Rules for Decorating a Room With Leather Furniture

Work With Your Leather Color

• Today, leather comes in many colors besides the classic black. Rich brown leather, vivid reds, corals, shades of yellow and creamy ivories are just a few of the colors you can choose for your leather-decorated room. Dark leather furniture has a distinctively masculine feel to it, so try lightening the mood with a soft but substantial color for walls, draperies and other items. A rich blue-gray can be a good accompaniment for a dark leather sofa and chair, recommends the Apartment Therapy website. Pair this color with creamy carpeting for an expensive yet inviting look. Lighter-colored leathers need some muting with softer colors like butter yellow, cream colors or soft blues and greens.

Add Accent Colors

• With dark leathers, add other lighter-colored items to give the room some color relief. For lighter leathers, use patterns that contain the leather color in some small way. Use neutral shades for carpeting, draperies and other furnishings to give the room balance. Allow the leather furniture to be the centerpiece of the room, adding elements that complement it.

Space Pieces Carefully

• Spread out leather furniture to keep from overwhelming the area with its heavy, masculine look, recommends the InteriorDecoratingColors website. If you have purchased an entire leather set, add in pieces with a lighter look and feel, such as wicker arm chairs or accent tables. This placement adds more lightness and texture to the room.

Balance With Accessories

• Add a small additional leather piece to repeat the texture of the leather sofa. A small dining chair or wall decoration can highlight the furniture and yet give variation in form. Use other accessories in natural materials to enhance the look of the leather. A cotton throw, bamboo blinds and terra-cotta pots set around the room will give the room a crafted, outdoorsy look.

Be Innovative

• Because you have a dark leather sofa doesn't mean you can't have a leather armchair in a lighter color. Experiment with fabrics and colors to find new looks. Leather is so basic a material that it makes a good background for many color palettes. It can enhance the look of sheer curtains and frilly fabrics. Try adding modern prints for a more updated, trendy look.