If you are in the market for a white sofa for the living room, great room, or den, I have options! White upholstery is not as risky as it was years ago since plenty of performance fabrics stand up to muddy paws. Do you need to be fussy when you own white furniture? My own family kept food in the kitchen and dining areas only so upholstery mishaps were only occasional during a party. Personally, I have never run into trouble spot-treating stains. As an ambassador of white decor, this Great White Sofa Inspiration aims to uncover resources if you’re in the market.
Great White Sofa Options
Our current living room sofa at the Georgian has been with us 15 years. It’s a Belgian Track Arm Sofa from RH (Belgian Linen in the color sand).
Although considered “classic depth” at 37″, it is quite deep! If I bought another, I would likely opt for a more petite depth.
Here’s the same sofa in our former home:
And in the French country manse we built before that!
A Great White Sofa is Versatile
Investing in neutral color sofas and furniture for your space ensures you’ll enjoy wiggle room for choosing colorful accents, tone on tone, and evolving preferences in the future.
What is so helpful is how a great white sofa provides a foundation for any number of design styles and levels of formality.
Sofas can be accessorized to be informal or formal depending on throw pillows and textiles paired with it.
What’s crazy about neutral, pale toned sofas is how a segment of folks will say it’s boring and way too safe while others claim “way too risky!” Hahahaha.
What you can’t deny is how great it can be as an investment since multiple paint colors for walls can change throughout the years.
So much easier to change paint than furniture!
For example, one could paint the room above a light blue-grey to infuse it with an entirely different mood without ever changing the furniture or decor.
Psst. Ever owned a sofa with a wood base like a few of these shown? I would think they would appeal especially to clean freaks who want to get to every dust bunny!
If you happen to be seeking all white or mostly white interior inspiration, Leanne Ford knows her way around it!
And Rachel Ashwell? She always points us to simplicity, romance, and vintage charm with the white interiors she favors.
How Practical is it to Live With Light Colors?
Goodness gracious, I wish I had a dollar for every online skeptic who challenges me with this concern. It’s always something like but realllllly, Michele, are you telling me…
And maybe the folks with such concerns live with excessive pet hair. We have not owned shedding pets, but it could also depend on the color of the pet hair. As far as living with pale toned upholstery, I don’t fret about it.
White easily comes clean for me spot cleaning with a bit of dish soap. Even red wine spills have yet to ruin our Belgian linen upholstered pieces. I’d love to hear from you if you live with light neutrals…do you feel you have to make sacrifices daily?
The thing is, the light colors act as a mood lifter for me on a daily basis. How many things in modern life can you point to that deliver that for free?
This post contains affiliate links which I hope you will use since they won’t cost you a penny extra yet may earn this blog a small commission.
Great White Sofa Possibilities!
Slipcovered Sofa With Bench Seat
This one has a design style similar to the RH sofas:
Cozy Belgian Slope Arms & Chaise
Here is a sofa that could work well in a den or media area.
Love Beachy Style?
Sometimes it’s a flirty skirt and a beachy, casual, coastal look you’re after.
Slipcovered Neutral Sofas
Make sure to try out as many sofas as possible and notice your preference for arm style.
Such research helps you narrow down the possibilities.
Love a Nubby Textured Linen?
When you really start to note the details of a sofa’s construction, you will see a very different and non-traditional look emerges when you opt for narrow arms:
Also, if you’re planning to invest in a slipcovered sofa, you should decide whether you’re okay with a style requiring drycleaning. Plenty of designs with “slipcover” in the name have slipcovers that can’t go in the washing machine.
Love English Country Style?
Sometimes a sofa design involves very low arms that influence the shape of its seat cushions:
Here’s a sofa style I have admired for years since it has timeless appeal, a curved back, and narrow arms.
Bear in mind how simple it is to modify the look of the pillows. Pile on throw pillows if you’re not sold on the existing back cushions that come with your sofa. Or mix it up from time to time if you’re creative and love seasonal change-outs.
I have even seen creative homeowners recycle sofa back cushions on their beds! Think beyond the living room for other uses if you decide to adjust the look.
Ultra-Popular Ikea Ektorp Sofas…Disposable?
We bought Ikea Ektorp sofas years ago believing they would be temporary. However, we are still enjoying them in our family room at the Georgian where we watch TV, read, or practice our short game…ahem.
Whether you order custom slipcovers for your Ektorps or opt for Ikea options, slipcovers can be practical if you live with messy kids and pets. For example, I have washed Ikea slipcovers many many times without issue.
Sofa Ideas for Classic Elegance
Sometimes a sofa will have a number of design elements combined in one piece. Nailhead trim, linen, and vintage little legs?
To minimize surprises, make sure you get all of the measurements and maybe even use painters tape to mark the size in your space before ordering.
Informal, Unfussy Sofa Idea
Make sure you notice details like the sofa’s feet. I’m not crazy about how the scale of the feet on this sofa below work with the rest of it.
Understated, Tasteful & Transitional
Are you more of a skirted sofa person?
What a difference a little Taylor Swifty fringe can make!
Shabby Chic Sofas for Purists
I hope these ideas are a good primer to get you geared up for your quest for the great white sofa that suits you. More white sofa options HERE.
Sofa Pillows!
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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