Velvet Christmas Stockings: Black, Burgundy and Emerald Picks

Velvet Christmas stockings in black, burgundy, emerald or deep purple give a mantel a dark, Victorian look. Choose one color for the whole row, pick a trim that matches your other metals, and check the length against your mantel. Hang them only when the fireplace is not in use, and store them flat so the pile stays soft.

Velvet stocking colors compared

Velvet stocking colors change the mood of a mantel more than any other choice. Black is the most gothic, while the jewel tones look softer and more Victorian. The table pairs each color with the trims and rooms that suit it.

A row of matching colors looks calm and deliberate. If each person in the house wants their own color, keep the trim the same on every stocking so the row still hangs together.

Velvet stocking trims and cuffs

Velvet stocking trims decide whether a stocking looks plain, formal or playful. A contrasting cuff, such as black velvet on emerald, gives the clearest outline from across a room. Gold or silver cord along the edge picks up candlelight and lamp light, and a tassel at the heel adds weight at the bottom so the stocking hangs straight.

Embroidered stockings carry more pattern, so they work best in a short row of two or three. Faux fur cuffs soften black velvet and suit a cozier room. Lace trims look delicate up close but can get lost on a high mantel, so save them for a stair rail or a door at eye level.

Sizing velvet stockings for a mantel

Velvet stocking size should follow the width of your mantel and the number you plan to hang. Measure the mantel shelf, then allow a little space between each stocking so the cuffs do not overlap. Check the listed length too: a long stocking can hang down past the top of a fireplace opening.

Look at the hanging loop before you buy. Velvet is heavier than felt or printed cotton, and a full stocking pulls hard on a thin loop. A sewn-in loop of cord or ribbon is a safer sign than a loop that is only glued. For weighted holders and a simple hanging check, see the Nightmare Before Christmas stockings guide, which walks through it step by step.

Hanging velvet stockings near a fireplace

Velvet stockings belong on the mantel only while the fireplace is cold. The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces. A stocking hanging from a mantel shelf is almost always closer than that to the firebox.

No usable mantel? A stair rail, a bookcase edge or a row of hooks on a black door all hold velvet stockings well, and they keep the display away from heat.

Storing velvet stockings between seasons

Velvet stockings keep their soft pile when nothing heavy presses on them in storage. Empty each stocking, remove clip-on charms or pins, and lay the stockings flat or loosely folded on top of a storage box, above ornaments and lights rather than under them. A cloth bag keeps dust off while letting the fabric breathe. If a stocking has care instructions on its tag, follow those.

Matching velvet stockings to the room

Velvet stockings look best when the rest of the room repeats one of their colors. Burgundy stockings pair well with a black tree in a red and black scheme, and emerald suits black and gold. The black Christmas tree color schemes guide covers those palettes, and purple Christmas trees suits deep purple velvet.

For knit stockings, wreaths and garland in black, see black stockings, wreaths and garland. The goth Christmas decor hub links every guide on the site.