I have to be honest with you…..It’s a designer’s worst nightmare to walk into a consultation with a client, and be informed that their black leather sofa set from college has to be a part of the new decor!
A few years ago I received a call from a newly wed couple in their early twenties. Such a cute couple they were. They had just bought a home, and of course just paid for wedding, so their budget was very limited. They wanted to have a nicely decorated home since they entertained a lot. Most of their furnishings were hand me downs in different styles from different design periods, garage sale finds, and stuff left over from college. Of course, my ultimate nightmare….a black leather sofa, loveseat and a reclining chair to match! Being the fabulous decorator I am, I accepted the challenge Since they were on a tight budget, I just helped them to come up with a decorating plan that they could tackle in phases on their own, and of course work around the black leather sofa set. I don’t have photos from that project, but I pulled some photos from various sources found on the internet to illustrate some of the ideas I shared with them to address their design dilemma.
So if you are the proud owner of a black leather sofa set, don’t lose hope…..Every design dilemma has a fabulous solution. Follow these five tips to making black leather look intentional and work in your home beautifully.
1. Offset the darkness of the black leather with lighter colors. Paint the walls a soft, warm white or a soft taupe or gray. Add lighter colored throw pillows in a nice mix of patterns and textures to breakup the large expanse of black leather. If you already have occasional tables in a dark finish, consider painting them a lighter color as well. Add a patterned area rug to pull some of the focus away from the leather goods. It also helps if the predominant color of the rug is a light color.
This sofa is a bit more elegant than the one we had to work with, but the same principles apply.
2. Playup other focal points in the room and shift focus away from the black leather. You can do this by adding large scale and colorful artwork on the walls, adding a tall bookcase that is styled very well, adding drapery panels in a great fabric, or highlighting the existing focal points in the room, such as a fireplace.
3. Consider using just one piece from the collection and moving the other pieces into another room. Not because they were purchased as a set doesn’t mean they have to stay together forever. It is very overwhelming to have a room full of matching black furniture. Breaking up the set will give the room a more collected and homey feel with a lot more personality, especially if you are working with hand me downs and pieces from different styles and periods. Just maintain a common color theme to tie it all together.
4. Consider re-covering the seat cushions. This solution probably won’t work with every sofa, but if you are going for a more traditional look, and the sofa isn’t too contemporary and streamlined, this might work great. Check out the remnant section of your local fabric store and choose an upholstery grade fabric with a color and pattern to complement the room. Find a good upholsterer and have the sofa cushions re-covered with a zipper opening for easy cleaning later. Re-covering the cushions will help break up the large expanse of black leather. Then add your throw pillows and a throw blanket to finish off the look.
These examples are dark brown and not black leather, but will hopefully give you an idea.
5. Color change or dye the sofa. Believe it or not, you can actually change the color of a leather or vinyl sofa to an easier color to decorate around, like dark brown or tan. I have never done this or commissioned this myself, but have found information than it can easily be done as a DIY project. (I am therefore not endorsing this method, but giving you food for thought). Here’s a link to a video I found that explains how.
Of course there is the option to completely reupholster the black leather sofa using a great fabric. From my experience, however, it can be just as expensive, or even more than buying a new sofa. If the sofa frame is of quality construction, then it may be a cost effective method in the long run and the options are endless to customizing the fabric. A master upholsterer can even change the shape and size (within reason). Care should be taken when selecting fabrics for upholstery. You can read my recent blog post about “How To Look For Quality Upholstery” here
As you have just learned, there are definitely clever ideas you can use to breakup the look of black leather and make it feel like it belongs in a beautifully appointed room. Leather does have great benefits like being easy to clean and comfortable for the family, so if function is high on your priority list – you can certainly have the best of both worlds!
Please don’t forget to comment and share
****Reposted 1/24/14
Be Inspired!
How beautiful !!
You have such an eye for color.
I like the 2nd picture from the top, perfect
Thanks Dov!
Nicely done! I actually had a cream colored leather sofa when I was younger, but I think you would have approved because the carpet was quite a dark color…. Maybe I’m not too far off??
Sounds like you did pretty good there Steve!
I love the black sofa thing. I have seen many pictures of black and white rooms with splashes of color all over the place. That is something my wife and I are trying to achieve in our home. Thanks for this post. Nice.
Thanks Bradley. Black and white is a pretty bold choice, but I’m sure you guys can work it!
Great I enjoyed reading this post,
Very insightful I would put a few tips to practice in my lounge as well.
Thanks for the pictures too it brought it all home to me…
I love creativity!
Keep it up
Thanks Abiodun! Glad you got some inspiartion from them
Beautiful. I love the concept of using lighter colors or reupholstered cushions to offset the black sofa. Plus, I didn’t know you could dye it!
Thanks Christian! Glad you liked it
Any tips for a microfiber couch? I love the picture that is 2nd from the bottom.
Heather, if it is a dark color like black or dark brown, you can take some of those ideas and change up the look a bit. Microfiber is definitely a warmer look than black leather, so it’s a lot easier to decorate around
Talented!! I prob would have had all different kinds of furniture and decor in my room that would not match, but clash… you have a great eye!!
Lol. Thanks Rob!
I actually remembered this post when my wife wanted to do something in our living room.. I referred to it, and we didn’t do what she wanted because it didn’t make sense.
Personally I too don’t like the black sofas, so dreary to me. I like how you played it up though.
Thanks Marilyn. Most women don’t like black leather sofas, so you’re not alone
You have such and eye for decorating. I love coming to your page and seeing all your ideas. Thanks for sharing. <3
Thank you Julie!
WOW! I had black leather when I lived in Tucson. Used yellow as the accent color. I wish I had your eye and expertise all those years ago!!
I do love yellow with black. It is actually on trend right now!
Looks like you’ve got it figured out!
Thanks Fred! I hope so
I LOVE the rooms under #3 – especially the pink and plantation shutters. Excellent work!
I guess a black leather sofa is better than the puke green wall paint
Looks as though the black leather sofa was no dilemma for you. Just adding the colors really makes it look great.
Very smart advice!! Thanks!
Yvonne Brown
Hello,
If you plush leather furniture and Italian leather furniture, but obviously want to have the best choice. There are many brands that are in the leather furniture.
anthonynixonfurniture.com
My husband have always wanted a leather sofa and I say no because it’s too expensive and too much responsibility lol love your tips though!
Guys just love their black leather sofas don’t they?
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I’ve always wanted leather furniture, but with kids – that just isn’t a smart move for me right now. Someday, though…..
I like how you have the idea of different designs and such – which make sa balance in everything there. I would most definitely be needing this too.. Since our living room needs some re-do in terms of design.
WOW. I’m totally amazed, you completely changed the look in ALL of those rooms! WOW!!!
As Queen of Green, I LOVE how you gave new life to the black leather sofas. It really IS “easy to be green,” with your great design tips! Of course, we could donate the sofa, but why not keep it when, with your ideas, it’s really “new” again! Thanks. I had to share this one for my “green” audience!
Great article, I love the visuals. We have a few brown sofas but I had no idea you could dye them:) great info
I remember my Mom having a black leather sofa and it matched NOTHING!!. She so need you to help her out with design.
you have have such an eye for beauty want to come decorate my small trailer for me
It is amazing what a few colored pillows can do to black sofa! It really changes the whole look of the room! Great job!
This is way fun! I need some ideas to spice up my front room and I love some of the colors. Thanks for sharing!
I think that black is classy if you know how to design around them. These are definitely great ideas.
I love reading your posts – you have great ideas and I love the great tips you provide as well as photos to really give us the complete picture! Nice work!!
That is such a great idea! I have often wanted a darker sofa to hide all the messes from the kids, but didn’t want my house to be too dark. I love the tip of accentuating the room with a lot of light colors to offset the darker one.
Great ideas! I actually LOVE black leather sofas.
The way you’ve incorporated it with the other colors and textures…I has a whole new “good” look!
The gray designs fits perfectly with the black couch. I have always wanted a black leather couch. Perhaps one day I will break down and get one.
You really came up with great ideas! I think they would work well for any overwhelming dark sofa color.
I’ve never seen the leather/fabric combo in person, that’s interesting though!! You’ve got some nice looks here.
I am not a fan of leather furniture at all. It is beautiful unless you have cats.
Or dogs!
I like the first dark brown one very much. Having leather in Tucson can be an issue sometimes.
Wow. You do have a good eye for design! My inlaws have a black leather sofa and their room doesn’t look like any of these designs.
With these great ideas and pictures, everyone will want to run out and get black leather sofas! And they will all have to hire you to make their rooms look this great!
You have some great looking ideas. Some people just have the talent to figure out what goes and what doesn’t. Me not so much. Haha
Thank you for all your great comments
Great ideas and you did really make the sofa work. I just don’t see myself as a person who would have a black leather sofa in her house. Better to prevent the situation, lol
You really gave me something to think about with the idea of not using all the leather together. I may use that here!
I actually love black for my house but then again, I am not a designer. I find the color black so easy to match with other things that have a splash of color. I love what you have done with the furnture and accessories in your pictures.
I love black couches! I have been wanting one for awhile now and since I read your post I know how to do my room around the couch! Thanks!!
This is such a great post. I’ve always wanted a leather sofa but the SO doesn’t like the idea of sitting on them during the winter or hot weather lol. I love the idea of putting throw pillows to add some colors to it. I’ve also checked out the video you linked on how to change the color of leather. I went to the thrift store and they had this really ugly looking sofa in this dark brown color, wish i had the room for it now that I know I could have change the color. It would have looked amazing with a purple color and some bling lol
Some great ideas for working with black there x
I’m a fan of black leather couches myself *sorry* hahaha but I just love the look of sophistication it adds. Great, great tips. I’m planning on buying a new couch so I’ll use some of these to add some color & contrast!
We used to have a black leather couch. I really wish we still did. Who decided to buy a green couch after owning a beautiful black leather couch was not me.. but I miss the black leather! It went so well with so many designs!
Everything comes back around in style and I’m glad this one did in a lighter way!
Gosh…I never thought that the black leather sofa could look so good! Love the pics!!!
Love how yu get your design ideas across using photos that you have or find. Great blogging style as so many of us are visual. My son has a black leather sofa set they bought when they got married. 10 years later it has held up and threy move the sectionals around to different rooms for various purposes.
I love giving new life to things with recovering or adding new décor items such as throws and pillows.
I think black leather sofas are really nice and stylish. I would love to have them in my living room but, with a house full of boys, I worry about them getting damaged.
Very good article regarding focal point and balance
These are great ideas – we had a similar dilemma as we have 2 dark brown leather sofas and finding a color scheme that doesn’t just get overwhelmed by the dark color of the sofas has been really difficult. We stuck to pale walls with accents of duck egg blue and lime green – not to mention a couple of nice home made throws over the back of each sofa to try and dilute their presence! I wish I’d had you on hand when we were doing it though!
Hi there,
You are a magician. I never saw this type of combination of furniture. How can you do this type of work. It is totally amazing and beautiful. Really you’re a magician who can customize furniture with beauty.
Thanks
I was really struggling with what to do with my black leather sofa and love seat. You have definitely provided me with new ideas and hope for my home to look beautiful as I embark on my decorating journey. Thanks for the great advice!
You are welcome Dawn! Best wishes with your decorating journey and I am glad you found some value in my post
Amazing ideas and actually now I am more positive towards black soafs. But what happens when, the carpet and the only wall in the room that you can actually put the sofa, are dark collored?
Thanks for your comment Ani. You definitely need to lighten up a black sofa against a dark wall on dark carpet. Pillows on the sofa and artwork on the wall will definitely break up the dark on dark appearance. I am not a huge fan of layering an area rug on top of carpet, but there are certain situations where it works, and this is one of them. Also a lighter color on the occasional tables and accent chairs in the room will help to lighten things up a bit as well. Bring in some fresh flowers, some decorative books on top of the cocktail table for a hint of femininity
Thank you for your amazing advice! Can’t wait to decorate the living room. When I finish I will send you a photo! Thanks once again!
You’re welcome Ani. I’d love to see pictures. Looking forward to it
Nice Post thank you for sharing, i very like your share leather sofa furniture. these are very attractive and very beautiful.
Thank you Maxwell! I appreciate that!