Sofas - should they match or not?

[cherrybug]

We have a small living room with an old 3 seat futon and a 2 seat old sofa perpendicular to it. We have to keep this L shaped layout.

We are going to decorate and buy two new sofas. I like the idea of having two sofas that are not the same but complement each other but not sure whether this would work in a small room or whether matching would be better.

I've been looking at sofas online - a square-ish contemporary big sofa bed and a smaller retro looking sofa - but because I cant physically see them, have no idea whether they would work together.

Its a big outlay - I need to get it right! Any advice?

[Lagoonablue]

There are a few threads about this. I posted one as have a similar dilemma. Need 2 sofas, already have one that is dark brown. I think a different sofa would look good. Different shapes etc but somehow complimentary. I though muted brown tartan or checks with my other brown sofa....I was tempted to go for a completely different colour but was too scared!

So ended up buying another similar sofa, similar shape, similar colours. I will add interesting cushions to make it less boring.

[Starballbunny]

I think complimentary not matching in a small room.

If you have, say two cream sofas, in a small room, they can overwhelm the background colour of the flooring and make the room look smaller still.

If you have a big room, matching can look right because you have large areas of floor and perhaps rugs and coffee tables dotted about (think a nice hotel lounge).

Sadly I've always had living rooms only suited to missmatchy cottage cosy.

[Selks]

I have non matching sofas. They're all from the same sofa range but upholstered in different coloured fabrics - large sofa is charcoal, small one oatmeal and foot stool rust colour. Looks great, or at least I think it does!

I've also seen very different contrasting styles and colours of sofas in the same room and it can look brilliant.

[Jaffacakesallround]

Mis match is nicer and would possibly look more spacious.
I don't like matching stuff- we have a sofa and 1 armchair in the same fabric and another armchair in a toning fabric- same colour range, different style chair and fabric.

[Catsmamma]

looks at shabby chic chesterfield dog sofa

and beige sofa bed effort

and large brown leather chair


I'd say non matching :D