A cream-colored sofa is a versatile starting point for decorating a room. Because cream is a neutral, any combination of color works well with it. First, decide which room to place the sofa. A living room will require different colors and accessories compared to a study or bedroom. Once you have the room, you are ready to decide on whether to use neutrals to blend or color for contrast.
Entertaining or Retreat
Rooms for social gatherings and entertaining should be warm, inviting and even energetic. Your palette of colors needs to include warm shades, such as red, orange or yellow. Offices are for study and work; bedrooms are for sleep and rest. Cool colors, such as blue and green, help create calmness and tranquility for needed concentration and repose. The color choices may add accent to the room or play a major role in your overall decorating scheme.
Neutrals
Working with neutrals -- such as cream, beige, tan, white, brown and gray -- gives interest, sophistication and spaciousness to your room. Create a backdrop for the cream-colored sofa with walls painted a shade darker. Add texture with wooden end tables, a wicker chair or even a white shag rug. Place artwork on the walls in shades of gray. Frame the art in black for added contrast. Place a tan or brown blanket on the couch along with pillows in neutral shades with a touch of color such as orange, red or blue for added punch. Add some plants on a stand or on the floor to complete the look and help your sofa blend into the decor.
Color
If you want your cream-colored couch to stand out, add color either on the walls or with lots of accent pieces. Complementary colors are especially pleasing and dynamic when combined. A blue wall and orange pillows will help bring attention to your sofa. Complementary colors add balance to a room, as well. Check out the color wheel and consider adding yellow and purple, red and green or blue and orange. Add the colors through paint, artwork, pillows, throws, other furniture and even flowers.
Considerations
If your couch is in a room for entertaining, you will want more seating. Don't try to match the cream. Consider chairs or loveseats that are bold, such as gold or even red. The same is true in your bedroom or study. A dark desk is a nice contrast for the couch. A colorful comforter on the bed will punctuate the cream sofa.
Another approach to decorating the room is to pull colors out of your area rug and artwork. Add the colors with pillows, blankets, vases and even book bindings.
Cream-colored couches allow you flexibility. Because cream is a neutral shade, you are free to explore a wide range of colors to paint the walls and trim. First, you'll want to consider the room's function. If you use the room for socializing, plan a warm and inviting decor. If it's a bedroom or study, a calming effect is the way to go.
Function and Mood
Couches are not always just for living rooms -- some use them in bedrooms and offices. If your cream-colored couches are in your living room, you probably use the room for family gatherings and socializing. You can help the room exude warmth by choosing neutral paint tones, such as brown, beige and grays with yellow undertones or hues. You can also energize the room with warm colors, such as orange, red or yellow. If the room functions as a sleeping area or study area, lean toward cool wall colors, such as blue, green and gray with blue undertones or hues.
Focal Point
Because cream-colored couches come in so many styles, you may want your traditional, modern, transitional, country or contemporary couches to emphasize your home's decor. If you want your couches to be the focal point of the room, choose a saturated wall color as a contrast to the couches. Red is energetic, but too much can be overpowering. Consider using it on one wall and place the couches near that wall; then paint the other walls a more neutral shade. Orange is warm and vibrant. It's a great color for the living room and will make cream-colored couches stand out. In a study or bedroom, opt for blues and greens to showcase the couches.
Working With Neutrals
Your cream-colored couches will stand out against gray walls. Gray can be a warm or cool neutral, so it works well in a living room, office or bedroom. Paint the woodwork white or cream for contrast. Dark brown walls create a dramatic look -- which is enlivening for a living room. Beige or sand-colored walls will cause the couches to blend more with the area and not stand out as much as the gray or brown neutrals. Painting the walls a shade or two darker than the couches creates color harmony and softness.
Considerations
Before choosing a color for your walls and trim, consider the floors. Wood floors can be honey-colored, cherry or ebony. Choose a paint color that relates to the floor color. When you're trying to decide on a color, hold the paint samples close to the floor. Color can expand or contract a room. Warm colors expand a room and cool colors contract the room. Darker shades of a color will create a cozier effect, and lighter shades will create a spacious look.