Ideas for a Transitional Room With a Blue Couch

Coastal Cottage

• Your blue sofa is an ideal start to achieve the relaxed ambiance that coastal cottage decor provides. An authentic faded antique rug, or a new rug with an aged appearance, should have at least a hint of blue in it. Select a chair and throw pillows in a casual blue-and-white stripe and muted colors of sand or other tones found in your rug or draperies. Accent the room with painted white tables and porcelain lamps in simple shapes. Hang art displaying coastal themes. Accessorize with starfish and other coastal objects.

Garden Charm

• Bring the garden inside with the images and colors of flowers. Like a beautiful blue sky, your blue sofa will be at home surrounded by floral patterns in pink, rose, lavender, blues and natural greens. Mix larger patterns with small ones in chairs and throw pillows. Break up the floral patterns with a simple stripe, grid or dot pattern in the draperies or rug. Use tables that are visually light, such as those in light-colored woods with feminine shapes or glass tops. Accessorize with a basket or two.

Cool Sophistication

• Neutral tones combine with a blue sofa to form a cool color palette that is adult and urbane. Use black, ivory, cream, taupe, gray and navy in textiles and leather to create a stylish and sophisticated environment. Select chairs and throw pillows in solid colors. Use a black or taupe leather ottoman instead of a coffee table. Keep draperies simple and in a light neutral tone that does not contrast greatly with your walls. A shag or zebra-stripe rug will give your room a jazzy feel. Accessorize with silver and crystal.

Scholarly Retreat

• Create a more serious or more masculine room by surrounding a blue sofa with brown leather and dark wood tones. Give the room a library feel with attractive hard-bound books in a handsome bookcase. Choose a rug and draperies containing burgundy, brown, gold and blue. Select metal or stone lamps in classic shapes and dark colors to complement the leathers and textiles in the room. Include a floor lamp and an ottoman to accompany a leather reading chair.

Tropical Getaway

• The contrast of orange, coral and yellow against blue is the basis for a room reminiscent of the tropics. Choose patterns for throw pillows that have tropical themes. Combine bamboo shades with brightly colored draperies. Chairs and tables made of rattan or wicker add more tropical flavor. Include live tropical plants in colorful ceramic pots. A natural fiber rug in sisal, seagrass or jute works to give a hard floor a tropical feel. Choose a bamboo rug for placement over carpet.