Most living rooms have a version of this combination: solid fabric or leather sofa + patterned rug. But what if we dare to be a little different and flip the script? What if instead, we did a patterned sofa atop a solid rug (or, if you’re very brave and very good at pattern mixing, a patterned rug, as well)? That, my EHD friends, is where design magic tends to happen; when you take a common practice and mix it up.
Today, I’m here to share an idea that is by no means novel, but still feels fresh and full of personality: the patterned sofa. Now, for anyone who just grimaced, I know, I know. There are so many bad patterend sofas out there, and, like most people burned by the style of the 1980s, you may have a visiceral reaction to this concept. I see you and I understand. After all, I grew up with a gray and peach floral sofa-loveseat set in my family’s formal living room that took a while to recover from (I’m exaggerating, because I actually thought that was the pinnacle of taste when I was five).
Patterend sofas can be good, I promise! One of my favorite designers Heidi Caillier is the American master of the patterned sofa right now. She tends to use a lot of florals and chintz but in a way that’s warm, chic, and forward-thinking…a.k.a. not an easy task. And I say “American” master because, like so many things happening in decorating today, this is a style that has been beloved and widely used in English interiors for many, many decades. Let’s take a quick look at some of the rooms she’s designed using a non-traditional sofa:
The green chintz sofa is a BDDW sofa (one of Emily’s luxe favorites) in a custom fabric. Below, you can see she paired it with a small settee in a blue toned tartan-like fabric and a small-scale patterned armchair. It works because the color palette is intentional, and the scales are all varied: large florals on large sofa, simple medium plaid on medium sofa, small tribal pattern on armchair.
The Realities Of A Patterned Sofa
If florals aren’t for you, fear not. There are tons of stripes and modern graphic variations on the market. It can be as subtle as a pinstripe, or as bold as a brightly hued cabana stripe. Gingham is a friendly entrance into the patterned sofa world, and plays nicely with so many other prints you might want to bring in via throw pillows, rugs, curtains, etc.
No matter that print of choice though, the absolute best patterend sofas seem to be (sigh) custom made. That, of course, opens up the world of fabric choices, but typically costs much more money. And speaking of money, the ones you can buy ready-made from a retailer are likely to run you a higher bill than their solid fabric version. Based on what I know about economics (very little) and sofa retailers (a lot), this is mostly just due to supply and demand. Most people out there are not buying a sofa with flowers printed all over its cushions. Fewer are made, which means a manufacturer isn’t getting a bulk deal on pricing as they would say, a whole bunch of cream linen.
Also, patterned fabrics tend to be more expensive than solids in general, either due to the labor of weaving or even digital printing. More design = more money. All of that to say, you don’t enter into the decision to sidestep a solid colored sofa for something with a patterned fabric lightly. It’s an investment; most of the ones I found (keep reading) are at least $2,000 and that’s on the low end. I did find a few great slipcover options from a company called Bemz that makes covers specifically for IKEA sofa models. Those go for between $600 and $1,000, but that’s after the purchase of a sofa. It would be a great purchase if you are looking to refresh an existing IKEA sofa, or even buy one second hand.
Reupholstering an old couch or something second-hand/vintage is also an avenue worth exploring, though that can get pricey really fast. Depending on the city you live in, how much restuffing needs to be done for your cushions, and the size, you’re looking at anywhere from $1,000 to well over $3,000 for labor in addition to fabric. Not to mention the additional labor it takes for matching up patterns, which is a so important for a high-end look.
I know it sounds like I’m talking everywhere here down from the very topic at hand, but I wanted to lay out the realities before we all dream a little bit. Because a patterned sofa is a room maker, a unicorn furniture piece that makes people stop, think “whoa, that’s different” and look again. It’s a “double take” design moment, if you will.
Where To Use Patterned Sofas
For anyone interested in dipping their toes in the patterned sofa waters, maybe you’re wondering which room in your home might be the best bet. It can feel scary to make your keystone living room sofa moment that moment. And while I’m all for diving into the deep end, there are other choices! A few ideas I had:
- Home office (if you have the space for a smaller sofa)
- Guest bedroom where you prefer a sleeper sofa
- Primary bedroom suite that has a sitting area (or even at the foot of the bed if it’s a small armless loveseat)
- Formal living space (i.e. not the everyday family sofa for lounging and TV watching)
- In the form of a dining banquette (no, technically not a sofa, but it’s kind of the gateway to a sofa)
All of those places would be prime real estate for a patterned sofa or loveseat. It’s kind of like how a powder bathroom is a place people feel safe taking big style risks. Maybe because you can close the door and only get a taste of the drama in small amounts, I think the same can apply to the spots I listed above.
Some More Inspiration If You’re Not Convinced
Look, we all like what we like, and I like color and pattern. That’s no secret around these halls. I can also very much appreciate a quiet, subtle room, but I can’t deny that every time I see an image of a space with a patterned sofa, my heart starts racing a bit the way it did when I saw my middle school crush coming down the G-hall stairs. I’ve done a lot of talking up to this point, but let’s just meander and explore some beautiful (definitely aspirational) rooms that might just inspire you to go for the bold the next time you might be in the market for some seating:
If you love a print like I do, Cabana Magazine needs to be your next follow. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I especially love this ode to pattern above, which I think works so well because each fabric is a color story of its own without to many elements. That way, they function more as a block of color than a fabric with a print made of varied shades.
A pinstripe will always be your easiest transition away from a solid fabric. It just adds a touch of interest without being over the top.
This, however, is over the top in a very fun, exciting way. I can’t say I’d be this bold in my own home, but I sure do enjoy looking at it. I especially love that all the pillows are a bold stripe with colors pulled from the floral velvet.
Muted colors can really make a floral pattern easier to work with. Meghan Eisenberg make these seem almost like a neutral with her subtle use of textures, earth tones and simple styling.
This room by Lucy MacNicoll Home makes me think of a large-scale Laura Ashley pattern from my childhood. It’s very formal with the skirt and button tufts, but in the right house/room, it could be incredibly charming.
Michelle Kelly noted in her Instagram caption that she kept this room simple to let the floral sofa be the real star, and what can I say? It works!
Another one by Heidi Caillier. I love the warm neutral palette of this fabric because it becomes a very easy, welcoming backdrop for nearly anything. You can see it works with a trio of patterned throw pillows, and adds interest to a room with white walls and soft powdery blue millwork.
And for anyone who thinks a patterned sofa locks you in to a certain style or color palette, the owner of this home could decide to change the curtains to another color or print, paint the bookcase green or even maroon, bring in a rug in a totally different vibe, and BOOM you have a different room with the same sofas. It can be very versatile and in fact, give you a lot more to pull from than solid sofa for any room refreshes down the line.
I love a thick cabana stripe on a sofa with a modern silhouette like this one in a room by India Mahdavi from a feature in Architectural Digest. Typically, I find more graphic prints on blocky, streamlined pieces, and florals or more eclectic fabrics on leggy sofas or traditional shapes like an English roll arm, for instance.
Even Sarah Sherman Samuel got in on the pattern action with her repetitive tiger print fabric. She used this sofa in a showhouse she put together using a lot of her Lulu & Georgia designs.
Don’t be afraid to go for it with patterns. Pretty goes with pretty, as you can see in this room by Julia Chasman Design, shot by our friend Sara Ligorria-Tramp and styled by our other friend Emily Bowser.
Patterned Sofa Shopping Picks
It’s fun to virtually window shop for something like a printed fabric sofa because my brain quickly envisions rooms for each of them in a way it doesn’t do for a fairly straight-forward solid linen variety. Each of these has it’s own very strong personality, and they each are saying something different. AND WHO DOESN’T WANT A SOFA THAT TALKS TO YOU? Let them speak to you, go ahead…
1. Priory Sofa by Kelling Home | 2. Scandinavian Midcentury Rosewood Sofa “Monte Carlo”, 1965 | 3. Nickey Kehoe Curved Sofa in Custom Fabric | 4. Midnight Fleur Preston 86″ Sofa (Limited Edition) | 5. House of Hackney Willoughby Velvet Sofa in Florika Print | 6. Winnie English Arm Slipcovered Sofa | 7. English Roll Arm Sofa in Coral Solaire by CW Stockwell | 8. Ekeskog 3 Seater Sofa Cover Regular Fit, Simply Linen, Pink Sippor | 9. Crushed Flower Oil Painting Flower Fabric Sofa 86.61” Upholstered Sofa | 10. Grady Pleated Sofa in Seahaven French Blue | 11. Jylin Woven Athena Sleeper Sofa | 12. Judarn Sculptural Sofa
1. Marconi 3-Seater Tufted Sofa in Piano Cloud by Gianfranco Frattini | 2. Cocobella 3 Seater Sofa in Spring Green Stripe | 3. Seater Sofa, Ikat Stripe, Olive | 4. Schoolhouse x Clare V.® Marc Striped Sofa | 5. The Woven Marija Kori Modular Sectional Bundle | 6. Bedford Sofa in Navy with Samuel and Sons Welting, Plaid | 7. Ekeskog 3 Seater Sofa Cover Regular Fit, Simply Linen, Picnic Check Sun Yellow | 8. Alana Lawson Three-Cushion Tight Back Sofa, Blue Lattice | 9. A Mid Century Italian Sofa in Checkered Jacquard | 10. Bryn 3-Pc Sofa, Soweto Blue by Nikki Chu | 11. Tailored Tuxedo Sofa in Cornflower Classic Ticking Stripe | 12. Roma Sofa in Butter
I love so many of these and could really design an actual space in my home with one if I had the room. Though I’m not in the phase of my current house to be thinking of a new sofa (I’m too busy wiping toddler-sized Greek yogurt and peanut butter hand prints off my existing sectional), this is worthy of opening up the ol’ mental design vault and packing away for another day. I actually have a wildly beautiful, embroidered Manuel Canovas fabric I’ve been hoarding since my magazine days that would be perfect on a small loveseat, so maybe, just maybe, one day when I buy a house and have a few more rooms to work with, I’ll join the patterned sofa club. Here’s to hoping, dreaming and patterned sofas!
Your friend in all things just a little over the top, Arlyn
Opening Image Credit: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Living Room Update – AGAIN – Our New Sofa, My Dream Floral Chaise And The Pop Of Red I Always Wanted In My Life