On Choosing Color ...
The color of any furniture item should be chosen in relation to its space. Seeing a bright-colored sofa in a perfect living room setting in a showroom can give a vastly different appearance when placed in your own living room.
Nothing would make a grander statement than a huge piece of furniture in a color that catches the eye. That being said, making a statement with colored furniture is not everyone's taste or cup of tea. So, will it be a neutral beige, or a stark black, or a bright red, or a subtle blue? The most important deciding factor is how you take to the color, how comfortable you are with it. Why? It shows, when you are enjoying in your living space, entertaining your guests, or simply spending some time with your family.
Your comfort with the colors in that space makes others around you comfortable. That is why, YOUR choice of color and YOUR comfort with it, for a piece of furniture as big as a sofa is imperative. There are color families, and there are a multitude of hues within each family. What will your take be? Which color sofa should you buy for your living room? Here's some help.
The Eternal Neutral
To pair bright colors with neutrals is the thumb rule of any form of styling, be it for your clothes or for your home. A beige, tan, gray, white, or ivory-colored sofa is always going to go well with any kind of décor. And this is its biggest benefit. A seemingly dull space can be transformed simply by throwing in a couple of colored cushions on the sofa, a throw on the back, or with a bright vase next to it. On the other hand, a very vibrant space with a colored wall can be toned down with the placement of a neutral-colored sofa. So, whether you have blue walls or taupe, sage green or burnt orange, these colors are likely to fit in anywhere.
Go for a Neutral Color if ... - You are conservative in your decorating taste and prefer to decorate with accessories that can be changed often.
- You have very dark walls, and need a piece of furniture to counter the lack of brightness in the room.
Quick Tip: Don't always try to break the monochromatic color scheme of a sofa with accessories. If done well, monochromatic schemes can transform a dull living room to a classy and elegant one.
The Subtle and Soft
If neutrals seem boring to you, go for soft hues such as the ones shown above. They are not overtly bold, yet they stand out enough to make a statement. In rooms with bright or neutral colors, these, when paired with accessories of similar shades and tones, can make a great starting point for colorphobes. Muted hues that go beyond the obvious neutrals are perfect for such individuals.
Go for a Light Color if ... - You dislike regular neutrals and want to slowly start experimenting with colored furniture.
- You have a small and dull living space that you want to brighten up with a statement sofa.
Quick Tip: Still getting used to the color? Use lots of cushions to contrast the base sofa color, and a throw to cover the sofa, so you get just a glimpse of the sofa color and are not overwhelmed by it. When you are ready for the color, get rid of the throw to reveal the beauty that your sofa is.
The Deep and Dark
Why would you opt for a dark-colored sofa? Because it doesn't show wear and dirt that easily. Brown sofas were the norm once upon a time, and for a reason. They complemented everything, they beautifully hid dirt and stains, and they were long lasting. If you find it too old-fashioned, jazz up your brown sofa with colorful cushions. And even if you don't, it will still look elegant as is in any given space, provided the space is bright. Dark sofas are not dull and dingy; they are godsends when you have a lot of traffic in your living room.
Go for a Dark Color if ...- You have toddlers and a lot of traffic in your living room.
- You have a huge living room and want to create a cozy seating area.
- There is enough light in the room, both natural and artificial.
Quick Tip: To break the monotony and heaviness of dark colors, have one light-colored piece of furniture to balance the dark furniture. This could be an ottoman, a single armchair, or even a light-colored coffee table.
The Bold and Beautiful
Bold colors are for big spaces; or so you have been told. But a bold color really just needs subtle complementing or contrasting décor to work. Bold singular sofas with darker, larger sofas balance the color in the space beautifully. Balancing out the boldness of a bright sofa with a neutral colored sofa of the same size is a great way to embrace the splash of color. Let the colored sofa stand out, but not hurt the eye. It takes a lot of gall to go for a bold color, particularly red, orange, and the like. So, consider your room size and your personal preference before you choose one.
Go for a Bold Color if ... - You want to showcase your vibrant personality through your décor.
- You are confident that you can bear the boldness of color for a long time to come.
Quick Tip: Get a neutral sofa and experiment with colorful slip covers to add the desired color to the sofa and the living room.
Some More Inspiration
Dark sofas don't always need big spaces. Because the room is so well-lit, a black sofa doesn't constrict the space. In fact, it gives the room something to talk about with its stark contrast with the neutral space.
For those who are conservative, opt for a neutral sofa and add muted colors with printed and colored ottomans and cushions.
Amid a conservative color scheme, go for a singular sofa/day bed in a soft (not neutral but not bold) shade to make a statement.
If you want to experiment with color but are still concerned about its appearance, go for a sofa with a neutral body (such as white, tan, etc.) and opt for colorful seat and back cushions that you can change to whatever color/print you like when you tire of it.
