How to Add Style to a Brown Couch

Brown couches don't have to bring a room down, but making them stylish involves lightening the rest of the room. The best part is that anything from wall paint to additional furniture can be used to provide contrast. Light colors such as white, yellow, or blue add color and brightness to a room. Vibrant decorations such as art, plants, and patterned pillows also provide variety. With careful planning, you can remake an ordinary brown couch into a stylish centerpiece of any room.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Styling the Couch

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Line the couch with colored pillows. Pillows are the easiest way to add style to the couch. Light colors such as cream or tan stand out against brown, and you can switch to more vibrant colors like red or blue as needed. Pillows and pillow covers come in such a wide variety that you'll always be able to customize your couch with them.^{[1]XResearch source}
- For extra style points, mix in some patterned pillows.
Light-colored blankets mask brown, while brightly-colored blankets and throws add vibrancy to a dull couch. Drape the blanket over the back of the couch. You can also spread it across one of the couch cushions. Every blanket has its own color and texture combination, so they'll all provide a unique flair to your couch.^{[2]XResearch source}
Separating your new set of furniture sounds strange, but it breaks up monotonous coloring. If you have a brown couch and a bunch of solid brown chairs, you'll end up with way too much brown. Move the chairs to another room. Substitute them with colorful furniture that complements the couch.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Fill out the room with light-colored or painted furniture. The rest of the furniture in your room makes a big difference in how the room is perceived. Look for furniture that compliments brown. Ottomans, end tables, and bookcases are all customizable. Look for ones that are a light brown or white wood, or choose pieces you can paint bright colors.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Another option is to fill the tables and shelving with colorful objects. Even a few red and blue books make a big difference. Brown is a neutral color, so almost any style or shade of decor can make it pop.
5
Find colored or patterned chairs. Seek out some chairs that are more than a solid, dark color. Brightly-colored chairs add some levity to a dark room. You can also pick ones with specific colors, such as blue, that promote a color theme. Set the chairs near your couch and you'll quickly notice they make the couch look less drab.^{[5]XResearch source}
- You can use a dark-colored chair. For example, a wood-framed chair looks pleasant next to the couch, but needs to be accentuated with colorful or patterned cushioning.
- If you do choose to have all dark colored furniture, though, you may want to paint the walls a lighter color, or use a light rug to anchor and balance the room.
6
Add plants for decoration. Plants serve as a colorful and organic accent. Position a couple of plants on end tables next to your couch. There are many different varieties of indoor plants, so you can find ones that look pleasant in your room.^{[6]XExpert SourcePriscilla Bettencourt
Home Stager & Interior DesignerExpert Interview. 24 April 2020.} Also, don't underestimate how a vase full of fresh flowers changes a room.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Some indoor plants you can get are pothos, aloe, jade plants, and peace lilies, all of which require little maintenance.
- Make sure you research a plant variety before buying it. Some are toxic to children and pets. You can also opt for faux plants to avoid these dangers, or to accommodate someone who has plant allergies.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Style by Decorating Walls

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Paint the walls a lighter color. The color of the walls are what you first sense when entering a room. If you plan on adding a brown couch to a dark-colored room, paint the walls and ceiling white, light blue, or another color that adds some contrast. You may groan at having to paint, but when you're finished you'll notice right away how it brightens up the room.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Another option is to decorate an accent wall with a nice wallpaper.^{[9]XExpert SourcePriscilla Bettencourt
  Home Stager & Interior DesignerExpert Interview. 24 April 2020.}
2
Add wood accents and trim to the walls. Wood may also lend some personality to your room. The rough texture of shiplap or a reclaimed wood accent wall contrasts well with brown couches. Softer browns, such as from gray or light-colored wood, softens the deep brown of the couch. It also incorporates brown into the room's theme.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If you use wood, you'll need to add color elsewhere in the room, such as with art or white wood furniture.
Decorate with wall painted trim that stands out. Trim, while not necessary, is a noticeable detail that breaks up flat surfaces. Trim can be painted in any color you like. White trim for instance lightens up a room and provides contrast even when you surround it with a lot of brown furniture.^{[11]XResearch source}
4
Hang colorful decorations on the wall. Colorful artwork stands out in a brown room. A bright landscape, for instance, brings pleasantness and warmth. It draw eyes upwards. You can also add a nice wall clock, themed decorations, or framed photos to add style to the couch.
- Try to match the decorations to the room's theme. A painting with a lot of blue sky matches well with blue pillows, for example.
- Picture frames come in a variety of colors. A red frame, for example, would stand out and match other red objects in the room.
5
Hang light-colored curtains in the room. You may not think of it, but curtains affect your room. Soft, light curtains match well against the heavy appearance of a brown couch. White ones always balance out the coloring, but you may also get other colors such as blue.^{[12]XResearch source}
- For example, set the couch near the window and hang thin, white curtains. The white contrasts the brown while also letting light into the room.
- More colorful curtains work well in themed rooms. Blue curtains, for example, can match blue pillows.
- If you don't want curtains, opt for lighter colored blinds or shades. You can also hang a light colored valance to compliment your sofa.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Color Themes

Spruce up your room with some light blue or green decorations. Cool colors like these can make a brown look more sophisticated and vibrant. These colors don't have to be a blinding neon shade to break up the monotony of brown. Pillows, paintings, and other accents make for a calming environment that causes your couch to look more stylish.^{[13]XResearch source}
2
Brighten up the room with warm colors. Vibrant colors such as red, orange, and yellow always stand out in a room. Very bright pillows and decorations are summery, while ones with deeper shades are reminiscent of fall. Whichever style you choose provides warmth to your brown couch.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Warm colors go particularly well with browns when they are used in rustic, Tuscan, and other more traditional decor styles.
3
Create consistent colors throughout the room. Make the colors you choose part of your theme. If you have blue pillows, hang some blue decorations on the wall. Add some white furniture to match white wall trimming. Consistent coloring draws eyes away from the brown couch. Instead, the couch serves as a part of the whole room, causing it to seem stylish.^{[15]XResearch source}
- A monochromatic look with natural materials is usually a good choice for a room.^{[16]XExpert SourcePriscilla Bettencourt
  Home Stager & Interior DesignerExpert Interview. 24 April 2020.}
4
Create contrast with textures and patterns. Another way to break up the monotony of a brown couch is with varying surfaces. Plants, glass, metal, and fabric all have unique textures that add variety to the room. Patterned pillows and blankets also break up couch's solid, heavy appearance.^{[17]XResearch source}
- For instance, try putting a striped pillow or piece of furniture near the couch.
- When you add textures and patterns, your eyes bounce around the room more. This means that the brown sofa will seem less like a focal piece and more like a part of the overall complimentary decor.
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