Decorating Help - Lighter colored/neutral sofa? Rug?

[wintersummer]

I'm looking for feedback on light colored sofas and rugs.

It's time to replace our 25 year old sofa. I've looked at design magazines for several years, and countless design books. My estimate is that 90% of what is displayed in magazines/books are light colored sofas. I love the general look of many of these rooms and I love the look of lighter colored sofas. I'm finding I'm being drawn to lighter, airier looking rooms, light in color, with bright color accents.

When I see darker colored sofas, they are often on lighter colored carpets/rugs. And, the look is often good.

Here's the question: Do you have trouble/frustrations with your lighter/white/neutral color sofas? Do you worry when anyone sits down with a drink? If the fabric is protected, does it work? If the fabric is protected, does it change the way it feels?

I have more-or-less the same questions about floor coverings. I'd like something a little lighter in color. My husband is wanting something darker, to help cover stains, etc.

We don't have children or pets - just looking for easy maintenance.

Post photos if you have any suggestions or anything to share.

[Beth]

Our living room is a light beige microfiber. It cleans very well with a rag and distilled water (tap water has minerals that can cause a ring). I don't have any problems with it, but the 2 darker chairs have had some damage from sick kitty spitting up on them. The fabric didn't stain, but it did get pits or tiny acid burns. We plan to replace those when our kitty is gone, but the lighter sofa is fine.

I have a saddle brown leather in my family room (light tile floor and multi-colored rug). It has been both kid and pet resistant and I'm pretty well sold on leather and microfiber at this point.

[krhm]

I've got two kids and two dogs, and doubt I'll ever buy a couch that isn't dark leather again. We started with a dark leather set that is now in the basement, and we bought a lighter colored microfiber for the upstairs. It was Haverty's, so not high-end, but better quality than, say, Rooms to Go. After about 7 years, the microfiber didn't look so fresh. It became rather thin in places and sort of matted down. It was clean, but it looked grungry. So we just purchased another leather sectional, in chocolate brown, and I'm thrilled with it.

We have light walls, huge windows with lots of light, and light-er carpet with hardwoods, and I really like the way the darker couch anchors the room.

If you've had your last sofa for 25 years, my guess is that you're planning to keep this one around for a while too. Even with all the new protectants and fabrics, I'm honestly not sure how long a lighter couch would hold up!

[AngelaM]

I don't think my couch is either light or dark. Its right in the middle with a medium sage green. I have had it for 5 years and it doesn't have any major stains on it. It is microfiber/microsuede (not difference if those are the same or not) and it does clean up pretty well although there are some water spots from stain removal that I can't get to come out.

I have 2 dogs and hope to have kids in a few years and I have heard leather is my best option. I really like the dark brown leather couches. We'll see though.

Oh and my floors are medium hardwood. We found a rug that had the same color green in it (and many coordinating colors) at Home Goods. We painted the walls a tan gold color (Restrained Gold) and decorated using the colors in the rug.

[kcmo727]

I think a light rug might be difficult to keep clean just because of people walking on it but I wouldn't worry about a light couch, esp since you don't have to factor in kids/dogs.

We have had our couch (it is the "cameron" couch from crate & barrel in a color called almond paste) for over a year and it is looking great. It has a sort of tweedy texture that helps to camoflauge stains, altho we haven't any stains, spills etc yet. I have always had dark couches before this but I picked this one because it is the same color as our couch loving dog. I really love the shade and any color pillow looks good on it. i say go for it, even if it gets a stain there are so many good removers out there now. Have fun shopping!

[jrichards]

Hi -

I have a very light sofa/chair and I love them. I don't have kids or pets, and I got stain protection for them (put on by furniture store before delivered to me).

My experience with them has been no problems at all! In fact, I even spilled red wine all over the sofa/myself, and it was easier to get the stains out of the sofa than off my clothes. I was AMAZED how easy it was to get the stain out.

So I've been happy and I like the look. I don't notice any difference in the feel of my material either. In fact, I've had more than one person comment how nice my couch feels. Hee hee. I'm not sure of the fabric - it's not a microfiber, but kind of like it. It feels sort of velvety, but it's not.

Jennifer