topic Re: Help choosing sofa color. in Home

Help choosing sofa color.

dex — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 14:43:39 GMT

I have a kitchen living combination in my small cabin.The walls are a beige color and the flooring is wood planks in grey and beige.I have white blinds on the windows.I thought about grey but that might be too dark.What do you think would work?

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Beauty Maven — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 14:47:06 GMT

I think a medium-tone grey would be nice, or a camel-color tweed. Both are neutral.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Kachina624 — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:01:47 GMT

I think you need a bright splash of color. Everything mentioned is very beige and boring.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

GingerPeach — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:02:13 GMT

@dex wrote:
I have a kitchen living combination in my small cabin.The walls are a beige color and the flooring is wood planks in grey and beige.I have white blinds on the windows.I thought about grey but that might be too dark.What do you think would work?

@dex You live in a cabin? I think that sounds romantic and lovely. Lucky you!

A warm beige is the color that comes to mind. You could keep accents neutral or use red or whatever other color you prefer in pillows, etc.

I bet you already know this, but if you're buying new, I'd choose a sofa with square cushions which makes it easier to rotate them side to side and back to front instead of those sofa cushions with the "L" shaped edges that wrap in front of the arms. Also, I've found that sofas with three cusions seem to hold up better in the middle than sofas with two cushions. (Or maybe I just got unlucky with mine!)

Disregard most of this picture. It's mostly to show the square cushions on the sofa.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

granddi — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:10:27 GMT

How about deep burnt orange?

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

dex — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:11:34 GMT

@GingerPeach @The cabin is our second home.We bought the property more than thirty years ago with eight friends.It was a cabin style motel so we each have our own cabins.We are on a beautiful pristine lake in the mountains.I agree that we are lucky to have this place.I get up early and sit on my deck admiring mountains and wildlife.

Thank you for giving me so much info about sofas.I will need that when choosing.I haven’t bought much furniture over the years as my dh hates spending money on it.The one we have now came from a friends store and it is an ugly dusty rose leather.The leather is italian and very soft and beautiful though.My friend gave me a huge deal to purchase it to get it out of her shop when we bought the cabin.I didn’t like the color then but the price was too good to pass up.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

wilma — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:12:04 GMT

I like the idea of a sofa with more color. If you select a neutral color I would pop it wirh colorful pillows, a throw, and other accessories.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Beauty Maven — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:15:20 GMT

That's great advice @GingerPeach! I like to keep the big items neutral, and add splashes of color with accessories. I wish I was more daring, but as much as I try, I'm too afraid of a bold-color couch!!!

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

GingerPeach — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:18:16 GMT

@dex

That sounds heavenly! Being near water and in a forested area is my ideal.

Years ago when I was married we, too, purchased a place in the mountains, near Lake Tahoe, with several other couples. I'm no longer married and the place was sold, but it was a lovely spot.

p.s. Don't forget the power of slipcovers if that Italian leather sofa is still in good shape.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Beauty Maven — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:19:21 GMT

On second thought, my friend has a deep teal sofa that really makes a statement -- it's beautiful. The rest of her house is neutral beige.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

ItsME — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:20:07 GMT

I would bring in color. You can borrow fabric swatches from the furniture store, or go someplace like Joanns, and purchase some small cuts of different color fabrics. Get the cheap stuff, since you are only using it for decision making. It doesn't have to hold up!

If you don't want to do something bold, a royal or deep blue might be nice in the room.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Mominohio — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:26:03 GMT

Here are the questions I would be asking myself if replacing a sofa.

Pattern or no? How much pattern is in the rest of the room? Am I tired of having pattern in upholstery, or do I find it adds interest to the room?

Color? What am I trying to achieve with the room. Do I want calm and serene, or do I like things lively? What colors am I working with already that will stay in the room, or am I willing to redo the whole room? Remember that a sofa is usually a large piece and the color will be magnified because of the size, so too dark or too bright will really stand out and may make the sofa the focal point of the room (and do you want it to do that).

I can tell you where I'm at right now.

I don't believe in the whole 'pop of color' thing in home decor. I just don't need it, and maybe you don't either. I don't like bright, neonish, or very bold colors in home decor very well, so think about if you do or don't have strong feelings about those kinds of things, before deciding.

Right now, I'm moving the main level of my home to creams, taupe, tan, ivory and brown accents. I like the nice neutral backdrop it provides of decorating for all seasons (fall, Christmas, winter, patriotic for summer etc.)

I had a sofa I loved for 25 of the almost 30 years I had it. Then one day, as I was decorating for Christmas, I noticed how my color palate really fought against Christmas decor, and I noticed it again the following fall when I got out the fall decor.

I love to decorate for the seasons, and was so unhappy with especially my sofa and how it totally didn't accept fall and holiday colors so I began the switch to make my rooms more neutral, so I could use them as a canvas for any type of seasonal decor and it would look good.

My main suggestion would be to think about more than the sofa, but the whole room (of course I see you are doing that for sure), and ask yourself what you really like, more so than what we see designers and HGtV tell us is 'the thing' to do.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:31:34 GMT

Would you consider a denim? It would give some color and is very neutral to work with.

Pottery Barn makes a denim or even a white denim slipcover sofa. Change your mind- change the slipcover. I love mine!

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

queendiva — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:38:51 GMT

A solid color, neutral sofa. Dark or light.

Give it color with pillows and/ or throw blankets.

I went against popular opinion when I bought my sofa last fall. Chose a chocolate chenille fabric and I change out the pillow and blanket with the seasons.

I did not want a light color sofa! Too precious. I have a dog and hopefully grandchildren in the future and it's the only sofa in my small space. A good choice.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

KKWA — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 16:13:55 GMT

I don't think your splash of color in a small cabin should be a sofa. The cabin must have a great view, or fire place or something as a focal point. I've always felt the sofa should be light neutral, your beige or gray, so as to dissapear, so that your paintings or other things you love can be shown off. The square coushons is a great idea, and make sure the arms are small also so that they don't take up space in a small room. Also consider a sofa that makes into a bed, if you want overnight visitors, or maybe you don't want over night visitors. Any way, have fun!

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

ECBG — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 16:50:10 GMT

Because the cabin is in the woods, I'd do a medium blue fabric and create a conversation area with an area rug, either hand woven, or a "rag rug" depending on how much color you want in there. You could do other upholstery near the couch in a plaid with blue in the weave.

Are the walls flat or rounded logs which give a lot of texture.

There are many magazines right now at the grocery checkout that deal with "small or vacation" houses. Flip through them and see what appeals to you.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

GingerPeach — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:25:13 GMT

@KKWA wrote:
I don't think your splash of color in a small cabin should be a sofa. The cabin must have a great view, or fire place or something as a focal point. I've always felt the sofa should be light neutral, your beige or gray, so as to dissapear, so that your paintings or other things you love can be shown off. The square coushons is a great idea, and make sure the arms are small also so that they don't take up space in a small room. Also consider a sofa that makes into a bed, if you want overnight visitors, or maybe you don't want over night visitors. Any way, have fun!

Excellent point about the view, @KKWA

I agree about the arms. I'm a huge fan of sofa arms being small enough so that you can rest your head on one when you lie down. Which, for me, means they should be rounded and not square.

@dex

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Desert Lily — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 19:09:25 GMT

If it were me, I'd go with a medium gray or brown and bring in a splash of color with toss pillows, a throw, other accessories (vase, lamp base, etc.) Your sofa can act as a canvas. You'd have the ability to change out the accessories and feel of the room any time you wanted. Chances are that you'd have the sofa for a few years, but accessories are less expensive to change and can give a room a fresh look. I also like the idea of the square cushions.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Katcat1 — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 19:21:15 GMT

@dex Maybe a lighter gray would work. I tend to like lighter colors like off white and khaki because they brighten up the room but the lighter gray with some throw pillows would work. You can always get ideas at Pottery Barn website for pillows on sofas or in their magazines. Good luck.

Re: Help choosing sofa color.

Peaches McPhee — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 19:24:37 GMT

Literally any color under the sun will go with what you describe. Neutals, bold, dark and light. You do need some color in the room someplace though.