4 min read

Affordable sofas styled to look more expensive

Interiors ideas, living room tips, how to style a sofa to make it look more expensive

If you are anything like me, the summer months are usually when your home sees the most makeovers and changes taking place. My idea is that all the bright light helps us see the problem areas in every room, from small cracks in the ceiling to the dirt on sofa covers. Which then translates into DIY and furniture purchases.

Talking about sofas, did you know it's the item that you're most likely to keep in your room for a very long time, probably because it costs so much to replace?

But does it? With most brands offering affordable credit options, buying a sofa with a unique look is more reality than a dream. In this post, I look at a popular high-street retailer and pick 5 beautiful designs from their current collection, showing you how to style them to look more expensive than they are.

1. Modern Hugge Style at Home

If Scandi is your favourite interior design style, but you cannot make up your mind between choosing a fabric or leather sofa, try this cushion-less sofa that is built for hygge with a twist: No seat or back cushions to plump up, meaning more time to relax (isn't that what hygge is about after all?).

From £33.29 a month (based on 4y interest-free credit) this costs pretty much the same as parking your car at the train station for a week. So make it a habit to instead park in a free space just 5 days a month, and this sofa could be yours free (that's girl math to you).

If you are not short of space, try a combination of a leather sofa with two fabric armchairs or the reverse. This is the best leather sofa combination I have seen.

This monochromatic look can be enhanced with abstract art, and black metal frame side tables. It does look a bit masculine though, so easier to get your other half to agree to the purchase. We think the look will also look good for years, so if you are looking for the best sofas in 2024 you might want to keep reading!

2. Townhouse Chic

Available in dark or light feet at no extra cost and with you within 21 days, the MAYA corner sofa comes in a range of colours and has a light retro touch with its curved feet. It might look small but at 216cm wide it's a proper 4 seater, however, the corner means that you should only be able to seat 3 very comfortably (and a lucky one can stretch!).

Styled in black and white as below, it can create a dramatic interior and would be perfect for a townhouse in a professional couple setting teamed with black lacquer or glass side tables.

For this look accessorize with chrome. If you have kids, obviously avoid the light colours! To see more on the townhouse chic interior style look, try this post.

Cream corner sofa MAYA DFS with chrome console table and lamp, town house look, elegant interiors black and white style

Dark grey corner sofa with geometric cushions MAYA DFS

3. Coastal look

Do you live by the sea? I so envy you!

Featuring removable dry clean covers (extra covers available at a cost) this large classic sofa would be better suited in a coastal setting. Try the sofa in Ivory and armchairs in Denim for a classic nautical white/blue look. Combine with driftwood accessories, mango side tables and classic ceramic lamps. Keep the colours light and use the same colour in different hues. Finishing touches include hurricane lamps and lots of cushions. (Hero piece: 4 seater COAST sofa).

Ideas and tips, coastal look moodboard with grey sofa loose covers nautical theme, wood side table and ceramic lamp, star pendant and denim drift paint

4. Modern country house

Living in the country does not mean you need to be all shabby chic. It probably means that you have larger rooms around your home so why not invest in a sofa that is meant for relaxing? The hero piece for this look is the Chalk sofa which has a limed oak plinth detail on the bottom, and which I think would work perfectly with a natural fibre rug.

What sets this look apart from the traditional country look is that it's less colourful. The palette is neutral throughout the scheme and there are a lot of natural materials to be used, on the floor, on furniture and with your accessories. (Hero piece: Chalk sofa, DFS)

Interior styling tips, modern countryhouse look, natural fibre tug, grey sofa, wood fire basket and wooden lamp

5. The Luxe pad look

If you have your heart set on interiors that ooze luxury, the Slate sofa could be just the thing for you. Easy to maintain with removable covers and a standard free 15-year frame & frame springs guarantee, it's going to tick off most boxes, also thanks to its wonderful piping detail. This pink colour has me swooning over it.

Combine it with rose gold or copper accessories, and colourful glass vases and style your coffee table with interior books before asking your friends over for tea.

I have combined the look with a popular Farrow & Ball combination: Brassica, Peignoir and Inchyra. I would team this sofa with a metal black coffee table (low) ideally with two tiers to allow for coffee table books to be styled on the lower tier. The navy and pink sofa is also looking like the sofa of my dreams...

Luxury interiors idea and moodboard, pink sofa with blue piping and copper accessories and side table, expensive style

Are these the best sofas in 2017?

So where do all these fabulous sofas come from? Well, you might not believe it (I do though because I have been following the brand for some time now and know well what they can produce) but all these sofas are from DFS.

DFS are a British brand and all sofas are manufactured in the UK, which is a plus!

And no, this is not a sponsored post and I am not interested in selling you anything that I wouldn't want for my own home. I think all 5 sofas are very good looking and styled accordingly can look very expensive. Which one would you pick?