In a column written for this magazine by Sophie Dahl, the following advice is given on sofas: ‘You must be prepared for animals to do potentially unspeakable things on it, or for visiting children to upend their drinks in its vicinity and for the sofa to emerge, victorious. It’s imperative to that end that it has a pattern or washable upholstery, or is covered by a throw. It can’t be precious; it has a job to do.'
However, if you're reading this article you likely fit into one of two categories: someone who wants a white sofa, or someone who already owns a white sofa. Sure, it's an impractical choice at best, downright wasteful at worst, but it's in the impracticality that the magic is made. The white sofa symbolises order, restraint, elegance. It signals to yourself and your visitors that your house is a place a white sofa can not just survive, but thrive.
But how to style it? We've taken a trip through the House & Garden archive to find three brilliant schemes centred around white sofas. From the bold to the layered, there's inspiration aplenty below.
Keep it simple like Thea Speke
In Thea Speke's own house, the interior designer has used warm, honeyed tones to bring warmth to her basement flat. First opting for a creamy white sofa, Thea has layered cushions in blue, mustard and camel to introduce colour. The sofa is placed on a jute rug, warming up the floor and offering texture contrast for the seat's smooth linen. The overall effect is welcoming and relaxed.
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Go bold with Chloe Willis
In Chloe Willis's London apartment, which feels like a country house in miniature, the white sofa offers a place for the eye to rest in what is a bolder scheme. Primary colours of red, blue and yellow sing together harmoniously, whilst the plain sofa prevents things from feeling too busy. Chloe has placed both floral and striped cushions on top of the sofa, which lends a casual, yet elegant air to the space.
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Opt for a layered, lived in feel like Christian Bense
Whilst Christian Bense's flat in Battersea is packed with clever small space ideas, it is also a great source of inspiration for styling a white sofa. Christian's palette is mostly neutral, with texture and art adding plenty of visual interest in place of bold colours. In this room, Christian has paired both striped and tapestry-inspired cushions which sing against the sofa's white surface. Plates and pots, collected over a lifetime of antique hunting, decorate the walls to charming effect.
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