Decorating
Decorating: The Best Colours to Pair With a Brown Leather Sofa
A brown leather sofa is a classic piece of furniture that pairs well with a variety of colour schemes
Available in a wide range of styles and budgets, and easy to maintain, the brown leather sofa is one of the most popular pieces of furniture. It is also one that creates lots of dilemmas for its owner – they love its versatility, but wondering what to pair it with is a whole different ball game; and just like beige walls, many wonder how to style a living room with a brown leather sofa so it doesn’t look boring.
Let’s look at some colourful ways to take this staple seating from generic to gorgeous.
Let’s look at some colourful ways to take this staple seating from generic to gorgeous.
Brown and gold
This colour combination is a little tricky to work with as it can quickly turn into a bad 70s reinterpretation. But when well executed, it can be very elegant and soothing. Look into Asian design and the artwork of Klimt for inspiration. It looks beautifully rich in rooms that receive lots of natural light and when offset with a base of off-white. A lighter brown sofa is also more suitable than a dark brown one with this colour scheme, although the latter works too.
Browse 6 tips to keep in mind when choosing the perfect sofa
This colour combination is a little tricky to work with as it can quickly turn into a bad 70s reinterpretation. But when well executed, it can be very elegant and soothing. Look into Asian design and the artwork of Klimt for inspiration. It looks beautifully rich in rooms that receive lots of natural light and when offset with a base of off-white. A lighter brown sofa is also more suitable than a dark brown one with this colour scheme, although the latter works too.
Browse 6 tips to keep in mind when choosing the perfect sofa
Black, brown and off-white
This classic arrangement will never be out of fashion. It is sharp and elegant and very masculine too. It works well in both brightly lit rooms and darker ones, but will benefit from additional lighting and a well placed mirror if in a darker environment.
This classic arrangement will never be out of fashion. It is sharp and elegant and very masculine too. It works well in both brightly lit rooms and darker ones, but will benefit from additional lighting and a well placed mirror if in a darker environment.
For this monochromatic scheme to work, focus on incorporating texture and/or patterns: a dark (or light) sisal rug, some pieces made of light, ‘unfinished’ timber, a textured wallpaper (grasscloth), linen cushions, a bold black and white print, etc. With a lighter brown sofa, don’t hesitate to use lots of black. With a chocolate sofa though, add more light brown and off-white/cream, and use black only as accents throughout the room.
Find a range of brown sofas in the Houzz shop
Find a range of brown sofas in the Houzz shop
Peacock blue
This shade – or any dark blue – is perfect to add depth to an interior. It also helps balance out the warmth of some materials such as timber, exposed red bricks, etc. This colour makes a strong, moody statement that works wonderfully well with concrete floors or timber floors. It can also be brightened up with accents of cheerful orange, hot pink or sunny yellow. A bright rug with a bold pattern could act as a focal point and add some fun to the room too.
Noguchi coffee table, Isamu Noguchi for Vitra at Space Furniture.
See 10 reasons to change your mind about dark blue
This shade – or any dark blue – is perfect to add depth to an interior. It also helps balance out the warmth of some materials such as timber, exposed red bricks, etc. This colour makes a strong, moody statement that works wonderfully well with concrete floors or timber floors. It can also be brightened up with accents of cheerful orange, hot pink or sunny yellow. A bright rug with a bold pattern could act as a focal point and add some fun to the room too.
Noguchi coffee table, Isamu Noguchi for Vitra at Space Furniture.
See 10 reasons to change your mind about dark blue
Brown, red and black
Think Ikat, Kilim rugs, thick textiles, raw timber, carved skulls, hammered metal, rusty items, etc. This style is very much on trend at the moment. If you don’t want your living room to look like overbearing, make sure to opt for clean lines for your big pieces of furniture: a contemporary sofa, some modernist chairs, etc. Offset the ‘business’ of the textiles and the contrasting colours with neutral walls and floors.
Vintage patchwork rug, Birds of Passage.
Think Ikat, Kilim rugs, thick textiles, raw timber, carved skulls, hammered metal, rusty items, etc. This style is very much on trend at the moment. If you don’t want your living room to look like overbearing, make sure to opt for clean lines for your big pieces of furniture: a contemporary sofa, some modernist chairs, etc. Offset the ‘business’ of the textiles and the contrasting colours with neutral walls and floors.
Vintage patchwork rug, Birds of Passage.
Grey and teal
Teal and brown are a match made in heaven. It, however, can look very cold, so it is important to keep things balanced. A warm grey, the addition of warm medium to dark-timber, and soft and rich fabrics, like velvet and wool, would work nicely in a brightly lit character home. A few touches of hot pink would also bring a more feminine touch. In a more contemporary setting, you can embrace the coolness of teal with lighter timber, glass, steel and some lime green as an accent colour.
Teal and brown are a match made in heaven. It, however, can look very cold, so it is important to keep things balanced. A warm grey, the addition of warm medium to dark-timber, and soft and rich fabrics, like velvet and wool, would work nicely in a brightly lit character home. A few touches of hot pink would also bring a more feminine touch. In a more contemporary setting, you can embrace the coolness of teal with lighter timber, glass, steel and some lime green as an accent colour.
Orange, brown and white
This colour scheme works very well with chocolate brown as well as taupe/brown sofas. It is very important to use the orange quite sporadically and to balance it out with lots of white/off-white and some more brown to avoid an overwhelming look. In this photo, the very cheerful nature of the orange is softened up with the soft texture of faux fur and velvet. Without pushing it to such extremes, keep in mind that a bright colour often gains from being taken down a notch with adequate textures and colours.
This colour scheme works very well with chocolate brown as well as taupe/brown sofas. It is very important to use the orange quite sporadically and to balance it out with lots of white/off-white and some more brown to avoid an overwhelming look. In this photo, the very cheerful nature of the orange is softened up with the soft texture of faux fur and velvet. Without pushing it to such extremes, keep in mind that a bright colour often gains from being taken down a notch with adequate textures and colours.
Orange and brown are great to warm up a contemporary décor with an industrial feel (concrete floor, steel beams, white walls, etc).
Neutrals and pastels
Sometimes, the best colour scheme doesn’t actually involve much colour. Layering neutrals creates a very soothing and inviting atmosphere and can make a room feel much lighter and brighter. If your walls are off-white or beige, avoid using the same colour on your soft furnishings or it will all look too beige and boring. Think light blue, soft coral, dusty pink, pale orchid, sage green, light grey and light brown. Bring in some texture with linen, wool, velvet, some brushed metal or unpolished timber. You can even add a few touches of black (curtain poles, wall sconces) for a more structured look. Make a feature wall with oversized artwork or a photo gallery. Add a statement plant or two. Maximise your lighting by creating different ‘nooks.’ The idea is to add layers, one by one, of decorative elements.
Wall paint in ‘Stone Hearth’ (984), Benjamin Moore.
TELL US…
Do you have a brown leather sofa? Do you struggle to make it work in your room? What colour scheme did you pair it with?
Sometimes, the best colour scheme doesn’t actually involve much colour. Layering neutrals creates a very soothing and inviting atmosphere and can make a room feel much lighter and brighter. If your walls are off-white or beige, avoid using the same colour on your soft furnishings or it will all look too beige and boring. Think light blue, soft coral, dusty pink, pale orchid, sage green, light grey and light brown. Bring in some texture with linen, wool, velvet, some brushed metal or unpolished timber. You can even add a few touches of black (curtain poles, wall sconces) for a more structured look. Make a feature wall with oversized artwork or a photo gallery. Add a statement plant or two. Maximise your lighting by creating different ‘nooks.’ The idea is to add layers, one by one, of decorative elements.
Wall paint in ‘Stone Hearth’ (984), Benjamin Moore.
TELL US…
Do you have a brown leather sofa? Do you struggle to make it work in your room? What colour scheme did you pair it with?
There is something about this colour scheme that feels quite coastal. Embrace this casual look with funky patterns, white walls and lots of natural elements, such as light timber, rattan basket, sisal rugs, etc. Do not hesitate to add a hint of other bright colours (see the green cushion, the banana leaves and the multicoloured artwork) – this will keep the room from looking too flat and showroom-like.
Barley sofa, Arthur G.