Mixing & Matching Leather Furniture

A friend of mine recently posed this question and I thought it was a great one…  What do you do when you already have a good quality leather sofa but you want to add more leather to the room? Does it have to be the same color or can you successfully mix different shades of hide within the same space, along with other textiles and wood tones?

Genuine leather is one of the most durable and classic materials around. It holds up well to kids and pets. It’s comfortably soft, even after years of wear. There’s a reason why men everywhere have hesitated to part with their leather recliners and why the women in their lives have had to wait years and years for one to finally give out. Here’s my advice if you’re thinking of mixing & matching different leathers.

First of all, the shape of the chair or sofa is important to note. If your existing piece leans more traditional, with rolled arms and nail head trim, then you’ll want to keep that somewhat consistent as you purchase something new to go alongside. It doesn’t need to be the exact same style but should definitely have one or two features that are similar.

As with upholstery fabrics, the hue should be chosen carefully. My personal preference is typically to stay with any shade that you’d naturally see on a cow. I’m afraid that rules out primary colors, making an exception for only the most stunning creations in just the right home. Some people will disagree with me and that’s ok! Let’s be honest, those who love brightly dyed leathers are clearly more fun and vibrant than myself. However, it would take a specific type of project for me to design a room around a leather sofa in red, yellow or blue and I would usually prefer to save those shades for purses or books.

Even at that, the natural shades don’t always mix well on their own. My dear friend was wise to remember the other textiles and wood tones that help create the look she’s truly after. Leather is made to feel particularly stylish and cozy by the colors and textures that surround it and it’s important to use multiple layers to truly pull a room together.

Here are some design boards and images that I hope will inspire her and anyone else who’s pondering the same issue.

Thanks for reading!

If you’re planning a residential project in middle TN and would like some design guidance, please reach out! I’d be honored to serve you.