Whether you’re a homeowner or buying furniture for a new rented place, you might feel like you’re breaking the rules by having two different sofas in the same room. You might be stuck between choosing one out of two gorgeous sofas - but is it okay?
Truth is, no interior decorator is going to barge through your front door ready to destroy your home because of two different sofas. The beauty of decorating a home is that it’s yours, and you can do whatever you like with it!
Is it OK to have mismatched couches?
In the grand scheme of things, having mismatched couches really isn’t the end of the world. If anything, if you can make it work, mismatched couches can be an awesome feature in a living room.
Who wants a bland, matching living room anyway? Whatever brings you joy is fine, because it’s your home. If we want to get into the interior design logistics of mismatched furniture, there are some things to consider.
Mismatched couches immediately become an accent piece, so you’re going to want to think about the color and style of the couches in relation to other pieces of furniture and objects in your room.
Sure, you can throw every color and pattern in the room and call it home, but there are ways of making mismatched couches work more fashionably.
For example, you could get two couches of different shades of the same color (for example, a navy blue sofa and a light blue one) to create a monochromatic look.
This also means that you can mismatch cushions and blankets that tie in with other colors in the room without colors clashing!
Mismatched sofas work brilliantly in a Boho-themed room. Earthy colors like browns and muted purples go wonderfully together, which means you can control splashes of brightness with yellow cushions and cream throws.
In terms of the style of the sofas, you don’t have to stick to a theme unless you want to. If anything, it makes sense to have a long and a short sofa in the same room.
This is ideal for large families or gatherings, because it means there’s more room for people to sit. Loveseats (small sofas) often come in bold colors and patterns to act as accent pieces, which does a lot to brighten up an interior.
How do you decorate with two different couches?
The easiest way to create a cohesive interior with two different couches is to utilize neutrals. Cream and white rugs and throws are a brilliant way to prevent the room from looking too cluttered and chaotic (unless that’s your aim).
If your two sofas are different bold colors, then simplify the rest of the room with neutrals to make the sofas the accent pieces.
Speaking of accent pieces, use hints of the sofa colors around the room. For example, if you have a purple sofa and a brown sofa, look at wall hangings or art that encompass the same colors to make the room look more cohesive.
You can also mismatch with cushions and throws on the different sofas. If you have a yellow sofa and a navy blue sofa, for example, throw some yellow cushions on the navy sofa and vice versa.
This also works for couches with different upholstery designs or styles. A tweed sofa could have some bold and plain cushions that match the bold and plain sofa, for example.
If your different couches look neutral, pick an accent color that works well with both colors. This can be repeated throughout the room, for example, in the drapes, objects, pieces of art, cushions, and plants.
Of course, if you’re looking for a cluttered appearance, nothing is stopping you from clashing patterns and colors in every corner of the room. It is your choice, after all!
Should sofas face each other?
One of the main issues people face when it comes to two different sofas is where to put them. Truth is, it doesn’t matter where you put them.
Obviously, you need to consider the size of the room, whether there is enough space to walk around, and where the main focal point of the room is (usually the television).
Facing two sofas together creates a cohesive and symmetrical look to a living room that often creates the illusion of a larger room.
It doesn’t matter whether the sofas match or not, because this is a clear stylistic choice that is used in many homes. It makes sense too, because it means people will be sat facing each other without having to crane their necks.
However, two sofas facing each other means that you will have to sit differently to see the television. Fortunately, there are other ways to position your sofas that are equally as cohesive.
We recommend that you move your sofas away from the walls. This will create an illusion of a larger room, as it means you have more space to put other objects like chairs and plants.
Chairs are a brilliant way to make your living space look more unique - especially if they are angled inwards. Some rooms won’t be large enough to fit two sofas facing each other. Instead, you can position the sofas in a perpendicular shape.
We recommend leaving enough space between the two ends of the sofas to prevent them from overlapping, as this can make the room look cramped. Instead, place a tall lamp, plant, or corner table in the space.
If you want to really make your living area look unique, why not angle your sofas slightly towards the wall of the television or fireplace? This will look slightly like an elongated “V” shape, and is a creative way to fit more into your living area.
Think of all the space in front of you for bookshelves, chairs, stools, plants, dog beds, and more!
The truth is that you don’t have to have your sofas facing each other. There is no rule book. You just have to consider the size of your room, where you want people to face - whether it’s towards a fireplace or television - and how much room there is to walk around.
