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One Sofa, Many Styles

Published by Clive Braude on 23rd Feb 2016

Buying a sofa is a big deal. You’re investing in a piece of furniture that will be a focal point in your living room for years or even decades. You’re investing hundreds or thousands of dollars in something that will be one of the most used pieces of furniture in your home. You want to get it right, but you also want it to reflect trends, your style right now, and be comfortable and functional.

That’s a tall order for one piece of furniture, and there’s an easier alternative: buy the best classic piece you can afford, that will look great for years to come and that’s not particularly trendy, and use the tips listed below to transform it as the mood takes you.

The Basics

Central to any sofa transformation is often a color change. You can use loose or elastic slip covers to achieve a total color transformation, add texture and protect fabric upholstery. It’s a win win solution. While you won’t always want to change the color of your sofa, it’s well worth keeping a few slip covers on hand, in case the mood strikes.

Bright and Funky

When the weather outside is terrible and you need a little brightness in your living room, then bright and funky is the way to go.

  • Choose one or two colors, and stick to shades of those colors, otherwise the result will be too busy.
  • Use a slipcover or a loose throw in your main color to create a colorful base for your styling.
  • Choose cushions in different patterns, but in your chosen color palette, to add interest and fun to the sofa design.
  • Finish off the look with a vase of flowers in a matching color on your coffee table, and shades in your complimentary shade on the lamps in your room.

Modern Chic

If your sofa is like many of the options out there, chances are the feet screw into the base of the unit. That means, in theory, that you can find alternate feet at hardware stores or online, and switch them out to update the look. For instance, if you have a black leather sofa with understated wooden feet, you could switch them out for brushed metal feet that go perfectly with the modern look. Here are a few other options for this look:

  • Choose throws in white or silver.
  • If your couch isn’t already black, use a slip cover in black or dark grey to create the ultimate neutral, understated base for your styling.
  • Consider adding a large, frameless mirror or mirror art above the sofa.
  • Minimalist, modern designs are usually mono chromatic, but that also means that a single bright pillow or flower has that much more impact. Just keep it simple and understated.

Classic Comfort

If you’re like most of us, your living room is a haven, where you put up your feet, spend time with the family, and enjoy your down time. In that case, your sofa should be styled to accommodate movie nights and hanging out. Here are a few great tips:

  • Instead of just one throw, use several, and layer them. That way, when it is movie night, everyone gets a blanket!
  • Choose throw pillows that are large, soft and comfortable, so that they can do double duty when you’re hanging out with the family in the living room, either as floor pillows or on the couch.
  • The classic comfort look cries out for knitted blankets, faux fur and other tactile elements. Keep colors natural and easy on the eyes, and make sure all of the items you purchase are machine washable. There’s nothing comfortable about hand laundering throws!

These are just a few of the countless ways you can dress your sofa up or down to meet your design needs. Choose a classic sofa, and use it as the base for you look, but don’t be afraid to go wild. Soft furnishings and décor items tend to be cheap and easy to switch up as the mood takes you, so as long as you get a good quality couch, your living room can be a chameleon, and change according to your moods.