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Key Takeaways
- Most designers favor solid sofas since they act as timeless anchors and make it easy to refresh the space with new pillows.
- Solid fabrics with texture and depth are more durable and age better than bold patterns, offering both style and practicality.
- Patterned sofas can still shine when they reflect your personal style and are thoughtfully balanced with simpler decor.
When it comes to designing a living room that feels cohesive and timeless, one furniture choice matters more than the rest: the sofa. As the largest and most visually commanding piece in the space, your sofa can truly make or break your overall design.
But should you go with a patterned option or play it safe with a solid? While personal style always plays a role, the experts we spoke to agree that one direction has clear advantages over the other.
Related: How to Choose the Right Sofa for Every Living Room
The Sofa Style Most Designers Prefer
For starters, it's important to remember just how key of a furniture piece the sofa is within your home. "Sofas are typically the largest single investment piece in a home," says Madelaine Mayer, founder of AD:ROIT, who is partial to solid-colored options. "Aside from a mattress, they are also the pieces with which we have the longest and most direct physical interactions every day."
Sara Swabb, founder of Storie Collective, says that she will "almost always" suggest that a client go with a solid-colored sofa as opposed to a bold patterned one, given that the piece "acts as the anchor of a living space." She adds, "Choosing a solid allows the piece to stay timeless and versatile while still leaving plenty of room to bring in personality and pattern through pillows, rugs, and textiles that can be refreshed over time."
Mayer feels similar, equating a solid-colored sofa to the furniture equivalent of a little black dress. "With the dress, we have shoes, jewelry, scarves, and handbags, and with the sofa, we have pillows, drapery, rugs, and accent furniture," she says.
Plus, she adds that solid fabrics don't have to be plain or boring. "There are tons of fabrics with rich textures and interesting weave patterns, many of which offer exceptional durability and stain resistance, not to mention the opportunities for contrast cords or decorative trims," Mayer explains.
Dijana Savic-Jambert, founder of Maredi Design, feels similarly to the two other designers. "A patterned sofa can feel limiting and tends to date more quickly, while a solid piece provides longevity both stylistically and practically," she says.
Tips for Choosing the Right Fabric
Not sure what types of solid fabric to consider? Savic-Jambert shares a few recommendations. "We often opt for natural-fiber fabrics like cotton or linen, which not only age beautifully and develop a lived-in character over time, but also speak to sustainability through their durability and lower environmental impact," She says. "Today’s material innovations, such as cotton-based velvets, bring subtle texture and depth to solid upholstery choices, allowing a sofa to feel timeless yet rich in detail."
The Case for a Patterned Sofa
That said, some people are innately all about using pattern, and as such, they might ultimately get more use out of a louder sofa than a simpler one. "If a client is deeply drawn to a particular patterned fabric, and we know it’s something they’ll love for years, I encourage leaning in; it can make a sofa feel like a true statement piece," Swabb says.
That said, there are still a few ground rules to take into account. "The key is being intentional: either commit to the patterned sofa fully or let the sofa ground the room in a solid and layer pattern elsewhere," the designer explains.
Sarah Storms, founder of Styled by Storms, is a major patterned sofa proponent herself and praises this look for multiple reasons. "Patterned sofas allow you to have a bold point of view without having to be so bold elsewhere—they almost have the same effect as wallpaper," she says.
Plus, she states, if you opt for a heritage textile, like stripes, foliage, or plaid, your sofa won't read as dated. "The one thing that can get a little tricky is a very traditional floral chintz," she says. "It can read 'grandma' quickly, but that also may be the vibe you were hoping for!"
Related: 7 Reasons a Bold Couch Might Be Your Best Design Move
Read the original article on Real Simple
