Linen sofa fabric - light grey or oatmeal?

[PinkCamelias]

I’d love some advice on the colour for a sofa in a room painted cream and taupe. East facing, huge window, gets light also from the west facing dining room. Grey marble windowsill and fireplace. Current sofa is light grey linen, I like it very much but it was bought when we lived in a different house, so I didn’t choose this shade based on the current colours. I think it works here but since I’m planning to get a bigger sofa, I am wondering if I should get the same colour, or beige? I know they are very similar but that’s what I like :) I just want a harmonious scheme and I wonder which of the two would be best. I was sure I wanted beige but when I took a sample home, it looked more jute/oatmeal and was a bit more yellow than I’d imagined next my various shades of linen cushions and throws.

This is the grey fabric on the current sofa:

Oatmeal with some contrasting cushions.
Grey is yesterday’s news and boring

Oatmeal. I agree grey has had its moment.

Oatmeal - because it's a touch warmer.
I never understood the love for grey.

And this is the beige sample against the wall and the same cushions, and a photo I found that shows it on a sofa (not the one I’d buy) - looks lighter than the sample.

I understand about grey - but it’s linen grey, very light.

I much prefer the oatmeal
I think you are looking at it against the current grey so it will always seem “yellow”. It will be fine when the grey goes. The grey is also a nice colour.

It’s a good point about looking at it against the grey @17to35! One more thing I’m wondering about - in case I wanted two sofas in the same room (not planned now but who knows), I don’t know if these two shades go well together? If not, I may have to be practical and choose the grey.

I think the first thing you should do is decide whether you're likely to want two sofas in the same room and, if so, are you willing to buy a second new sofa, or would you prefer to keep the one you already have. And are you absolutely set on the taupe? Because wall colours are generally easier and cheaper to change than sofas.

Our living room sofa is a very similar colour to your existing one and I find it pretty versatile. I'm tempted to post a photo, but not sure about posting it on such a public forum.

Yes @post1 you are right, I have to first decide that. I have two armchairs here as well so it’s either them with a sofa, or two sofas (and the other thing goes into the study). If I have two sofas, I will keep this one because I like it and I certainly don’t need three sofas in one house :) The only reason I hesitate is because the room has three walls only - it is open to middle reception - and if I want a sideboard, the sofa has to stand opposite this one, back to the open space. We tried this set up, didn’t hate it but didn’t love it either; the jury is still out.

Wall colour stays - I like it, and besides the area to paint is huge (high ceilings) and it would be expensive to redo. It also coordinated well with the rest of space.

I’d love to see your sofa in your room, if you dare to post it!

I'm going to put one up briefly and then ask mn to take it down. Gulp.

It looks fantastic! The colour is really the same. What brand is this sofa? It looks very much like the one I’m considering, from Muuto. You have chosen the open modules, and I’m still unsure! Are they comfortable? How deep is the seat? My current sofa is 60 cm and the new one could be 75, great for lounging but I like to sit more upright, so this is also to consider.

Oatmeal. It's timeless and extremely versatile. Grey isn't versatile at all. We inherited a grey carpet in the bedrooms of our house and it's been a nightmare trying to find nice wall colours that go with it.

I would go with the grey that you already have and like.

It's a Walter Knoll sofa, but I spent ages debating the Muuto before deciding - I can't remember exactly what swayed me, because I really liked that one too. I went open ended only because it seemed to work better for the room. The dimensions are 90cm depth total and 70cm from the back cushion to the front. I'm on the shorter side (5'3") and generally find I like two cushions behind my back if I'm sitting, the rest of my family are taller and seem perfectly happy with the depth. Although, to be very honest, the room doesn't get all that much use, since everyone seems to opt for the snug off the kitchen 95% of the time. Even when we entertain, I have to chase people out of the kitchen.

I agree it's a very similar fabric. I know grey is reviled on Mumsnet and taupe/beige is very in at the moment, but I've found this to be pretty versatile and not cold or dull. The photo doesn't show it all that well, but the rug is sort of a light blue and the chair is a light slate blue and it all seems to work fairly harmoniously.

Let us know what you decide! I'm going to ask them to take the photo down now.

Yes, that’s the thing with deeper sofas, you need cushions to prop yourself up! Your setup gave me food for thought so I will take some time to figure out what works best, along with the colour. I have to see this sofa first, and it’s not in display in any of the shops I asked, so I have to keep on checking that. So I may let you know a bit later, but I will.

As for grey, I understand that people are bored with it, and a lot of furniture is this flat, uninspiring grey. This one, however, is light and linen-y, just like this oatmeal, one is cool, one is warm, and there lies decision.

@post1 I forgot to ask before but am
I right that you have a relaxed linen blind on the window? I’d like them on some of my big windows, but I’ve never seen them other than on the photos (I only see the usual type of Roman blind around). Are you happy with yours? Are there many folds of fabric when it’s lifted?

Yes, although they're not actually linen as the curtain maker said it would end up too wrinkled and drive me mad, so it's a fabric they recommended instead. I've been very happy with them - when they're lifted all the way, the swagging at the bottom is more pronounced, but there aren't folds. We have motorised blackout shades behind them and tend to raise and lower them and leave the romans as they are - not sure why, but they're so sheer, I hardly notice them.

This was my inspiration picture, but unlike them, mine have a flat bar inside the bottom hem and the swagging is above the bar, if that makes any sense? The curtain maker said that because our windows are very wide, that would give a cleaner look.

Thank you very much! This flat bar makes sense indeed, and it answers my question about sagging on the wide window. I saw the blinds I like online, but I am quite aware that on a big window the effect may not be quite right. I had quotes from the local shop, I think the fabric was also made to look like linen but the price was so high, that I have so far abandonded this idea, without investigating about the construction. I will keep it in mind if I consider it again.
We don't need blackout blinds on that window, just a privacy solution (this can be done with a cafe curtain) and a sheer blind to obscure the view of the busy street, which is especially visible in winter when the trees have no leaves.

Out of interest have you got the money to change your sofa every few years? We have had an oatmeal sofa for 20 years, so how come it’s not out of fashion yet?

Definitely oatmeal.