How to Style a Colourful Couch
Nothing screams confidence and personality more than a brightly-coloured couch. Let's dissect how to make it work with any style
Nelly Reffet
17 February 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer at Twinkle & Whistle based in Perth, Western Australia. Creating inspiring and "real" homes for every budget is my bread and butter. Well, make that "baguette and olive oil", in honour of my Mediterranean-French heritage! I believe a beautiful space is not a privilege of wealth and I love nothing more than witnessing how a considerate design positively affects my clients' life.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer at Twinkle & Whistle based in Perth,... More
While it is often considered safer to buy large furniture pieces in neutral colours, some of us have made the jump – or are at least tempted to jump – towards a brightly-coloured couch. Well done, you adventurous spirit! But wait, how do you style it? Here come the overwhelming doubts that inevitably arise when thinking about styling a colourful sofa. To assist you with this cornelian dilemma, I have collated different styling approaches to make a coloured couch work in the room that surrounds it.
The coordinated look
If clean lines and a peaceful environment are your thing, you can’t go past the coordinated look. Keep your palette simple – pair your coloured couch with matching cushions and keep everything else fairly neutral.
In this photo, the cushions are a slightly different yellow than the couch (or are maybe made of a different fabric), which gives a subtle depth to the setting without overwhelming the space. The result is warm and inviting, but still very relaxing.
If clean lines and a peaceful environment are your thing, you can’t go past the coordinated look. Keep your palette simple – pair your coloured couch with matching cushions and keep everything else fairly neutral.
In this photo, the cushions are a slightly different yellow than the couch (or are maybe made of a different fabric), which gives a subtle depth to the setting without overwhelming the space. The result is warm and inviting, but still very relaxing.
Here, cold hues define the colour palette. The right mix of modern furniture and traditional features keep the decor interesting. Again, the couch styling is minimal, with just a couple of matching cushions. The overall feel is fairly masculine, with a few feminine touches, resulting in a balanced space.
More: Buyer’s Guide: Need a New Sofa?
More: Buyer’s Guide: Need a New Sofa?
A pink couch may come as a super daring choice for a couple or a man. Yet, this photo illustrates how interesting it can be in the right setting. The coordinated cushions give the couch a ‘not-so-girly’ flavour, which is in line with the more masculine look of the room itself – the red bricks, the black bookcase and fireplace, the concrete floor… The photo really shows how an industrial look can benefit from a bold couch, and vice versa, the humble materials of the first offsetting the intensity of the latter.
The ‘no cushion’ approach
When we think sofa styling, cushions always come to mind. But styling doesn’t always have to come through such accessories. With a coloured couch, there is no need to add layers of cushions – its bright hue already gives it a distinctive look. Styling it might then involve styling the room around it, and taking a no cushion policy.
In the above picture, the navy blue wall provides a perfect backdrop for the green couch, enhancing the rich ‘jewellery tone’ look. Other pieces of furniture have been carefully curated so their shape and texture contribute to the sense of subtle luxury. The styling is minimal and yet the room feels inviting and cosy.
When we think sofa styling, cushions always come to mind. But styling doesn’t always have to come through such accessories. With a coloured couch, there is no need to add layers of cushions – its bright hue already gives it a distinctive look. Styling it might then involve styling the room around it, and taking a no cushion policy.
In the above picture, the navy blue wall provides a perfect backdrop for the green couch, enhancing the rich ‘jewellery tone’ look. Other pieces of furniture have been carefully curated so their shape and texture contribute to the sense of subtle luxury. The styling is minimal and yet the room feels inviting and cosy.
In this photo, a lime green daybed shares the spotlight with a more neutral, if not traditional, brown leather sofa. The minimalist daybed is complemented with a cool and soft palette on the walls and floor, while the rich tones of the layers of leather, rug and accessories give the room an eclectic look and keep it from feeling clinical.
This photo is the perfect example of how the no-cushion policy doesn’t have to mean boring and minimalist. Have you actually noticed that there are no cushions in sight? Your eyes were probably too busy taking in the gorgeous velvet, the striking zebra-patterned hide and/or the oversized artworks. In a room such as this one, cushions are definitely not necessary, as other large and bold decorative pieces set the scene.
The bold glamour effect
This style reminds me of old Hollywood glamour. It is sophisticated yet inviting, harmonious and elegant, but with a definitive sense of fun and adventure, that often translates through colours and/or patterns.
Think of ‘luxurious’ materials to mix with your statement sofa – gold or brass, clear glass (or acrylic), marble, velvet and linen all work beautifully with this theme and will contribute to the overall glamorous style.
This style reminds me of old Hollywood glamour. It is sophisticated yet inviting, harmonious and elegant, but with a definitive sense of fun and adventure, that often translates through colours and/or patterns.
Think of ‘luxurious’ materials to mix with your statement sofa – gold or brass, clear glass (or acrylic), marble, velvet and linen all work beautifully with this theme and will contribute to the overall glamorous style.
The intense colour of the sofa is offset with unobtrusive occasional furniture, as well as a symmetry present in the layout of the room. Cosiness is paramount to this style, so rugs, throws and cushions are not to be forgotten. Apart from a few patterned cushions on the sofa, the room is kept neutral, so the sofa really stands out.
The daring eclectic
Be warned, this approach is not for the faint-hearted! It takes a lot of decorative free-spirit and confidence to pull off this style, but for those who dare, it can yield impressive results.
At the core of this style is a rule: mix colours, patterns and styles as if there is no tomorrow. But don’t be fooled, it is not just creative chaos, it has some ‘rules’, too.
Be warned, this approach is not for the faint-hearted! It takes a lot of decorative free-spirit and confidence to pull off this style, but for those who dare, it can yield impressive results.
At the core of this style is a rule: mix colours, patterns and styles as if there is no tomorrow. But don’t be fooled, it is not just creative chaos, it has some ‘rules’, too.
For this style to work, it is best to limit the palette to one main colour – or family of colours – and to add a couple of other colours as accents only. Patterns can also vary, but it is important to keep a theme throughout, whether it is a floral one (as illustrated in this picture), earthy, travel-inspired (above photo) or anything else that you like. Materials are also to be aligned to your theme, so for an earthy style, for instance, opt for lots of timber and steer clear of shiny steel.
The daring eclectic is not limited to bohemian or character homes. It can also work in a more contemporary setting. It is then important to keep most of the palette fairly neutral, and to then apply layers of colours and fun to the sofa area. Smaller, colourful elements (such as a vase, artwork, or even a small wall, as seen on the above picture) can be injected throughout the room so the sofa area better connects with its environment.
The neutrals
Neutrals are never a bad decision when accessorising a colourful sofa. They help the eye rest, bring a sense of measure, and are a great way to add layers without overwhelming the space.
On the above yellow sofa, warm white and black and white cushions add interest without competing with the sofa itself or any other elements in the room.
Neutrals are never a bad decision when accessorising a colourful sofa. They help the eye rest, bring a sense of measure, and are a great way to add layers without overwhelming the space.
On the above yellow sofa, warm white and black and white cushions add interest without competing with the sofa itself or any other elements in the room.
On a vivid aqua sofa, tropical cushions are complemented with plain white ones for a fresh but not boring look. The sisal rug adds extra texture and contributes to the relaxed feel of the setting.
Here, the lime sofa is at the centre of a cool palette of green, teal and black. Additional grey elements add some softness and warmth and help tie in the various contrasting colours, while white walls and flooring maximises the natural light.
The contrasting two
Take a coloured couch. Pick another bright colour at, more or less, the other end of the colour wheel. Then, watch magic unfold in front of you.
Using contrasting, complementary colours always makes for a zesty interior, but can quickly look a little too intense if not used with measure. So, for an elegant look, limit your accent colours to only one or two elements on your couch.
Take a coloured couch. Pick another bright colour at, more or less, the other end of the colour wheel. Then, watch magic unfold in front of you.
Using contrasting, complementary colours always makes for a zesty interior, but can quickly look a little too intense if not used with measure. So, for an elegant look, limit your accent colours to only one or two elements on your couch.
The contrasting colour doesn’t even have to be in immediate contact with the couch. It also works well in small decorative elements around the couch, on curtains, a lamp, artwork and the like. Here, the blue modular is framed by cheerful yellow, while a much softer shade of yellow is present on the couch, and acts as a transition between the two elements.
While complementary colours are guaranteed to work, using other colours that are also contrasting can make a big statement. Here, aubergine is spiced up with a bright orange, both bringing lots of warmth and interest to an otherwise very white room.
Roger Hirsch Architect
The case of the red couch
Red has challenges of its own. I was actually asked about this by a Houzzer after my article on brown leather sofas. Here it is, mjbevilacqua. Traditionally a colour of wealth and passion, red is a very intense shade that is never easy to style without falling into an Asian-inspired theme or a super cold look. So let’s look at the alternatives…
With red, more than any other colour, it is important to keep the palette very simple. Black and white are known to work well with red, but they can also make the room feel very masculine and clinical at best, and a little bit ’80s at worst… To integrate your red couch to a black and white palette, it is important to mix it with some softer greys, and to add light-coloured timber or natural fibres (sisal, rattan, etc.), to take the cold edge away.
Red has challenges of its own. I was actually asked about this by a Houzzer after my article on brown leather sofas. Here it is, mjbevilacqua. Traditionally a colour of wealth and passion, red is a very intense shade that is never easy to style without falling into an Asian-inspired theme or a super cold look. So let’s look at the alternatives…
With red, more than any other colour, it is important to keep the palette very simple. Black and white are known to work well with red, but they can also make the room feel very masculine and clinical at best, and a little bit ’80s at worst… To integrate your red couch to a black and white palette, it is important to mix it with some softer greys, and to add light-coloured timber or natural fibres (sisal, rattan, etc.), to take the cold edge away.
The main downside of a red couch is that the colour is so powerful that it can overwhelm the space. One efficient way to counteract this is to create a dark background for your sofa.
Dark blue or charcoal walls will reduce the visual ‘noise’ or vibrancy of the red and will immediately bring cosiness to the room. If you have light-coloured floors, make sure to add a dark rug close to your sofa to, again, absorb the intensity of the red. Make sure, however, to use white throughout the room (on skirting boards, doors and door frames, and window frames, if possible, but also via small decorative items) to offset the dark walls and help the room breathe.
Dark blue or charcoal walls will reduce the visual ‘noise’ or vibrancy of the red and will immediately bring cosiness to the room. If you have light-coloured floors, make sure to add a dark rug close to your sofa to, again, absorb the intensity of the red. Make sure, however, to use white throughout the room (on skirting boards, doors and door frames, and window frames, if possible, but also via small decorative items) to offset the dark walls and help the room breathe.
Being the colour of love and passion, it is not surprising to see red in old-school, dramatic and glamorous decor. For a contemporary take on this, mix a modern, streamline sofa with mirrored furniture, feminine elements (drapes, flowers, velvet and/or silk, etc.), oversized artworks, and a black and white colour theme. The result may not please everyone, but it will certainly be striking.
For a much softer and more casual look, opt for a white and light grey palette and lots of organic materials and textures, such as light-coloured timbers (oak, beech, birch, maple), a sisal rug, linen, hemp, etc. Keep the styling of your red couch minimal, but add some hints of earthy reds and oranges throughout the room, as part of a pattern on cushions on another sofa or armchair, or in an artwork. This palette will work particularly well in a contemporary home with a Scandinavian feel.
TELL US
Would you consider a brightly-coloured couch, or would you rather a neutral couch? Have you ever had a coloured couch? Did you face any challenges styling it?
MORE SOFA STYLING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What Colours Go With a Brown Leather Couch?
Not Sure What to Pair With a Striped Sofa?
TELL US
Would you consider a brightly-coloured couch, or would you rather a neutral couch? Have you ever had a coloured couch? Did you face any challenges styling it?
MORE SOFA STYLING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What Colours Go With a Brown Leather Couch?
Not Sure What to Pair With a Striped Sofa?
What are you working on?
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I had great fun designing the interior of a my day spa i was opening. I had tended to stick on the neutral side when decorating at home, always keeping in mind that we usually renovate then sell.
I picked fabrics for a three seater and two chairs, I went with a pale gold metallic background with lime green flowers raised in velvet with contrasting purple fabric for the two chairs then a bronze metalic fabric with a mauve raised pattern constrasting with the purple again, as i am writing this it sounds horrible but is absolutely gorgeous and get loads of people asking where i got it and admiring it.