8 Colour Palettes to Pair With a Brown Leather Sofa

Available in a wide range of styles and budgets, and easy to maintain, the brown leather sofa remains one of the most popular pieces of furniture. It is also one that creates lots of decorating dilemmas for owners – they love its versatility, but deciding on a colour scheme to pair it with is a whole different ball game; and just like beige walls, many of us wonder how to style a living room with a brown leather sofa so it doesn’t look boring.

Here's a few ways to take this staple sofa from generic to gorgeous: 

1. Navy and white
Often referred to as 'the coastal look' this delightful colour combo is far from going out of fashion. Embrace this casual look with funky patterns, white walls and lots of natural elements, such as light wood, rattan basket, sisal rugs, etc. This fresh palette can take a pop of colour too, so look to introduce a few favourite brights to make it personal to you. 

2. Brown and gold
This colour combination is a little tricky to work with as it can quickly mimic a 70's throwback! However, when executed well, it can be very elegant and soothing. It looks beautifully rich in rooms that receive lots of natural light and when offset with a base of off-white. A lighter brown sofa is also more suitable than a dark brown one with this colour scheme, although you can get away with both!

3. Black, brown and off-white 
This classic arrangement is sharp and elegant and very masculine too. It works well in both brightly lit rooms and darker ones, but will benefit from additional lighting and a well placed mirror if your room is a bit on the dark side.
For this monochromatic scheme to work, focus on incorporating texture and/or patterns: a dark (or light) sisal rug, some pieces made of light, untreated wood, a textured wallpaper, linen cushions, or a bold black and white print. With a lighter brown sofa, don’t hesitate to use lots of black. With a chocolate sofa though, add more light brown and off-white/cream, and use black only as accents throughout the room.

4. Peacock blue 
This shade – or any dark blue – is perfect to add depth to an interior. It also helps balance out the warmth of some materials such as wood or exposed red bricks. This colour makes a strong, moody statement that works wonderfully well with concrete or wood floors. It can also be brightened up with accents of orange, hot pink or yellow. A bright rug with a bold pattern could act as a focal point and can also add some fun to the room. 

5. Brown, red and black
Think Far Eastern fabrics, Turkish rugs, thick textiles, untreated wood, hammered metal, and rusty accessories. This style is very much on trend at the moment. If you don’t want your living room to be overbearing, make sure to opt for clean lines for your big pieces of furniture, such as a contemporary sofa or some modern chairs. Offset the busy nature of the textiles and the contrasting colours with neutral floors and walls.

6. Grey and teal 
Teal and brown are a match made in heaven. However, they can look very cold, so it is important to keep things balanced. A warm grey, the addition of warm medium to dark wood, and soft and rich fabrics (like velvet and wool), would work nicely in a brightly lit home. A few touches of hot pink would also bring a more feminine touch. In a more contemporary setting, you can embrace the coolness of teal with lighter timber, glass, steel and some lime green as an accent colour. 

7. Orange, brown and white 
This colour scheme works very well with chocolate brown leather sofas as well as brown leather sofas. It is very important to use the orange quite sporadically and to balance it out with lots of white/off-white (and even some more brown!) to avoid an overwhelming look. Bear in mind that a bright colour works better against a softer palette of well suited textures and colours. 
Orange and brown are great to warm up a contemporary décor with an 'industrial look'.

8. Neutral and pastels
Sometimes, the best colour scheme doesn’t actually involve much colour. Layering neutrals creates a very soothing and inviting atmosphere and can make a room feel much lighter and brighter. If your walls are off-white or beige, avoid using the same colour on your soft furnishings or it will all look too beige and boring. Think light blue, soft coral, dusty pink, pale orchid, sage green, light grey and light brown. Bring in some texture with linen, wool, velvet, some brushed metal or unvarnished wood. You can even add a few touches of black (curtain poles, wall sconces) for a more structured look. Make a feature wall with oversized artwork or a photo gallery. Add a statement plant or two. Maximise your lighting by creating different ‘nooks.’ The idea is to add layers throughout.