6 Couch Styles That Are So Outdated, According to Designers

Your living room is more than just a couch, of course, but it’s often the star of the show. This usually explains why a new paint color or a throw pillow upgrade doesn’t always fix a room that’s feeling dated.

It often comes down to outdated couch styles, which command all the attention and put a damper on your beautiful living space.

We asked two interior designers what to avoid and what better couch styles exist for elevating your living room—and keeping it that way.

Bulky Recliners

It’s perfectly possible to strike a balance between style and comfort, and ultra-puffy and inflated cushions aren’t necessarily part of that. This means that the bulky couches of yesteryear don’t quite align with the modern look many people like today.

“Modern homeowners prefer recliners and sectional couches with slim profiles that still provide comfort,” says principal interior designer Artem Kropovinsky.

There are plenty of comfortable couches out that that are a better style fit for the living rooms of today. Think about the viral cloud couch and sleek modular couches.

Chesterfield Sofas

You can blame the smattering of tufted buttons, rolled arms, and rigid shape for making Chesterfield couches (and their imitators) feel outdated.

“Instead, it’s better to choose a modern sofa which will be soft and not so rough in design,” says principal interior designer Evelina Juzėnaitė. “And, of course, without buttons it is simple in shape.”

This makes your couch easier to implement in your space and it’ll better shift with the room around it as time goes on. Kropovinsky also recommends trying a more modern, curved sofa.

Brown and Beige Microfiber Sofas

Brown is having its moment in interiors, but it depends how you render it. Brown and beige microfiber couches feel fit for the 2000s, but their propensity to show wear and tear doesn’t make them a top choice for today.

“The fabric deteriorates unevenly,” Kropovinsky explains. “Bouclé, linen, and velvet fabrics replace microfiber to give rooms an upscale appeal with their long-term durable characteristics.”

Overly Ornate Couches

Like the Chesterfield, Juzėnaitė explains that overly ornate sofas can present your living room with the same problem; they once pointed to luxury, but now look overwhelming and busy, leading to a stale-feeling space.

“Alternatively, you can choose other modern luxury sofas,” she says. “They’re more modern, more comfortable, and more beautiful. They also go well with modern interiors of this century.”

Identical Couch and Loveseat Sets

Matchy-matchy furniture sets were once the norm, but they now could be the reason why your living room feels a little stuffy. There’s nothing wrong with color coordination, but there are other ways to pull a room together.

“Homeowners previously used these sets for unified look but now they appear too standardized and unexciting,” says Kropovinsky. “Combining various furniture items including an eye-catching sofa with special accent chairs generates a thoughtfully arranged and alive living area.”

Textured and Patterned Sofas

Statement pieces can quickly produce an aesthetically-pleasing living room, but it’s probably best to avoid bringing in the most maximal details through a couch.

“Choose a sofa of a singular color and without patterns,” Juzėnaitė suggests. “Sofas in one color without textures and patterns is the best solution.”

Even if you love a pop of color, choose one jewel-toned or pastel shade for your couch, as opposed to several.