It is important to coordinate the style of your coffee table and couch together because they are always close by and serve practical purposes. A black couch is a unique and bold color choice, so the color of a nearby coffee table can result in very noticeable benefits or disadvantages. These pieces are also frequently the center of attention in a living room. As such, we have carefully researched what color coffee table will pair best with a black couch.
Because a black couch is neutral and will work with any color, it is best to coordinate your coffee table with the temperature of the couch and the overall style of the room. Some colors will agree or create contrast with the cold temperature of black:
- Black
- Gray
- White
- Natural Wood or Brown
- Colorless Glass
Although personal preference is always most important when you style, some coffee table colors will have very different effects, placed beside a black couch. Keep reading to learn how different colors can be used to create various interior designs, and how to style the couch itself and other black furniture.
Coordinating A Coffee Table with A Black couch
Generally speaking, it is usually best to avoid creating an identical match when styling your room. This is because it will typically cause a visual redundancy that does not look inspired. That can be especially true for objects which are very close together.
However, a couch and coffee table may sometimes be an exception and have identical colors anyway. Most of the time, the coffee table and couch will operate as one feature. It is rare for the coffee table only to be used as a point of visual interest.
As a general rule, the coffee table should only sit around 16 inches away from the couch. This is to ensure that anyone sitting on the couch can comfortably reach the coffee table to interact with drinks or décor. It also allows enough room to safely walk between the pieces.
Black
There is an established and practical relationship between the couch and coffee table. So although it isn’t necessary to give the coffee table the exact same color as your couch, it is actually possible.
The neutral black is also much easier to match compared to actual colors. It can feel more consistent than boring. And the coffee table is usually centered in the room. So, the combination of a black couch and coffee table can look more like an intentional highlight instead of an overwhelming eyesore.
Gray
Gray is another neutral like black, which means that it has no true color. As such, all neutrals will agree with each other. The cool tone of a gray coffee table can be used as a transition piece to soften the impact of a pure black couch. This can help balance out the room.
Also, gray and black are natural partners in many interior designs. For example, they are often used in all styles that use minimalist features. These types of scenes are usually not very colorful. Instead, they tend to aim for a sleek and simple look that is easily achieved with gray and black.
White
White is another neutral, but it is literally the opposite of black. While black is a cold neutral that absorbs all colors, white is a hot neutral that reflects all colors. These properties make white a very popular choice for any feature in the home, from the floors to the ceiling.
The warmth of white can brighten a room without drawing any attention to itself. Its reflective nature can also make the area appear larger than it truly is. Black surfaces can appear to recede and even appear smaller than their actual size. If the black couch appears too small, a white coffee table might balance out the proportions in the immediate area.
Using a white coffee table with a black couch will also create a striking level of contrast between their hot and cold temperatures. High contrast will usually look deliberate rather than messy, so long as the overall style of the room and home are consistent.
Also, all neutrals are absent of color and will typically agree. A white coffee table will redirect the room's focus to your black couch while balancing out the commanding effects of its cold temperature.
Natural Wood or Brown
Coffee tables are commonly made out of wood, so it is possible to leave the furniture unpainted. Instead, an interior wood stain and finish can be used to proudly highlight the natural appearance of the wood.
Click here to find this bright interior wood stain on Amazon.
Leaning into the knots, streaks, and unique surfaces of a wood coffee table will create high contrast with the style of a black couch rather than its color or temperature. Wood generally has tones or undertones of brown, which is a near-neutral that operates like pure neutrals.
Brown has a warm temperature but no actual color, making it a safe middle ground between black and white. So, you may also paint your coffee table brown when you have a black couch. Brown will only imply a natural look with a smooth appearance, producing a clean transition rather than a loud contrast.
Colorless Glass
This kind of coffee table will go with literally any couch, no matter what the color is. The glass will refuse to draw any attention to itself and instead allow the black couch to be the primary focal point.
This is an effective method of reproducing the flexibility of a neutral without using too much of them. Sometimes, overusing neutral colors can appear too boring. Large, neutral coffee tables can sometimes look dull next to large and neutral couches.
Also, glass fits with the popular minimalist use for a black couch. This is because glass is very smooth and simple. It is often designed to feel sleek and go unnoticed.
How do you brighten a room with a dark couch?
There are countless methods of brightening any room, no matter what the dark focal point is. The most effective way to balance out the darkness of a black couch is to use colorful and warm surroundings.
This may include décor, other furniture, or large surfaces such as the floor and walls. For example, a lighter area rug can temper the darkness of a black couch and help form a bridge towards bright flooring.
Colorful curtains can create a warm background for the couch, which can also soften the temperature. There are even floor-to-ceiling curtains pooling on the ground to take up more room than usual, balancing out the area.
Warm corner tables and coffee tables are common neighbors for the couch, and these can be arranged with symmetry to create a scene that feels less like an afterthought and more deliberate.
How do you brighten a dull couch?
Adorning the couch with accent pieces is the best way to brighten a couch that feels boring to you. It will also coordinate with the surrounding décor to prevent too much contrast in the area.
Throw pillows are the most common and simple accent pieces for a couch. Giving throw pillows more elaborate colors, shapes, and designs takes the minimalist feel out of black. You can read the post "Throw Pillows For Black Couch [17 Ideas with Pictures]" for some good starting points.
However, you may also use throw blankets. These operate in the same way, for both practical and stylistic purposes. A throw blanket can have any pattern or temperature and rest on the couch to break its stiff lines.
You can even use natural or artificial lighting to change the atmosphere of the room. Arranging the couch to accept more sunlight from nearby windows can potentially make a black couch less commanding.
How do you style black furniture?
While this is purely subjective, you will still have to choose between highlighting black furniture or softening its darkness. Either direction is usually achieved by manipulating the surroundings. However, it is also possible to keep two to three shades of distance between different pieces of black furniture. You can actually give warmer or cooler undertones to your black furniture.
It may also be possible to either increase or decrease how elaborate the physical design is. In fact, you can even give some wood furniture a black wood stain. This is commonly used for desks, end tables, and bookshelves, to name a few common pieces.
How can I make my black sofa look good?
This will also boil down to personal preference, but balance and consistency are always key to an effective style. The sofa should agree with its surroundings and the overall style of your home. This can also be achieved through contrast, so it is not always necessary to stop your black sofa from being a focal point in the room.
Read the post "15 Awesome Black Couch Living Room Ideas" for inspiration.
Is black furniture still in style?
Because black is neutral and will agree with all colors, black furniture will never go out of style. It is popularly used in a wide variety of interior designs. This makes black furniture more likely to trend in one way or another.
Summary
A neutral black couch offers a lot of freedom, but it also draws a lot of attention. As such, it is important to consider what colors are ideal for a nearby coffee table. Using different colors can completely transform the style, mood, and temperature of the room. You can reinforce the cool temperature and simplicity of the black couch, leaving it as a highlight. Or, you can soften its effects and create contrast.