What's the perfect colour match for a brown leather sofa?

Mid-Century Living Room by Collected Interiors
Author: Nelly Reffet

Available in a wide range of styles and budgets, and easy to maintain, the brown leather couch is one of the most popular pieces of lounge furniture in Australia. 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 builder-beige walls, many wonder how to style a lounge room with a brown leather couch so it doesn’t look boring.

Let’s look at some colourful ways to take this staple seating from generic to gorgeous.

Navy and white
There is something about this colour scheme that feels quite ‘beach house’. 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

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 tan couch is also more suitable than a dark brown one with this colour scheme, although the latter works too.

Find artwork for your living room

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.

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 tan couch, don’t hesitate to use lots of black. With a chocolate couch though, add more light brown and off-white/cream, and use black only as accents throughout the room.

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

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 lounge to look like a Texan saloon, make sure to opt for clean lines for your big pieces of furniture: a contemporary couch, 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.

Orange, brown and white
This colour scheme works very well with chocolate brown as well as taupe/brown couches. 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 fake-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 also great colours to warm up a contemporary décor with an industrial feel (concrete floor, steel beams, white walls, etc).

Discover more beautiful living room designs

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 builder-beige, avoid using the same colour on your soft furnishing 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 rods, wall lamp) 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.

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