How to Decorate a Room Around a White Sofa

Decorating a room around a white sofa requires a contemporary design that exemplifies modern elegance. A white couch isn't practical for pets or young children, so it's best suited for a living space used primarily by adults. Incorporate soft, muted wall colors and contemporary accessories into the room, so your white sofa stands out as a focal point in the overall design. White is a neutral, clean color so you can choose warm or cool accent colors to complement your living space.

To complement the modern appeal of your white sofa, paint the walls a shade that doesn't compete with your white furniture. Opt for white, beige, soft gray, muted yellow-gold, warm mocha brown, gray-blue, teal or sage green walls. Vivid primary colors, bright pastels and overly dark hues can turn the focus away from your furniture, making your walls the dominant feature in the room. If you prefer stark contrast, opt for a deep red, amethyst, China blue or taupe wall color, and hang wall art with white-infused flowers, designs or patterns to blend with your white sofa. Painting your walls a shade of blue or green give your room a cool, refreshing appeal. Brown, beige, red or golden walls lend your room a warm feel.

Accent Furniture

Since a white sofa is a neutral furnishing, you can decorate the space with warm wood tones or accessorize the space with contemporary metallic or synthetic accent pieces. Opt for a pine, oak, walnut or mahogany coffee table if you want your room to feel cozy and comfortable. Select brushed nickel, chrome or fiberglass accent tables for a sleek, contemporary appeal. Choose an upholstered chair with a monochromatic pattern or a solid-color loveseat to coordinate with your white sofa. Incorporating other solid white furniture into the living space gives your room an ultra-modern, antiseptic appeal.

Floors and Windows

Bright, airy windows and simplistic flooring make a white sofa stand out in a living room. Opt for hardwood floors or light-colored neutral carpeting to blend with your sofa and other decorative furnishings. Online home decor resource Casa Sugar suggests adding a fur throw blanket or rug for an unexpected dose of texture. Minimalistic white or beige curtains, simple room-darkening shades and modern blinds provide privacy without compromising the contemporary appeal of the white sofa. Heavy fabrics and busy patterns can make your walls and flooring too dramatic for the modern simplicity of your white couch.