How to Decorate a Red Sofa

Use your creative touch to transform a plain red couch into a sensation.

The Chinese believe it's the luckiest color of all. Psychologists argue over whether this vibrant hue causes traffic accidents on the road and conflict in the home. What's your take on the color red? It's likely a favorite if you're seeking a way to decorate a red sofa---or perhaps you're stuck with the color and want desperately to disguise it. Your search for answers is at hand, especially if you love off-the-wall ideas that may even lead you to make friends with the piece of furniture that's currently on your least-liked list.

Things You'll Need

• Decorative throw pillows
• bead/sequin trim
• Braid, bias or decorative furniture tape
• Battenberg lace runners/napkins
• Earth-colored throws
• Lace slipcover fabric
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Choose the easiest sofa remake technique of all: Make or purchase accent pillows to break up the monotony of your red sofa with colorful squares and circles that pick up other hues in the room. Achieve nautical perfection with blue and white pillows or a regal look with purple and gold pillows. Sew sequins and spangles to slipcovers to add sparkle and dimension to the throw pillows.

2. Slipcover just the removable back cushions of your sofa in a pattern that adds zing to that all-red sofa. Bring a back cushion to the fabric store, and consult with staff about the right amount of yardage. Trace an outline of each back cushion onto the reverse side of the fabric to estimate cut lines. Divide the fabric by the amount of back cushions you're covering, and stitch up the covers on three sides so the cases can be removed or replaced with new ones in the future.

3. Bring the 1800s back with contemporary couch "doilies." Shop discount stores for white table runners and napkins edged with Battenberg lace. Buy several runners for your sofa remake. Stretch and tack one runner along the top of the couch so the lace edging dips over the back of the sofa. Tack it into place with a needle and thread. Cut and hem the other runner to make armrest covers. Substitute napkins for runners by stitching together the squares so, when the topper is draped over the sofa back, the napkin tips point down.

4. Purchase a large quantity of braid, wide bias tape or other decorative bindings to create interest along sofa slipcover seams. Tack the trim down using a needle and thread. Add as much or as little as appeals to your eye. Remember that you can always remove strips of bias trim or braid if you discover you've added more than you can live with. Alternately, use the tape to create a giant monogram in the center of the middle back cushion on your sofa.

5. Turn your red couch into romantic, exotic seating by tossing large, earthy "throws" over back cushions to add the type of atmosphere found beneath the tents of nomads when textured blankets are tossed over seating units. Select white, gold, brown or yellow throws to achieve the rugged contrast you seek. Don't be surprised if the right alterations make you fall in love with your red sofa all over again.

6. Morph your red sofa from bland to spectacular by having a seamstress create a replica of your sofa slipcover in a lace fabric that, once installed over the red couch, results in a two-color pattern that changes the room dramatically. Head in this decorating direction, and you won't need throw pillows or other accessories on the sofa to stop traffic.

References

• iVillage: Simple Couch Makeover
• My Style: How to Decorate Around a Gold Sectional Sofa
• Rental decorating: Choosing a Color Scheme