How to style & what colours go with a grey sofa

Life isn’t always black and white. There’s plenty of grey in between. Which is why it’s the perfect colour to design your living room around. But, if you choose it as your main hue, you might be left wondering what colours go with a grey sofa?

The good news is that grey is an incredibly versatile colour, forming an ideal base from which to expand your palette. Below, we’ll give you some ideas about what colours go best with grey, helping you to choose carpets, cushions and even curtains that complement your sofa choice.

1. What colours go with grey sofas?

The beauty of grey – and why it’s a favourite with designers – is that it’s basically a blank canvas onto which you can add dashes of bolder colours. Grey is also a colour that can be used in a wide range of design styles. For example, the sleek Scandi-chic of Swyft Model 02 Mid-Century sofas are perfect when combined with some classic teak furniture.

However, the golden rule to remember is that while virtually any colour goes with grey, they don’t all necessarily go with each other. So, if you go for a splash of red or burnt orange for the cushions, baby blue or turquoise curtains might cause a clash.

2. What wall colours go with grey sofas?

When looking for wall colours to go with grey sofas, you can get away with pretty much anything from light to very dark, but try and avoid bright tones. Think classic white, a rich dark navy, other shades of grey or muted green tones. Colours with a cool undertone (blues and other greys) will complement grey well while colours with warm undertones (terracotta or burgundys) will contrast the shade and bring a touch of warmth into the space..

3. Consider contrasting shades of grey

For lovers of modern design, contrasting different shades of grey with stark white or jet black will help your grey sofa become a focal point of the living room. And it’ll make your living room look ultra-stylish while still giving it a fresh feek. A darker grey sofa will stand out against a bright white wall for a striking high-contrast look. Or, a lighter grey sofa in a darker room will easily create a cosy grey living room to relax in. For a more subtle impact, we’d recommend choosing a grey sofa that’s just a few shades lighter or darker than your walls and then decorate the rest of the room with soft neutrals or pastel shades.

4. Play with different textures and fabrics

Adding and playing with different textures and fabrics can add character and depth to your grey sofa and room. If you’re not careful, a grey sofa can end up fading into the background and other elements of your room will take centre stage instead. Adding coloured or patterned cushions, fluffy throws or choosing a grey sofa in plush velvet or sophisticated linen fabrics can add an extra dimension and bring the sofa to the forefront of the room.

5. Pair a grey sofa with other seating

To create a cohesive look - especially if other furniture or decorative elements in your home features a different colour - is to pair your sofa with a grey armchair. Modern fabric armchairs are a fantastic way to elevate your space, create a cosy reading nook and add interest. And, when you match your armchair to your sofa, it’ll help tie the rest of the room together and give it an aesthetically pleasing flow. You can also add a grey footstool or ottoman to really complete the look and add some extra storage space.

6. Choose a grey corner sofa for a statement

If you have an open plan design or want to utilise your space as much as possible, the modular corner sofas of Swyft Model 03 are ideal. With the flexibilty to transform your space whenever you need to suit your needs and lifestyle, you’ll be in complete control and will able to maximise your space. Choosing a grey corner sofa will also certainly make a chic statement and last you a lifetime as you’ll always be able to match and contrast grey no matter how you decide to decorate.

7. Accent a grey sofa with bolder colours

If you’re a fan of the bold and vibrant and want to spruce up your living room with splashes of colour, then you can easily add colourful cushions to your grey sofa to add something a little more unique. This will also do a great job of accenting the sofa too and making it more of a focal point. Plus, if you enjoy decorating seasonally,  the cushions can easily be swapped out and changed for brighter summer colours or moodier shades for autumn, which will make your home feel fresh every season. Our selection of cushions use accent and bold colours whic fit perfectly with a grey sofa. 

8. Change the tone with cushions

Here’s where you get to have some fun. Your grey and neutral tone sofa/carpet combination allows you to really express your personality with cushions. Add warmth with a retro bright orange or red. Create a more natural tone with an array of greens. And don’t be afraid to add contrast with bold patterns – black and white works particularly well.

9. Avoid bright carpets

The muted grey of a sofa works best with splashes of colour rather than swathes of it, when it can get a bit lost. So, it might be best to try and avoid a carpet in a very bright or dominating colour – deep red or shocking pink, for example.

Think shades of grey (there don’t need to be 50 of them!). So, team a light grey fabric sofa with a darker charcoal carpet, or vice versa, adding colour with other soft furnishings. Other contemporary neutral tones such as beige or natural fibre also work well. A complementary rug could work instead of a carpet - it's more temporary which you can be creative with the colours. Check out Swyft rugs here. 

10. Match with grey curtains

Curtains can be tricky. They can be a chance to add colour, but they can also be eye-catching and draw attention from the main living space. Try and match colours with sofa cushions if you’re going for a bolder choice. If not, err on the side of neutral and maybe leave the bold patterns for smaller bursts.

 Grey might seem like an uninspiring choice. But the truth is it’s anything but. A sofa is a big investment and the focal point of the room, so it’s always best to choose a colour that never goes out of fashion.

11. Grey is ideal for smaller rooms

Grey is a perfect colour for smaller rooms as it can make a space feel open, light and airy while maximising the natural light. So, a light grey sofa can work really well and provide a fresh, open look that people will feel comfortable in rather than cramped. For small rooms, we’d also recommend painting the walls in a lighter colour such as grey, white or beige to make the space more reflective while providing a versatile backdrop for any décor. 

What to consider when buying a grey sofa

Grey is a neutral colour and one that goes with a range of other colour choices but there are tonal considerations to think about. Of course, there are many shades of grey itself, so you need to decide if you want to go light or dark - which might be influenced by the size, shape and style of your sofa choice.  

Then there’s the fabric to think about. Soft velvety sheen or hard wearing natural fibres? It all depends on how you use your sofa and the feel you’re trying to create. Other factors such as positioning in the room, existing features and overall aesthetic (minimal and calm or opulent exuberance) all feed into the decision too.