How to choose a sofa colour: combinations for all types and tips

The colour of your sofa can have a major impact on the other furnishings in your living area and the choice of colour you make will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your living room, the size of your sofa or even the type of upholstery and character you want to give your home.

How to choose a sofa: criteria for finding the best colour

In addition to the size and type of covering, deciding on the right colour is fundamental when choosing a new sofa. In fact, your chosen shade of colour will affect the style and harmony of your entire living area. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account how a colour might go with the rest of the furniture, the size of the living area, the use of the sofa (if children or animals use it, it is better to avoid very light colours) and the character you want to give to your space. Still can’t make your mind up about which colour to go for? Here are some simple tips to follow.

Colour and size: how to choose a sofa according to the size of your sofa and living room

One of the first things to think about when choosing the colour of your sofa concerns the size of the other furniture in your living area and that of your living room in general. Sofas with bright colours are generally more suitable for very large spaces because very strong or dark colours tend to visually shrink a space, which would make small living rooms run the risk of being even more cramped. The size of the sofa is also important. For instance, two or three-seater sofas lend themselves well to very colourful coverings, whereas very large coloured sofas can end up cluttering the interior design of your space.

How to choose a sofa colour according to the covering

The different types of upholstery available should also correspond with the colours you choose, with some being more or less suitable than others. So, which shade should you choose for each type of sofa? Let’s take a look at some of the best combinations, type by type.

How to choose a fabric sofa colour

A fabric or microfibre sofa is well suited to bright colours due to the lightness of the materials used and also the fact that they are easy to clean and maintain.

For example, the ‘Hip-Hop’ model by Calia Italia is made up of trapezoidal modules that (as well as giving the possibility of creating original and curvy compositions) can be covered in multiple shades of colour according to personal taste, thereby allowing you to create innovative and customised ideas.

How to choose a velvet sofa colour

Velvet sofas are synonymous with refinement and elegance and here you can really indulge with the colours. Green, purple, blue and red are the most suitable in vintage style spaces, while in more modern living rooms you might want to opt for more neutral colours, such as beige or white.

A perfect example in soft colours is the ‘Belle Epoque’ model by Calia Italia. This refined and precious model is characterised by an elegant capitonné workmanship that covers the whole sofa except the seat and it is embellished with a decorative border and feet with a modern and sophisticated design.

How to choose the colour of your leather sofa

Your choice of colour for leather sofas can also vary greatly depending on the style of other furniture in your space and the size of the room.

For large, modern sofas, such as Calia Italia’s ‘Toby Wing’ model, the most suitable shades range from white to ivory. Instead, the more classic or Scandinavian-style leather sofas, such as Calia Italia’s ‘Modern_o’ model, are perfect in warm shades ranging from chocolate, burnt earth, burgundy and black.

For more details on the types of covering available, take a look at the new Calia Italia covers section in which you will find everything you need to know about the characteristics of different materials and colours.

Sofa colour trends 2021: what to know about the year’s trends

Finally, as far as trends for 2021 are concerned, we can’t forget to mention this year’s must-have Pantone colours, including yellow and grey, bright shades such as purple, emerald green and navy blue and also pastel colours for those vintage-style sofas, such as light pink or mustard – and the timeless white of course.