UPDATE: Reddit wasn't showing some of the images, hence the re-posts! Apologies if you had commented on my previous posts as I missed them 🙂
I need help with my indecisiveness! I need a sofa for our new apartment. It’ll be a south-facing open plan living/dining/kitchen area, so lots of sunlight throughout the day though less so in winter (North UK).
Unfortunately the kitchen is in my least favourite colour – anthracite/dark grey! I find it rather cold and flat especially on a modern handleless kitchen. My personal preference leans towards more warm/earthy/autumnal colours, such as the Sweet Treats collection by Little Greene. I also like minimalist, neutral, organic modern decor with lots of natural light+textures and wood tones (attached what my Pinterest board looks like). It’s also not a big apartment so I would’ve preferred the kitchen to be in a lighter colour so it isn’t as visually heavy as a dark grey kitchen. But it is what it is!
Whilst I’d like to change the kitchen colour at some point (either painting it a light sage-y green or using textured wood adhesive vinyl to wrap the doors), I want to get a sofa that will not only work for my dream kitchen colour but also the current one. This is especially since I might not update the kitchen till many many years down the line, as I find it wasteful to replace a perfectly new kitchen so may wait till I have a financially pragmatic reason to… Plus moving is expensive as is so I’ll have to save up for it and life might get in the way so the update may not happen!
Here’s what I need help with! I'm keen on this sofa and I've shortlisted 2 colours that I kept going back to from the fabric samples I've received – Textured Pebble Grey & Velvet Deep Amber. Ps the colour on the website looks different from the fabric samples but I've included photos of the samples.
Textured Pebble Grey (ie neutral)
- Pros: Safe, easy canvas to work with. Helps to balance the visual weight of the dark grey kitchen.
- Cons: Would this grey along with the kitchen make the entire space look/feel too flat/cold/bland/boring? The fabric sample seems quite hardwearing but it is still a lighter colour than the Deep Amber so may be harder to keep clean in the long run. It has a weave-like texture that is still soft but may end up looking worn out quicker compared to the velvet option?
Velvet Deep Amber (ie bold!)
- Pros: Given how dark the grey kitchen is, this bold statement could help to visually counter it and "liven" up the space. This colour and texture may be easier to keep clean than the lighter neutral above. The velvet texture also looks cosier, more elegant than the grey on above.
- Cons: Is it too bold for this room? Is this shade too "warm" for a south-facing room? Will I get tired of the colour? Will I find it too stimulating rather than cosy and relaxing?
How does one go about picking between the above two options? I've tried to consider the pros and cons of both but feel like I'm nowhere close to deciding… I'd love to hear some voice of reason for which one to go for – especially from folks who also like similar styles/colours and can relate to my thoughts and concerns. I’ve always been afraid of going bold for such a big purchase since they are more expensive to replace, compared to smaller decor pieces (eg cushions, throws, vases etc).
Fellow neutral-loving folks that have gone bold, care to share your experience – how did it go and any regrets? Any thoughts would be much appreciated cause my partner's happy with either, as long as it "couch-es" XD Thanks!
by B4nanahammock