Sofas are more than just a place to sit — they're the focal point of the living room. Of course, their sheer size makes an immediate statement, but it's often the color that has the biggest impact. While some have lasting appeal, it's worth knowing what sofa colors are going out of style in 2025.
You see, when it comes to the sofa — an expensive piece meant to last for years — timelessness is necessary. And sofa color trends play a huge role in that. "The sofa can take up a good amount of visual attention in a living room, so the color should be carefully considered," says interior designer Lucie Ayres.
So, what sofa colors are going out of style in 2025? I asked interior designers for the outdated shades to steer clear of, and which color to pick instead. Here's what they said.
1. Stark White
White is a classic, easy, and neutral color that goes with almost anything. There's no denying that a white sofa is a good idea for your living room; it's like a blank canvas. However, a stark white sofa can look overwhelming and even jarring in the overall design scheme of your space. Not only that, but they can also be very hard to clean, according to interior designer Sarah Brady.
Instead...
There's nothing wrong with choosing a white living room sofa, especially if you're trying to create a stylish all-white living room. However, Sarah has noticed "a growing preference for softer, warmer tones that are more forgiving and inviting" than stark white sofas.
So instead, opt for something with a bit more depth than stark white. An cream, ivory, or eggshell-colored sofa could certainly do the trick. And to enhance the look of your white sofa, consider styles with intriguing textures, like linen, to benefit the soft and light color.
With its downmix cushions and soft linen upholstery, you'll never want to leave this sofa. Plus, its soft ivory color will create a cozy atmosphere in your living room.
2. Royal Blue
Only a few years ago, royal blue was considered one of the best sofa colors — its vividness brought a level of uniqueness to living room design. However, like all trends that skyrocket in popularity, royal blue sofas have quickly fallen out of style in 2025.
Designer Emily Spanos recognizes that once a bold color becomes available on a large scale, it can start to look tired in interior design, and that's certainly the case with royal blue sofas.
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Blue, however, is still an ideal color for living room design, and in particular, for sofas. Emily suggests looking beyond royal blue for shades that "have a bit of softness and depth."
One idea is midnight blue — a color that is so dark, it almost appears black, but nonetheless has the softness and appeal of any other shade of blue. A sofa in this color can add depth to your living room and become a statement piece that anchors the space.
This 3-seater sofa is made with an ultra-soft velvet material in the classic midnight blue color. It's a sleek and stylish choice for your modern living room.
3. Cool Gray
Cool gray is a practical choice for living room furniture, and because of its muted and neutral presence, it was thought to be a timeless sofa color, especially in more minimalist spaces, says Sarah Brady.
However, it's become abit basic when it comes to sofas. "Cool gray is now viewed as overused," Sarah says. On top of that, it's a color that tends to lacks personality.
Interior designer Elizabeth Vergara agrees, adding that the shade feels somewhat uninspiring in 2025, especially since interior design trends have taken a turn towards bold color and expressive prints.
Instead...
There's no doubt that cool gray is an easy color to incorporate in living room design, and there are certainly lots of ways to decorate with gray to make the color feel more lively and exciting.
However, for a piece of furniture as big and statement-making as a sofa, Sarah recommends choosing a different type of neutral — warmer shades. Colors like light tan, camel, light brown, or even soft beige can create a more inviting atmosphere, she adds, something that cool gray struggles to do.
This light brown velvet sofa can make your living room feel more inviting through color, while it simultaneously adds subtle texture to the space.
4. Overly Bright Emerald
Although decorating with color can create an exciting and playful atmosphere in your home, certain shades like bright emerald green can be too overpowering, Elizabeth Vergara explains.
Emerald green sofas might have once been praised for their different and unique presence, but they are now falling out of style because of their overwhelming nature.
Instead...
Decorating with green can be timeless — depending on the shade you choose. While an emerald green sofa might quickly turn dated, an olive green sofa can act as the perfect alternative.
Olive green is a mature and sophisticated color. It "adds quiet strength and brings a refined, grounded presence" to the living room, says Sarah Brady. In a way, olive green can act as a neutral color that can tie your living room decor together.
From the sleek, curved shape to the soft, olive green finish, this sofa radiates sophistication and can easily elevate the look of your living room.
5. Jet Black
If you gravitate towards darker colors in interior design, a jet black sofa might seem like an ideal choice for your living room. But often, an extremely dark shade can overwhelm a space — drawing attention and sucking warmth from the space.
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Rather than going to the extreme end of the color spectrum, choose a dark color that has a rich quality to it, like a dark brown. Lots of designers have been gravitating towards the brown color palette in interior design lately because of its classic nature — it's a neutral that has significant versatility and always seems to look good.
Lucie Ayres thinks that earth hues like deep brown will continue to gain prominence in sofa design. Sarah Brady agrees, pointing to chocolate brown as a "rich, grounding color that adds sophistication and pairs well with other earth tones."
So if you want to go dark, try dark brown instead of jet black.
This sofa comes in over 100 different fabric or leather upholstery choices, but nothing beats the cozy and inviting nature of dark brown. Let this sofa act as a grounding force in your living room.
Aside from choosing an outdated color, there are lots of mistakes to avoid when buying a sofa. Thankfully, we have a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process.
