How Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Makes A Neutral Living Room Pop With Color

Joanna Gaines — home renovation guru and interior designer extraordinaire, as well as one half of the couple behind HGTV's iconic "Fixer Upper" — may be best known for her modern farmhouse style with its white walls, exposed wood beams, and of course, overabundance of shiplap. But, just because Gaines has a signature style doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy designing "outside of the box" when the moment calls for it. In fact, the reality star isn't one to shy away from risks, and she's frequently been known to get super creative, go bold and eclectic, and have fun with colors and textures in the pursuit of great design. 

One of Gaines' stunning mid-century modern "Fixer Upper" home renovations demonstrates that design quality well with her choice to make a living room pop with color, which, although fun and unconventional, was also still cohesive with the overall design. Shared by Magnolia Network as one of its favorite living room makeovers from "Fixer Upper," the neutral space boasted a bright blue mid-century modern sofa that created an eye-catching focal point without overwhelming the room. While blue isn't an entirely unconventional color for a couch, neutral colors like gray, beige, and creamy white are generally more dominant. 

Likewise, while powdery blue or navy sofas have long been mainstays in country-style homes, Gaines' choice of a bright cerulean blue sofa in the middle of an otherwise neutral mid-century room is a bold statement. Here's how she pulled it off, alongside some style tips for adding a brightly colored sofa to your own home.

Although most of Joanna Gaines' "Fixer Upper" projects made use of more traditional couch colors such as brown, gray, or beige, she's not afraid of adding a splash of color with a stylish sofa in a bolder hue every once in a while. Gaines' secret lies in selecting a sofa or couch in a style, shade, and material that will all complement the overall style of the room. For her mid-century makeover, she selected a small, geometric couch with simple tufted seating and thin, short legs in a bright cerulean blue. In contrast, an oversized sectional or Victorian sofa with all-over-tufting would have clashed with the style of the space.

Gaines has mastered this artform well. In one of her neutral farmhouse makeovers, she utilized a chic navy couch with a simple slipcover accented by blue and white accent pillows to complete the living room space. In another neutral cottage-style space, the home renovation expert utilized a dark navy couch with silver stud accents and ornate footing for a more traditional look. For Gaines, the key to perfectly styling a blue sofa in a living room is to pick the style, color, and size that can be easily balanced with the overall aesthetic.

Using a couch to add a pop of color to a neutral space is a great way to add some interest and depth without disrupting the overall design scheme. But, there are some things you should be aware of before you dive in and make Joanna Gaines' expert style your own. Like the HGTV star, always ensure that your selected sofa matches your overall interior design style first, including whether you have a wall paint color that goes well with a blue couch, plus furniture and décor that doesn't clash either. Bold blue sofas (especially if they're made out of rich textures like velvet), work best with a more subdued background.

In fact, another brightly colored sofa could make your neutral living room space pop more than blue, depending on the space's dominant shades. For example, in her mostly green library room, Gaines opted for a velvet statement couch in a complementary pinkish-orange hue. This was a smart choice for maintaining a harmonious feel in a green room rather than using a contrasting color like blue. 

If your space already has accents in contrasting colors like orange or green, adding blue can make the space look and feel quite crowded and busy, rather than relaxing and harmonious. In this case, you'll need to select a couch in a similar shade to your existing accents or, conversely, let them serve as the centerpiece of the room instead, and choose a neutral couch for a timeless and cohesive feel.