Looking for a “colour scheme for the living room with a dark brown sofa?”
While this is a very specific search, we understand your struggle and have built a complete guide to answer just that. Read on to learn all you need to know.
A dark brown sofa is a classic choice. You might have one because you were drawn to the rich color, which is both neutral and a statement.
But once it’s in your home, it can feel tricky to decide on a color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa.
Matching colors to this classic piece of furniture is easier than you think! Keep reading for inspiration. With interior design, you usually start with a color palette and then add furniture.
But with a dark brown sofa, begin with the sofa and build around that. We’ll go over some color schemes for a living room with a dark brown sofa. Then check out our do’s and don’ts for styling brown sofas.
Color Schemes that Work with a Dark Brown Sofa
Dark brown furniture can feel heavy and stuffy or warm and welcoming. It all depends on how you style it! Here are some of our favorite color schemes for a living room with a dark brown sofa.
Keep Things Cozy with Neutrals
The way color theory is understood, brown is a neutral color. One way to make a dark brown sofa inviting is to pair it with other neutrals. Base this kind of color scheme on the undertones of your dark brown sofa.
If your sofa has cool blue or green undertones or warmer red, orange, or yellow undertones, use those colors in the room.
Think of chocolate browns, wheat and honey hues, and creamy whites for a warm brown sofa. For a cooler espresso brown sofa, combine cool greys and muted whites with blue or violet undertones.
Go Bold with Jewel Tones
Use deep, dark jewel tones as a color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa. Give in to the dark side by painting all your walls a dark purple or teal and adding a chocolate sofa.
Keep all the fixtures and window treatments dark by using black-finished metals and burgundy or emerald green curtains. Add a pop of color with true orange pillows.
Don’t be afraid of using a brown sofa as a base for brighter colors. A dark brown sofa would add weight to an eclectic-style room with all kinds of rich colors, luxe metals, and light wood accents throughout.
Try a Monochromatic Look
Monochromatic means using only one color, but that doesn’t have to mean it’s boring. Go for a brown monochromatic color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa.
Add accents in lighter shades of the same brown tone. For this kind of color palette, layer shades of the same color using different elements, including:
- Pillows
- Throws
- Artwork
- Wall colors
- Architectural moldings
- Light fixtures
- Plant holders
A dark brown sofa can be the exception in a monochromatic room. For the darkest espresso brown sofa, layer silvers and the coolest greys. Paint walls with satin-finish paint for this look. Tie everything together by adding silver satin pillows to your brown sofa.
Use a Dark Brown Sofa to Warm Up a White Room
Even if you love a room filled with light, stark white walls can sometimes make a space feel cold. Warm things up with a dark brown sofa.
Add in black metal floor lamps, black picture frames, and light brown and brass shades for a mature color scheme that still keeps things airy.
For a room with true white walls and light wood floors, play up the light by keeping curtains sheer and placing a white, textured rug under a dark brown sofa.
For color, add a green plant or use thin black frames for minimalistic artwork, but keep accents conservative in this case.
Don’t Be Afraid of Reds
Red tones, like rust, fuchsia, or burgundy, are perfect for a brown sofa. A neutral brown grounds fuschia and burgundy, and these colors make a dark brown sofa pop.
Build on a fuschia and brown color palette with navy blue or even pale blush hues. Southwestern style uses a perfect color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa.
Think true reds, desert oranges and beiges, all kinds of browns, and pops of turquoise. Include elements like leather, woven fabrics, weathered woods, and patina metals.
Make a Statement with a Grey Color Scheme
We love the idea of using a dark brown sofa in your living room as a pop of color. Keep everything else cool and monochromatic by going with all grey tones. Use the darkest slate greys here or the palest grey whites.
Keep the shade range tight for an ultramodern monochromatic style, or go with a wide shade range for a contemporary space. Just make sure your dark brown sofa has the same undertones as your grey color scheme for this look.
Team Warm Browns with a Pop of Blue
From the darkest to lightest warm color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa, mix things up with a shade of blue. This works with all kinds of red and warm color palettes and interior design styles.
Add a warm brown sofa with a rustic cedar cabin and naturally bright warm hues but accent with a baby blue to cool things down.
With all of the orange woods and warm brown and red tones, this brings in contrast to mimic the open blue sky.
Get Back to Nature with Earthtones
Play up the natural earthiness of brown with colors found in nature. Try adding creams, khakis, muted or sage greens, and light and dark brown hues for a warm dark brown sofa.
Balance things out in a cooler green room by adding brass or copper brushed metal pieces for a cool-toned brown sofa.
A warm brown sofa will pair nicely with silver metal without letting the room become too cold.
A grass green wall would make a statement with either a cool or warm brown sofa. For this look, keep all other elements in the room lighter shades of green and brown.
Try Interior Design Styles with Whites, Tans, and Black Accents
Go sophisticated with a dark brown sofa by contrasting white, tan, grey, and black accents.
This can be timeless and works with interior design styles like industrial, Scandinavian, and mid-century modern. For Scandinavian style, let your dark brown sofa be the darkest thing in a light room.
For mid-century modern, try a modular dark brown sofa with clean lines. Industrial works with all kinds of styles and materials. Here, focus on the sofa placement in the room, highlighting architectural details like a concrete-plated or brick wall.
Use Brown as a Base and Add Pops of Color
A dark brown sofa works naturally with bohemian style. A boho color scheme depends on vibrant oranges, teals, and pinks, and creamy whites.
Textures come from metal accents, woven materials, curiosities, and green plants. In this kind of busy space, use a dark brown sofa to ground the room.
Things to Consider with a Dark Brown Sofa
When creating a color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa, there are some things to keep in mind. We’ll go over each, so you have the best time on your decorating adventures.
Dark Brown Sofas Draw the Eye
A dark brown sofa can act as an anchor in a room. Make it the darkest element in the room, or use it as a base for a room filled with mixed prints. Go dramatic in a big room and accent a dark brown sectional with oversized bold art.
Consider Sofa Material
Brown leather feels more masculine and mature, while soft fabrics like velvet soften a space. With a shiny leather sofa, use matte paint. For velvet or tweed, stick with a satin or glossy finish.
Complement with Accents
The color brown can either remind you of dirt or chocolate. Psychology shows that how we think of the color brown depends on the context we put it in.
Put brown with other colors that make it inviting. Complement a dark brown sofa with green plants for a relaxing, earthy environment or cool blues for a calming getaway.
Choosing a Color Scheme to Go with Your Dark Brown Sofa
Now you have the inspiration to create a color scheme for a living room with a dark brown sofa.
Dark brown sofas can be cozy, calming, romantic, or exciting in a styled space. They can make a statement or be the base to make other elements in the room shine.
Since brown is a neutral color, you can choose all kinds of color palettes and styles to go with a dark brown sofa.
Many combinations of colors compliment brown. Your only real limit is your imagination! We hope you found a color scheme that speaks to you!