Brown couch living room ideas – 10 ways to style this popular color scheme

Brown couch living room ideas; it was the color of the seventies in both fashion and interiors, but it is the color that continues to reign supreme when it comes to our color choice of couch.

Thankfully, there are a whole variety of ways to complement this beautiful seating choice within a living room scheme whether you want a room with contemporary credentials or a more traditional appeal.

Realize your living room ideas whichever tone of brown you selected for your couch with this guide, and take advice from the experts, too.

Brown couch living room ideas

A brown couch will always make an impact no matter whether it’s part of small living room ideas or selected for a larger space. Be inspired to create the perfect setting with these beautiful brown couch decorating ideas.

1. Introduce dark drama with a chocolate couch

'Though leather may immediately spring to mind when you think of brown couches, a fabric style in a deep and grounding shade of brown is an innately welcoming addition to a sitting room,' says George Miller, home designer at Neptune. 'It’s also endlessly versatile, pairing well with traditional and contemporary schemes, exposed wood tones, neutral shades and other warm, earthy accents across walls, floors and textiles.'

2. Surround an ochre colored couch with grounding tones

'If you adore earthy grounding tones, then mushroom walls teamed with a pale ochre couch will do the trick,' says Andrea Childs, editor, Country Homes & Interiors' 'Add in oatmeal drapes and the result will be a cozy living room with a color palette that works in every living room corner.'

3. Opt for tan leather in a light filled apartment 

The couch is undoubtedly the centerpiece of any living room and is often the first place we start when pulling together a scheme. A brown leather couch in a contemporary design can bring the perfect balance between style and practicality. 

'Often stereotyped for feeling a little cold, but actually when paired with warmer soft furnishings like linen curtains, a woollen rug and a selection of scatter cushions, a leather sofa can feel inviting yet sophisticated,' say Jen & Mar, co-founders of Interior Fox. 

4. Embrace an array of brown shades to create a cozy snug

A dark living room color scheme – using a plethora of brown hues – is perfect for a small living room where dust, food and dirt are often prevalent. 

'This cozy TV snug features bespoke small cocktail tables connected to the brown couch which has a subtle bronze print design,' says Lucia Cabellero, co-founder of Caballero. 'This ties in beautifully with the wooden cabinetry that includes bookcases and cabinets. To top it off, the ceiling is textured and adds the most perfect decorative aspect to this space.'

5. Give your living room a tailored and timeless feel

‘A couch is a real investment piece, so it needs to stand the test of time – nothing could be more timeless than a neutral color palette,' says Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA. 'A couch with brown or warm, natural tones will work in any setting, and can be easily updated each season with new cushions and accessories.' 

6. Use brown as a contrast to stark white

'This space was designed with a neutral and warm color palette to keep the environment earthy and elevated,' says Trish Lynn, founder and principal designer at Colette Interiors. 'We wanted the space to reflect the wooded exteriors and bring those into our interior design elements by introducing warm tones, rustic woods, textured furnishings, and layered organic materials.'

7. Team slate blue with pecan for a contemporary look

'This modern button-backed couch in pecan adds a warm glow to this potentially otherwise dark scheme,' says Jennifer Ebert, deputy digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'It's always good to have a balance of warm and cold, dark and light aspects within a space and this living room is a good example of how you can make it work.'

8. Keep it calm  

Forgo grey in favor of mocha, taupe and truffle-colored furniture. 

‘A living room staple, brown couches are proving particularly popular this year; closely following the ever favored grey,' says Suzy McMahon, buying director at Sofology. 'Brown designs are one of the simplest ways to introduce this versatile shade into your home offering a look that only improves with age, making it the perfect addition to busy but relaxed homes.'

9. Pep up a monochromatic scheme 

A monochromatic decorating scheme is a brave choice, as it requires careful editing and a strong design eye. But put together carefully, it’s a great way to add drama and style.

'A monochromatic scheme is punchy and fun, but sometimes might need softening a little to prevent it from feeling too harsh,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'This couch with its hazelnut-colored seat cushion and matching plain pillows creates a warmer feel, while the dark chocolate fringed pillows add depth.'

10. Match your couch to the floor

'A mixture of caramel tones will work wonders in a living room with low ceilings and this low slung couch is the ideal shape and color too,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'Note the wooden floorboards have similar tones to the couch – this helps this space feel warm and cozy while the white walls and ceiling bounce the light around.'

What colors go best with a brown sofa?

The beauty of brown is that it will go with almost any color scheme. Brown is a wonderful color for your living room couch. This season sees a return to simple, restrained palettes – and being close to nature has moved from greens of the forest to a soft, neutral palette of fossil tones and natural elements, such as stone, textures of cotton and linen with soft earth and milky browns, clay putty tones as a contrast.