Dare to Decorate With Colorful Upholstery

We all know the merits of choosing neutral hues for big-ticket purchases like upholstered furniture. But what do you do when that beige linen sofa and white slipcovered armchair just aren't doing it for you anymore? Could you, would you, ever fall for a colorful upholstered piece? If you are thinking of taking the colorful road, this is for you. From choosing the right hue and material to working your new furniture into your decor, these eight tips are here to help.

1. Think through potential color pairings in advance. A colorful sofa or armchair can actually be quite versatile, although some colors are easier to work with than others. Blue is a great starter color, because we are so used to seeing large expanses of blue — think blue sea and sky, or indigo jeans. Your blue couch could work with fresh greens, as shown here, but when you get bored and want a change, you could also pair it with yellow or rich chocolate browns, to name just two other colors.

Order a sample swatch of the upholstery fabric you are considering, and use it to window shop a few different potential looks. If you can easily find several options for throw pillows, rugs and so on that go with your upholstery fabric, that's a good sign.


2. Give your color plenty of breathing room — aka white space. If you are worried about your colorful furniture feeling too over-the-top, the simplest solution is to add lots and lots of white. Paint your walls, trim and ceiling in crisp white, and choose some accent furniture or accessories in basic white — that bold piece will instantly seem more relaxed.


3. Surround bold color with natural elements. Another great way to temper a rich hue (like the orange used here) is by surrounding it with objects and materials from nature. Stone surfaces, live-edge wood, stacks of firewood, hide or sheepskin rugs and natural fibers like jute, sisal and linen partner well with strong colors.


4. Choose supporting colors with the same strength. If you want to bring in additional color, choose equally bold hues for your other pieces. The bright red chair shown here would look a bit off-kilter next to a pastel blue ottoman, whereas this vibrant peacock-blue one stands up to it.


5. Find the right shade and material. A color with some brown in it, like the red of this chair, looks sophisticated and can work practically like a neutral. If it were a bright, clear red, it would stand out more. Be sure you test out a fabric at home, and in a variety of lights, to make sure it is the exact shade you want before committing. Likewise, material choice can make a big difference in the way a color comes across — imagine the differences among nubby red linen, red leather, red velvet and red microfiber. If you love a color but it just isn't working for you, try it in a different material.


6. Help upholstery blend in with dark wall colors. If you would rather have your colorful furniture blend into its surroundings rather than pop in a white room, deep and dark walls are the way to go. In the room shown here, a rich blue-gray sofa makes an elegant match for the slate-gray paint on the walls and ceiling. This look works best with cool colors (blue, green); stick with softer wall colors for warm-hued upholstery.


This bold green sofa really comes into its own against an equally rich blue wall. It doesn't blend in, but it does not stick out as it would have against a white wall, either. The richness of the wall color supports the vibrant energy of the sofa.


7. Try an almost-neutral. Some colors, like the pale celery of the sofa shown here, are so soft that they work just as easily as a neutral such as khaki or linen. But its being not quite neutral makes it so much more interesting! If you tend to shy away from color, an almost-neutral sofa or chair can be a great way to push yourself gently out of your comfort zone.


8. Choose what you love. There's no getting around it; color is emotional. And when you bring a bold color into your home, the only good reason to do it is because you love it. Not like it, or think you might like it, or wonder if you should like it, but love it to smithereens. If looking at that pink couch makes your heart sing with joy, go for it. Be bold and feminine with pink, and don't worry too much about what will go with it. As the famed decorator Dorothy Draper said, decorating is fun!

Tell us: Would you choose colorful upholstery?

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