How to Choose the Perfect Couch Colour

The couch can be considered the heart of the living room and is often the focal point as well. Therefore, when you have to choose a sofa colour, it can be daunting. There are many things to consider, such as the colour scheme of your space, your existing decor, the living room lighting, and many other elements. It's a lot!

But it doesn't have to be! You don't have to be an interior designer to know how to choose couch colour palettes that work for your space. In this article, we'll guide you on what to consider when choosing the optimal colour for your sofa!

What to consider when buying a sofa

Here are some key elements to consider when choosing sofa colours:

• Your living room size
• How do you use your living room?
• Will the sofa be a statement piece?
• Your existing decor and colour palette
• Try not to follow "trends"
• When in doubt, choose neutral tones

Watch this space

Getting a new sofa can be fun, but one of the most important elements to consider is your space. This is similar to choosing the right-sized clothes for your body - no matter how stylish the outfit is, it won't look good if it doesn't fit your body correctly. The same is true for a sofa - no matter how attractive, it will look out of place if it's too large or small for your space.

You want your sofa to be functional and appealing without taking over the room.

Size matters

Most might see a small living room as a challenge when choosing the right sofa colour, but it doesn't have to be. A pale or lighter shade can reflect natural light and make the room feel more airy and spacious.

However, you don't have to limit your choice to light-coloured sofas. Choosing a darker tone for your sofa and wall colour can make your living room feel homier.

If you have a larger room to work with, you have more freedom to experiment with different colours. You can choose a monochrome colour palette, vivid contrasts, or neutral colours.

Apart from choosing your new sofa colour, your main focus is how you intend to use the room. This also depends on whether you're working with a blank canvas or existing decor.

Here are some tips on how to make a small living room look bigger

Living room or family room?

Think about how your living space is used. Is it a family space used daily, or is it a living space reserved for hosting and special occasions? By answering this question, you can narrow down the right colour and material for your sofa.

Family room

If your space is used daily and you have kids or pets, perhaps a leather sofa would work best. Leather sofas are durable and easy to clean, especially when pet hair is involved. You can choose a darker shade, such as brown or black. If you choose a leather sofa, avoid placing it in direct sunlight, which could dry out the leather and cause cracks.

If leather's not to your liking, you can consider a microfiber couch, where you'll have more colours to choose from.

Navy blue, light gray, or dark gray are colours that are easier to work with when creating a cohesive look. However, they are still taking into consideration the durability of your sofa should you choose microfiber.

Check out more information on how to choose the best family-friendly sofa.

Living room

If your living space is used more for hosting and get-togethers, you should consider more delicate materials for your sofa, such as silk or velvet. The colour you choose will also depend on whether your sofa will be a statement piece in your living room. If it is, you'd most likely want to choose colours that create vivid contrasts in your living space. This brings us to our next point.

Make a statement with your sofa colours

Using your living room sofa as a focal point gives you the option to use jewel tones or bold colours.

Velvety colours such as red or tangerine will immediately draw attention to your sofa. A velvet green sofa will also add elegance and freshness to your space. Or, you can choose a yellow sofa to add colour to the room.

Pink is a bold colour. But try not to overuse it as it could seem gaudy. So, if you use pink as your sofa colour, make sure it's the only prominent furniture piece in this shade. Use a cooler shade, such as black or grey, for the rest of your living room. Or, you can opt for white as your wall colour.

Another element to consider is patterns. If your sofa is meant to be the main attraction of your living space, there is no need to focus solely on a specific shade. An interesting pattern can add colour and vibrancy to your living room.

However, remember that you need to keep the space balanced. If the sofa pattern is bold, consider a smaller-scale or solid pattern for your throw pillows. These can be placed on accent chairs parallel to your sofa.

Creating a cohesive space with your existing home decor

When purchasing a new sofa to add to your existing living room decor, it is important to ensure that it fits in your space and that the colour palette makes sense. This can be done in many ways.

Know your style

Identifying the style you like will make it much easier to choose a sofa colour, as you'd want one that blends with your existing decor. Your style reflects you. So, if your style is simple, a contemporary sofa might not work for you.

Repetition is key

You can match your new sofa colour to your other living room furniture or an existing colour palette to create a more cohesive space. Matching your sofa colour to your wall colour will blend it in naturally.

If this isn't to your liking, you can match the sofa colour with other components of your living room, like a rug. Using the same colour throughout different elements, such as your throw pillows or even a piece of art, can help bring a more harmonious look to the room.

Remember that the colours do not have to be solid when matching your sofa colour to your existing colour palette. You just need to ensure colour consistency throughout the room.

Don't follow the trend

While getting the latest trendy items is tempting, it's not a good idea. When something seems like the right option at the time, it usually goes out of style within a few months.

A sofa can be a big investment as it's a piece of furniture that usually lasts 7-15 years, maybe even more. So getting a sofa that's part of the latest trend could be a huge mistake, as it might not appeal to you once the trend fades.

However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a trendy new sofa. If the trend appeals to you and your taste, it's an expense you can afford, and it's an investment you're sure you'll like for the next couple of years, You should make the purchase.

Choose a sofa that speaks to your style.

Keep it neutral

Picking the right hue from the colour wheel can be quite daunting. This is especially true if you don't have much confidence in your ability to determine which colours would work together. Sticking to a neutral sofa is always a safe option, as neutral colours are very easy to work with.

Neutral sofa colours also reflect natural lighting and make the room feel spacious, especially if it's a small space. They are much easier to style, making it easier to create a more cohesive look for the room.

White

A white sofa will always be classy and gives you a blank canvas to decorate with. You can add bright colours with accent pillows or a coffee table. The downside is that it easily gets dirty, so you might spend more time cleaning your sofa than relaxing on it.

Black

Being at the opposite end of white on the colour spectrum, a black sofa makes dust and smudges less visible. But this depends on the material you choose, as a glossy material makes dirt more visible.

Black also gives the room a sense of sophistication, seriousness, and class. However, keep it to a minimum with other furniture as it reduces the space.

Gray

A gray sofa is a truly neutral colour as it is a combination of black and white with hardly any undertones. You can mix other colours, such as blue, purple, and green, or any cool colours with other furniture pieces, such as accent chairs. This is if you're worried about the room looking too dull.

Shades of gray might work best with a cool colour scheme but also with hot hues such as yellow, red, orange, and pink.

A gray sofa can bring different shades together, as it can easily blend into the room.

The choice is yours

If you're in the market for a new sofa, we've covered many options for you to choose from. Sofas are places of comfort and relaxation and a reflection of your style, whether you choose monochromatic colours or bright, poppy hues. All that's left is for you to make that purchase. So, what are you waiting for? Buy a new sofa!