Toning down grey sofa

[Greybluewhite]

Like many of us a couple of years ago I bought a dark grey charcoal sofa.

I feel like it’s making my room feel cold and boring. I’ve ‘styled’ it with blue cushions and a blue rug which I do like as it’s a bit of colour but it still feels a bit bland and dull. My furniture is dunelm Bromley grey.

Is there anything I can do without spending a fortune to try and bring it up to date and a bit more neutral/less boring. What colours would go?

My walls are all white and my flooring oak if that helps.

Youve had fabulous suggestions above.

The other thing I like to do is look at fabrics, curtains, cushions, wallpaper online that contain my basic colours (in your case charcoal and blue). When I see one I really like I look at the other colours in that fabric/wallpaper etc and try and replicate it keeping the same proportions.

But for your combo (I’ve got something similar), I have a textured off white blanket on back of sofa, plus off white and rust coloured cushions.

What shade of blue have you brought in? I'll look to see if I can find some images that incorporate it.

Yellow, red or orange accessories will look nice.

I’ve got some duck egg type cushions alongside a bright blue lampshade and the rug which is a mix of blue/charcoal and cream.

Thats as exciting as it’s got.

I think I’ll go for a deep orange cushion, feels less scary than bright yellow!

If you've got no pattern you definitely need some, if all elements are plain colours it will look very basic/holiday home; a patterned woven rug (or even printed if money is an issue, Urban Outfitters usually have cool, unusually printed, affordable rugs) always looks better/more expensive than a plain colour which can look a bit like a big bath mat for example.

I would paint the walls. White, true white, is cold. A warmer neutral would make lots of difference.

If you've got charcoal and navy by the looks of the rug then a copper, brown or rust orange will complement and warm things up.

Or a blush pink and/or red can work too.

Hi Op yup, you are still going for cold colours. The rug appears to have a lot of grey in it and now the curtains are cool cream with silver, which is just shiny grey.😄

here are mine as an example of how colours can work,,maybe not to your taste , but you can see they are on a mink coloured sofa. But the cushions are warm bright colours that brighten it up.

i think maybe you’re going everything matchy as you’re uncertain?

What about these @Greybluewhite ? Similar design to the pale ones, but a nice mustard colour.
Mustard curtains

You really do have a blank canvas with having pale walls and neutral sofa so have a look at living room images online and see what you like. You might find a theme and that's what I try to go for. I think along with your blue accessories I'd add mustard and pinks. Have a bit of fun with it

Deep peacock feather colours go well with dark grey (teal, ochre, emerald, deep pink). Also gold/bronze metallic accessories (plant pots, picture frames, vases etc). Go for cushions and throws initially to dip a toe in before getting to major purchases like curtains.

Ooh I like those @longtompot

I don’t know if I’m leaning towards a rust/burnt orange type colour alongside the blue.

Are these boring? I thought with some ‘rust’ coloured cushions and some pale blue ones?
https://www.dunelm.com/product/berlin-orange-umber-blackout-eyelet-curtains-1000225487?curtainSize=W+228cm+%2890%22%29+x+D+228cm+%2890%22%29#easy-returns

I also now need to figure out what to do with my lampshades. At the moment they are also grey…do I go cream? A colour? Leave alone? All of my light fittings are chrome and I can’t afford to replace those and I’m worried gold would clash?

Mine is covered in several crochet blankets and cushions, none of which match. Sounds dreadful, looks very cosy.

The photo under item 6 is what to aim for and the second photo under the prev item with nasty pink is soulless

I'd be looking at warm colours. Rust works. Orange works. Pink and yellow work.

I think I'd probably paint-maybe a nice plum colour-something dark if you have s big light room that can take it- and then add some neutral textured cushions and throws.