Non-matching sofas. How different?

[user1471530109]

I need a new sofa. I currently have a grey leather recliner with jutty out bit. My parents bought it me and it's very comfy (although I've never been in love with it). It's only about 4 years old and coat a stupendous amount (to me).

Now the DC are getting bigger, the three of us only just manage to sit together on the sofa together. We are getting to the point it isn't comfortable anymore and I need a second sofa. I've made room to move the dining table into the kitchen so I now have the room.

But. Money is an issue. I have far more important things that need my financial attention. Would something like the IKEA ektorp be completely out of place? One leather and one fabric sofa. But also completely different styles? Would it look crap?

I think it'll be fine. I'm not into matchy matchy though, I like the eclectic look, it's more interesting. I think you can choose different types of covers for Ikea sofas, though I'm not sure.

My OP is terrible! Should have proof read

I'm glad you think it would be ok. I'm not into matchy either. But I'm worried my currently fairly stylish sitting room will look a bit studenty? I'm quite good at getting it 'not quite right' most if the time!

Would you go for a similar colour? Tbh, the ektorp don't appear to currently have much choice in covers. So it would probably end up as grey like the leather sofa...but wouldn't be the same shade. Worried it will look like I've tried to match and got it wrong 🤦‍♀️.

I'm boring a sad. I know.

My two sofas are very different but I tie them together with matching throws and cushions. But I wouldn't go for a cheap sofa - better a seciond hand one that's better quality. Have a look in junk shops/recycling centres/local FB page. My friend bought an absolutely beautiful chaise from a junk place.

I have two sofas in completely different colours and fabrics and love it. Go contrast, it is much more likely to look like a statement and mitigates the risk of trying to match. Do you have a photo of your leather recliner for style and exact colour etc?

www.furniturevillage.co.uk/cressida-leather-corner-chaise-recliner-sofa/ZFRSP000000000014329.html

They still seem to be selling it! It's elephant grey. Now it's a few years old, the leather has got really soft and comfortable.

I'm not sure about a second hand sofa! I have various second hand furniture, so I'm not snobby or against it. But a sofa I'm not so keen on.

We have one leather and one fabric. We did not try to match the new one to the old one, but got a colour that went with it. Because dh tends to always sit in the same place, we swap the sofas over every couple of years to even the wear.

Definitely quality over price. Our leather sofa came from Furniture Village some years ago, and we are very pleased with it.

I agree the leather sofa is great quality. That's one of the reasons why I mentioned the cost etc in the op as despite not really warming to its style, I love how practical and comfortable it is. No way would I get rid of it. The kids despite being nearly 11 and 7 are still very much messy sods who spill chocolate milk and sticky drinks. Plus cats...

But I am skint. I have a 180 ft fence I need to pay for this summer and various unfinished DIY around the house. I've spent lockdown trying to finish painting jobs! It doesn't come naturally to me .

So a cheap fabric sofa is what I'm thinking of. The ektorp sofas seem to get good reviews, even on here. I don't think I'm suggesting it is comparable to £1000+ sofa. But surely ok enough to not look cheap and shit? If I go by what mnet reviews have said?

Would a mid grey leather sofa look ok next to a beige fabric one? My living room is a muted greige and cream affair.

Yes, if you have neutral colours going on as it is, you would also then have the opportunity to dress them up with cushions and throws that tie in with each other.

We have 2 ikea sofas (kivik, now discontinued I think) 3 kids, and have had them for more than 6 years now. Covers are washable, still very comfy, no long lead time on delivery... I have approximately another 16 years at least until the youngest might be out of the spilling sticky stuff phase!

I would go for a fabric one in a different colour and tie them together with the same scatter cushion and throw.
This is on sale at Made.com
www.made.com/herman-3-seater-sofa-aegean-blue-44

We have one leather and one fabric one and it looks fine but I’m also not someone who worries about things matching . Both of ours actually have throws over them because of the dog anyway ( the throws match )

If you can get exactly the same colour (which you can't since you're going leather + material) then you can get wildly different shapes and they'll probably look good together.

Since you can't do that, either go with the "random second sofa, similar throws" thing or go for completely different in all ways with the new sofa. I'd go for the latter, it makes life a lot easier.

We have a big tan leather squishy thing which has the prime TV viewing position so DCs and DH congregate on there.
Then a a totally different style (grey fabric chesterfield) which is where I sit as I prefer to read so TV position doesn’t matter.

We bought both sofas at the same time so the different styles/colours was deliberate as I don’t like things too matchy. The cushions and throws are different but all tones of the same colours.

I love IKEA. Our sofa is a Stockholm from 14 years ago, I am sitting in a Poang with my legs up on the matching footstool and DH is sitting on an Ekenas. They are all the same colour so it works fine. I previously had two Poangs and they had cushions a different colour to the sofa. It was fine, and I am properly middle aged, nothing student here

I'd not waste a second buying furniture to match an ugly sofa. Buy something you like, then do your best with cushions and throws to blend the other sofa in.

It's worth a look in bigger charity shops that specialise in furniture. I got a lovely sofa for £100 inc. deliver last year.

Thanks everyone. To clarify, I wasn't trying to match them-it's not my style looks around living room at not one matching piece if furniture

It was more whether you'd think it would look ok? But your responses have convinced me it will be fine. One of the very few negatives of twat face xh leaving is that I now don't have money to make nice decisions about furniture etc and also don't get to discuss it with anyone! The dc aren't really bothered