I’m a firm believer in setting a proper foundation for a room, investing in pieces that will grow with your family longterm. Before you can style the coffee table, don’t skip floor planning, be sure to select the right rug, and set your sights on quality furniture. In regard to the furniture piece of the puzzle… let’s dive into selecting a sofa and chairs!
Tips for Selecting Complementary Pieces
My biggest piece of advice for pairing accent chairs with your sofa is to consider contrast. You want the pieces to feel like they complement each other, but can stand alone. If you can achieve one of the following contrasting elements, you’ll have a beautiful and classic outcome…
Color
Be intentional with color- I’m a fan of contrasting colors for depth, but you can also take the monochromatic (tone on tone) path… just make sure they don’t clash. When in doubt, consider timeless neutrals- keeping either the sofa or the chair in a natural color palette.
Shape
The shape of your sofa in comparison with the shape of the chair is very important. I generally stay away from perfectly repeated shapes, but make sure the overall shape feels like it belongs to the same family or is intentionally different (example: a traditional rolled arm sofa pairs well with a chair that has a contrasting square arm… like in my formal living room).
Material
Another really nice contrasting element is the material in which the seating is made of. You never want your sofa and chairs to match. Even if they’re different colors, I’m a believer they should also be constructed of unique materials. A velvet sofa would look stunning and dramatic next to an organic cotton woven chair.
Style
Keep in mind the overall aesthetic of the room. If you’re going for a traditional look, both pieces of furniture should embody that style in one way or another (form, material, color, etc).
Scale
Make sure your sofa and accent chair is of a similar proportion that fits the overall scale of the room. For example, it would look visually “off” to see a smaller, apartment-sized sofa paired with a massive, oversized lounge chair. You want to make sure the scale is consistent for all of the seating elements in a space.
Form & Visual Weight
Lastly, be mindful of form. For example, a chair with legs would look great paired alongside a skirted sofa- or a sofa that has a visually heavier base. A contrasting leg style between the sofa and a chair is a good indication form has been considered, and provides a nice balance of negative space. The goal is for one piece of furniture to balance the visual weight of the other.
Designer Recommended Pairings
Click directly on each item below to be redirected.
We actually have the Harmony Sofa in our maroon guest bedroom. It’s very comfortable and comes in a bunch of colors and configurations. What are your favorite pairings from the roundup? I also considered comfort when curating these… I looked for plush, down-wrapped cushions, excellent reviews, and performance fabrics. Speaking of, if you ever order a sectional, sofa, or chair with customization, make sure you read this post first… 10 things to consider when ordering custom upholstery!
FAQ
How do you choose a sofa that will withstand the test of time… and your family? We have kids and dogs.
Sofas are expensive, so that’s always the end goal- find one that will last. Check out this post for my best tips on choosing family & pet friendly sofas.
I’m curious about the sectional in your basement… how are you liking it?
We’re still loving it! You can catch my Homebody reclining sectional review here… I go over the pros, cons, and give you an up-close look. This lives in our basement media room, by the way- so it’s extra cozy!
Was that helpful? I hope so! As always, drop your questions and thoughts in the comment section below. I love these design exercises. It’s always fun to dig up beautiful new options. Let me know what home pairings you’d like to see or are currently struggling with… I’ll add a post to my calendar. Here’s to a good week ahead, friends! We’ve been busy renovating- check out the home gym renovation: before images & demo here (if you missed it)!
