Sofas are big investment pieces. So learning how to choose the best couch color for you and your home is certainly worth the effort.
Whether it’s a bright jewel shade or a soft neutral, picking the perfect sofa color is an important decision. And for many different reasons. For starters, the couch is very often the most hardworking piece of furniture in our living rooms. It’s the place to relax in front of a good movie and kick back at the end of the day. We use our sofas to sit and chat with family and friends or curl up with a good book.
Functionally then, the couch needs to be comfortable, welcoming, and big enough to seat everyone, all at the same time, if necessary. However, your sofa is also a key, decorating tool for your living room.
Should you make a statement with a bold statement hue? Or pick out a neutral that can adapt to different wall and floor treatments should you wish to re-decorate in the future?
To make sure you get the couch color that ticks every box, we headed straight to the interior designers for their top tips.
8 Interior Design Tips To Help You Choose A Couch Color
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Whether you’re redecorating the entire living space or simply looking for a sofa upgrade, settling on a couch color can be one of the biggest challenges.
‘Choosing a sofa color is more than just a design decision, it’s about creating a space that reflects your personality and provides a place to unwind,’ explains Claire Garner, director of Claire Garner Interiors.
‘With any choice in interior design, you have to ask what the mood or vibe is that you’re looking to achieve. Very broadly, do you want light and airy or moody and rich? Or something in between?’ adds designer Lucie Ayres of Californian-based 22 Interiors. ‘If you get an idea of the mood you want, how bright you want the sofa to be in the space, then you can drill down on color options.’
‘For light and airy, that might mean a neutral cream, beige, or a hue that’s more of a hint of color – very pale blue, grey, or green. For a more moody and colorful look, the palette I always gravitate towards is jewel tones like emerald green, navy blue, and burgundy.’
1. Pick out a vesatile neutral
(Image credit: Lulu & Georgia)
A neutral palette is often associated with timeless interiors so choosing a neutral-colored couch is a failsafe option. With such a vast range of cool and warm neutrals on offer, you won’t be stuck for choice.
It’s easy to see why interior designers gravitate towards this classic color spectrum. They effortlessly complement their surroundings, making them a perennial favorite.
‘A white or off-white sofa, especially if it’s in a linen material, will always be timeless,’ explains David Harris, design director at Andrew Martin. ‘Incredibly versatile, this color integrates into a wide range of design schemes and aesthetics. Their understated beauty serves as a blank canvas, allowing for endless possibilities in terms of accessorizing and styling.’
‘I often recommend neutrals for sofas,’ agrees Claire Garner, ‘They are sure to create a calming atmosphere in the home. Whether you opt for cool tones like stone and clay, or the understated elegance of taupe and beige, neutral sofas offer simplicity and flexibility, allowing you to introduce color through accessories.’
2. Commit to a bold couch color
(Image credit: Bethany Adams Interiors, J.L. Jordan Photography)
If you adore bright shades, a neutral color for your couch might not suit your design tempo. Instead, pick out a bold hue and make an impact with colorful seating.
‘I am generally inclined towards selecting a boldly colored sofa in a more neutral room,’ explains Kentucky-based designer Bethany Adams. ‘I think this makes more of an impact than the inverse because walls are easy to paint, but upholstering a sofa in a magnificent hue takes gumption. That kind of bravado does not go unnoticed by guests and you are sure to get compliments galore when you commit to a bold new sofa color.’
But how to choose the right bold hue? Adams suggests looking around the room as a good starting point. ‘Is there anything existing that you can pull a color from? An artwork, stained glass, a lighter colored wall? And if you’re really stuck, there’s nothing wrong with starting from scratch with a color that delights you and work from there. Colors make us happy and we spend so much time on our sofas, I can think of no better piece of furniture to splash out on.’
3. Expand a room visually with the same couch and wall color
(Image credit: Sara Tramp)
‘To make a room feel larger and more spacious, opt for a sofa color that is similar to the color of the walls,’ advises Californian designer Hayley English. ‘The goal here was to create an intimate, cozy space that feels connected to nature – the deep green evokes a sense of tranquility and comfort.’
‘Repeated use of similar colors will help the sofa feel harmonious, even when dealing with brighter shades,’ agrees Alexander Shepel, founder of Shepel.
The rich green performance velvet on this bespoke sleeper sofa merges effortlessly with Farrow & Ball’s Calke Green paint on the walls.
‘The warm undertones of the rich green are complemented with warm neutrals such as a herringbone wool fabric, a camel beige cotton dhurrie rug and woven wood Roman shades,’ adds Hayley. ‘They provide a texture break from the plush fabrics.’
4. Consider the entire room’s color palette
(Image credit: Stephanie Russo)
Given that sofas are typically the largest or one of the largest pieces of furniture in a room, there’s one expert tip you should never ignore: look at the space as a whole before picking out a couch color. It’s about establishing context for the color, whether that’s with a carpet or printed fabric.
‘It’s crucial to consider the entire living room color scheme and evaluate the existing palette, including the walls, rugs, and existing furniture,’ explains designer Audrey Scheck.
And the premise stays the same whether you’re a color maximalist or into barely-there neutrals. ‘If it’s a light-filled room, you might want to bring in the outdoors with an earthy green,’ adds Marea Clark. ‘If it’s a mostly neutral space, it gives you a chance to bring in a bit of color – maybe choose something that brings out the hues in the room’s art.’
5. Find a medium-value couch color
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
William Cullum, senior designer at New York based Jayne Design Studio, is a big fan of using medium-value colors for the couch.
‘Something too dark will show every bit of lint, something too light will show every little stain,’ explains William. ‘I also tend to choose fabrics with inherent variation so they are a bit more forgiving.’
Medium-value colors are not just practical though he is keen to add, they also create extra interest. ‘The perennial question I hear when presenting upholstery options is: ‘What happens if I get tired of the color?’ and my response is always that it’s just as easy to become tired of beige as it is to become tired of any other color (and in my personal opinion I would become instantly tired of seeing a large piece of beige upholstery!)’
6. Inject warmth with earthy tones
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
We all want to create an inviting atmosphere in our living rooms, right? And an easy way to do just that is with an earthy colored couch.
‘Today’s color palette for sofas is all about evoking a sense of warmth,’ says David Harris. ‘We’re seeing a resurgence of rich and earthy tones. Think warm reds, deep browns, rustic bricks, lush greens, calming blues, and timeless naturals. These hues not only add a touch of sophistication to a space but also create an inviting atmosphere.’
7. Balance couch color and texture
(Image credit: Luncinda Sanford)
Fabric and texture play significant roles when choosing a color for your couch too. As Audrey Scheck says: ‘A velvet or leather sofa in a rich color can add sophistication and depth, while a linen or cotton sofa in a lighter shade offers a casual, airy feel.’
‘Consider the durability of the fabric, especially for high-traffic areas, and choose materials or patterns that will withstand wear and tear. Balance the sofa’s color and texture with other elements in the room to achieve a balanced and layered look.’
Whatever couch color you choose, in order for it to have longevity it should first and foremost reflect your own personal interior design style.
‘When starting a decorating project from scratch, create your own signature!’ says Nick Cryer of Berkeley Place. ‘It’s a perfect opportunity to choose an inspirational showpiece sofa in a luxury fabric and color that will set the creative tone for your living room.’
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