What colours go with a brown leather sofa?
Discover how a brown leather sofa can transform your living room. Find out which colour pairings can revitalise your lounge with our design expert.
When it comes to designing your living room, a brown leather sofa can be a versatile option with a lot of style. As an earthy colour, brown exudes warmth and comfort, and works beautifully as a base for other colours ranging from soothing neutrals to bold jewel tones.
If you’re wondering how to bring brown sofa living room ideas to life, first think about what colours go with a brown leather sofa. Light colour schemes like ivory or soft pink help to brighten up a dark brown leather sofa, while a tan leather sofa would pair well with golden yellow or modern black accents for a cool, contemporary look.
A brown sofa is a practical choice for families with pets or young children too, as it’s more forgiving when it comes to scuff marks and stains. When shopping for a brown leather sofa, one thing to consider is the size of your living room. If you have a small living room, opt for a cosy 2 seater or L-shape sofa that will also help zone your space. If you have a larger home, consider a corner sofa or a 3+2 seater sofa set for a complete look.
From classic Chesterfields to modern styles, our brown faux leather sofas come in a variety of designs. With the help of Amthal Karim, Head of Design at Furniture And Choice, read on for tips and ideas on how to style a brown leather sofa in your living room.
Why is brown a timeless choice for a sofa?
“As an earth tone, brown is currently trending in every element of design, including sofas,” says Amthal Karim, Head of Design at Furniture And Choice. “It’s a versatile colour with so many different tones to choose from and works well with a variety of interior styles.”
“Tan leather is the perfect example of how versatile brown leather sofas are. It works so well with retro styling, which is making a comeback. Modern shapes and silhouettes are being re-imagined in tan leather, bringing out the textures and richness of colour into a room, not to mention warmth. Tan leather sofas work particularly well in modern industrial setting with wooden textures and black accents.”
“Dark brown sofas also work well for a room by grounding the space and are an easy medium if you’re looking for a colour that’s not as masculine or harsh as black. They work well with neutrals and warm tones that are currently trending like earthy beiges and greiges.”
“Light brown tones like mushroom, sand, and greige (a combination of grey and beige) are also trending in sofa design right now. What makes them timeless is that it doesn’t just match a specific season – they work well in all seasons, especially if you have a neutral base (walls, floors and soft furnishings).”
Amthal Karim
Head of Design at Furniture And Choice
As Head of Design, Amthal has long-term experience in tracking and analysing the latest interior trends and working with our team of stylists to create fresh new, exciting content. Having worked in PR and marketing, Amthal puts her skills to good use by brainstorming photoshoots and planning the latest campaigns. With her eye for detail and insight, Furniture And Choice has been featured in Homes & Gardens, IdealHome and Big Furniture Group.
1. Lighten a brown leather sofa with neutral tones
Beige, cream and white are colours that go with a brown leather sofa perfectly if you want a relaxing atmosphere. Style a clean, minimalist living room with a dark brown leather sofa and fresh white walls. Then add softness and contrast with patterned cushions and a modern rug in neutral colours.
2. Pair a brown leather sofa with sleek black accents
Another brown leather sofa living room idea is to pair it with sleek black accents for a modern industrial look. Give your space a bit of edge by emphasising the black metal features of the room, like crittall windows, shelving or cabinets. But if that’s not possible, layer black accessories and a black coffee table to help set the tone. Then add cushions, a faux fur throw and soft rug to finish.
3. Energise a brown sofa with yellow
Yellow is one of the best colours to go with a brown leather sofa for a chic, contemporary look. Opt for a deep mustard yellow for a warm, cosy effect or go brighter with a golden honey tone. Ease your way into using this zingy colour with yellow cushion covers, artwork and other small accessories that you can easily swap out if your preferences change. Choose clean, modern styles to keep the look fresh and current.
4. Contrast a brown leather sofa with green tones
If you’re unsure what colour to pair a brown leather sofa with, look to nature for inspiration. Brown and green are both earth tones that naturally go well together. Try it out with green walls and fresh plants in your living room.
You can use light green tones to soften the room or deep forest green walls to create a sophisticated space. A dark green like emerald can really pop alongside brown leather to create a bold, modern feel. You can introduce it through green cushions, artwork and a rug while keeping your walls white for a fresh, contemporary look.
5. Soften a brown leather sofa with pink
A pink colour scheme adds a sweet and inviting feel. Start with soft pink walls as a neutral. Then, layer darker shades of pink through your accessories, like abstract artwork featuring dusty pink or magenta designs. Keep it simple with a neutral coloured rug and pink cushions.
You can also style a moody yet sophisticated space with deep mauve painted walls. For a more feminine aesthetic, bring in large floral prints. A brown leather sofa gives the space an unexpected edge while adding cosiness too. Play up these comfy vibes with velvet cushions and a soft throw.
6. Bring out a brown sofa with cool blues
As a complementary colour to brown, blue accents can have a brightening effect. Reminiscent of the sky and ocean, blue adds a lighthearted, carefree feeling to this living room. Make a statement with a navy blue accent wall, then layer blue accessories like artwork and cushions. Place potted plants around the room for a feeling of freshness and go for a clean look with white walls and light wood flooring.
7. Go natural with wood tones and a brown sofa
Brown is a warm colour, so pairing it with warm wood elements doubles the cosiness. Timber flooring and a brown leather sofa are great together, as they both give the room a natural, comfy feeling. Use a neutral coloured rug to add softness while leaving some of the flooring exposed. Look for other ways to bring in wood accents, such as side tables and wooden shelving, to tie it all together. Stick to a muted colour palette with your accessories to create a relaxing space.
8. Layer your brown leather sofa with other brown tones
A dark brown leather sofa serves as a stylish anchor to layer with other brown tones. Choose a muted wall colour like beige, camel or a soft latte tone for that luxe feel. You can experiment with different shades of brown, such as painting an alcove a darker tone. This is also an opportunity to bring in other earth tones like terracotta, orange or rust through soft accessories like throws or cushions.
9. Create a relaxing contrast with teal
Undecided between green and blue? Bring a stylish contrast to your living room with teal. As a colour, teal evokes feelings of relaxation and calmness. Choose a tan leather shade for the sofa to stylishly contrast with the teal walls. Bring in other natural accents to lighten up the room such as indoor plants and artwork. Choose creepers like ivy or pothos to make the space come alive.
10. Add modern boho touches by mixing patterns and textures
If you want to introduce a mix of patterns and textures, look no further than modern boho interiors. This free-spirited style is a refreshed version of traditional boho interiors and combines a soothing neutral palette with accessories like faux fur, rattan, Moroccan-style rugs and lush greenery. Choose neutral colours like cream, dark brown and beige as the primary colours of the room. You can bring in little pops of colour through cushion patterns, rugs and artwork.
FAQs
- What colour area rug goes with a dark brown leather sofa?
Choose neutral tones like cream, beige and ivory to complement the dark brown tones. If you want to add a pop of colour, choose relaxing green or blue tones or warm earth tones like burnt orange and rust.
- How to make a brown leather sofa look nice?
Decorate around it with a relaxing colour scheme and layer with different textures. Zone the room with a rug and add throws and cushions to liven up the sofa.
- What colour curtains go with a brown sofa?
Neutral colours like white, cream and beige are good colour options for curtains. This allows the natural light to flow in easily and lighten up the room.
- What is a good accent colour for brown furniture?
Blue and green tones create a chic contrast with brown furniture while not overpowering the room.
We hope you enjoyed learning more what colours go with a brown leather sofa. Looking for more living room décor ideas? Read our brown living room ideas guide.
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