Most living rooms have a version of this combination: solid fabric or leather sofa + patterned rug. But what if we dare to be a little different and flip the script? What if instead, we did a patterned sofa atop a solid rug (or, if you’re very brave and very good at pattern mixing, a patterned rug, as well)? That, my EHD friends, is where design magic tends to happen; when you take a common practice and mix it up.
Today, I’m here to share an idea that is by no means novel, but still feels fresh and full of personality: the patterned sofa. Now, for anyone who just grimaced, I know, I know. There are so many bad patterend sofas out there, and, like most people burned by the style of the 1980s, you may have a visiceral reaction to this concept. I see you and I understand. After all, I grew up with a gray and peach floral sofa-loveseat set in my family’s formal living room that took a while to recover from (I’m exaggerating, because I actually thought that was the pinnacle of taste when I was five).
Patterend sofas can be good, I promise! One of my favorite designers Heidi Caillier is the American master of the patterned sofa right now. She tends to use a lot of florals and chintz but in a way that’s warm, chic, and forward-thinking…a.k.a. not an easy task. And I say “American” master because, like so many things happening in decorating today, this is a style that has been beloved and widely used in English interiors for many, many decades. Let’s take a quick look at some of the rooms she’s designed using a non-traditional sofa:
The green chintz sofa is a BDDW sofa (one of Emily’s luxe favorites) in a custom fabric. Below, you can see she paired it with a small settee in a blue toned tartan-like fabric and a small-scale patterned armchair. It works because the color palette is intentional, and the scales are all varied: large florals on large sofa, simple medium plaid on medium sofa, small tribal pattern on armchair.
The Realities Of A Patterned Sofa
If florals aren’t for you, fear not. There are tons of stripes and modern graphic variations on the market. It can be as subtle as a pinstripe, or as bold as a brightly hued cabana stripe. Gingham is a friendly entrance into the patterned sofa world, and plays nicely with so many other prints you might want to bring in via throw pillows, rugs, curtains, etc.
No matter that print of choice though, the absolute best patterend sofas seem to be (sigh) custom made. That, of course, opens up the world of fabric choices, but typically costs much more money. And speaking of money, the ones you can buy ready-made from a retailer are likely to run you a higher bill than their solid fabric version. Based on what I know about economics (very little) and sofa retailers (a lot), this is mostly just due to supply and demand. Most people out there are not buying a sofa with flowers printed all over its cushions. Fewer are made, which means a manufacturer isn’t getting a bulk deal on pricing as they would say, a whole bunch of cream linen.
Also, patterned fabrics tend to be more expensive than solids in general, either due to the labor of weaving or even digital printing. More design = more money. All of that to say, you don’t enter into the decision to sidestep a solid colored sofa for something with a patterned fabric lightly. It’s an investment; most of the ones I found (keep reading) are at least $2,000 and that’s on the low end. I did find a few great slipcover options from a company called Bemz that makes covers specifically for IKEA sofa models. Those go for between $600 and $1,000, but that’s after the purchase of a sofa. It would be a great purchase if you are looking to refresh an existing IKEA sofa, or even buy one second hand.
Reupholstering an old couch or something second-hand/vintage is also an avenue worth exploring, though that can get pricey really fast. Depending on the city you live in, how much restuffing needs to be done for your cushions, and the size, you’re looking at anywhere from $1,000 to well over $3,000 for labor in addition to fabric. Not to mention the additional labor it takes for matching up patterns, which is a so important for a high-end look.
I know it sounds like I’m talking everywhere here down from the very topic at hand, but I wanted to lay out the realities before we all dream a little bit. Because a patterned sofa is a room maker, a unicorn furniture piece that makes people stop, think “whoa, that’s different” and look again. It’s a “double take” design moment, if you will.
Where To Use Patterned Sofas
For anyone interested in dipping their toes in the patterned sofa waters, maybe you’re wondering which room in your home might be the best bet. It can feel scary to make your keystone living room sofa moment that moment. And while I’m all for diving into the deep end, there are other choices! A few ideas I had:
- Home office (if you have the space for a smaller sofa)
- Guest bedroom where you prefer a sleeper sofa
- Primary bedroom suite that has a sitting area (or even at the foot of the bed if it’s a small armless loveseat)
- Formal living space (i.e. not the everyday family sofa for lounging and TV watching)
- In the form of a dining banquette (no, technically not a sofa, but it’s kind of the gateway to a sofa)
All of those places would be prime real estate for a patterned sofa or loveseat. It’s kind of like how a powder bathroom is a place people feel safe taking big style risks. Maybe because you can close the door and only get a taste of the drama in small amounts, I think the same can apply to the spots I listed above.
Some More Inspiration If You’re Not Convinced
Look, we all like what we like, and I like color and pattern. That’s no secret around these halls. I can also very much appreciate a quiet, subtle room, but I can’t deny that every time I see an image of a space with a patterned sofa, my heart starts racing a bit the way it did when I saw my middle school crush coming down the G-hall stairs. I’ve done a lot of talking up to this point, but let’s just meander and explore some beautiful (definitely aspirational) rooms that might just inspire you to go for the bold the next time you might be in the market for some seating:
If you love a print like I do, Cabana Magazine needs to be your next follow. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I especially love this ode to pattern above, which I think works so well because each fabric is a color story of its own without to many elements. That way, they function more as a block of color than a fabric with a print made of varied shades.
A pinstripe will always be your easiest transition away from a solid fabric. It just adds a touch of interest without being over the top.
This, however, is over the top in a very fun, exciting way. I can’t say I’d be this bold in my own home, but I sure do enjoy looking at it. I especially love that all the pillows are a bold stripe with colors pulled from the floral velvet.
Muted colors can really make a floral pattern easier to work with. Meghan Eisenberg make these seem almost like a neutral with her subtle use of textures, earth tones and simple styling.
This room by Lucy MacNicoll Home makes me think of a large-scale Laura Ashley pattern from my childhood. It’s very formal with the skirt and button tufts, but in the right house/room, it could be incredibly charming.
Michelle Kelly noted in her Instagram caption that she kept this room simple to let the floral sofa be the real star, and what can I say? It works!
Another one by Heidi Caillier. I love the warm neutral palette of this fabric because it becomes a very easy, welcoming backdrop for nearly anything. You can see it works with a trio of patterned throw pillows, and adds interest to a room with white walls and soft powdery blue millwork.
And for anyone who thinks a patterned sofa locks you in to a certain style or color palette, the owner of this home could decide to change the curtains to another color or print, paint the bookcase green or even maroon, bring in a rug in a totally different vibe, and BOOM you have a different room with the same sofas. It can be very versatile and in fact, give you a lot more to pull from than solid sofa for any room refreshes down the line.
I love a thick cabana stripe on a sofa with a modern silhouette like this one in a room by India Mahdavi from a feature in Architectural Digest. Typically, I find more graphic prints on blocky, streamlined pieces, and florals or more eclectic fabrics on leggy sofas or traditional shapes like an English roll arm, for instance.
Even Sarah Sherman Samuel got in on the pattern action with her repetitive tiger print fabric. She used this sofa in a showhouse she put together using a lot of her Lulu & Georgia designs.
Don’t be afraid to go for it with patterns. Pretty goes with pretty, as you can see in this room by Julia Chasman Design, shot by our friend Sara Ligorria-Tramp and styled by our other friend Emily Bowser.
Patterned Sofa Shopping Picks
It’s fun to virtually window shop for something like a printed fabric sofa because my brain quickly envisions rooms for each of them in a way it doesn’t do for a fairly straight-forward solid linen variety. Each of these has it’s own very strong personality, and they each are saying something different. AND WHO DOESN’T WANT A SOFA THAT TALKS TO YOU? Let them speak to you, go ahead…
1. Priory Sofa by Kelling Home | 2. Scandinavian Midcentury Rosewood Sofa “Monte Carlo”, 1965 | 3. Nickey Kehoe Curved Sofa in Custom Fabric | 4. Midnight Fleur Preston 86″ Sofa (Limited Edition) | 5. House of Hackney Willoughby Velvet Sofa in Florika Print | 6. Winnie English Arm Slipcovered Sofa | 7. English Roll Arm Sofa in Coral Solaire by CW Stockwell | 8. Ekeskog 3 Seater Sofa Cover Regular Fit, Simply Linen, Pink Sippor | 9. Crushed Flower Oil Painting Flower Fabric Sofa 86.61” Upholstered Sofa | 10. Grady Pleated Sofa in Seahaven French Blue | 11. Jylin Woven Athena Sleeper Sofa | 12. Judarn Sculptural Sofa
1. Marconi 3-Seater Tufted Sofa in Piano Cloud by Gianfranco Frattini | 2. Cocobella 3 Seater Sofa in Spring Green Stripe | 3. Seater Sofa, Ikat Stripe, Olive | 4. Schoolhouse x Clare V.® Marc Striped Sofa | 5. The Woven Marija Kori Modular Sectional Bundle | 6. Bedford Sofa in Navy with Samuel and Sons Welting, Plaid | 7. Ekeskog 3 Seater Sofa Cover Regular Fit, Simply Linen, Picnic Check Sun Yellow | 8. Alana Lawson Three-Cushion Tight Back Sofa, Blue Lattice | 9. A Mid Century Italian Sofa in Checkered Jacquard | 10. Bryn 3-Pc Sofa, Soweto Blue by Nikki Chu | 11. Tailored Tuxedo Sofa in Cornflower Classic Ticking Stripe | 12. Roma Sofa in Butter
I love so many of these and could really design an actual space in my home with one if I had the room. Though I’m not in the phase of my current house to be thinking of a new sofa (I’m too busy wiping toddler-sized Greek yogurt and peanut butter hand prints off my existing sectional), this is worthy of opening up the ol’ mental design vault and packing away for another day. I actually have a wildly beautiful, embroidered Manuel Canovas fabric I’ve been hoarding since my magazine days that would be perfect on a small loveseat, so maybe, just maybe, one day when I buy a house and have a few more rooms to work with, I’ll join the patterned sofa club. Here’s to hoping, dreaming and patterned sofas!
Your friend in all things just a little over the top, Arlyn
Opening Image Credit: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Living Room Update – AGAIN – Our New Sofa, My Dream Floral Chaise And The Pop Of Red I Always Wanted In My Life
Yes! This is what I need, Arlyn! I have a large, vintage floral sofa and cannot figure out the rug to pair with it. I don’t want jute or shag. My style is like xomacenna with a little extra eclectic cottage. What do I do?
I think a mostly solid wool rug in either that beautiful brownish gold or even a sage green could be interesting! Or a solid rug with a border to give it some more visual interest.
Arvin Olano’s Rugs USA collection includes some beautiful solid color wool rugs that fit the vibe Arlyn is describing!
Exactly what I had in mind!
Ah thank you! I have a sage one right now but it is too small for our space and also maybe too light because our floors are a light greige. But pulling out the brownish gold is a great idea and could help it lean less feminine.
Eden, Check out Nordic Knots. Caitlin used the Grand in her living room, and it’d be lovely with your sofa.
https://nordicknots.com/us/product/grand-leo
If you want something with a border, this might work.
https://nordicknots.com/us/product/loops-yellow
Love this! I guess I didn’t realize how few people buy patterned sofas. I’ve bought 4 sofas/loveseats and 3 of them were patterned. Absolutely love the personality they can bring to room!!! But I just realized I bought those while I was renting and couldn’t paint or do a lot of decorating. Now that I own my home and can go crazy with the color everywhere, I have a grey sectional! 🙂
Love all of these inspirational/aspirational examples. Some of the pattern mixing here is post-grad level. It strikes me, as I read this under a House of Hackney dupe duvet cover with a Persian style rug on the floor, that we are more comfortable with patterns on large scale pieces in our bedrooms than our living rooms (eg bed vs sofa). Of course it helps that we can swap out bedding for a fraction of the cost of upholstery. Still, interesting to consider carrying the lessons over. (See! I’m starting the think like Arlyn!!)
Yes the pattern mixing is next-level good. It looks so effortless when you see it finished, but to get to that point, there is SO MUCH DOUBT and “no way would that look good” thoughts creep into most peoples’ minds.
We had a sofa custom built about 7 years ago; English roll arm, single bench seat, upholstered in gray velvet that wears like iron. I thought it was my forever sofa but 5 years ago we renovated a house, a lot of gray went into it at the time, and now I can’t stand it. I’m on a mission to eradicate it from my home. Over a year ago I saw the most outrageous but amazing sofa on Facebook Marketplace. A Knoll type sofa in a crazy woven fabric. I grew up in England (as a US military brat) and loved Knoll sofas – so romantic and weird with their hinged sides. It was listed at over $4000 (it was custom made for $12000) and all I could do was dream about it, especially with a child in college out of state. I watched it drop down and down in price to $1000 and then it disappeared. A couple of months ago I was browsing FBMP and there it was again. For $600. Reader, I bought it. It was only 10 minutes away and my husband and I and a rented van picked it up from a lovely couple that… Read more »
The twists and turns this story took! Literally the most engaged I’ve been in ages! This sofa is incredibly beautiful. That pattern is so interesting yet timeless. Congratulations on an incredible furniture victory!
I have made my poor husband drive 4-5 hrs 3-4 times for marketplace. I get your joy and pursuit. Glad it fit!
This is such an amazing story! You were meant to have that sofa and it was totally worth the wait and effort!
Love this!
I have a similar styled sofa in orange chinoiserie fabric that I got from my mom, who bought it from the Interior Designer she worked for. The fabric is a little worn in parts and the springs are done but I love it so and don’t want to part with it. We’ve found a board to put over the old springs so that the it’s still pretty comfortable to sit.
I very much enjoyed this journey. I can’t believe the effort you put into getting that sofa in. I COMMEND YOU! I once ordered a made-to-order sofa that couldn’t be returned and the delivery team couldn’t make it turn the corner up from our stairs into the living room (it was a condo that had the foyer on the first level, then all other living spaces on the second level). It was one of the most nerve wrecking moments of my adult life. Hearing them whisper about “not fitting” and knowing I’d be out like $2K if I couldn’t figure out how to get it in. They ended up taking off the very tiny feet and that inch or two inches is what it took to get it in.
Omg CONGRATS and what a saga, I live for this type of content!
I kept hearing “Pivot… Pivot… Pivot”. IYKYK Great story!
This is INCREDIBLE
Let’s play “everyone gets a free sofa!” If you could pick one free on this page, which one would it be? I think I’d pick number 10 from the second group (the blue patterned one). A little bit of interest but not too much. (I can’t go crazy even when it’s free 😂)
I think I’d get either #6 or #9 from the first group – I need a sofa in the basement or my daughter’s bedroom and those look so nice and squishy and fun. And as my formative years were in the 80s I still can’t get past the vintage/Laura Ashley feels.
Haha, love this! Probably number 2 or 5 from the first group for me. I love the intriguing floral feeling that could pair well with deep wood tones for some cozy drama.
Easy. Mitchell Kelly or Emily’s chaise. All day every day.
I’m drawn to numbers 3 and 12 from the first list, despite both looking about as comfortable as a 2 x 12 set onto cement blocks!
If it’s free, than I’ll take the Nickey Kehoe sofa, please and thank you! 🙂
Oh, yeah, I’d choose #6 the Winnie with the floral fabric, because the design is so cheerful and it looks like you’d sink right into those cushions (for $6-8k it’s got to be comfortable, right?).
I’d pick the BDDW in the first Heidi Caillier photos. My DREAM sofa.
I have always loved Happy Menocal’s blue sofa done in a non-floral but very fun fabric: https://cupofjo.com/2019/10/01/happy-menocal-house-tour/
I am in the middle of deciding how I want to reupholster a used sofa (DIY) and I am frustrated by how many gorgeous fabrics I can’t access because I am not a designer. Does anyone know a work around for that, by chance? A place that sells designer fabric to non-designers?
ps – Arlyn – this is another post that has me lingering and lingering. I know you get a lot of cheers for your posts (and I agree) but I noticed this morning more specifically why I love them – instead of a quick read they are the kind of posts that make me stop and think, they give me lots to chew on and I linger over them. Instead of fast food, they are like a 5 course meal.
WOW what a complement!! Thank you Lia! 🙂
Did you try L.A. Design Concepts?
No – I had never heard of it! Thanks so much, Vany!
Decorators Best has pretty much everything I want. And if they don’t, L.A. Design Concepts does.
I have recently become obsessed with this look and have pinned so many inspo shots like the ones above, but it’s a *commitment.* I don’t think I am brave enough to do it without the guidance of a professional designer. Thanks for this fun roundup.
This speaks to my heart. I have my grandma’s floral sofa from the 60s that is on it’s last legs, and have been looking to replace it, but can’t bring myself to because now I find all other sofas so boring. I have found that this particular sofa works almost as a neutral because it has very soft colors, and because it has multiple colors goes with just about everything. It doesn’t show spots. It is great. Now I am just looking for a fabric to have it reupholstered!
Nobody else has been burned by a patterned sofa purchase??? We bought a patterned Thomasville sleeper sofa 20+ years ago in “the most popular print/fabric” at the time. I’m sure it’s totally hideous by today’s standards but still going strong in a spare room. It’s also the most comfortable sofa we’ve ever had. Never again, LOL!
Not that bad at all. The colors are actually on trend if you’re into the moody look. If it weren’t a 20 year old sofa as opposed to a 50 year old sofa you’d be on point.
Just get that thing in a dark moody room and you’ll be as trendy as can be! I think a large plaid print rug would be good underneath.
Yes, more of these please! How I long for a patterned sofa… The striped schoolhouse one is calling to me.
Ballard Designs also has loads of patterned-sofa options that are beautiful—I just helped a friend choose a pair of their sofas in a green-fern print. They are lovely. Cheers!
Yes they do! Cisco Home also just released patterns and they’re beautiful (a lot of shops don’t actually have photos of them online so I couldn’t include them in the round ups sadly).
Hello, print lovers! You do NOT need to be a designer to access designer fabrics! The 55 Calico stores around the country have a great selection of prints and patterned jacquard upholstery fabrics that are perfect for covering chairs and sofas. Here is my own kitchen loveseat, covered in Adelaide in color Meadow, a linen print. The Calico stores are having their Fall Sale now thru 9/28, with 25% off most fabrics, reupholstery and other custom work. It’s a great time to start a decorating project!
Arlyn, I like how you gently stretch my perceptions and encourage consideration of new ideas! I do not love pattern – my threshold is low. I like it in throw pillows and rugs… maybe a subtle stripe on a pair of accent chairs. That said, I appreciated your tips for places to put a BIT more pattern that you don’t have to look at all day, every day (I work from home and am a natural homebody). I could definitely see having a fun extra bit of pattern in my library loft or spare bedroom and enjoy it that way.
You r created a new dream for me. That blue plaid couch.
This post absolutely makes my heart SING! I have been researching a new couch for two years (my husband says it’s my hobby…) and I think part of the reason I haven’t pulled the plug is because I truly want a striped sofa and finding one is SO HARD!! But this post has inspired me to keep looking
Try to find a good quality sofa in a thrift shop or from a local seller–look under the cushions for the manufacturer’s name and check that the frame is in good condition (no wobbling!). Ignore the fabric and then have the sofa reupholstered in a stripe fabric you love. Reupholstery isn’t cheap, however, you will have the equivalent of a new sofa when it’s done and delivered. By the way, the Calico stores allow customers to take fabrics home to try them in the room so that you can make a decision with confidence that it’s going to look great when finished.
Love the article and always love Arlyn, but yowza the sofas in Shopping Picks are SO expensive. Wish this list was more accessible. Hoping that price range isn’t a new direction for this wonderful site, which I typically find so helpful.
Yes!!!! As a designer, mom of three little humans and three big hairy dogs, I LOVE a patterned sofa. In my own home I recently purchased this vintage, down-filled Henredon sofa for $12 at Goodwill, spent $600 on fabric and $800. No way could I have gotten a sofa of this quality new for less than $3,000+. Obviously, I love pattern since I just layered more on with the pillows 😆🤷♀️
This spoke to my nostalgic heart so much! I inherited a patterned sofa from my grandparents that was straight out of the 60’s with green, yellow and cream partridges, pineapples and a floral motif. It was such amazing quality that the frame was still solid all these decades later. Just a little fraying of the fabric and some cushion sag. I gave it up when I realized that to have it professionally reupholstered was way out of my budget and that most of the love I had for it was the pattern. I cut some large swatches of the fabric from the back of the sofa to make throw cushions to allow the pattern to live on, but regret not keeping the sofa itself now. Such a great mid-century piece.