How to Mix and Match Couch and Loveseat? Tutorial

I don’t know about you, but I’m not really the type of person to go to the furniture store and just buy the exact set that they have on the floor exactly as-is. If you want to get a little creative with your furniture selection, but still have a cohesive look, I’ve got some great ninja tips for how to mix and match furniture like a pro.

I know most of you believe that you aren’t creative enough to choose pieces that “go” together, but trust me! Finding exactly what pieces of furniture you want is not as difficult as it seems. Just follow my Mix & Match Furniture System to get great results every time.

When mixing and matching furniture, the seat height and depth should be equal. Match the furniture shape, style, color, fabric and/or back height for a cohesive look.

This system works whether you are purchasing brand new furniture or if you have a really special piece that you love and need to build out the rest of your room around that one item.

OLD & NEW

Opposites attract. The very idea that pairing together polarizing pieces of furniture is even possible is a testament to the rigidity of the modern design world. Many interior design magazines, online personalities, designers and furniture makers are continually experimenting with the convergence of old and new in ways that make us ponder the evolution of style and furniture.

A great example of pairing together old and new furniture is by exposing and accentuating the character of your furniture. The natural aged look of a leather patina with a crisp new off-white fabric loveseat creates a blend of chic modernity while allowing the room to steep in subtle tones of implied experience, and maturity. This particular blending of old and new doesn’t stop with the visual or physical nature of furniture, but examines the histories and functionality of your furniture choices.

There’s also a sense of continuity when you successfully pair together old and new styles of furniture in the living room. There’s a sense of progression, and of passing on the torch, so to speak. This adds a somehow natural and obvious visual aesthetic to any room.

TRADITIONAL & CONTEMPORARY

Similarly, pairing together traditional and contemporary sofas and loveseats is a great way to boost the level of purpose in a room. When you go this route, it’s important to not let one outdo the other – pairing a traditional space with contemporary accents is all about balance.

The traditional build and implied strength of a mortise and tenon sofa with the acquired, angular look of a modern loveseat continues the evolution of your space; this helps to bring together the clean and simple appeal of contemporary designs with the rustic utility and comfort of traditional styles. This can also help to establish a visible push-and-pull between pieces that adds to the energy of the room.

BRIDGING THE GAP

When you’re considering pairing together eclectic sofa and loveseat choices, it’s never a bad idea to try to tie them together using the rest of the room. Two bold patterns or colours can be united by a common influence – like’ an area rug, or an accent wall for example.

Let’s imagine that your sofa and loveseat selections are creating a dynamic within the room that is promoting a degree of separation; you just can’t seem to blend them and find balance. Adding a neutrally beneficial area rug is a prime example of creativity helping to bridge the gap. As prophesied in the Arthashastra: the enemy of your enemy is your friend : use the rug to help broker a deal, so to speak, between two powerful pieces of furniture.

Similarly, a gallery wall or a fresh coat of paint can work wonders to promote togetherness. When the personalities of your two varying sofa and loveseat continually differ, a blank canvas of white paint can be the perfect solution to drawing attention away from their collective creativity – simply bridge the gap by creating differences elsewhere.

COLOUR COMBOS

We’ve discussed materials and styles of furniture as unifying forces while experimenting with mixing and matching sofas and loveseats in the living room – but one common weapon that is easily exercisable is colour.

Researching colour theory is a great way to gauge the potential for successfully mixing and matching different sofas and loveseats – as well as accessories – used to heighten drama in the room. Colours are typically used to dictate certain emotions within a space, but can also be used to settle an atmosphere. The Bucket Rule establishes roles for three types of colours within a room

• Dominant colours
• Secondary colours
• Accent colours

Using this rule helps to decipher which colour schemes, and how many colours to use in a room. For example, you could pair a traditional style sofa with a modern style of love seat and use a complementary colour scheme comprised colour scheme: 75% sofa, 25% loveseat, using opposing colours on the colour scale to help build a relationship between the two pieces of furniture. This rule can also be used with accessories like throw pillows, blankets and rugs – even wall colours.

Alternatively, you could use a monochromatic scheme to make your task even easier. Monochromatic use the same colour in different tints and tones – like light blues and dark blues, or whites and creams, for example.

GO WITH YOUR GUT!

You should never discount your own creative impulses. When it comes to revamping your living room and mixing and matching sofas and loveseats – or any furniture for that matter – go with what you feel. As we said, your living room, family room, or rec room is a space for you and your family and friends to enjoy, independent of industry recommendations and design magazine intervention. Your space should always feel like it suits you.

Using any of the above tips or tricks is only satisfying if you feel great about your choices at the end of the day. The most beautiful thing about redesigning the rooms in your home is the freedom to do as you please. Whatever you end up mixing and matching – enjoy doing it!

FAQs

Can you mix sofa and loveseat colors?

Mixing sofa and loveseat colors is a fantastic way to introduce color to your room. It also makes the room interesting, keeping it all from looking the same. The goal when picking out furniture and all decor pieces is that they complement each other. For color, this means that the two pieces shouldn’t clash. When you look at the color of the two pieces of furniture, they should be pleasing to the eye, not fighting for attention.

If your goal is to give the room a splash of color, an easy way to do that is to make one of the pieces a milder color and the other a colorful one. This gray couch — a really popular color for sofas, by the way — won’t stand out too much.

Another popular couch color is brown, usually in leather form. Pairing it with a bolder color is attractive and still allows the room to feel grounded. This loveseat, for instance, has traces of brown but also is lighter with off-white and blue.

One simple way to make sure the two pieces complement each other is to tie them together with another piece: a rug, throw pillows, paint, or something else. This room, for instance, has two shades of blue in the couch and loveseat. But the rug and curtain tassels tie it all in together.

Can You Mix Sofa And Loveseat Styles?

Beyond mismatching sofas and loveseats with different colors, you should also consider mismatching them based on style. Style, which includes material and shape, can differ. Like color, however, aim toward making sure the styles complement each other. Keep in mind that the sofa and loveseat are not the only pieces of furniture in the room, so don’t panic if you don’t follow these rules completely.

One crucial design principle is balance. Too much of anything can create a look you don’t intend. Too much leather in a room will make it feel formal, while too much upholstery can make it feel stuffy. Fight this by mixing the materials. This combination supports the room, even though it’s different.

If all the furniture in your room is high-legged, it can feel like the room is floating. On the other hand, too much furniture without legs feels short and squatty. Try pairing these two pieces to achieve balance.

Want ideas for how to match the throw pillows between your couch and loveseat? Check out this article: Should Pillows On Sofa And Loveseat Match?

Is It Okay For A Sofa And Loveseat To Face Each Other?

If you’d like your sofa and loveseat to face each other, this is acceptable for certain situations. However, it’s challenging to pull off since the two pieces are different lengths. When two pieces of furniture face each other, symmetry is important.

Don’t worry: if you want the two pieces to face each other, there are ways to make it look good. For instance, putting an end table at the short end of the loveseat can complete the space. You can also center the loveseat so that it isn’t offset compared to the couch.

This living room has the two pieces facing each other but has strategically positioned it, so the gap left by the loveseat is also a walking space.

Also, recognize that you might create an awkward space by putting two major seating pieces across from each other. There’s a chance that this will create a closed-off feeling in the living room. If you’re okay with that, go for it!

Can You Have Two Sofas In A Living Room?

You can absolutely have two sofas in a living room. Consider this option if you have a large living room or need extra seating for guests or your large family. On the other hand, a smaller living room calls for a sofa and loveseat combination, or a sofa and an armchair or two. Coordinating two sofas follows the same principles as coordinating a couch and loveseat.

Conclusion

It’s common to have both a couch and a loveseat in your living room. Consider mixing and matching the two pieces if this format is going to be used. It is a great way to show off your personality and give your room a little bit of character.

It’s only satisfying to use any of the above tricks on how to mix and match couch and loveseat. However, the best part of redesigning your home’s rooms is that you can do whatever you want. No matter what you do, don’t ignore your creative instincts.