The One Thing To Consider Before Buying A Cool-Toned Gray Couch For Your Living Room

Picking a couch can be one of the most difficult design decisions to make for your living room. Comfort is certainly a key selling point. You also want the couch large enough to accommodate your household, but it shouldn't be so sizable that it takes over the entire space. Color is another factor in finding the right living room couch, and light colors have historically had the reputation of making small living rooms feel bigger. A cool-toned gray couch could seem like a perfect solution, but this once go-to neutral shade is now considered dated.

During the 2010s, gray had a big moment in interior design. Cool-toned grays were particularly sought after, and they seemed rather ubiquitous. From kitchens and bathrooms to bedrooms and living rooms, gray tones were pretty much everywhere. Still, home color trends come and go, and these changes can certainly influence the types of big purchases you make. Choosing living room furniture in the wrong color is certainly among the mistakes everyone makes when buying couches. Unfortunately, a cool-toned gray couch could go out of style as soon as you place it in your living room.

Overall, designers are moving on from cool tones more generally and swapping them out for warm tones. If you're looking for something more neutral with some staying power, consider trendy alternatives to gray furniture that have earthy tones such as brown, copper, or olive. Gray couches also aren't frowned upon entirely. But instead of a cool tone, you might want to veer towards a warmer hue or undertone, such as a blue-gray or charcoal gray.

Gray has not only been overdone, but cool-toned hues particularly lack the warmth and homey feel that other colors offer. Some designers also feel that, despite its previous reputation for versatility, cool-toned gray may actually be more difficult to mix with other colors in a living room. Unlike other neutrals, such as brown and white, cool gray doesn't complement the earthy tones that are now in style. Plus, since a couch is often the centerpiece of a living room, you could risk making the space look cold and uninviting. Yet another downside to cool-toned gray is its possibility of showing dirt, hair, and stains, which can be especially challenging to manage if you have children and pets in your household.

On the other hand, if you still want cool-toned gray for your living room setup, consider adding some accent colors to breathe more life into the space. Examples include navy blue, sage green, and even bright whites. Another option is to bring more warmth via earthy colors such as those in sandy tones. New wall colors, throw pillows, and rugs are all potential ways you can still make cool-toned gray work.