• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Emily A. Clark

easy interior decorating ideas

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Our Home
  • Shop My Style
  • Contact

Working With: Leather Furniture

September 22, 2014

I’ve had a few requests to do a “working with what you have” post about leather furniture. It’s a good topic because I’ve noticed that those that have leather living room furniture usually have more than one piece (i.e., the full matching set) and often feel like they’re drowning in a sea of brown.  decorating around leather furniture

If that’s your predicament, here’s how I would approach decorating a room around leather furniture:

leather furniture decorating ideas

pillow // curtains // table // painting // rug // (affiliate links)

 

Leather is a great texture to use in a space (and practical for so many reasons). I personally think the magic formula to making a room feel fresh instead of weighed down is to lighten up everything else around it so that the leather becomes the element that warms up the room. Mix in different finishes on your accent tables, frames and lamps. Too many wood tones can add to the “brown effect.”  I also love the contrast of leather and fresh white.   If white walls feel like a risk for you, here are a few examples to help you envision the look:

leather-sofa-pops of color Emily Henderson

 

leather-sofa source

 

  leather-couch-white wallssource unknown

 

leather-sofa-painted-hive The Painted Hive

 

decorating with leather furnituresource unknown

You Might Also Like

  • I Bought a Patterned Sofa. . .I Bought a Patterned Sofa. . .
  • Updating My Nightstand + Way Day DealsUpdating My Nightstand + Way Day Deals
  • Kitchen Storage Idea: The Built-in China CabinetKitchen Storage Idea: The Built-in China Cabinet
FacebookTweetPin

Filed Under: design tips, furniture, Simple Design Ideas, Working With What You Have Tagged With: decorating, furniture

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yuko Jones | northfield gate says

    September 22, 2014 at 8:59 am

    I have a leather chesterfield sofa in my family room (I love the design/texture/comfort that sofa offers, but the color is bit reddish to my taste – well, it’s craigslist find.) and I painted the walls BM Simply White and I love how clean and modern it feels. I think light gray walls would work great with leather furniture too if you’re going for a more moody effect. Great post! Happy Monday xx

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      September 22, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Yes, to the light gray. And, I love a leather chesterfield.

      Reply
  2. Beth Barden says

    September 22, 2014 at 9:07 am

    This couldn’t have come at a better tim- I am working with someone right now and we are trying to incorporate a big leather sofa! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      September 22, 2014 at 9:19 am

      Oh good! And, was just reading about your mini design sessions (probably at the same time). :) GREAT idea. Hope it goes well.

      Reply
  3. normaleverydaylife says

    September 22, 2014 at 9:27 am

    I have leather furniture in one room and it is hard to work with. It always looks cold. I like the white with it in all these rooms though. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Brenda A. says

    September 22, 2014 at 10:18 am

    We recently bought a Natuzzi leather sofa at an estate sale. It is a deep navy blue, a more modern style than what I would normally choose, but the COMFORT can’t be beat. Thank you for this timely post!

    Reply
  5. Dawn says

    September 22, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Timely for me, too. We’ve been considering a leather sofa for the maintenance aspect (young kid messes). I’ve been looking at the super light shades but these are great images/tips for darker browns. Hmm. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Design Chic says

    September 22, 2014 at 11:43 am

    These are gorgeous images, Emily and I love the contrast of the white walls and the leather…nothing quite like a well worn leather sofa…

    Reply
  7. Holly Irwin says

    September 22, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    Great post, Emily……….you’re genius! All of the sudden, the old leather sofas look chic and new!
    xo
    Holly

    Reply
  8. Taryn says

    September 22, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    Thank you so much for all of the design tips you write about. I have one of those all brown family rooms, matching leather sofa and chair, brown end tables, brown tv console. We love the sofa because of the dog, just wipes off. (I have slip covered white in my living room.) I am now going to get to work! I never knew how to make brighter! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      September 22, 2014 at 4:52 pm

      So glad this helped. Have fun changing things up!

      Reply
  9. Virginia says

    September 22, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    Great post! We have a navy leather sofa that is in good shape in terms of cushions, but has very worn leather thanks to our big dog’s claws. Do you know if you can reupholster a leather sofa in fabric?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      September 22, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      I don’t. No experience with that :(

      Reply
  10. Caroline R says

    September 22, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    This so fits my scenario- from ceiling to floor shades of brown. Thank you for these tips! And thanks for your reply to my comment yesterday- I really appreciated it!

    Reply
  11. alana taylor says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:13 am

    Would this formula {white walls + colorful accents} work for black leather, too? We inherited a modern, black “bachelor pad” style sofa and, for budget’s sake, I’m trying to work around it… But it’s stumping me!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      September 23, 2014 at 11:00 am

      Maybe you could make it feel a little more sophisticated by using creams, golds and a few wood tones? Look at this example:

      http://www.pinterest.com/pin/491244271824223309/

      Love how that room feels!

      Reply
  12. Janet says

    January 19, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Thank you – you make it seem simple, which is an art! I have a sofa that’s covered in brown fabric. The walls are a brownish-yellow, and are definitely due for a paint job. Do you think your approach for the leather sofa would also work for a brown fabric sofa?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 19, 2015 at 9:50 am

      I do! I think white walls and colorful accessories can give any room a fresher feel.

      Reply
      • Liz Ortiz says

        March 2, 2016 at 11:34 pm

        How about if you don’t like white walls. What are other options besides gray,?

        Reply
  13. Karen Walter says

    January 13, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    I have an old stone farmhouse in Bucks County Pennsylvania. the walls of my living room are stone. there are some gray, cool brown, and even a hint of purple in the stone. I want to use a leather couch. should I go with a dark brown? I feel it might disappear. Or go with a lighter colored leather? Want to add some teal, green, navy and even fushia here and there. love a white rug. Love the first picture.

    Reply
  14. Joanna Donahue says

    July 30, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Thanks for this post. What shade of white would you use with a dark brown sofa and chair? I have terrific woodwork and 4 big windows in a small living room and inherited brown leather sofa.
    Your post is so helpful and hopeful.
    Joanna

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe + Follow

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · LBD Pro V on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Copyright © 2023 · Emily A. Clark · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy