The living rooms and family rooms on Pinterest are all so chic and stylish, sleek and polished. No matter your own personal style, it’s easy to go online and find a photo of a sofa like your own, and easy to daydream about how your own sofa might look if it were styled by the home-decor wizards all over Pinterest, but it can be difficult to replicate the looks you’re going for, even with one of the world-class couches from Florida Leather Gallery.
We’ve rounded up a few tips from our own favorite Pinterest posts to help hone your sofa skills so you too can be a home decor queen (or king!).
- Follow this simple formula when mixing and matching different seating sets.
One of the most popular Pinterest seating arrangement trends for a living room or family room is to mix and match styles of sofas and armchairs. But it can be hard to tell which designs complement each other, and which designs will clash. There are two easy steps to make sure your couch ideas will work together. Step one: make sure that the height and seating depth of both pieces are the same. You don’t want one guest sitting higher up than another–it’ll throw off the symmetry of the room. Step two: make sure that two of the three following three things also match between the two sofas (or between your sofa and your armchair): shape/style, color/fabric, or back height. As long as you follow this formula, your sofa ensemble will pop!
- Be aware of these throw pillow basics.
When planning for throw pillows, start with two equally-sized, large, square pillows, preferably with matching shams in a neutral tone like beige, navy, or brown—whatever complements the leather of the couch. Then layer a set of smaller, patterned square pillows in front of that. In the middle, you can opt for a single, smaller square pillow in a solid color, or a single pillow in a fun or oblong shape. This pillow ratio will keep your sofa looking symmetrical and intentional rather than cluttered. For more pillow tips for your leather couch, check out our last blog.
- Arrange your wall art so that it complements the style of your sofa.
If you have wall art hanging behind your couch, think about where to hang it so that it best compliments the design and feel of the sofa. Perhaps if you have one large piece and three smaller pieces, an off-center arrangement might provide an interesting break in the space. The best way to decide how to hang your wall art is to try lots of different arrangements before deciding to commit to hanging.
- Make your coffee and side tables work for your needs.
Pick coffee tables and side tables that have as much function as form—while artistic coffee tables can and will draw your guests’ eye, you can accomplish a similar objective with a rug without having to sacrifice the comfort factor for your guests. The last place anyone wants to sit is somewhere that they feel they have to hold their drink the whole time. Pick out coasters and photos or hardcover books and trinkets to adorn your coffee or side tables for some extra character.
- Pick the perfect rug.
A rug can really make your space stand out. You’ll want to pick a material that goes well with leather, in a contrasting or complementary color scheme. Don’t get too matchy matchy, otherwise the room might look kitschy or juvenile. Some contrast is visually interesting and aesthetically pleasing. Also, you’ll want to keep size in mind. A larger rug will make your whole room seem bigger, so while it may seem counterintuitive, you might want to pick a smaller, more high-statement rug like a cowhide or a Persian rug, if your living room feels cavernous. If your space is smaller, go for a full-coverage jute or shag rug in a basic color that complements your color scheme.
These are just a few ideas, but the best part of sofa styling is that it’s a chance to express yourself and give your home some personality. Start with a leather couch or armchair from the Florida Leather Gallery and the possibilities are endless!
