Grey sofas are an incredibly popular choice for many people. Not only do they look elegant, timeless and sophisticated, they also come in many different shades. Plus, a grey sofa is a great option for houses with pets or young children because any spillages and crumbs are less noticeable.
The biggest benefit is that a grey sofa is a completely blank canvas, so you can express your personality through cushions and throws. When it comes to choosing what colour cushions go with a grey sofa, you have plenty of options. It will pair well with most shades of pink, red, green, blue, yellow and purple, as well as many more.
Stay away from grey cushions as too much of the same colour can make the sofa feel flat and dull. Read on to find some of our favourite cushion colour combinations with a grey sofa.
Brighten a grey sofa with bold colours
Brightly coloured cushions bring playfulness to rooms with plenty of subdued colours and a grey sofa. The best part is that this look couldn’t be easier to achieve. From reds and blues to yellows and greens, most bright colours will work with your grey sofa. Simply choose a combination of colours that speaks to your style and that go well together.
Mix and match in different sizes and colour but keep the cushion texture the same to create a cohesive display. Adding in more texture as well as different sizes and colours could lead to quite a chaotic look.
Calming Grey Sofa With Beige Cushions
If your living room is the place you go to unwind, relax and be tranquil, you might want to keep the colours fairly pared back. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your design. Decorating your grey sofa with natural-coloured cushions will lend an air of calm and sophistication to your living room.
Bring in pattern and texture to add more depth to the cushions and your grey sofa will look great. We suggest looking for cushions in natural materials like linen and cotton.
Blue Cushions With a Grey Sofa
Blue is one of the colour cushions that goes incredibly well with a grey sofa. It’s a pairing that can look incredibly sleek and put together when done right.
In this example the cushion features hints of blue in the pattern which is a great way to tie blue into the room without going overboard. However, if you’re after a bolder look then you could choose a pattern with more blue in it or even a block colour.
If you’re creating a cluster on your grey sofa then we suggest choosing different shades of blue for each cushion. This will make it look more refined and elegant.
Grey Sofas With Jewel-Toned Cushions
If you’re looking to elevate your grey sofa and lend it a more luxurious aesthetic, why not accessorise with jewel-toned cushions? That means colours like amethyst, emerald, ruby and sapphire. These bold, beautiful colours will bring warmth and comfort to your sofa, whatever shade of grey it is.
Using jewel-toned cushions is also a great way to bring colour to your space without painting walls or investing in new furniture. Despite being particularly on trend at the moment, jewel colours are incredibly timeless hues, meaning they’ll have a place in your home for years to come. For an even more opulent look, use materials like velvet, fur and silk in jewel tones.
These materials have been celebrated as premium fabrics for centuries and it’s still the case today. If your sofa has finely textured upholstery, then these premium fabrics are perfect for your cushions. Mix and match using both colour and texture to give your sofa a luxurious depth.
Yellow cushions on a grey sofa
A grey sofa can feel quite overwhelming in a darker or more shaded room. Pairing your grey sofa with yellow cushions is a great way to brighten it up. This works particularly well if your cushion has some sort of pattern or texture to it. Too many block colours and fabrics in the same weave can make the scheme feel a bit flat and boring.
Yellow also works well with blue tones. So, if you want to create a cluster of pillows in different colours then yellow and blue makes a great choice. If natural hues are more your jam, then opt for light yellow cushions instead. The beauty of a grey sofa is that most shades of yellow will go well with it. Looking for some new cushions for your grey sofa?
Check out our collection of premium cushions.
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Tips & advice
For centuries marble has been a key feature in opulent interiors. Not only does marble create a sense of grandeur, it’s also incredibly practical and durable. So, it’s no wonder that you may want to decorate your home with marble.
Our curated article shows you how to incorporate the must-have material into your design scheme.
Make marble the centrepiece
Choosing marble for a dining table, kitchen worktop or floor is a great way to make a statement with the material. It brings a timeless elegance to a room and can make it feel incredibly luxurious when used correctly. Marble’s durable nature makes it a worthwhile investment for everyday family life.
In many Italian homes, locally sourced white Carrara features prominently on worktops, counters and coffee tables. That’s because it’s a robust, durable material that stays cool and will look beautiful for years to come. This dining table has a curved white marble table to come.
This dining table has a curved white marble tabletop that looks elegant in both modern and traditional rooms. Paired here with dark wooden floors and furniture, it brings a little more light and texture to the space. By keeping the accessories within the same colour scheme, the marble is encouraged to take centre stage as the star of the show.
Make light use of marble
Unlike other more brittle types of stone, marble can be carved very thinly while keeping a solid shape. Lighting designers have taken advantage of these natural properties and use marble to create decorative diffusions of light. Arrange a series of marble pendant lights in a cluster to make a statement or choose a marble lamp base for a more subtle infusion.
Marble is also often used to bring a more polished edge to rustic or industrial interiors. Here, Tom Dixon’s Stone Pendant Light brings opulence and warmth to a concrete interior. Paired with polished brass accents, the light elevates the room even more.
Invest in key marble pieces
Let’s face it, decorating your home with solid marble furniture, walls or surfaces can be a big investment. If you want to inject a luxurious marble aesthetic into your home without breaking the bank, we suggest investing in some key pieces.
Marble has been ‘on trend’ for decades, so you can rest assured that your investment furniture won’t go out of style anytime soon. Marble coffee tables are a great option because they stand out as an elegant centrepiece in the living room.
Whilst this table’s modern form wouldn’t look out of place in a cutting-edge, minimalist scheme, it works just as well in a homely sitting room. Pair it with some modern soft furnishings, colourful accessories and it will lend an added depth to your room.
Pair marble with woods
In a room dominated by wood, you might be at a loss for what materials to pair it with. Luckily, marble could be the answer. Marble’s natural veined pattern adds an elegant contrast to a room setting dominated by solid woods.
Where wood can offer a more rustic, traditional appeal, the addition of marble balances it out and brings a sophisticated, polished edge. White marble and walnut make a particularly sophisticated combination, however light woods also compliment the natural material.
If you’re looking to make a real statement, we suggest considering a darker marble with dark wood. The result can be incredibly striking.
Marble also looks stunning when accenting a piece of wooden furniture. This white marble and walnut console table exudes sophistication and elegance. Plus, it cleverly pulls together the white walls and dark herringbone floors.
Accessorise with marble
If you’re looking for a more subtle injection of marble into your interior design scheme, marble accessories could be the answer. From trays and coasters to bowls and vases, marble accessories will bring that luxurious edge into your space without breaking the bank.
Marble is also a great choice when used for serving dishes and offers many years’ service compared to wooden chopping and charcuterie boards. Seduced by its functionality and style, more and more designers are returning to marble to create accessories. They’re carving the ancient material into contemporary shapes and introducing modern solutions.
For example, Vitra’s L’Oiseau shown here. This special edition accessory was reimagined in marble and brings a luxurious edge to Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s charming design.
Check out our collection of furniture to find the perfect marble design for your home.
Creating a bedroom that encourages good sleep and mindful practices is a great way to start every day right. Instead of hitting the snooze button over and over again, a well-styled bedroom will help feel ready for the day.
It’s surprisingly easy to transform your bedroom into a more mindful space. So, here are some of our top tips.
Natural textures
One of the best things you can do to create a calming, mindful bedroom is to invest in natural bed linen. So, that means choosing materials like cotton and linen instead of synthetic fabrics. That’s because materials like polyester and acrylic can be scratchy, unbreathable and lead to poor sleep.
Plenty of bed linen is made using these synthetic fabrics, so always check the label before buying. In contrast, natural materials like linen and cotton can seriously enhance your slumber. They’re both breathable, sumptuously soft and better for the planet.
Bringing more of these natural materials into your bedroom will help create a mindful ambience. Plus, they look as good as they feel. At winter, we suggest layering up with a toasty quilted bedspread layered on top of your cotton bed linen.
And you needn’t stop at your bedding either. Use natural textures and materials in your rugs, curtains and upholstery for a truly comforting bedroom.
Calming colours
The right colour can make or break a bedroom, you’ll want it to feel calm, revitalising and atmospheric. When choosing colours for your mindful bedroom we suggest sticking to muted, warm tones and avoiding bright hues like red or gloomy dark greys and browns.
Our personal favourite bedroom colour is blue, and there’s serious science behind why it’s a great choice. In fact, the brain can recognise more shades of blue than any other colour. Plus, when the brain senses blue, it isn’t stimulated by it, encouraging it to create more sleepy hormones. Bring shades of blue into your room through the curtains, accent chairs, rugs and bed linen.
Toned-down shades of green and yellow also make brilliant calming bedroom colours. However, if bright colours are your thing and you feel comfortable nodding off surrounded by them, then keep it bold. If it works, it works.
A natural flourish
Bring the outdoors in by adding some specially chosen house plants to your bedroom. In the same way that forest bathing helps to calm and reenergise the mind, adding plants to your bedroom will help create a mindful, calming ambience. Plus, plants look great and will add an extra design flourish to your bedroom.
One of the biggest benefits of having plants in your bedroom is that they help to purify the air. That means they pull toxins from the air, trap them and release oxygen, helping you to have a mindful rest. But remember, not all plants are known for air purifying, so choose carefully.
Warm lighting
The right lighting will do wonders for creating a mindful bedroom. After all, the last thing you need before nodding off is a harsh white light in your eyes. Atmospheric, warming lighting will help create a relaxing, inviting bedroom. Luckily this is an easy fix. Light bulbs come in warm and white hues. So, simply switch your white bulbs out for warm ones and your bedroom will feel more relaxing instantly.
Or, if you’re currently redesigning your home, now might be the right time to ask the electrician for dimmer switches. Dimmer switches mean you can control the ambience of the room without changing bulbs. So, they’re perfect for all occasions.
If you’re looking for a grander solution than new light bulbs but something easier than dimmer switches, then new lighting may be in order. When choosing your lighting, opt for shades made using frosted glass. These will diffuse the light and create a more subtle glow, perfect for bedtime.
No mobiles before bed
If you’re investing in warm lighting and comfortable bedding, then you’re on track to create a truly mindful bedroom. However, an hour spent scrolling on your phone in bed could undo all your good work. Not only will their bright blue light trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime, but the constant stimulation will keep you wide awake. We recommend turning your bedroom into a no phone zone.
This could mean the whole room, or it could mean leaving your phone on the opposite side of the bedroom to avoid temptation. Avoiding television in the run up to bedtime will also help to improve your sleep and help you drift off faster.
Avoid clutter
Looking to sleep better and wake up feeling mindful? Then a tidy, clutter-free room should set you on the right path. In fact, studies have shown that it takes people with messier bedrooms longer to fall asleep. This means tiredness the following day and less energy to tidy up too. So, ditch the chair that’s piled high with clothes, pick your socks off the floor and neaten up that bedside table.
A great way to achieve a tidy bedroom this is through hidden storage. Whether that’s an ottoman bed with storage space underneath, shelves with opaque doors or cleverly designed wardrobes. Together, these innovative storage solutions will help you create a clutter-free, mindful bedroom. Want to create your own mindful bedroom?
Check out our Bedroom edit.
Sofas and carpets are both big investments, so you’ll want to get them just right. Luckily, one of the best things about having a grey sofa is that it’s versatile. That means it will look great alongside most colour carpets or flooring.
Plus, you can switch it up with accessories whenever you fancy. But with so many carpets out there and sofa upholstery in countless shades of grey, it can all seem a bit overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve whittled down the options to highlight the best colour carpets to go with a grey sofa.
Grey sofas go with neutral carpets
For an understated and versatile living room design, we suggest pairing your grey sofa with a beige carpet. Neutral beige, cream and off-white tones will match the tone of your grey sofa perfectly and creates the perfect base for a versatile room.
On the surface, a neutral carpet and a minimalist grey sofa can seem a bit bland. However, they are both costly investments and you don’t want to choose something you’ll hate in a year. Luckily that’s where accessories come in handy. You can bring pops of colour to your room through cushions, throws, decorative accessories and accent chairs.
So, having a minimalist carpet needn’t make your living space a colour-free space. Having a neutral carpet is also a great tip for smaller living spaces. That’s because lighter tones like beige or cream help to brighten your room and make it seem bigger. So, if you’re worried a grey sofa will darken your compact living room, perhaps consider a cream or beige carpet.
Grey sofas go with wooden floors and an accent rug
Not strictly a carpet, but still a floor covering worth considering, wooden floors complement grey sofas perfectly. They help to bring warmth and timeless style to most rooms and can stop the grey feeling too dull.
For a little more comfort underfoot, add a rug to the living space. Not only will a rug keep your toes warm on cooler nights, but it also helps to pull the room together. Pair it perfectly by choosing a rug with tones of grey that tie it back to your sofa.
An accent colour like blue, pink or green running through it will help to create a truly premium room design. Plus, a rug is far easier to switch up than a carpet. So, there’s no need to redo the entire floor if you fancy a change in a few years’ time.
Grey sofas go with grey carpets
Pairing a grey sofa with a grey carpet might feel like a bit of an overload, but it works surprisingly well. For example, if the room has a striking view, then keeping the sofa and carpet grey will help direct the gaze towards it. Even without a view, a grey sofa and carpet is a timeless combination.
The key thing to remember is to mix up the tones of grey as well as the textures. For example, you could pair your dark grey sofa with a light grey carpet. Or you could choose a deeper grey sofa and a concrete-coloured carpet. This helps to create a slight contrast and breaks up the grey.
When it comes to textures, we suggest finding a carpet with a different texture to the sofa. For example, a carpet with a chunkier texture will look best with a sofa with tight, clean weave.
If you are pairing a grey sofa with a carpet in a similar colour, then accessories will come in useful again. Introduce tones of green and blue to the space to give it more depth, whilst staying true to your grey colour scheme.
Grey sofas go with pink carpets
Pink and grey are a dream duo in many respects and look great together in a living room. In fact, we’re obsessed with this grey sofa and pink carpet combination. Investing in a pink carpet may be a bold choice for some people, but natural blush colours are surprisingly versatile. Pink goes well with many shades of grey, green and blue, so you can really get creative with it.
Instead of matching all your accessories to the carpet, choosing different hues of pink will look more premium. That means choosing throws, cushions and lampshades in different shades of pink and ideally different textures.
Looking for a grey sofa? Discover our premium grey sofas here.
Moving home, restyling your space or simply looking to invest in a new design piece are all reasons you might be looking to buy a new sofa. Read on if you’re looking to upgrade your sofa, are worried about its structural integrity or just can’t tell if you need a new one.
Plus, discover some of the ways you can recycle your old sofa. How Long Should a Sofa Last? There’s no hard and fast rule with how long a sofa should last, but a well-made sofa will typically last at least 15 years. You may notice the sofa deteriorating after it passes the seven-year mark, but it still has plenty of good years left in it.
That isn’t to say all sofas will last this amount of time. A cheaply made sofa will probably need replacing sooner, whereas a premium sofa could last a lifetime. In fact, we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our sofa frames, that’s how confident we are in their quality.
How to Tell If You Need a New Sofa A creaking frame, tired upholstery and long-gone support will all have you hunting for a new sofa. However, there are plenty more reasons you might be looking for a replacement. Read on to discover some of them.
If your sofa doesn’t fit your home properly
When people move home, they tend to take their sofas with them. After all, the sofa was probably an investment, it suits their style and there’s plenty of memories associated with it. But for all the same reasons, many people cling onto their old sofa, even when it isn’t right for their space. Perhaps the old sofa is too large for your new living room.
Or a growing family could mean you need an even larger sofa. Maybe your old sofa is so deep it leaves little space to walk past it. Or perhaps you found yourself with one-too-many sofas and it’s time to whittle down your collection. Whatever the reason, if your old sofa isn’t cutting the mustard then it may be time to invest in a new one.
If your sofa doesn’t offer enough support
When you bought your sofa, it was probably ergonomically designed and offered brilliant padding and support. However, this tends to get worse over the years and can make your sofa uncomfortable. Not only is this bad for your body and posture, but a supportless sofa also makes for unpleasant sitting. If this is the case with your sofa, you might need a new one.
If you still like your sofa and its upholstery is in good condition, then you could always get it restuffed. Going to a specialist upholsterer is by far the best way to do this. Not only do they know their craft, but they’ll also know the best materials to use. You can always try refilling it yourself if your sofa has removable covers, but we’d definitely suggest finding a specialist.
If your interior design tastes have changed
Trends and tastes change over time, so it’s no wonder your sofa might feel outdated now. Perhaps it’s got a huge floral pattern that was fashionable in the 80s but not today. Or maybe you opted for a colour that was ‘in’ ten years ago that you can’t stand in 2021.
Either way, if you really don’t like your old sofa anymore, it’s probably time for a new one. When choosing your next sofa, we recommend taking your time to find one that you know you’ll love for years. Once you’ve found the perfect sofa, you could even sleep on the idea for a week or so, just to be sure.
Don’t just take your old sofa to the skip, there are plenty of second-hand shops or resale websites where it can find a new home. Just because it isn’t to your taste, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.
If your sofa’s upholstery has seen better days
If your upholstery is looking a little worse for wear, that suggests you may need a new sofa. Sofas go through a lot; from kids bouncing on it to years and years of pets snuggling up with you. Repairing the odd fray or repadding it can help in the short term, but both could be signs your upholstery is on the way out. And potentially your sofa with it.
If you still love the silhouette and style of your sofa, then reupholstering it is a great option. We’d highly recommend enlisting the services of a specialist reupholstery company to take on the task. Sure, you can give it a go yourself, but since upholstery fabric can get quite pricey, any mistake you make could be pretty pricey.
Once you’ve invested in a new sofa or reupholstering your existing sofa, there are ways to keep it looking as good as new. For example, direct sunlight can fade your sofa’s upholstery and weaken the fabric’s structure. One way to prevent this is to move the sofa to a new position every year or so.
This helps to make sure the sofa gets an even amounts of sunlight. Spillages are also big concerns for upholstery. To prevent staining, spot clean each spillage as soon as possible. Then, a professional upholstery cleaning every few years will keep the sofa in good nick and help with any odours.
If your sofa won’t stop creaking
If you sit down on your sofa and hear it creaking or making popping noises, its structure might be damaged. If possible, take a look under the sofa to check everything looks ok. Or you could enlist the services of a furniture specialist to offer their professional opinion.
Unfortunately fixing a sofa’s structural damage can be a costly process so a new sofa might be on the cards. If you have a new sofa that’s already creaking, don’t panic. New furniture will often creak or squeak to begin with. That’s because it’s adjusting to use, the room’s temperature and the sofa’s suspension system. It should subside in a few weeks or so. Investing in a new sofa?
Check out our collection.
Need help removing your old sofa? We can help, in partnership with Clearabee and British Heart Foundation.
We eat with our eyes as well as our stomachs. So, make this Christmas bigger and better than ever with a beautifully decorated festive table. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party or a feast for the whole family, there are plenty of ways to personalise your Christmas dining table.
We’ve compiled some of our best Christmas table designs to help inspire you, from statement centrepieces to thoughtful place settings. So, read on to discover how to style your table for Christmas the Heal’s way.
Scandinavian Christmas Table
Minimalist, neutral and classic, a Scandinavian Christmas table design will bring a new level of warmth to your home. For the tablecloth, opt for a natural material like linen or cotton in neutral cream, ecru or beige colours.
Illuminate the table with candlesticks in similar hues and varying heights, or weave fairy lights throughout the table. The centrepiece should be relaxed and informal, made using natural materials. We’ve chosen to use fruit and candles, but you could use sprigs of pine or eucalyptus too.
You can bring depth to the table design by introducing metallic splashes throughout. We’ve brought in elements of gold through the baubles and cutlery, but you could achieve the same look using napkins, candlestick holders or platters.
Don’t worry, you can still achieve this look if your existing crockery is a different shade to white or cream. You could pick accessories in the same colour as your plates but in a different shade. For example, navy blue plates with a grey-blue tablecloth.
Or, you could simply let your plates that stand out from the natural design, it will still look great. If you do choose to invest in new dinnerware, then natural colours and organic shapes will bring you a Scandinavian aesthetic all year long.
Opulent Christmas Table Setting
For a more intimate, cosy Christmas table design, how about taking inspiration from this opulent set up? With plenty of texture, different materials and glistening glass, this Christmas table is perfect for hosting.
To achieve this Christmas look, accessories are key. Think statement tall candlesticks, plum-hued napkins and timeless Georg Jensen silverware. Using seasonal thistles as foliage lends a unique touch to this table-scape. Plus, the flowers tie in perfectly with the splashes of purple throughout the design.
The addition of dainty fairy lights will bring an added sparkle to the table. Plus, they reflect beautifully off glass and silver, making sure the whole table glitters.
You could even arrange individually wrapped chocolate throughout the table for guests to nibble on, just like we’ve done here. There are plenty of coloured wrappers around so you can find chocolates that look and taste great. The best thing about this design is that it’s versatile and you don’t need to buy everything new.
Is purple not really your colour? Then not to worry, switch it out for navy, red or green hues. Already got a house full of gold accessories? Then swap the silver for gold. Everything down to the cutlery can be chosen based on your tastes and used time and time again, not just at Christmas.
Welcome the outside in
This timeless table scheme is perfect for all winter long, not just Christmas Day. It’s warm and inviting but is versatile enough that each decoration can be used time and time again. It’s relatively easy to recreate this look at home. You don’t need to invest in any new table linen, this relaxed aesthetic encourages you to serve directly on your table.
Of course, you can use placemats or a tablecloth if you prefer to protect the wood. You may already have some minimalist white dinnerware in your cupboards and they’re perfect for this Christmas table setting. Then you can inject colour with serving plates or bowls as well as candles.
In this design, the sculptural Georg Jensen candlesticks create an elegant centrepiece in the middle of the table. Plus, they tie in beautifully with the coordinating pitcher. Draping sheepskin throws or cushions on your chairs will make the space feel even more inviting. Plus, it’s that little more festive.
For many people, crackers can make or break a Christmas table scheme. They aren’t always as chic as your design, and it can be tricky to find the perfect colour. The great thing about this table scheme is that you could choose any colour cracker and it will still look great.
We went for dark green here, but you could pick red, blue or even eco-friendly kraft. Prioritising plastic-free crackers made using recyclable materials is a great choice for the planet and your natural Christmas table set up.
Make it Metallic Christmas Table
Go big or go home, right? We think so. This Christmas table inspiration shines brighter than the Star of Bethlehem. Bringing in accents of gold wherever possible, you can really transform your home into a festive beacon. We love the metallic gold fans suspended from the ceiling in this look. They really make a statement even from afar and are perfect for larger rooms. The gold then follows the table design through to the cutlery, candlestick holder and glassware.
Bringing in splashes of red lends a more traditional note to this table design, as well as a touch of opulence. Plus, the natural tones of the candles make sure the table design doesn’t become too garish.
If gold and red aren’t your colours, then this look could also be achieved using silver accessories. Or you could transform it completely using a kaleidoscope of metallic colours. The world’s your oyster.
We also love gifting playful baubles and decorations as favours on our Christmas table settings. Simply place a charming bauble on each place setting for your guests to take home and decorate their own trees with. If you love your decorations too much to give away, then you can still use them to decorate your table.
For more table inspiration, check out our carefully curated Christmas collection.
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