White color is considered neutral. It can be called neither warm nor cold, so it is considered an ideal background for creating any compositions in the interior. Visually, white color expands the boundaries of rooms, making them spacious, airy and fresh. Interiors and rooms made in white colors look stylish and do not go out of fashion.
The white color of upholstered furniture gives the room not only comfort, but also a certain gloss. But white color is perceived differently depending on the seasons of the year and lighting during the day. Sofas in white colors look different in the far corner of the room and in the part illuminated by daylight.
The white upholstery of upholstered furniture reflects other colors nearby. Try placing a pillow in a red cover on the white surface of the sofa, and the white color will immediately take on a pink tint.
Designers in their projects in white interiors use different combinations of fabrics and textures. White color is a win-win background for art objects, art objects, and modern furniture. But you shouldn’t get too carried away with white color, so as not to turn the room into a dead, cold room. It is enough to get by with white walls or upholstered furniture.
Many people don’t like white because it stains. In fact, it has more advantages than disadvantages. It does not fade compared to other colors, and marks from touching with hands are not visible on it. It makes the room seem more spacious and bright. White color unites everything that, it would seem, should not be next to each other. This is an assistant that cancels the fragmentation of furnishings and unites them into one whole.
Mechanisms for transforming white sofas
Perhaps you will not find such an apartment where there was a place for a sofa. This is not an attribute of decor, it is convenience and comfort. It is convenient to spend time on the sofa talking with friends, relaxing with your family, reading fiction, and watching your favorite TV shows.
Modern industry has mastered the production of many different types of sofas, distinguishable by design, shape, size, and upholstery materials. And before you go to the store to make a purchase, it is advisable to have an idea about the folding mechanism of upholstered furniture, convenient for all family members, about its functionality.
There are several mechanisms for transforming sofas. The sofas reserved for guests have limited functions. They are not suitable for everyday use. When purchasing a sofa, you need to consider the size of the room and whether there is enough space for it when unfolded. The sofa should not occupy the entire area of the room.
Folding mechanisms are divided into three categories: folding, sliding and retractable.
White sofa “Book”
This option has been known to residents of apartments and houses for a long time. It is used in two positions. When folded - for sitting with emphasis on the back of the sofa. When unfolded, it turns into a single or double bed, depending on the height of the backrest. The “book” option is durable, equipped with a niche for pastel linen, does not require physical training when unfolding, and does not take up much space when unfolded. The surface of the sofa is smooth, comfortable for a night's rest. The only drawback of this design is that it is not advisable to move the sofa too close to the wall, so as not to constantly move it away when transforming it into a place to sleep.
How to choose the right shade
Being an achromatic color, white still has many shades. It depends on the undertone how it will be perceived: warm or cold, pastel or active.
Warm shades include milky, mother-of-pearl, ivory, flower bud, alabaster, creamy, vanilla.
Snowy tones, smoky, platinum, boiling white, linen, and diamond are considered cold.
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Consider several parameters to choose the right shade for your sofa.
- The location of the room and lighting features - in a room where there is a lot of light and the windows face south, you can use cool color variations. And for a room where there is not enough natural light, it is better to choose warm colors.
- The rest of the palette - if the room is decorated with warm pastel colors, pay attention to the upholstery in the color of baked milk or ivory. For strict monochrome interiors with mirrors, metal and stone, snow-white with a tint of gray or blue is suitable.
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White sofa “Click-clack”
The sofa of the “Click-Klyak” design resembles the book version with the difference that it has three positions. You can not only lie and sit on it, but take an intermediate position (half-lying, half-sitting). This is achieved using a mechanism that is installed at a level comfortable for vacationers.
The surface of the “Click-Klyak” version or also known as “tango” is smooth, comfortable for rest. The sofas are equipped with drawers for storing things and bedding. Its only drawback can be considered the limited space for rest when unfolded.
White sofa "Couch"
Such designs are used in children's rooms, where there is no need for a spacious bed for sleeping. When folded, the “Couch” option occupies a small area of the children's room, leaving space for games. When unfolded, it is a comfortable place to rest.
To transform a sofa into a bed, all you need to do is move the two armrests to a horizontal position. The design is equipped with a large drawer where you can put away pillows, blankets, bed linen for the day, and a bedspread for the night. The resting surface is smooth and has no seams.
White sofa "Eurobook"
Among sofas with a folding mechanism, “Eurobook” is one of the most popular. The design of the Eurobook cannot fail. If you want to turn your sofa into a place to relax, all you need to do is roll out the seat and move the backrest to a horizontal position.
All modifications of the Eurobook have a niche for bed linen. When folded, the sofa takes up little space; when unfolded, it turns into a bed with two beds. A disadvantage of the design can be considered the width of the seat, which is not comfortable for children and short family members.
Application in the interiors of different rooms
A sofa is a fairly universal item; it can be easily used in almost any room: bedroom, living room, kitchen, hallway, nursery, dressing room, office. A miniature sofa can be placed on a loggia or balcony, in a spacious bathroom. For tight spaces, choose a corner, compact straight model, placed in the corner, near the wall. For larger rooms, any configuration is suitable, but this furniture is placed away from the walls, preferably almost in the center. It becomes the only “bright spot” - an accent element of the space or combines beautifully with snow-white curtains, tablecloths, flooring, rugs, wall moldings made of foam plastic, and plaster.
The selected design should not take up too much space, block approaches to the table, closet, balcony, exits from other rooms, or make it difficult to carry small-sized furniture and household items.
In the living room
The living room is the most spacious room in the house, and the sofa is often its largest element. It is used to receive guests, sleep, play with children, and watch TV with the whole family. Place the structure with its back to the windows or along another wall, but preferably opposite the television screen. A modular sofa is very convenient here, allowing you to assemble several different versions of the “designer” with various poufs, cabinets, consoles, etc. The white sofa here is combined with armchairs of the same color, and other furniture in snow-white or contrasting shades.
In a very spacious room intended for a large family, in addition to the snow-white one, they put the same sofa in a different, contrasting color, but decorate it with white pillows. To create a unified concept, the pillows for the white sofa are made in the same bright color.
When the room is made in warm colors, the shade of the sofa is chosen close to sand, cream, golden; for “cold” living rooms, bluish, mint, pinkish undertones are preferred.
In the kitchen
For kitchen furniture, materials and coatings are selected that are easily cleaned from drops of grease and pieces of food and do not get wet. Suitable for natural leather, faux leather, smooth fabrics. The kitchen sofa should be placed as far as possible from food preparation areas - refrigerator, sink, cutting surface, gas stove. A powerful hood will solve some of the problems with the settling of fat suspension and burning on furniture, preserving its original appearance for a very long time. A snow-white sofa looks good opposite a white set, combined with dark or bright floor and wall tiles, or a white brick kitchen apron.
In the bedroom
In the sleeping area, a folding sofa is used for night sleep or daytime rest, forming a single ensemble with a bed, dressing table, and window curtains. It is draped with a snow-white, black-and-white zebra, colored bedspread, and decorated with pillows of all shapes and sizes. If the room is used exclusively for sleeping, dust will have to be removed a little less frequently than in other rooms. A light, plain sofa looks good against a background of colorful wallpaper, a patterned carpet, decorated with multi-colored pillows of all shapes and sizes.
In the nursery
A sofa for a children's room is usually equipped with removable covers with zippers - it is difficult for children, especially younger ones, to keep clean, so the upholstery will have to be cleaned often and the covers will have to be bleached. In a boy’s room, a snow-white sofa, combined with a blue carpet, a sky-blue ceiling, ship or pirate motifs, and matching prints on the walls, creates a nautical style. In a girl's room it is complemented with lace canopies, deep pink curtains, floral wallpaper, images of fairies or flying ponies, creating a romantic style for a little princess. A teenager will love the black and white interior with a sofa under the loft bed and voluminous pillows.
In the hall
Many modern apartments have a fairly large hallway, allowing you to place a small but full-fledged sofa in it. A folding one is not needed here; a straight one, placed along one of the walls, or a corner one, used as a zoning element, will do. In a narrow room, it is important to leave enough space for free movement - if one or two people live in the apartment, then 80-100 cm will be enough; if there are more than three residents, the passage width is at least 120 cm. A sufficient amount of dirt and dust is carried from the street into the hallway , especially if there are children and pets. Therefore, it is advisable to use removable, easily washable furniture covers.
White sofa "Dolphin"
The Dolphin design is easy to unfold. When folded, it takes up little space; when unfolded, it provides a spacious place to rest. The sofa is equipped with space for bedding. This is where its advantages end.
The sofa itself is heavy, so it must have a high-quality transformation mechanism. To unfold it, you need to apply force by lifting and pulling the seat towards you. Children and the elderly cannot cope with this design.
White sofa "Pantograph"
The design is similar to the Eurobook. But unlike it, the seat does not roll out, but rises and pulls forward. After this, the backrest is transferred to a horizontal state.
The result is a double bed with a flat surface and a drawer for bedding. A mechanism equipped with a spring can be easily handled not only by adults, but also by children.
White sofa "French folding bed"
This sofa belongs to the guest. The sleeping place, folded in three times, serves as a sofa seat when folded. When unfolded, it looks like a flat surface with a thin foam mattress.
To transform it into a place to sleep, you need to use a specially attached loop. This model is cheap, compact, but not desirable for frequent decomposition and is not equipped with a linen drawer.
Upholstery selection and care
In a typical apartment, the sofa is most often placed in the living room. But will this be appropriate or does the white sofa in the living room interior look beautiful only in the photo? After all, the room is a walk-through room, it is constantly bustling with life, and there is a high risk that the furniture will constantly get dirty and quickly cease to look presentable.
Which upholstery to choose
Even if the family has children or animals, this is not a death sentence for beautiful light furniture. Here are the solutions.
- The upholstery is made from modern materials that are resistant to mechanical damage, easy to clean, do not fade in the sun and do not turn yellow - pay attention to flock, microfiber and nylon.
- A removable cover, preferably made of fabric that can be machine washed at home - this way you don’t have to constantly take it to the dry cleaner. A good option is 100% polyester.
- If you like a spectacular leather texture, choose patent or artificial leather - these are durable coatings that are not afraid of moisture and dirt and do not require complex care.
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White sofa "Sedaflex"
This version of the sofa is also called the “American folding bed”. Its transformation option is similar to the “French folding bed”, only the mattress in it is thicker and folds twice. Therefore, its surface is more comfortable for sleeping and does not sag under the weight of the body. The design does not provide a linen drawer, but the sofa can be used every day for sleeping.
Pros and cons of white in interior design
White is certainly a challenge for those who want to use this color to furnish a living room, a courage that will be rewarded with the elegance of the final result.
- White furniture visually expands the space , which will be very important in small rooms.
- Large white sofas create a feeling of comfort, inviting you to sink into them. During the colder months or rainy days, you can add a few soft white blankets. Or you can create a nice contrast with some color accents.
- Dust is much less visible on a white sofa.
The disadvantages of white have a lot to do with the difficulty of maintaining the purity required for this color. The freshness and purity of white design comes at a price. Maintaining cleanliness is especially difficult when small children or pets are present.
- The most difficult thing to clean is white textiles , especially when it comes to a white sofa. Particular attention should be paid to these elements to keep the white color bright and dominant, and combining it with other colors for the sofa cushions will make the white stand out.
- It is known that over time white turns yellow, so you need to work twice as hard to keep the white color as long as possible. Of course, nothing lasts forever, but it's worth taking care of.
Straight white sofa designs
Rectangular sofa shapes have always been and remain the most popular types of designs. They are classics and fit well into any interior and style. Straight designs are recognizable by their flat back and side armrests.
There are folding sofas, which can easily be transformed into a comfortable sleeping place, and with a rigidly fixed backrest. They are usually equipped with a pair of soft chairs. To install them, choose one of the walls of the room.
Combination with other colors
The color of snow or paper goes well with all elements of the color spectrum. Let's look at the most successful combinations.
With gray and black
The combination of three achromatic colors is a solution for those who love strict monochrome interiors, where the purity of shapes and clarity of lines prevail over the variety of colors. The main advantage of such a color solution is that all three colors are easy to combine with each other, it is almost impossible to make a mistake. The most important thing is the proportions of light and dark tones. The smaller the room, the more light colors it should have. This palette is popular in “brutal” styles (loft, hi-tech, futurism, minimalism), but can also fit into classics or scandi.
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With pastel colors
Another win-win combination is a milky, pearlescent or smoky shade plus any pastel colors. In combination with various textures and natural textures (wood, rattan, linen, wool, stone) they give a bright and very cozy interior.
The white sofa in this case is usually supported by a simple monochromatic finish, and pastel shades are used in the details. These can be beige, light pink or blue curtains, blankets, decorative pillows, carpet, as well as paintings and other pieces of furniture.
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With bright flowers
White furniture perfectly sets off bright colors. Without drawing attention to itself, it will emphasize the strength of red, the energy of green, the cheerfulness of yellow or the depth of blue. Looks beautiful in combination with rich brown or purple.
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Corner designs of white sofas
Corner sofa models are usually assigned places in the corners of rooms. They divide spacious rooms into zones. When unfolded, the corner sofa can be used as a place for a good night's sleep. But when purchasing, you should keep in mind that they are bulky and not suitable for rooms with a small area. Corner, non-folding models are available for kitchens. They are compact, do not take up much space, but are not suitable for sleeping. The shape of corner sofas can be straight or rounded, with left-handed, right-handed and universal corners.
Features of upholstered furniture
Light upholstered furniture is recommended for purchase only if its surface can be easily cleaned. Despite the fact that shades of white make sofas or armchairs more stylish and impressive in appearance, stains will appear on them already in the first months of use. Even if you use the furniture carefully, you won’t be able to completely avoid stains, so for a set with fabric upholstery, you should immediately buy covers of the same color - sometimes they come included. Without such additions, the owner of a white sofa will have to often order dry cleaning, although it cannot completely prevent the appearance of yellowing on the fabric.
It is much easier to care for sets with leather upholstery, which provides the living room or office with a chic appearance. Although in the case of a genuine leather sofa you will have to use special products. To avoid cracks in the furniture, you will need to maintain the humidity in the room at least 65%. Eco-leather furniture is much more practical to use. Its disadvantage is that in winter the surface remains cold, and in summer due to the heat it sticks to the skin.
To partially solve the problem of pollution, choose not snow-white color, but shades of white - pearl, milk, ivory.
It is not advisable to purchase upholstered furniture that is too light for an apartment with small children, cats and dogs. To preserve the white color, sofas and armchairs will have to be protected with a blanket, violating the effect for which they were purchased. Such furniture is not suitable for the kitchen due to the high risk of food and liquid getting on its surface.
In general, white furniture is a universal and stylish solution for almost any interior. However, it requires careful handling and regular maintenance. If the owner of the room has chosen light shades, you should be prepared to spend money on maintaining the interior items in perfect condition.
U-shaped white sofa designs
U-shaped sofas are classified as modular designs, where one of the segments can replace another. Such designs have a main sofa and two additional sections into which furniture boxes are mounted. In modern sofas, the extension sections can be equipped with shelves, a mini bar, and an aquarium.
Semicircular shapes of a white sofa
They have a similar design to U-shaped ones. They also have a set of sections, but instead of square outlines, they look like a new moon in the sky. They look great in rooms with a large area, as they take up a lot of space. Usually they zone the space of the room; they are installed along the walls extremely rarely.
Round shapes of a white sofa
Typically, round sofas consist of separate modules. They are installed around the perimeter of round tables, bar counters, and other objects around which it is pleasant to spend time with friends.
But there are also solid forms without internal space in the middle. They are used to accentuate the room. Based on them, the interior design of the entire room is already created. The sofa can have a solid structure and consist of separate sections.
Principles for selecting color combinations
The last point that must be taken into account when deciding how to choose the color of the sofa to match the interior is the rules and methods of combining colors with each other.
Itten Circle
The Itten Circle is a tool that helps designers and artists choose harmonious color combinations, and an excellent cheat sheet for those who are thinking about what color of the sofa to choose.
There are two popular options for the circle. The first consists of 12 compartments, the second “continues” each color with several of its shades: from more saturated to less saturated.
To decide on a color palette, it is easier to use a circle with 12 compartments.
Below are 6 color combination options. You can visually scroll through the circles, changing colors to find the right combination.
Itten circle: color combinations
It’s easier and more convenient to use Itten’s interactive circles, which can easily be found on the Internet. For example, to find out what color of the sofa will go with beige wallpaper, just select the beige color and choose from ready-made color combinations.
Advice! Use the Itten circle if you choose a sofa with a pattern or upholstery in several colors. The combination of colors in the sofa should be in harmony with the color scheme of the room and, especially, with wallpaper and curtains.
A living room in gray tones looks complete thanks to lilac elements
Ready-made color solutions. How to correctly combine the color of a sofa and wallpaper
A table of ready-made color solutions can help when choosing a sofa to match the color of the wallpaper. Please note that most interiors use more than two colors. To select such a combination, it is better to work with the Itten circle.
Also think about the color of the curtains in advance: usually, like the sofa, they become the second large element that attracts attention. There is even a classic rule: curtains and a sofa should be the same color, and there should be few other similar elements in the room.
However, today designers adhere to this rule less and less. For example, if you are thinking about what kind of curtains will go with a brown sofa, it is better not to choose dark tones, including brown ones: then the room will look gloomy even with light wallpaper.
Advice! Consider the amount of light in the room: if there is not enough light, it is better that the wallpaper or at least the sofa and curtains are light. For small rooms, consider interiors with a predominance of white.
Table of solutions for matching a sofa to the color of the wallpaper
| Wallpaper color | Sofa color |
| White | Any shades |
| Grey | Any shades. Grey, red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, cyan, lilac, white |
| Beige | Beige, brown, yellow, purple, grey, white, black |
| Red | Red, green, blue, white, black |
| Yellow | Yellow, blue, green, brown, white, gray, black |
| Orange | Orange, purple, gray, white, black |
| Green | Green, red, brown, white, grey, black |
| Blue | Blue, orange, yellow, white, gray |
| Lilac | Lilac, blue, purple, white, gray, black |
| Violet | Purple, yellow, white, gray, orange |
| Blue | Light blue, blue, orange, brown, white, gray |
| Brown | Brown, green, orange, white, gray |
Fabric upholstery of a white sofa
Gozhka
. Upholstering a sofa with matting is the most popular. It is easily recognizable by its characteristic checkerboard interweaving of lines. The fabric, which looks like burlap, is durable, resistant to damage, fading, does not rub, and is easy to clean from dirt. The wear resistance of a cotton or woolen matting is provided by polyester or olefin fibers, and the air permeability is ensured by a unique interweaving of the threads.
Velours.
Sofas with velor upholstery are soft and beautiful in appearance. Their thick pile does not cause allergies, has a rich palette of shades, and is easy to care for. The composition of velor can be natural or synthetic, and can be dyed in any color.
Jacquard.
Synthetic and natural fibers are also present in jacquard fabric. The material is dense, not prone to fading, has good strength and a long service life.
Flock
. Flock, in its appearance and soft velvetiness, resembles velor fabric, but compared to velor it is more practical and wear-resistant. Consisting of a synthetic-cotton blend, it is suitable for families with children and pets who love to scratch their claws on the sofa upholstery.
Which upholstery to choose
The choice of upholstery material directly depends on the chosen interior style, the location of the furniture structure, the ability and desire to spend time, cleaning products, and cleaning from dirt. The smoother, denser the upholstery material is chosen, the easier it is to care for. Removing dust from seams, folds, and dirty spots should be done as early as possible, preferably immediately after their detection.
Textile
The upholstery fabric is selected to be as resistant to abrasion as possible, resistant to deformation, smooth, and easy to clean with a sponge, soap solution, and special cleaning agents. Materials made from natural fibers are pleasant to the touch, cool in winter, and refreshing in summer. Synthetic fabrics get dirty less, are much easier to clean, and do not change color for a long time. The price depends on the density of the textile, the manufacturer, texture, and design.
The most popular:
- microfiber;
- velvet;
- velours;
- wool;
- matting;
- with the addition of acrylic, Teflon.
It is most practical to purchase furniture upholstered with textiles impregnated with dirt-repellent compounds or to purchase removable covers made of linen, cotton, and other materials.
Leather
Leather furniture looks elite, expensive, beautiful, requires minimal care, and is easy to clean from dirt. This upholstery is very durable - with proper care it can last up to several decades without losing its attractive appearance. Genuine leather is a fairly expensive material; in budget options it is replaced by artificial leather or suede, which is much cheaper but will last much less. The main advantages of artificial material are that it is not afraid of the sun's rays, many household chemicals, uniform coloring, texture, indistinguishable from the real thing.
White leather sofa and its substitutes
Covering with genuine leather is one of the highest quality, but also the most expensive. Natural leather must be handled very carefully so as not to accidentally scratch or damage it by accidentally catching it with a sharp object.
Eco-leather contains a fabric base and polyurethane. A microporous film applied to a cotton or polyester base forms a fabric called eco-leather. Sofas upholstered in eco-leather are elastic, durable, and visually indistinguishable from natural coverings.
Polymer film coating called leatherette is an artificial material. It consists of polyesters, polyethylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides, many other chemical fillers, rubbers and their mixtures. Unlike eco-leather, leatherette blocks air circulation and feels cold to the touch in a cool room.
What to combine with
White color goes well with:
- black;
- bright purple;
- gray;
- sky blue;
- red;
- plum;
- brown;
- green;
- sunny yellow;
- purple;
- scarlet;
- dark asparagus;
- amber;
- ultramarine;
- signal red;
- ruby
These colors are available not only in the structure of the sofa, but also in the surrounding environment - carpets, armchairs, curtains, etc. It is not recommended to combine white with excessively light tones:
- creamy yellow;
- lavender;
- tea green;
- beige;
- pebble gray;
- apricot;
- pale sand;
- silver;
- biscuit;
- spring green;
- honey;
- orchids;
- pastel pink;
- zinnwaldite;
- thistle
Against a dark background, a snow-white structure looks even whiter, so it can be shaded with contrasting pillows and bedspreads. In a bright room, especially a light gray or pale greenish color, a white sofa will look faded, and the background will look dirty and old.
The all-white interior is not very convenient to use, and if not properly maintained, it looks dirty and faded. It’s easier to make a white sofa one of the few light accents in a more “non-staining” environment.
