Own a Sofa You Don't Like? Here Are 6 Ways to Work Around It
Revamp it, hide it or simply break it down ... we have the solution to the oldest sofa problem
Do you have a sofa that you don’t particularly like, but can’t find the right way to display it or hide it? If re-selling it or buying a new piece isn’t an option, then you need to put Plan B into action. Here are six ways to manage this elephant in the living room. Let us know if you think of more solutions and do put them down in the Comments section below.
Another way to deal with the couch which has a still-intact form and body, is to simply change its upholstery to give it a new look.
Confused between leather and fabric upholstery?
Confused between leather and fabric upholstery?
2. Create distractions with cushions and accessories
If hammering down the sofa isn’t the most practical solution, then try the art of distraction. You can place bold cushions on it, which will draw the eye and attention away from the sofa to themselves.
Here’s how to choose the right sofa cushion
If hammering down the sofa isn’t the most practical solution, then try the art of distraction. You can place bold cushions on it, which will draw the eye and attention away from the sofa to themselves.
Here’s how to choose the right sofa cushion
3. Customise it
Sometimes a sofa that you don’t really like can come to better use if it is customised or recycled according to your needs. Here, you would need a carpenter to do the work. If you have a sectional, consider cutting it up into smaller chairs or single-seaters or using the wood from it to fabricate tables or stools.
If it’s a small single sofa that you’re dealing with, then you could think of taking it apart and using its elements for other purposes – the cotton fabric, foam core and springs can all be dismantled and reused to build a new sofa or repair an old one. You could even pull out the seats or cushioning on the sofa and use them as low seating options for the living room or the porch area.
Sometimes a sofa that you don’t really like can come to better use if it is customised or recycled according to your needs. Here, you would need a carpenter to do the work. If you have a sectional, consider cutting it up into smaller chairs or single-seaters or using the wood from it to fabricate tables or stools.
If it’s a small single sofa that you’re dealing with, then you could think of taking it apart and using its elements for other purposes – the cotton fabric, foam core and springs can all be dismantled and reused to build a new sofa or repair an old one. You could even pull out the seats or cushioning on the sofa and use them as low seating options for the living room or the porch area.
4. Let the couch blend in with the surroundings
Another way to deal with your unloved sofa is to let it blend in with the surroundings (as long as the the sofa doesn’t sport a jarring, loud colour). Place similar-hued but better-designed pieces of furniture that mimic the hue of the sofa.
In case the colour of the couch is not very stark, you could consider painting the wall behind it the same colour as the seater. It might seem counter-intuitive to put more elements that match the couch in the living room, but it’ll actually take away power from the sofa, or at least make it seem less potent.
Check out these timeless sofa and wall colour combinations
Another way to deal with your unloved sofa is to let it blend in with the surroundings (as long as the the sofa doesn’t sport a jarring, loud colour). Place similar-hued but better-designed pieces of furniture that mimic the hue of the sofa.
In case the colour of the couch is not very stark, you could consider painting the wall behind it the same colour as the seater. It might seem counter-intuitive to put more elements that match the couch in the living room, but it’ll actually take away power from the sofa, or at least make it seem less potent.
Check out these timeless sofa and wall colour combinations
5. Add a designer throw or a shawl to accentuate its look
A beautifully embroidered shawl, a throw in an eye-catching print or a even a fur casually draped on a sofa can make a difference to the look of the couch. You could fold the fabric and drape it over the side of the sofa like in the above photograph, lay it across the cushions, or fold it neatly and keep it on the armrest … different approaches can create different aesthetics.
6. Just give it away
You’ll be surprised how many from your family or your friends might be interested in taking that thing off your hands. So offer it to them – or offer it for free in your residential compound. Remember, furniture wants to be used. If a piece doesn’t find a space in your house, it’s better to give it someone who will use it.
Read more:
Can A Living Room Be Better Without a Sofa?
Check These 10 Things Before Buying a Sofa
Tell us:
How did you work around a sofa you didn’t like? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
A beautifully embroidered shawl, a throw in an eye-catching print or a even a fur casually draped on a sofa can make a difference to the look of the couch. You could fold the fabric and drape it over the side of the sofa like in the above photograph, lay it across the cushions, or fold it neatly and keep it on the armrest … different approaches can create different aesthetics.
6. Just give it away
You’ll be surprised how many from your family or your friends might be interested in taking that thing off your hands. So offer it to them – or offer it for free in your residential compound. Remember, furniture wants to be used. If a piece doesn’t find a space in your house, it’s better to give it someone who will use it.
Read more:
Can A Living Room Be Better Without a Sofa?
Check These 10 Things Before Buying a Sofa
Tell us:
How did you work around a sofa you didn’t like? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Reupholster, repaint, cover up
You could consider polishing the base in a different colour, re-tufting the sofa cushioning to perk it up or adding smart studs in case of leather seaters.
If your sofa has scratched-up legs and you wish to conceal them, you could veil it with a fringe trim towards the bottom of the sofa. It will hide the legs of the sofa and make for a decorative element.