Style guide

5 grey sofa living room ideas

In this article, I’ll be sharing my styling tips for making the most of your glorious grey sofa and giving your home that enviable, insta-worthy look.

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As one of the most popular neutrals out there, grey continues to take the top spot for sofa shades and interior design.


The great thing about grey is that there are a plethora of shades to choose from.


From cool shades of silver to warmer dove grey hues and dark, moody shades of graphite and charcoal, there’s certainly enough scope to make this continuing trend your own.

Grey sofa living room idea 1: Keep it plain and simple 


If you really want your sofa to be the star of your living room, position it against a backdrop of crisp white. 


It may seem a little extreme, but pairing your grey with a severe contrasting shade will create a fantastic air of drama. 


To avoid the space looking too clinical, incorporate another colour to give the room some warmth and depth.


You could do this by adding some cosy cushions or artwork, or even a photo gallery in some bold coloured or brown-toned wooden frames.

Grey sofa living room idea 2: Go contemporary with blue 


Blue is widely recognised for being a calming shade. Pairing darker shades of blue, e.g. navy blue, with light grey instantly creates a contemporary result.


From a practical perspective, you could have a light grey sofa against a dark blue wall to create something wonderfully intense. 


Be mindful not to go too dark if you’re using dark grey and dark blue together, especially if your living room is small, as the dark colours will only make it feel smaller. A pop of dark blue on a feature wall is all you need to achieve this look.

Grey sofa living room idea 3: Soften with pink


Light grey and pink, especially blush, are an effortlessly beautiful combination, especially when you pair them with crisp white or cream.


Incorporate a splash of light pink with cushions, flowers or a rug or plant pot, which will instantly soften your grey sofa for an overall serene and cosy effect.

Grey sofa living room idea 4: Embrace neutral tones 


As a timeless neutral colour, grey blends well with other neutral shades, such as beige and cream.


This selection of colours will really enable your grey sofa to stand out in an understated yet highly elegant way.


Experiment with your materials too. For instance, the natural fibres, satin and velvet, all blend beautifully within this design create a cosy, interesting space, which isn’t at risk of becoming outdated any time soon.

Grey sofa living room idea 5: Go bright and bold! 


While grey may be a neutral colour, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it!


Grey is one of those shades that can withstand being jazzed up with some of the most vibrant colours there are, for instance, yellow, red, turquoise and emerald.


Liven up your grey sofa with brightly-patterned cushions, throws, artwork, coffee table books and ornaments.


Try not to add too many different colours to the mix to prevent your living room from looking haphazard. Select your bold colour of choice and be selective about where you incorporate it into your design.


Start with one or two things and then keep adding to them, if necessary.

The beauty of these grey sofa ideas is that they can be applied to any living room, and you can embrace as little or as much of them as you like to create your own unique style. 


If you’re not really a colour person, then just use a slight pop of colour or stick to neutral tones. If you’re particularly proud of your sofa and want it to be the main focal point, make it shine with some carefully-selected cushions or a throw.


The main thing is that you’re 100% happy with the end result and you have fun creating it along the way!


Are you planning on carpeting your living room and aren’t sure which shade will look the best? Have a read of this article, ‘What colour carpet goes with grey sofas?

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Victoria Foster

Written by:

Stylist & Visual Merchandiser

at ScS

18th January 2024

Victoria is a stylist and merchandiser based at our in-house photo studio. Having been part of the ScS family since 2012, Victoria styles stunning home sets with the latest trends to showcase newly launched ScS products. With over 25 years of experience in styling and merchandising, she loves to keep an eye on the latest trends in the interior landscape. Victoria's favourite interior scheme is the Boho trend and loves to layer a mixture of different textures in her home. Her styling top tip is to always create a focal point in a room. Whether it’s a feature wall, a piece of artwork, or a bright patterned rug, having a focal point can help to drive the decisions on the rest of the rooms layout.