4 Questions to Answer as You Choose the Right Sofa Color (original) (raw)

Pick the Best Color for Your Space

The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi

If you’re starting a decorating project from scratch, choosing your sofa color first is important so you can decorate around it. It's the perfect time to choose an inspirational showpiece sofa upholstered in a vibrant luxury fabric or colorful print that becomes the room's focal point. When you’re adding a sofa to an already-established color palette or decor or searching for a statement piece, consider whether the sofa should be neutral or if it will take on an accent role in the room.

The most common approach is buying a sofa that complements the other decor so it is not the center of attention nor disappears into the walls. Neutral sofa colors are favorable for most homes but vivid hues are becoming more popular. Read on for tips to help you choose the best color couch for your home.

Tip

Some designers favor selecting a sofa that matches the wall color to unify and enlarge the room, while others opt for a sofa color that contrasts the walls with vivid colors.

Popular Sofa Colors

Here are some of the most popular sofa colors and why they work well in a variety of homes.

Gray: A gray couch is flexible and works with all colors, from navy blue to pink, creams, and the unexpected purple. Lighter gray calms down a room and darker gray creates a cozy cocoon.
Green: A green sofa is bold and luxurious, and brings depth and color to any style of living room—pair it with pinks and creams and if you're looking for luxe, go for emerald green velvet.
Pink: Pink, considered the new neutral, softens a room, especially when pale and blush pinks are paired with creams, blacks, and browns.
Blue: Blue is a popular sofa color but there are so many variations of the hue that it takes careful consideration whether you prefer a more neutral tone or a stand-out bright blue.
Cream: Soft and neutral, a cream sofa works with other textured neutrals and any color from blues, yellows, and pinks.
Black: A black sofa hides dirt and is perfect for an elegant, dramatic, moody living room aesthetic.
Beige: This classic couch color remains popular for a good reason—this warm, cozy color is extremely versatile and enduring in any style or color living room.
Brown: A brown sofa fits into any style, from rustic to traditional, like the classic camel leather sofa and this reliable neutral mixes well with wood and other natural materials.
Navy: A navy blue sofa is one of the more versatile blues that is warm and welcoming and goes with just about any color scheme from neutrals to saturated jewel tones.
Teal: This rich, vibrant, deep blue-green hue is bold and calming all at once and makes a great choice for a traditional, eclectic style, or boho-style living room. Pair it with white, cream, and if you dare, a bit of orange.
White: A bright white sofa paired with blue accessories inspires a beachy vibe and goes equally well with creams and darker neutrals for a modern look.

Light vs. Dark Sofas

Once you decide if your sofa will be an accent or neutral color, you'll need to decide if your sofa will be a lighter or darker color. Here are some points to consider.

Dark Sofa Considerations

Your flooring could impact your choice of a light sofa vs. a dark sofa. A dark couch placed on a dark floor could disappear and may considerably darken the room overall. There are three ways to fix the issue.

Legs: Pick a sofa with metal or light wood legs to brighten up the space and create visual space between the sofa and the floor.
Rug: Layer a lighter-tone rug under the front of your sofa to separate the dark colors and make the sofa color pop.
Table: Choose a light wood or metal coffee table to help define the sofa from the floor.

Light Sofa Considerations

The biggest challenge of living with a light sofa is the staining and dirt that accumulates on a fabric couch. If you have kids, pets, or frequently entertain and still want a light-colored sofa, the best solution for keeping your couch clean is to opt for one with a stylish, washable slipcover.

The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi

Choosing the Right Sofa Color

Pick a couple of colors from your living room's color scheme to help you determine the best one for your sofa. If you have a neutral living room, you can still play with color. Add accessories or prints in the same color family to spread the hues around the room. Repeated notes of similar colors help the sofa feel balanced, even when working with brighter shades.

A sofa fabric in a neutral tone is a great option because it's a timeless color. A neutral fabric also lets you decorate with different color schemes without the need to buy a new sofa. Consider these neutrals for your sofa:

Beige: A beige sofa fabric can appear dull around other colors, so consider a textured beige fabric with flecks of monochromatic color to create interest.
Gray: Gray sofas are considered sophisticated, cool, and crisp and can range from pale to charcoal colors.
Taupe: Taupe is a color that's not quite brown and not quite gray, which makes it a versatile warm or cool neutral.
Cream: Though stylish, a cream sofa can also look dull in a room unless it's paired with other earth tones for a calming, elegant look.

The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi

Finishing Touches

Complete your room with the new sofa by adding a few finishing touches. For additional seating, a set of upholstered chairs incorporating the sofa color is a flexible option if you don't want a matching loveseat. Add accent pillows and throws for those little touches of color that give your living room a harmonious, pulled-together look.

The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi

Best Sofas Roundup

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FAQ

Neutrals like gray, beige, brown, and cream remain the most popular colors for a sofa for their practicality and versatility. Blue is also a perennially popular choice.
A lighter sofa will make a room seem larger by commanding less visual space. To make a room seem as large as possible, a sofa the same color as lighter-colored walls will appear to open the entire space up. However, the same concept goes for a living room with darker hues; a dark sofa, walls, and flooring give a room incredible depth and will make the room feel larger.
Darker colors and fabrics with patterns are the easiest to clean because they hide a variety of spills and stains.
Choosing a sofa that is darker than the walls will create a balanced look in your living room. However, in a large room with darker walls, a lighter sofa can create coziness.
Neutral tones like beige, light brown, and cream never go out of style. Choose these colors instead of trendier options and your sofa will never seem out-of-date.