Face Bold Color Fears: 10 Racy Red Sofas

Sofas that come in colors other than black, brown or neutral aren't a new invention – couch upholstery has sported nearly every color of the rainbow since there have been couches. But of all the hues, there’s just something so darn intimidating about a red couch.

Or is it just us? You can’t hide from a red sofa; it’s not going to blend in with your other furnishings and it’s most certainly going to call as much attention to itself as you’ll let it. Being a warm color, it’ll get your blood pumping at just a glance (as well as the blood of your guests) and it’ll force you to consider your other color choices carefully when finishing out the décor of the rest of your space. And you had better really love red or have the budget to upgrade if you ever tire of such a bold choice.

On the other hand, you’ll never be accused of having a boring room if you have a red couch. Guests will probably marvel at your decorating guts if you go this route, especially a really bold crimson or cherry red hue. You’ll have a focal point in your living room that won’t be television, and you’ll no doubt love the fun feel it brings to your space day after day. We rounded up ten red sofas that got our hearts racing:

Top Row:
1) Crate&Barrel Hennessy Sofa $999
2) West Elm Armless Upholstered Sofa $799 – $959
3) World Market Rust Luxe Sofa Slipcover Collection $230
4) Room&Board Encore Sofa $899
5) IKEA Karlstad $848

Bottom Row:
6) DWR Eames® Sofa Compact $3,579
7) Room&Board Brisbane Sofa $3,600
8) IKEA Ektorp $499
9) IKEA Karlstad $499
10) DWR Florence Knoll Sofa $12,737.00

Do red couches make you a tad apprehensive? Or does your living room sport a red couch with pride? Does red not bother you – but another color make you too nervous to incorporate it?

Comments (24)

Does anybody want to comment on the R&B Encore? I'm considering it for my guestroom. I also like the Flex from CB2.

Thanks!

absea, that Encore sofa looks yummy!! Love it and red seems like the perfect color for it.

I LOVE the Encore sofa, though I don't think it was available when I bought my sofa. It's a little offputting that it's made in China, though. I don't have experience with R&B's products that are made in China (I have the Parsons bed, made in the US) but I can see why the price tag is a bit lower. It's definitely a great design but you just have to decide for yourself whether R&B's standards are high enough to mean that its products made in China are better than say, RoomStore sofas made in China.

We have an old red couch that we love (it use to be berry-red colored and has faded quite a bit). I don't think you should be intimidated by using a brighter couch. If you want to tone it down a little you can always add some more neutral pillows or throw. Our living room is full of color, so a neutral tan couch might feel out of place.

I also think a red couch would look especially nice with light blue, yellow and brown accessories and/or walls.

http://www.statelykitsch.com/the-living-room/

Recently replaced my red couch with one that is grey on grey stripe. While the new couch is a lot more comfortable, and much better suited to the way we use it, I miss my red couch. I'm going to have to work way harder to make the the room put together and interesting.

How could you not include a red Togo?!

That's what makes *my* heart race!

http://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=http://www.baltimorestyle.com/images/homegarden/ja09_home_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/home_garden_article/h_retreat_on_the_river_ja09/&usg=__pC8u12Jegnz2-x7hO-W8N6PFGuk=&h=333&w=500&sz=130&hl=en&start=30&sig2=QBldhcyH06YyFM-Vhj8xOA&zoom=1&tbnid=UqJhp4J8BN60pM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=208&ei=9F7_TcuNF4aCOtqK4d4I&prev=/search%3Fq%3DRed%2BTogo%2Bligne%2Broset%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1253%26bih%3D664%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=302&vpy=377&dur=216&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=86&ty=111&page=3&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:30&biw=1253&bih=664

I have the IKEA Ektorp sofa (and armchair) in red corduroy and I absolutely LOVE it. My husband isn't a big fan but IKEA couch covers cost too much for us to replace them right now and besides, I think it's fun! I especially like it in the wintertime - so warm and cozy. I pair it with a creamy brown shag rug and neutral-toned decor. The couch certainly speaks for itself!

oops!

http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/home_garden_article/h_retreat_on_the_river_ja09/#nogo

Gee -- that's the first time my links have been cut.

Here it is in two parts:
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/home_garden_article/

h_retreat_on_the_river_ja09/#nogo

I don't actually think red is that risky. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I have the Ikea Karlstad in lime green and I have to say the fabric holds up really well. Its not easily removable to clean but the fabric is soft and not scratchy.

@miss.lyndsey - no, I don't think red is very risky. It's actually a very good choice if you're a renter and can't paint the walls. Red can be toned down with more neutral art and really livened up with constrasting colors.

I gave up my red couch when we moved cross-country. (It had already made 9 moves up and down the Eastern seaboard and was showing its age.) I loved that couch, and the only couches that catch my eye now are also red.

Mine was a cranberry color- it goes with other things much better than you might think. In one place, I painted the walls an avocado color, and had that light green and white hangings, and yellow accents. My couch looked smashing.

I have the Ikea Red sofa too.. we have a nice leather one too but it's the red one we all sit on. Love it.

I love my red sofa! It was a lucky craigslist find and sets the tone for my living room. It looks breathtaking next to the robins egg blue, grey, and gold color pallet I have going on in my apartment.

IMO, red sofas rarely work well because folks are simply too timid with color - They get overwhelmed by the big red object and try to pretend it isn't there by "tone(ing) it down a little (with) neutral pillows or throw(s)"

The other colors in the space need to be equally intense to stand up to the red - such as Navy or Spring Green - and the red needs to be repeated in a couple more elements somewhere within the room, otherwise the red sofa will stick out like a sore thumb.

Our giant cranberry colored sofa is a great way to punch some color into our rented home (where we're not allowed to paint). It doesn't look daring at all with builders' white walls and light gray carpet (blah!).

I have the IKEA Ektorp two-seater (instead of the 3-seater one as pictured). It's simply cheery for my tiny place, and oh-so-comfy for the couch potato in me. Love how the covers can be removed to wash too.

I ended up with a light blue/aqua sofa, but I really wish I'd gotten a red one. I'm saving up for a custom slip cover so it might be red yet.

Personally, I would never buy anything other than a red sofa. It was the first piece we purchased when we moved into our current home, and it instantly made the room feel cozy, warm, and inviting. Nothing intimidating about it!

I have a red couch from Ashley Furniture. It's a pretty nice colour but the cats have shred it a lot.

My husband and I found the perfect couch in chocolate brown for our first apartment and it was 50% off listed at $350! Then we found out every color was full price except the red. A red couch for $350 or chocolate brown for $700? We went with red! Two years later we're moved into our first house and trying to find paint colors. It's our best friend and greatest enemy!

I am such a fan of red couches! I love that they are simultaneously cheerful and warm. Creating an atmosphere around such a block of color is so intuitive as well! It's always fun to decorate with red, I say.

I think that red and white are the best colors for sofas. I have also found few red sofa ideas:
http://ideasforhouses.com/2011/11/04/are-you-in-mood-for-5-red-sofa-ideas/