A bold blue sofa has become an integral part of many popular design trends for modern homes, making this piece of furniture ideal for those looking for comfort and simplicity in a living room.
However, while a blue sofa is a good fit for many residences and interior design themes, one may wish to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to a living space in order to elevate the sofa from a casual couch to a majestic centrepiece.
Blue Sofas: Living Room Ideas
Blue is a calming colour that adds a sense of deep relaxation into any space and has long been a favourite among interior designers. From its deeper tones and paler hues, almost all shades of blue look stunning on walls, floors and even furniture – but especially sofas.
With such a spectrum of shades, a blue sofa can become a statement piece in almost any living room, against light, neutral and dark backdrops. They key to designing a living room with a blue sofa is understanding the colour schemes that go with a blue sofa and how to best use these colours in a certain space.
5 Ways to Style a Blue Sofa in a Living Room
A blue Freeman Sofa sits proudly as the focal point of this seating area | Designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for © Minotti London
As well as being a versatile and gender-neutral colour, a blue sofa can create an elegant atmosphere in a living room. Consequently, their versatility makes them a popular choice as they work well with a wide range of interior design styles.
That said, a blue sofa is likely to work better in some settings than others and ensuring the entire space works to complement the sofa, and vice-versa, is key to designing a modern and sophisticated living room.
With the help of this design guide, explore some living room colour schemes that go with blue sofas as well as how to style and accessorise the sofa itself.
1. Create a Single-Coloured Space
Monochrome colour schemes have become increasingly popular in the world of interior design and a blue sofa can be the perfect focal point for a monochromatic look.
Working with just one colour is an effective way to set a clear and consistent ambience in a living room. When that single colour is blue, the room is immediately transformed into a haven of relaxation as the rich tones envelop the entire space.
When working to achieve this effect with a blue sofa, one should consider using a variety of different textures and materials across several surfaces throughout the room, such as on cushions and throws or even walls and lampshades.
One may also wish to bring complementary accents, such as yellow or orange in the case of a dark blue sofa, or contrasting colours such as taupe pink and mint green, which will work to liven an entirely blue space. Meanwhile, wooden and metal furniture will do well to complete such a theme.
2. Utilise Complementary Colours
For a more varied colour scheme to go with a blue sofa, one should look to work with a range of complementary colours. As a neutral colour itself, blue can work well with a wide spectrum of palettes, from cool tones, such as purple and green to warmer tones, such as yellow, orange and red.
However, as colour theory dictates, there are some colours that work particularly well to complement blue. Depending on the exact shade of blue in question, complementary colours range from block red to lime green, with everything in between.
While lighter shades of blue are complemented by increasingly darker shades of orange and red, dark blue pairs particularly with yellow.
When applied to interior design, a palette of blue, yellow and even gold work very well to complement each other in creating a sumptuous, sophisticated and modern-regal aesthetic that’s simultaneously bright and welcoming.
3. Accentuate with Cushions
Cushions are a necessary accessory to any sofa and are a simple yet effective way to introduce an additional layer of colour and texture. opting for throw pillows in different hues of blue or complementary colours can help create an interesting look that draws the eye around the entire space.
For a sofa in dark shades of blue, complementary coloured cushions such as yellow and orange, or contrasting tones like taupe pink will add a hint of vibrancy that complements the sofa. For a more monochrome style, decorating a light blue sofa with throw pillows of dark blue will give the space a delicate yet vivid look.
4. Play with Textures
There is, of course, more to styling a living room than deciding on a colour scheme, and decorating with a range of delicate textures is an effective way to bring more layers to the space and capture one’s intrigue.
From the upholstery of the sofa and the material used in the curtains to the wallpaper, works of art and even the tops of coffee tables, there are many ways to introduce more texture to a living room.
In this space, which features a blue Freeman Sofa, an abundance of textures and patterns have been introduced through the careful use of coffee tables and cushions – even the lamp brings a unique sleek look to the space that isn’t represented by any other piece | Designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for © Minotti London
By installing various accessories and additional furniture that boast a range of textures, one can elevate the status of the blue sofa and the living room in which it resides.
For example, textured wallpaper over a fireplace will add depth to the area behind the sofa. Meanwhile, a well-placed rug adds more texture underfoot while bringing various elements of the seating area together to create a cohesive whole.
It is important, however, not to introduce too many different textures as this may make a living room feel busy and distorted. The key here is using different textures to add layers and dimensions to the space, but it should still look and feel unified.
5. Liven the Space with Greenery
When styling a living room around a blue sofa, utilising greenery in a variety of shades and tones will breathe life into the space while adding a comfortable sense of freshness.
Perhaps the most obvious way to do this is to install a variety of house plants, which is a simple and effective way to balance new colours and textures in a living room.
Green works particularly well against blue, and the contrast creates the perfect canvas for other colours in the room. Plants also add texture and dimension without overwhelming the space and leafy plants, such as fiddle leaf figs or monstera, are a great way to add warmth to a living room.
How to Style a Blue Sofa in a Living Room
With so many versions of the classic blue sofa design, there’s almost always a blue sofa to suit a space. Furthermore, the range of textures such as velvet, damask and linen, and colours, such as navy, teal and baby blue make blue sofas incredibly versatile pieces of furniture.
With this in mind, here are five of the key colour scheme considerations and design techniques that one should keep in mind and experiment with when designing a living room around a blue sofa:
- Create a Single-Colour Space: Monochrome colour schemes have become particularly popular in recent years and blue sofas work extraordinarily well in such a setting.
- Utilise Complementary Colours: Pairing a blue sofa with complementary colours can create a striking look that helps the sofa stand out.
- Accentuate with Cushions: Introducing a variety of coloured and patterned throw pillows can be the finishing touch to complete the look of a living room.
- Play with Textures: By experimenting with a range of materials and textures, one can create a visually stunning space that explores more than just colour.
- Liven the Space with Greenery: House plants pair particularly well with a blue sofa and the freshness of the greenery works well to bring an inviting sense of fresh air into the room.
To discover Minotti London’s full collection of blue sofas, visit our London showroom or make an appointment with one of our colleagues in order to discuss the various design options available with our bespoke sofas.
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