Minimalists, avert your eyes: the patterned sofa is making a comeback. From Lorenzo Castillo’s Madrid apartment to Lauren Buxbaum Gordon’s Georgian Revival house, these playful pieces are returning to even the most elegant living rooms. After all, dopamine decor is trending—and is there anything more delightful than a splashy striped couch?
«The nice thing about this is that the pattern stands on its own, and there’s no need for a bunch of throw pillows to add color, pattern, or texture,» says designer Mandy Cheng (who anticipated this trend back in December). Whether you go for a sprawling sectional or an apartment-sized loveseat, selecting a printed piece means you’ve already done most of the design heavy-lifting. All your accessories will follow suit; though if you’re stuck, Cheng recommends choosing solid pillows in complementary colors and lush fabrics like velvet and mohair. The only thing more luxurious than a rich berry-hued tuxedo sofa is one outfitted with matching mauve cushions.
Cheng recommends starting small («It’s an investment, and it’s a large part of the room!») with an armchair, or even photoshopping fabric onto a picture of your current couch to get comfortable with the idea of the print. Already sold? We pulled 16 patterned sofas we’re currently eyeing to get your creativity flowing.
The Striped Sofas
With the right colors and interesting shapes, stripes can be more sophisticated than preppy. See: a skirted settee with frilly olive stripes or Urban Outfitters’ bright red-and-white design with a scalloped base.
Urban Outfitters Roma Scalloped Sofa
Stoffer Home x Cloth and Co. Thelma Settee
Schoolhouse x Clare V.® Marc Striped Sofa
Nickey Kehoe Tuxedo Sofa
The Plaid Sofas
Depending on the palette, a plaid sofa can either read simple or splashy. Something like Serena and Lily’s gingham slipcovered option, done in an of-the-moment chocolate brown, is basically a neutral; mix in earthy greens or layered browns to highlight the rich color. In contrast, Schoolhouse’s color-blocked couch echoes summer camp style. Vivid cobalts and sunny ochres would be the perfect complement to amp up its boldness.
GreenRow Hadley Upholstered Plaid Sofa
Serena & Lily Beach House Sofa
Schoolhouse Milo Sofa
Williams Sonoma Robertson Sofa
The Floral Sofas
Turn your space into your very own secret garden with a botanical-inspired pattern. Options range from tiny micro-florals to large-scale blooms, in shades that span classic greens to moody jewel tones.
Arhaus Fenwick Settee
Birch Lane Cecelia Upholstered Loveseat
Anthropologie Bowen Irena Ruffle Sofa
The Inside Skirted Track Arm Sofa
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The Abstract Sofas
If uniformity is not to your taste, an abstract print keeps the eye guessing. It’s the ideal statement piece if you’re looking for a sofa that will anchor your living room—after all, it’s hard to pull focus from a black-and-white graphic couch. The key is choosing pieces with elegant, pared-back frames that balance out the upholstery, whether it’s Fred Rigby Studio’s sturdy oak seat or Nickey Kehoe’s spindle settee.
Fred Rigby Studio 3.5 Seater Cove Sofa
Oka Pippo Sofa
CB2 Forte Channeled Sofa
Nickey Kehoe Spindle Back Viewing Settee
Elly Leavitt is a fashion and luxury commerce editor with over seven years of experience covering fashion and design. Her writing can be found in Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, Town & Country, Esquire, ELLE Decor, and more. Previously, she was an editor at Domino magazine. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.
