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I was given a hand-me-down floral couch, and am trying to figure out how to incorporate it into a house without it feeling old and stuffy. My boyfriend and I are going to be buying a new house in the next year or so, so the room can be created to fit the couch. The couch is a large, off-white couch with pink flowers all over it. We also were given a matching, overstuffed chair with the same pattern. I'm in need of some brilliant ideas! Help!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: masbm,

Welcome. No problem with working w/ the floral. If it's not to your pattern or color taste, simply slipcover it in a neutral (also the chair) and it should fit nicely into your scheme choice. Pillows can be added for pattern, texture and/or pops of color. I have had great success w/both www.surefit.com and www.StretchandCover.com
Careful measurements will help assure a good fit.

I really don't want to have to use a slip cover. I would like to find a way to use the couch as is.

Ok. This tells me you're happy w/ the colors and the print. That's even easier. Just wait till you live in the space a while. This will help you to see the changes in lighting that occurs. After a while, draw scheme inspiration from the print. View potential chips under the varied lighting conditions of your space. Pull a color for your walls from the print that best suits the room's lighting, presents a handsome backdrop that's in contrast to the print in terms of value, and evokes the feel you seek. Factor in flooring coloration, trim and coloration of woods used. If there's a built in focal point such as a stone or brick hearth, wallpaper you don't wish to strip, but otherwise works, or stained bookcases, those should be factors as well in selecting the best wall color.


Feel free to mix styles, but keep scale and balance in mind. The eclectic look should evolve over time so don't be in a rush to furnish your room immediately. The well chosen pieces should reflect your personality, your lifestyle, your travels.

Mix in solid pieces along your floral, textural elements and even another pattern such as a stripe, check, harlequin, plaid to name a few. Be sure at least one color is repeated in the new print and that the scale varies. Matching anything is too predictable and not as interesting to the eye. These pattern/textural/solid mixes can come via pillows, window treatments, another chair, a rug, etc.

Some painted furniture can be incorporated and my lastest research has also found that painted furniture is the current trend (if you desire to keep up w/ the industry). I personally like at least one piece of painted furniture particularly if a lot of stained wood is present in the room.

Do project your public space scheme as dictated by a print(s) onto adjoining public spaces to a degree.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

The living room (or family room) size in the house you select will be a big determining factor in the way you use this floral furniture.

The room can't truly be created (unless you intend to move walls) but it can certainly be decorated to enhance the furniture. I have seen a knock out pink living room, done by a male decorator, so that is one choice you can make. You can also use striped fabric in the same colors for curtains or pillows or rugs maybe, depending on your personal decorating style.

Of course you can decorate around a floral sofa and chair, masbm. The posters here have given you many good ideas on how to do that. But I would like to ask you a couple questions to really think about.

How much do you love the sofa and chair?

Are there important sentimental feelings attached to the pieces?

If you could pick any pieces of furniture for your new home, would these be the pieces that you would buy?

What I am saying, is that before you design your new home around a hand me down sofa and chair set, I would make sure that you really really love the pieces, and you really want them to set the tone for your home.

There is no right or wrong answer, only your feelings matter.

But if you don't love the furniture, or if you feel that they are old and stuffy, then maybe they could be temporary, and you could design your home to be more like you and your own style.

Of course if you love the pieces, then you are on your way with a great beginning to your design.

Could you post a pic of this furniture? Also are you looking for inexpensive ideas to use temporarily until you move into your new house?

There are lots of colors that work with pink such as brown, various green tones, grey, purple, and others. Depends on the shade of pink. I personally like lime green with a bright pink. If you can find a stripe or geometric print with pink and other colors in it you could use that as your color scheme. Printed fabrics are designed by color experts so it takes the guess-work out of color decisions if you find a print you like with pink in it.

Here are some fabrics with other colors which might give you some ideas:

http://www.calicocorners.com/c...=1&filterBy=&sortby=

You can mix florals but it's probably easier to use a non-floral print such as mentioned above.

The infamous ZuZu's room immediately came to mind which has been a favorite for several years on decorating blogs and message boards.

Does your flowered sofa and chair look anything like this?

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forum...sg0414025510351.html

The pattern is very similar to those chairs, but my chair is much larger than those chairs, and my sofa is a very large sofa.

quote:

The infamous ZuZu's room

I don't think you mean "infamous" Tuesday. At least I hope not! LOL