After buying my navy velvet sofa (to be shared next week) I took a pause on decorating my living room as I wasn’t sure what sort of complimentary chairs I wanted to buy. I posted once about white accent chairs because I was convinced that I wanted something light to counteract the darker hue of the couch, but then it just became a struggle to find a chair or 2 that had the substance I wanted for the room and didn’t seem to float off into airy nothingness.
As the search continued I thought about other light colors; grey, blush, flax- but no cotton or linen fabric seemed to hold a candle to the weight of my couch. The other hindrance here was that I was looking to spend under $1000 for 2 chairs…, which you might realize can be tricky if you are looking for something upholstered. Enter cognac leather. Far too expensive for us on initial thought, I started to realize that at 30 years old it is time to start investing in furniture that will withstand the test of time. Leather is not inexpensive by any means, but it will look authentic and substantial in any room from traditional to scandinavian to glam from now to decades from now. And since leather wears just like your favorite vintage bag, any scuff or scratch only gives it the character it needs to look even more lived in and comfortable.
Below are some of my favorite uses of cognac leather in living and bed rooms. The color is transitional and real, and the texture of leather pairs beautifully with lighter or heavier weight fabrics, which makes it the perfect long-term choice for any room.
The stunning straps on Emily Henderson’s living room chairs make me swoon
A Beautiful Mess styles a leather couch and leather butterfly chairs perfectly with a graphic rug and warm textures
Love the modern jungle vibe that cognac leather gives styled with plants aplenty
This leather barcelona chair adds instant style to any room
West Elm transitional couch to work with any style room
This couch is paired with colorful accessories and metal accents for a transitional vibe
Love this couch with the eclectic pillows and collected pieces
Can you believe this is H&M home?
Scandinavian Feel in HKLiving with an all-cool color palette
Amber Interiors always kills it- this leather ottoman is the perfect lounge anywhere piece
Cognac is so chic as the only pop of color in a room in a pillow and a pouf
Get the Look:
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8
So what do you think? Is cognac leather worth the splurge?
