This is one of my most visited blog posts, and a question I’m often asked about living room design… should your chairs match your sofa? My short answer? They should complement each other. How do you choose accent chairs that feel cohesive with your sofa? First, I’ll say this- resist the urge to buy a matching living room set! I say this with love, but that’s the opposite of thoughtful design. Whether you have an existing sofa and are simply looking to update your side chairs- or perhaps you’re furnishing an entire living space… I think you’ll find these tips and recommendations useful. Click through for a bunch of my designer recommended pairings, along with the design “rules” that apply to combining these two staple seating elements. Find my tips and sofa & accent chair pairings inside…
I’m a firm believer in setting a proper foundation for a room, investing in pieces that will grow with your family longterm. Before you can style the coffee table, don’t skip floor planning, be sure to select the right rug, and set your sights on quality furniture. In regard to the furniture piece of the puzzle… let’s dive into selecting a sofa and chairs!
Tips for Selecting Complementary Pieces
My biggest piece of advice for pairing accent chairs with your sofa is to consider contrast. You want the pieces to feel like they complement each other, but can stand alone. If you can achieve one of the following contrasting elements, you’ll have a beautiful and classic outcome…
Color
Be intentional with color- I’m a fan of contrasting colors for depth, but you can also take the monochromatic (tone on tone) path… just make sure they don’t clash. When in doubt, consider timeless neutrals- keeping either the sofa or the chair in a natural color palette.
Shape
The shape of your sofa in comparison with the shape of the chair is very important. I generally stay away from perfectly repeated shapes, but make sure the overall shape feels like it belongs to the same family or is intentionally different (example: a traditional rolled arm sofa pairs well with a chair that has a contrasting square arm… like in my formal living room).
Material
Another really nice contrasting element is the material in which the seating is made of. You never want your sofa and chairs to match. Even if they’re different colors, I’m a believer they should also be constructed of unique materials. A velvet sofa would look stunning and dramatic next to an organic cotton woven chair.
Style
Keep in mind the overall aesthetic of the room. If you’re going for a traditional look, both pieces of furniture should embody that style in one way or another (form, material, color, etc).
Scale
Make sure your sofa and accent chair is of a similar proportion that fits the overall scale of the room. For example, it would look visually “off” to see a smaller, apartment-sized sofa paired with a massive, oversized lounge chair. You want to make sure the scale is consistent for all of the seating elements in a space.
Form & Visual Weight
Lastly, be mindful of form. For example, a chair with legs would look great paired alongside a skirted sofa- or a sofa that has a visually heavier base. A contrasting leg style between the sofa and a chair is a good indication form has been considered, and provides a nice balance of negative space. The goal is for one piece of furniture to balance the visual weight of the other.
Designer Recommended Pairings
Click directly on each item below to be redirected.
We actually have the Harmony Sofa in our maroon guest bedroom. It’s very comfortable and comes in a bunch of colors and configurations. What are your favorite pairings from the roundup? I also considered comfort when curating these… I looked for plush, down-wrapped cushions, excellent reviews, and performance fabrics. Speaking of, if you ever order a sectional, sofa, or chair with customization, make sure you read this post first… 10 things to consider when ordering custom upholstery!
FAQ
Check out this Designer Trick post on how to choose the right fabric! I go into detail about making the best selection for durability, aesthetic, intended use, maintenance, etc.
Sofas are expensive, so that’s always the end goal- find one that will last. Check out this post for my best tips on choosing family & pet friendly sofas.
We’re still loving it! You can catch my Homebody reclining sectional review here… I go over the pros, cons, and give you an up-close look. This lives in our basement media room, by the way- so it’s extra cozy!
Give this post a read… 45 designer approved furniture finds from Amazon! I was pleasantly surprised.
Related
Looking for more pairings or designer recommendations? I’ve shared lots of posts, containing classic home options. From tile and grout to dining chairs and tables, I’ll link some of my favorites for you below…
- The Best Mapei Grout Colors (Designer Tile Pairings & Advice)
- Curated Room Pairings : Home Office / Library
- Timeless Paint Colors and Favorite Pairings
- 20 Things Every Bedroom Should Have (According to a Designer)
- How to Choose the Best Picture Light for Your Artwork
- Designer Light Fixtures That Will Never Go Out of Style
- Curated Room Pairings : Bedroom
- 24of My Favorite Neutral (Non-White) Paint Colors
- How to Choose a Clip On Sconce or Chandelier Shade
- 25 New Furniture Finds That Could Pass As Antique
Was that helpful? I hope so! As always, drop your questions and thoughts in the comment section below. I love these design exercises. It’s always fun to dig up beautiful new options. Let me know what home pairings you’d like to see or are currently struggling with… I’ll add a post to my calendar. Here’s to a good week ahead, friends! We’ve been busy renovating- check out the home gym renovation: before images & demo here (if you missed it)!
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