Okay, y’all. Yesterday I did a thing. After years of thinking about it and weighing my options, I finally ordered a white slipcovered couch for the living room.
UPDATE! See the couch I chose and FAQ here.
Why was buying a couch so nerve-wracking? I tend to overthink big purchases and all the design choices that come with them. For a while I’ve wanted to settle the living room more intentionally, and the sofa has felt like the final piece holding everything back.
Over the holidays we moved the downstairs sectional (a dark gray chaise sofa) upstairs. It kept us cozy all winter, but it was never meant to be permanent. We still own a beloved leather loveseat that I adore, and I may keep using it in the living room, but it’s smaller than what we need if it were to serve as the sole couch.
The things that slowed me down were the cost, fabric and design choices, and how the pieces would be placed in the room. So many good options can make it hard to pick one. Ironically, I’m co-writing a design Q&A book titled But Where Do I Put The Couch?—I could have used a few quick pointers from it while deciding.
Bamboo Shades
Despite the indecision, the couch is officially ordered and will arrive sometime in August. Once I moved past the stress of committing, I felt so excited. When faced with many good choices, you simply choose one and trust it will come together.
You may remember my past thoughts on white slipcovered sofas. I’ve loved them before, but they’re not for every household. When my kids were little we bought a white slipcovered sofa secondhand and it lasted through a lot—children, pets, and everyday life. Eventually the dogs wore it out and we replaced it with a leather loveseat, but I’ve missed the relaxed look and flexibility a slipcover offers.
All things considered, that previous white sofa served us well, and I’m ready for another. This time I chose a slightly different shape but the same laid-back simplicity that makes rooms feel inviting.
I selected the new sofa in a soft white denim fabric—the same fabric I had on my previous slipcovered couch. It was tempting to try a different material because there are many attractive options, including performance fabrics, but the white denim proved to be durable, pretty, and easy to wash. It strikes a good balance: not delicate, yet soft and visually appealing.
UPDATE*** The couch arrived, see it in our living room here!
I tried the sofa in store and found it very comfortable. The deep seat will be lovely for curling up, which is exactly how we plan to use it. The regular depth would have worked too, but the fabric options differed, so I chose the deeper model for comfort.
I’m sharing this in case you’re hesitating about ordering a new couch—sometimes the hardest part is just deciding and placing the order. Below is a mockup of the sofa in white. Choosing the familiar white denim felt right for our lifestyle and aesthetic.
If you’re curious about specifics from my order: I chose a York slope arm, deep seat slipcovered sofa with a bench cushion, 80 inches long, in Warm White Denim. Lots of choices, but worth it.
Do you also struggle with furniture decisions, or is it just me?
Sources:
Top image: Rug
Third image: knit rug
Top and third image: Woven and bamboo window shades
York Sofa
UPDATE*** The couch arrived, see it in our living room here!