12 Sofa Colors That Won't Box You In

Buying a sofa is a big investment — daunting if you don’t have a designer with an inspiration board at hand and all the textiles beautifully coordinated. Don’t lose heart. If you can pick the color, you’re almost there. But even that’s a challenge. My recommendation is to go with something that doesn’t leave you boxed in.

Your investment piece should be versatile enough to go with a new house or a new decor scheme. After all, I love changing my interiors seasonally. Any of the following color options will ground your space but will also give you the freedom to change accessories and accent colors on a whim.

White. A white sofa is timeless. Plus, you can add whatever accessories suit your mood. This is one look I will never fall out of love with.

When selecting white for upholstery, check the stain-resistance rating of the fabric and choose fabrics that can easily be cleaned and bleached if needed.


Cream. This textured and warm cream-colored sectional is another great option that offers flexibility. It’s a classic color to pair with black but also an interesting partner with navy, red or gray.


Biscuit, tan or camel. These warm neutrals play especially well with blues, black and fall colors. They’re also great with black and white houndstooth, red and black plaid, or tartan.


Brown. Browns have been out of favor since gray became such a popular color. But brown is still a great neutral building block in design. It’s classic and always in style.





Stone or light gray. A very light gray will go beautifully with warm wood tones and chalky walls. Stone is a great backdrop for items with a flare of color. (It also hides dirt really well.)

True gray. This pairs well with jewel tones, black and white. Because gray has many personalities, the color is still going incredibly strong in design.





Muted colors. When picking a color, stay with soft, muted (neutralized) shades. (A neutralized color has some of its complementary color added; for example, a neutralized blue has a little bit of orange.)

If you want to stay clear of a pronounced color but are bored with neutrals, choose a shade that is a slightly off color. This sofa is not clearly green or yellow, but a neutralized version of both.

For colorphobes, this can be a great way to ease yourself gently out of your comfort zone and still allow you to accessorize to suit your mood.


Nature inspired. Soft, muted, watery blues and greens work well as neutral bases.


Natural linen. Although technically not a color, this material has a distinguishing look that identifies it instantly. It’s as versatile as black; I can’t think of anything that wouldn’t look great with it.


Subtle patterns. Subtle will always be more versatile than dramatic when it comes to pattern. The classic pattern here is so small that it reads as texture.


Leather. Colors that might otherwise be limiting are more versatile in leather. This may be a controversial view, but stay with me here. In fashion a contrasting leather pump doesn’t have to match the dress, nor does a sofa have to match the room it’s in.

If you like to change your look often, stay away from hot colors such as red and ocher for the big pieces. These pigments are too specific and can easily clash. You may also tire of these strong colors quickly; save them for accents.

More: Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa

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