ATDC reader Josh needs help finding the right couch for his navy rug: "ATDC, I have a question: Can this black couch live in harmony with my navy wool rug? Right now I have a khaki colored couch and although it looks fine, it's very blah. Please help! Josh"
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Josh, Although we do think you can combine black and blue in a room, the navy in the picture looks very dark to combine with a black couch. Also, a black fabric couch can be hard to keep pristine looking, and frequent washing of the slipcover will lead to a faded gray couch instead.
We would recommend looking for a different color slipcover for your couch- maybe a bright white to match the circles or a lighter shade of green? We understand wanting to replace the blah of the khaki, but think that this black and navy combo won't give you the pop you want. Depending on the color of your walls, a white couch with some bright throw pillows (maybe in an orange) could provide the contrast you need to compliment your high impact rug...
Readers, any suggestions for Josh in his quest for the perfect couch for this fabulous rug?
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
dc(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
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Depends on your wall colour I think.
But I also think that the 'era of thinking black doesn't go with navy' (hey Mom...) is over. So if you choose a black couch, make a colorfull choice in regards to throws and pillows.
Yes, it works.
Yes. Do it.
Don't do black with that rug... Maybe try to liven up your khaki sofa with red pillows?
Love black & navy....very sophisticated. Do it! (no khaki!)
Absolutely.
i was thinking red pillows or a red couch too...
I think slate grey would look amazing on the couch.
It's difficult to say without a bit more information about the room. If you're concerned about "blah" though, I would do a red or yellow couch or something that really pops. You could also leave the sofa neutral and add an accent chair (less commitment) .
orange
i like black and navy but this navy is so dark it looks like you're trying to match them but couldn't tell black from blue. i would go gray/slate if the white/khaki isn't your thing
Black and navy is very chic. Do it!
I'd want khaki with that rug!
I'd go with white or some poppish bright color (red? lime? even a sky blue?) with that rug, but if you DO choose black, I think it would look better to get a sofa with visible legs, unlike the skirted one shown, to allow some definition between rug and couch.
As someone with a black couch (but no navy rug, so no comment on that) I will say that I HATE it so badly. Haaaate. Every single fuzzy shows up on it. It started looking like crap about two weeks after I got it. I'm still kicking myself for this purchase, seven years later. It's like a big fuzzy magnet. I used to use a lint roller on it, but I gave that up after just a few months because I couldn't keep up.
Just my $.02!
Have you thought of a deep Teal or Peacock blue? Nice colors of Greens a rich mossy green variety and splashes of Yellow in accents or in artwork here and there? Wishing you fun and creativity galore !
"Elise"
It is hard for me to comment on the particular rug and sofa depicted without first seeing them in the same lighting conditions. I also suspect that the scale of the items depicted are different - the couch looks to be at a smaller scale than the rug, so the overall impact in a room may look a bit different. I agree that the color of the surrounding walls may matter as well as other items in the room. In terms of the items depicted, I think the styles of both are compatible. I also think as long as the hues are harmonious, then the black sofa and navy patterned rug will work. Many "black" items give off a blue or brown or gray cast depending on the sheen of the surface and the lighting. So if it is pleasing to your eye, then go for it. I think if you love the sofa and love the rug, then you can get them to work well together in a design.
Black on navy might work if it was a truly saturated black and a brighter navy... I don't think either of those things are true here. It would also be better if the sofa had exposed legs instead of a skirt, so that the colors wouldn't sit right up against each other.
It's a great rug, but I find the sofa pretty dull. If you want a more polished look, consider leather (or heck, faux leather) instead of fabric. A rich brown leather would look amazing on this rug... and a leather sofa in a classic shape gets better with age.
I don't like the colors in the picture together. Too blah, too similar without being the same. Too cold? As others have said, perhaps the other colors in the room would make a difference.
I'm with Shockthebourgeois-- the combination CAN work, but the colors that my monitor show are too close to work.
If you must keep the rug, get a navy sofa...
I think black and navy would be just a darker "blah". But a crisp navy goes with lots of strong clear colours - a primary red or yellow, or a lime-rind green would look great. adn you could still add other colours as cusions, etc.
But I think getting rid of a khaki sofa is a good idea in any context.
Grey!!!
No - It doens't work.
How about red sofa?
Black and navy can work but in my opinion in this instance it just doenst (sorry)
I'm with shockthebourgeois .. I think a really rich brown is the way to go. Something like this (the color, not necessarily the style cause i dont know what the rest of your place looks like)
http://www.inmod.com/oviedo-2-seater-daybed.html. If you want to do a big contrast (red, etc) check out this sofa that seems to come in a ton of colors http://alphavilledirect.com/alphaville-giordano-sofa.html.. i think earth or orange would really look great
Dark brown leather.
Sorry my links dont appear to be working-- here they are without the pesky periods
Rich brown ovideo sofa
http://www.inmod.com/oviedo-2-seater-daybed.html
Lots of color options Giordano Sofa
http://alphavilledirect.com/alphaville-giordano-sofa.html
yep, grey
It does work, but i don't think it's your best option. That's an Ikea sofa- get it in white slipcover for $499 and dye that sucker with RIT. Any color ! Orange? Slate Grey... Brown...
nooooooooooooooooooooo! It will be a visual black hole, sucking all the light out of your room.
Think *contrast!*
If you want two pieces to look great individually, oppose them with complimentary colors.
A beige couch will look better with a navy rug than a beige rug.
A dark brown couch will look better with an orange or yellow or aqua rug.
If your khaki couch seems blah, you might need some additions in the accessories department to bring your room to life. Not just pillows, but ceramic bowls and vases, plants, art, etc.
I bought the February Style at Home (Canadian), and it's all about accessories. They show some rooms before and after accessorizing and I'm now a believer!
Black and Brown...YES!
Black and Navy...NO!!!!
it really depends on the navy. if it's a 'true navy' (very, very dark, almost black), then it looks like you tried to match and picked the wrong color by mistake. if it's a lighter 'navy' that definitely looks blue, then it can be incredibly chic (but your black can't be faded). it also depends on the materials. from the pictures provided here, I'd say no.
Yes. Ignore those granny color "rules." All colors go together; they're all part of the same light wave. Everything depends on how you decorate around it.
Having said that, consider your lifestyle. Black leather is fine and easygoing, but black twill will collect lint. But just because you have pets or kids, there's no reason to fear lint. We have a cat and lots of black fabrics. We just keep a lint roller handy.
I have navy rugs and yellow curtains in my room with some black chairs. It looks great.
This combo doesn't work for me.
How about off-red? Dark cherry red, or brick red, or terra cotta red, or burgundy? With leathery, chamois, palomino, off yellowish, brownish accents.
I find that these muddied, more subtle tones wear well over time.
Bright white couch with yellow pillows (or other fun color). My white couch is slipcovered and I wash the covers from time to time--easy and beautiful!
black and navy... that's a bold move
go sophisticated by adding reflective elements: chrome, glass, mirrors
it won't be warm, but it could be cool
i don't agree that a white sofa would go well with that rug. i think a navy slipcover would be a perfect match. other colors, red or burgundy, can be added to the room to really make it pop.