Perfect Match: What to Pair With Your Leather Furniture
If you're stuck for inspiration when it comes to showing off that leather couch in its best light, you've come to the right place
Leather chairs, sofas and ottomans tend to be big, comfy and classic – no wonder they’re a popular choice for living room furniture. But too much bulky leather upholstery can make a space look dark, heavy or just … boring. Wondering what to put with all of that brown or black leather? These ideas should help.
If you have timber bookcases or cabinetry in the room, consider painting these pieces to match the walls. Or, for a subtler effect, paint only the backs of the bookcases or the interiors of the cabinets.
Wildcard: Peacock blue and orange
Take rich peacock-blue walls up a notch by adding contrasting Hermès-orange accents. Try a pair of footstools or X-benches, or furnish a window seat with bold orange cushions, as shown here.
Wildcard: Peacock blue and orange
Take rich peacock-blue walls up a notch by adding contrasting Hermès-orange accents. Try a pair of footstools or X-benches, or furnish a window seat with bold orange cushions, as shown here.
2. Black, grey and texture
To keep things interesting in a neutral space, it helps to really play up texture and shine. Try smoky mirrored or reflective furniture (or a mirror on the wall); a soft, low-pile rug; and a plush faux-fur throw. Shades of grey, black and white make easy partners for a brown leather sofa.
To keep things interesting in a neutral space, it helps to really play up texture and shine. Try smoky mirrored or reflective furniture (or a mirror on the wall); a soft, low-pile rug; and a plush faux-fur throw. Shades of grey, black and white make easy partners for a brown leather sofa.
3. Kilim rug
The warm colours and rich pattern of a flat-weave kilim rug help a leather piece settle into the room. Kilims make an especially dynamic pair for modern pieces, like the leather chair shown here.
The warm colours and rich pattern of a flat-weave kilim rug help a leather piece settle into the room. Kilims make an especially dynamic pair for modern pieces, like the leather chair shown here.
4. Charcoal and wood
A deep, dark charcoal-hued natural-fibre rug makes a caramel-coloured leather sofa look even more rich and luxurious. Play up a rustic-modern mood with woodsy side tables, timber-framed mirrors and nubby burlap, canvas or wool pillows.
A deep, dark charcoal-hued natural-fibre rug makes a caramel-coloured leather sofa look even more rich and luxurious. Play up a rustic-modern mood with woodsy side tables, timber-framed mirrors and nubby burlap, canvas or wool pillows.
5. Light neutrals
Lighten up a leather sofa or furniture set by surrounding it with soft, warm neutrals like ivory, cream, sand, beige, wheat and gold. Try crisp white walls, a faded traditional or pale natural-fibre rug, woven shades and creamy linen throw pillows.
Lighten up a leather sofa or furniture set by surrounding it with soft, warm neutrals like ivory, cream, sand, beige, wheat and gold. Try crisp white walls, a faded traditional or pale natural-fibre rug, woven shades and creamy linen throw pillows.
Even a change as simple as tossing a cream-coloured throw over your leather piece can give it a lighter look.
6. Rough linen, tweed and velvet
Leather looks stunning alongside rich, autumnal fabrics like tweed, velvet and rustic, nubby linen. If you have a full set of leather furniture, consider breaking it up and using just one or two of the leather pieces, paired with something upholstered in one of these delicious fabrics – the leather will look the richer for it.
Leather looks stunning alongside rich, autumnal fabrics like tweed, velvet and rustic, nubby linen. If you have a full set of leather furniture, consider breaking it up and using just one or two of the leather pieces, paired with something upholstered in one of these delicious fabrics – the leather will look the richer for it.
7. Bright, bold pillows
The great thing about black or brown leather is that just about any-colour throw pillows can work. Try changing the colours up seasonally, with fresh blues and greens in spring and summer, and warm cinnamon, cranberry and persimmon in autumn and winter.
YOU TELL US
Do you own leather furniture? How do you decorate around it? Share your photos and tips in the comments section below.
The great thing about black or brown leather is that just about any-colour throw pillows can work. Try changing the colours up seasonally, with fresh blues and greens in spring and summer, and warm cinnamon, cranberry and persimmon in autumn and winter.
YOU TELL US
Do you own leather furniture? How do you decorate around it? Share your photos and tips in the comments section below.
Peacock blue is a bold (but highly livable) choice for walls, especially in a smaller room – the intense hue enhances and uplifts dark leather pieces. Pair it with a goes-with-anything Moroccan rug, an organic wooden table and a gallery wall.