The Sex and the City Reboot Proves That Patterned Sofas Are Chic, Not Scary

The standard approach to buying a sofa is to opt for neutral upholstery and add in color or pattern with smaller (read: less expensive) accessories. A gray sofa piled with gingham throw pillows, a leather love seat in front of floral wallpaper—anchor with a safe solid, sprinkle in the fun sparingly. However, it’s no surprise that Charlotte, of the famed Sex and the City foursome, would take a calculated design risk. In episode four of the HBO Max reboot And Just Like That…, we get a further glimpse into her Park Avenue living room and the unapologetically pink floral sofa that lives there. 

It was love at first sight for set decorator Carol Silverman. Says Sarah Nicholas Williams, founder of Radish Moon: “Carol found my fabric in the John Rosselli showroom and reached out immediately.” Rather than sticking with a traditional tufted three-seater, Silverman chose to cover a slouchier model in Parrot Tulip by the textile brand. The hand-illustrated stripes and buds mirror Charlotte’s bubbly yet always composed personality, don’t you think?

Using a bold print on such a large piece can be daunting, but it’s all about balance and scale. Read on for three tricks for peak print coordination. 

A Little Goes a Long Way

If the look seems like a big leap, take a cue from artist Malene Barnett’s Brooklyn brownstone and only use patterned fabric on the back cushion of the sofa. In colors pulled from the room’s artwork, the element feel like a complement rather than a singular statement. 

Leopard Is a Neutral

For years magazines have preached that animal prints should be considered neutrals, and fashion designer Autumn Adeigbo’s leopard sectional is all the proof you need. By using a grayscale palette, the motif doesn’t overwhelm the room.

One Shade Is All It Takes

For a subtle twist on the trend, match the room’s paint color to the fabric’s background shade. In Australian designer Sibella Court’s home, a geometric teal love seat stands out just the right amount from the rich green walls.