Pandora Sykes, Lucy Williams, Katherine Ormerod and Camille Charrière for aspiring (and succeeding) to nail both.
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Monikh’s approach is creative: she often uses just one corner of her living room, curating different sets using some easy props such as a bamboo room divider, and switching around chairs and tables, plants, prints and pots. The result is simple, but stylish. And her followers are constantly asking where they can find her furniture.
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If you’re reluctant to switch things up, dip a toe into this trend by buying a love seat, or one of made.com’s neat two-part bench sofa beds. It will add a playful accent to any room. If you’re ready to invest though, these are our favourite velvet sofas out there:
