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Loving Color: A Rainbow of Sofas

Forget the adage about neutrals for large furniture and go bold with a colorful couch

I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my neighborhood!). I work as a freelance writer, blogger, stylist, gilder, and crafter. I curate a daily personal lifestyle blog called the Haystack Needle (http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com). I'm also one half of the shop Cabin 7 (http://www.shopcabin7.com) — a collection of gilded objects for the home. I started out in magazines, working in the home department of Real Simple magazine and later worked as the home editor of Redbook. I love to scout cool finds for the home — everything from an amazing loveseat to a green laundry detergent that really works. I'm a new mama to our baby girl, Juniper, who amazes me every day with her curiosity for life and big smiles.

I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my... More »

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Some people decorate on the path less traveled. We all know the design tip: Stick with neutrals for your big pieces of furniture (namely sofa) and bring in color with accents, like pillows. But if we all followed this idea to go with a neutral sofa, where would all the colorful sofas live? Sometimes, you can't check the box next to "stock color." Sometimes, you want to choose a color that speaks to you. Here's a rainbow of possibilities to get you started on your hunt.

by Olga Adler

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You can't go wrong with a classic red sofa, especially when you pull in a touch of red with the window treatments and keep the wall nice and neutral. If you're going to invest in a new sofa, I say it might as well be bright and get noticed.

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by Natural Balance Home Builders

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Orange is the perfect color pick for these modern Togo sofas.

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by Jan Skacelik

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Two things make this living space super cheerful and happy: the sunlight coming in and shining on all the white walls and the bright yellow sofa.

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by Charles Luck Stone Center

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A bright color choice for this sofa makes it pop against the dark walls. I love the combination of citron yellow and a charcoal gray.

Tip: Keep it simple. A vibrant sofa works well against neutral walls, such as white or dark gray. If your walls are a bold color, a bright yellow sofa may overwhelm the space.

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by Kathleen Walsh Interiors, LLC

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I feel like I'm peeking inside a Scandinavian cottage: lots of white with a pop of spring green that feels fresh and modern.

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by ADEENI DESIGN GROUP

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This dark green sofa looks classic and cozy nested in a living space full of warm reds and yellows.

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by Debbie Basnett, Vintage Scout Interiors

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This deep blue sofa is a great option if you're choosing to tiptoe into a sofa in a non-neutral color.

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by Abelow Sherman Architects LLC

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Choosing a pretty color, like purple, for a sofa with a modern shape that balances the feminine with the masculine.

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by Vintage Renewal

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I'm in love with this vintage pink sofa. Together with that rug, artwork and unmistakable bohemian chic spirit — I'm sold.

More easy ways to add color:
A Rainbow of Tile
A Rainbow of Dressers
A Rainbow of Kitchen Stools

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Comments

bepsf says:

Sadly - So many of these great colors are simply unavailable from the mainstream retailers...
...and if you want a sofa from some, such as Restoration Hardware, you had better want white, greige, or brown.

4 months ago · Like

Emily Hurley says:

I love the word "greige." I honestly can't tell grey and beige apart sometimes.

4 months ago · Like

Design Freedom, inc. says:

so happy to see colorful sofas like i have! by the way, i had to order custom fabric for one sofa, since they only had neutrals to choose from. the salesperson was shocked, but i love my sky blue sofa!

4 months ago · Like

Vintage Renewal says:

Great features. I love all the colors!

4 months ago · Like

Traci Rolz says:

I'd rather have a neutral 'boring' sofa set and I can change up the color of the walls and accessories as I wish. Replacing a lime green sofa that seemed like a good idea at first is more costly !

4 months ago · Like

vealdesign says:

bepfs: you are correct, and that limited selection is getting really tedious. Some of the retailers will work with COM (customer's own material), Crate and Barrel and Ballard Designs to name two. (Plus, Ballard Designs has options far beyond the neutral.) Better yet, hire a designer and go custom. Sadly, far too many living rooms look like replicas of those typical retail showrooms- ugh.

4 months ago · Like

ellie48 says:

I have a reputation for pushing sofas in beige, greige, tan, cream, stone, toast, creme brule and truffle!! I am learning to appreciate red, chocolate, charcoal. The yellow sofas here make me smile. I really do prefer the rule about big pieces being neutral popping them with peacock, wasabi, purple or ORANGE. Thanks for sharing.

4 months ago · Like

leanneedwards says:

Rowe Furniture has a great selection of fabrics in a wide array of fantastic colors and patterns. Coordinating fabrics for pillows are fun and mixing and matching are easy.

4 months ago · Like

noonutt says:

I love it.

4 months ago · Like

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel says:

Au contraire, bepsf! I bought tomato leather love seats (who sits in the middle of a couch?) from Casa Linda in California, and they weren't expensive. They also carry a bright orangey-tan leather. I have a deep red and black carpet and many colorful paintings, so balanced it all with black ceiling to floor curtains.

4 months ago · Like

cjwollborg says:

I have two Flexsteel sofas covered in a wonderful rusty orange corduroy upholstery. I love them! They add such warmth and vitality to the decor!

4 months ago · Like

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