One of the best things to come out of the brown trend is that the average consumer (especially men) have switched from buying black leather furniture to brown. I have seen so much leather in my consultations I have come to the conclusion that the reason why most people buy leather sofas is because there are only about 5 colour choices (okay, there are a million colours in leather as well but most people don't order custom leather furniture-they buy it off the floor). With fabric, the colour choices are, of course endless and then you have to decide if it's going to be a solid or a pattern? Smooth or textured? Flat or shiny?
Most people feel it's less of a commitment to just buy a leather sofa and be done with the shopping already! And I have to confess, in the early 90's when I was married, before my designer days, my husband and I bought a forest green leather sofa and loveseat. It's funny, we didn't even consider a fabric covered sofa, and looking back, I'm sure it was for the exact reason I've just mentioned.
Other than the practical reasons to have a leather sofa (if you have kids and pets) I would keep them in the family room, media room or in a library/den.
In the last year I have helped two bachelors decorate their place and both already had existing brown leather furniture:
This client was on a tight budget so we took one day, 'shopped the city' and came home with an SUV full of stuff. The only thing in this room in the morning was the sofa. The art above the sofa we found from a consignment store for $75, the area rug from Homesense for $200 as well as the chest of drawers $300.
Love this 'Creating Abundance' piece from Pier 1
This was a Yaletown condo that I decorated with a custom leather sofa. If you're going to buy leather, I think it should be tufted in some way, it has a more luxurious, expensive (because it is!) feel to it:
Maria Killam Colour & Design
This classic, tufted, chesterfield sofa from Williams Sonoma Home is my all time favourite. I would have this in a cozy library in this exact colour. It's totally timeless!
If you're still in love with espresso brown, you can have this one from Restoration Hardware;
You can always just go really high end and buy one from Ralph Lauren Home;
I think this tan coloured sofa from Ralph Lauren is probably a more timeless colour to choose rather than espresso brown. The brown trend will eventually end and then you'll want a lighter sofa. Better to choose a lighter one to begin with and then you'll be happy with it for as long as you own it.
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