If you're concerned about choosing the best sofa colour that ties in with your home’s colour scheme, or you're having sleepless nights over selecting a sofa bed fabric to suit your guest room, a few simple fixes can go a long way to helping you make the right decision.
After all, a sofa or sofa bed will be one of the biggest pieces of furniture in the room, so making sure the colour scheme matches is a must. No pressure then!
With over 150 fabrics to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect sofa colour. Explore our range of sofa fabrics, and find the one that best suits your home’s colour scheme.
Top 10 Best Sofa Colours
Picking the right sofa colour can really change how your living room feels. Here are ten popular sofa colours and why some people love them:
Grey
Grey is the go-to colour for so many people - and for good reason. It’s a modern, neutral choice that goes with nearly anything, making it a breeze to update your decor over time.
Take the Atworth Sofa as an example - this sofa in our Stain Resistant Linen Cotton Dove pairs beautifully with pretty much all grey tones.
Blue
A blue sofa brings a sense of calm and works well with both classic and modern styles. Plus, blue pairs beautifully with other popular colours, like greys, whites, and even some warm tones.
Beige
Beige is a warm, neutral colour that instantly makes a room feel cosy. Because beige is so versatile, you can change up your pillows and throws anytime to give your sofa - and room - a whole new look.
Dark Green
Dark green sofas are quite popular, especially in natural shades like sage and olive. Lush and rich, it’s a great option if you want to add a hint of colour without it being too bold.
The Malford Sofa in House Velvet, Hunter is an excellent example of this.
Brown
Brown sofas offer a classic, down-to-earth look and are especially good for family homes or spaces where durability is key. With warm tones from chocolate to caramel, a brown sofa can make a room feel inviting and cosy while hiding minor scuffs or stains that come with daily use.
Cream
Cream is an excellent choice that makes a room feel fresh and light. While it might require a bit more care to keep it looking spotless, cream sofas have an appeal that’s hard to beat. A cream sofa can also serve as a neutral base, allowing you to mix in colourful accessories.
Black
Black is bold and let's face it, looks cool. It’s a strong colour that can anchor a room and pairs well with almost any decor style. Black sofas work particularly well in modern or minimalist spaces, and if you love changing up your decor, they make it easy to add new accents or colours.
Red
A red sofa makes a statement. This vibrant colour can bring warmth and energy to your room, making it feel lively and inviting. Deep reds, like wine or burgundy, add a cosy, classic touch, while brighter reds feel more playful and bold.
Yellow
Yellow is cheerful and warm, perfect for brightening up a room. Mustard or golden yellow tones are popular choices that feel inviting and can pair well with neutral colours like grey or beige. If you’re looking to add a little sunshine to your living space, yellow is a great choice.
The Heywood Sofa in Stain Resistant Broad Weave Linen, Marigold is a great example of how Yellows can look great when done right.
Pink
Pink has moved beyond just a trendy colour and has now found a solid place in sofa colour choices. Soft blush or dusty rose shades bring a gentle touch to a room without feeling overly “girly.” Pink sofas are often paired with neutral or metallic accents for a modern, stylish look.
Sofa Colours to Avoid
While choosing a sofa colour is all about personal taste, there are a few shades that can be tricky to work with over time:
White
A white sofa can look stunning - clean, bright, and timeless. But it’s also one of the hardest colours to maintain. Even with careful use, white tends to show stains, dust, and wear more easily than other colours. Unless you’re ready for frequent cleaning or have a pet-free, spill-free household, a white sofa might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Very Light Pastels
While light pastels like baby pink or powder blue can add a soft, charming feel to a room, they’re often quite delicate and easily show dirt or stains. Over time, these colours may fade, especially if your sofa sits in a sunny spot.
Bold Brights (e.g., Lime Green, Neon Pink)
Bright and bold colours, like lime green or neon pink, can be eye-catching but can also be overpowering in a large piece like a sofa. These intense shades can limit your options if you want to redecorate, as they’re harder to match with other colours. Over time, such bold choices can also feel tiring, so it’s best to consider these for smaller accent pieces rather than a main sofa.
Black in Small Spaces
Black is stylish and modern, but in a small room, it can make the space feel closed in or cramped. Black sofas absorb light, so if your room doesn’t get a lot of natural light, this colour can make it look even darker. If you love the depth of black but want a softer feel, consider dark charcoal or deep navy.
Bright Red
Red sofas can be bold and fun, but a very bright red can feel overwhelming, especially in a living room where you want to relax. This shade tends to dominate a space, making it harder to create a balanced, harmonious look. For a similar warmth without the intensity, a burgundy or rust colour can give you the cosiness of red with a subtler effect.
Matching Your Sofa & Colour Scheme
Compare It To Your Cushion Colour Scheme
If you've already picked out your other room furnishings, you'll naturally want to see how the sofa, love seat or sofa bed colour looks against these other items. So, if you're planning on visiting furniture showrooms, bringing a cushion cover with you can help in your decision-making.
Not only will this allow you to compare the colours side by side. But you can also see how the textures sit together too. This can be especially important if you're opting for similar shades across your entire colour scheme. As the tone you see on your computer screen might not be 100% true to life. And, texture can have a big bearing on colour too.
Pick Out Your Paint Colour First
If you're embarking on a redecoration, it's a good idea to pick out the paint colour or wallpaper you're going to use first, before you settle on a sofa colour scheme. Your wall colour will have a huge bearing on all the other items you select for the room. So be sure you opt for colours and patterns that tie in with your overall vision.
If you have your perfect sofa bed already picked out, only to discover it isn't available in a fabric that works with your new wall colour or pattern, this can be a huge stumbling block to overcome.
Choose your paint and wallpapers as a priority, then think about the furniture you want for the room. Having wallpaper samples and paint charts to hand when deciding on your sofa or sofa bed colour will be a huge help in deciding on the fabric.
Carry Photos Of Your Room
If you're planning on visiting furniture showrooms, snap a few images of your room first. Our memories have a sneaky habit of playing havoc with us. So, having a few pics to refer back to can also reinforce what your room colour scheme looks like. After all, even if you've been living with your wall colour for years, you might still not remember it correctly when put on the spot.
Having the images will ensure you don't make a mistake when it comes to recalling the exact colour scheme of your living space.
Try and also photograph your room at different times of day too. Certain colours can take on different tones when in direct sunlight or when bathed in electric light after dark. So, be sure to get a wide range of snaps to compare your colour scheme to. Preferably in both dim and bright weather conditions, and in natural and artificial light as well.
This will give you a realistic overview of the colours your room takes on throughout the day. It will also help make sure any fabric you pick out will work 24/7 in your home.
Choosing the best sofa colour doesn’t have to be overwhelming, there’s a colour out there that will perfectly suit your wants and needs.
Remember, your sofa is one of the biggest pieces in your space, so selecting a colour that complements your decor can make a big difference. Take your time, consider how it will fit into your lifestyle, and don’t hesitate to experiment with our free fabric samples before making your choice.
Ready to find a sofa that combines comfort, style, and the perfect colour? Explore our sofa collection today and discover a wide range of fabrics, shades, and designs to suit every home.