Here’s Why Buying a Gray Living Room Sofa Is My Biggest Home Decor Regret

Home decoris one of the few areas of my life that makes me feel like I trulyknowmyself. But, while I typically have no problem following my personal aesthetic and making decorating decisions that reflect my artsy (and not always on-trend) style, sometimes the pressure of a large purchase gets the best of me, which is exactly what happened when I bought mygray couch.

A few years ago, I decided it was time to invest in the couch of my dreams: a stunning, simple, mid-century modern sofa with a matching ottoman (togive it that sectional feel, without the commitment or higher price tag). The sofa comes in several colors, including soft velvet in the most beautiful green tone (nottooemerald … but not too sage, either), which I initially had my heart completely set on. But, just as I was about to hit “add to cart,” I felt a tinge of insecurity and wondered if green velvet was the right decision, whether it would work with my existing design scheme, and ultimately, if I would get sick of it.

At that moment, I called my mom — whose style isn’t remotely close to mine — and asked her for her opinion. She advised that I go with the gray tweed fabric instead, pointing out that buying a new couch is not only a financial investment, but also a style investment. With a gray piece, she explained, I can always swap out different decor and even addgreen pops of colorif I wanted to bring that specific hue into my space. Her points felt completely valid, and I agreed, so I updated my fabric choice, placed my order, and unknowingly made my biggest home decor regret of the last few years.

When the couch arrived, Ilovedit. The tweed material had a beautiful texture, and the gray really did go with everything. But, over time, the regret started to sink in. First, I went to a friend’s house who recently furnished her place with — I kid you not — the green velvet version of my couch (similar to the style pictured above). I immediately swooned over it and envisioned how my space might look if I’d gone with the color I originally wanted. Then, several months later, one of my favorite podcast hosts posted a photo of her apartment, which showed her dog lounging on my same couch … in green velvet. I continued to see this version of the couch pop up everywhere, from a hotel lobby to myPinterest feed, and it became clear that the furniture gods were definitely trying to send me a message.

Here’s the thing: There’snothingwrong with a gray couch, especially if you already own one and love it. In fact, it’s one of the most popular sofa colors because it’s so versatile. But, after a few years of binge-watching TV shows onmygray couch, I can confidently say that, personally, I’m just not a gray couch girlie. I crave color — especially shades that moonlight as neutrals (I owna lotof denim in my wardrobe) and add a little bit of flair to a space.

Through this decorating “mistake,” I’ve learned that as much as I love the pair-with-anything power of a gray couch, green velvet still works as a neutral, too — and I was never going to get sick of it. While I’m grateful my mom looked out for me with valid points about why I should reconsider a colorful couch, I’ve also realized that I know myself (and my style) well enough to say that a green sofa absolutely does fit with my aesthetic. Just like my wardrobe, I didn’t need to seek out advice from someone whose interior style contrasts my own. After all, it’s more about how something makesyoufeel rather than how it aligns with design trends.

这个故事的寓意是:相信你的直觉it comes to big-ticket pieces and really think about what would best fit with your own living room and lifestyle. There’s no “correct” color choice here, either, whether you’re team green or gray!