apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Try Madras plaid pillows. I know it should be a no-no, but embrace the plaid! It might just work.

another thing you could try would be to contrast the plaid with a floral design. similar colors and similar size to the plaid.
maybe turn those beige curtains red?

I am also thinking that another plaid might work - I'm actually thinking a black-based plaid or red, if black isn't for you. If you use wider, flat bolster pillows (not the round ones but the long rectangles) that could go across the back, it could look very purposeful. And then you could add in curtains or a rug that work off of that new color, instead of adding more tan to the room.

Like this plaid:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=210559554&listingid=50598067

If you want to tone down the plaid, get a big throw and lay it over the back of the sofa, then weave it underneath the cushions and let it hang down over the front/bottom.

http://inspiredroomdesign.com/blog.php

Well, I see round pillows for complete contrast, either plain or patterned like this
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/pillows-decorative-office-accessories/round-pillows-a-roundup-079182
or a nice contemporary design like this
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5618223

It depends on the look you want - minimalist or cozy? If you want to keep it simple, the current cushions are alright and you may just add a beige throw or similiar, but if you aim for more cozy you should add patterned cushions and also look at the area around the sofa. The white wall and nondescript table makes it stand out and doesnt really seem to match, and it makes the sofa look out-of-place.

Using only the palette in the couch, you could find or make 3-5 pillows with modern graphics. Using the same palette would create a deliberate look rather than trying to conceal or dramatize the plaid. Good luck! Would love to see pictures of your solution.

You could play on the Britishness of the plaid and punk it up with a Union Jack pillow--

http://www.agilestcollections.com/Pillows_and_Throws-Jonathan_Adler_British_Flag_Pillow.html

A few suggestions: Definitely go with more pattern, but if you choose something traditional like plaid, stripe or floral, make sure to use a more luxe fabric texture so the combination doesn't look too dowdy. (Another pattern idea is paisley.)...It would be great to do use stripes & floral, w/ one as pillows and the other for curtains, art, or even a lampshade...In my last apt my roommate had a red couch and I had a green chair. To avoid looking like christmas, we found that it worked to incorporate some other orange/blue/yellow into the room, so I'm thinking these pillows would be great: http://www.kiitosmarimekko.com/labo20pico.html . I also like the British look of the Union Jack pillow already suggested.

Go with a Check pattern for cushions, pink and white?


Or something mod-
http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=896&catid=4&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D4

How about painting the walls - say a navy color - and getting some kilim or paisley pillows on that sofa?

i'm not a plaid fan: slip covers can do wonderful things.

Plaid is good in very small doeses, IMO.

I'd get a slipcover.

I'm disappointed in the reader responses... plaid is SO hot right now! (Particularly in fashion... vs. home decor).

For example, I have a flowy shirt in a similar plaid (though mine is navy with a fuchsia stripe running through it). I pair it with dark denim jeans, beige canvas flats, turquoise earrings, and a sunflower yellow leather tote. (In my imaginary room with navy plaid sofa, that could become a yellow leather ottoman, turquoise graphic print pillows, a large beige rug, and so on...)

I would collect a couple of fashion pictures, check out store windows, mannequins, etc, and pull colors and fabric choices from fall fashion trends. Look for a similar plaid or an outfit that makes good use of the beige color and go from there.

I'm thinking a deep dark denim upholstered ottoman to stand in for the coffee table, lose the red pillows (too matchy--dates the plaid), paint the walls--again I'd go darker with color, navy would be pretty, or a wonderful saturated moss green if navy is too dark.

I agree with the reader that suggested one or two graphic print pillows. Or the lovely felt applique pillows in the etsy print.

GL!

And a throw! A lovely cable-knit throw in a rich fall color. I love this one from CB2: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=595&f=5447

They also have some great pillows that mock sweaters and would work well. (Modern and "grown up"... sometimes the graphic print, felt appliques, etc, feel too punk rock high school): http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=595&f=5355
or
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=595&f=5042
with something like this
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=595&f=5360

(BTW, that green is the moss color I was talking for the wall... though maybe not shiny/sparkly. It's hard to tell from the pillow pick whether the threads are matte or not.)

I would go in a different direction - I think the problem is that this particular plaid looks a little old fashioned so how about turning that into a plus and going in a retro/vintagey direction? I would think about painting the wall behind the sofa a bright turquoisey teal, buying a cheap little coffee table on craigstlist and then painting it that redish color of the stripe in the plaid and then add a bright yellow accent nearby (maybe a little glass vase on a small side table with a red flower in it).
And then definitely get some art above the sofa that includes those 3 colors!

slipcover

I'm pretty sure there was an AT post a few days ago showing different kinds of plaid cushions on a plaid sofa.

Or, I'd echo putting a neutral throw over the sofa to minimise the plaid, and then add contrasting plaid cushions to the existing plain ones.

This plaid sofa is a funkier design overall but I think this looks a little like folks are describing here... different prints and patterns to shake things up (scroll down for red plaid sofa):

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/cilla-ramnek-and-carl-holtermanns-homeelle-interior-074793

doily applique, duh!!!

(ex: AT's Delightful Doily Inspirtation post: http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/738209/091809doily-01_rect540.jpg)

i'm doing this to my own boring comfy couch.

ps: take off that last parenthesis in my post. sorry.