While purchasing or reupholstering the living room furniture, many of us face this conundrum – what colour should I pick for the sofa? There are many ways and solutions to this question; one easy route to picking the perfect shade is by using the wall colours as reference. A complementary or clashing wall-and-sofa scheme can create a large impact in any interior, giving rise to a vibrant, happy space or a restful, pensive room. Here, I’ve listed five statement-making wall colours and sofa hues that beautifully match or clash. So whip out your diary and start making notes!

For grey walls

The grey shell of this living room and the similarly-toned upholstered chairs provide the perfect base for the plush pink sofa to stand out and create a soothing, light and whimsical vibe. Apart from a few patterned cushions on the sofa in yellow and beige, the room is kept neutral to accentuate the soft contrast of grey and pink.Deeper shades like this grey can make for a great background for a bold-coloured sofa. This living room with textured walls gets a shot of glamour with the bright rust seater that gives depth and character to the space. What do you think?

For white walls

The big-ticket investment in colours is clearly made through the seats, while the walls are kept white. The deep-chocolate-brown sectional is bordered by a pink stripe and peppered with blue cushions … the light and dark contrasts in the seating create a calming, relaxing ambience.The white walls allow the other vibrant colours to flourish and own the space: The black chair and bright-pink sofa, along with some well-chosen cushions, add cheer to the room, while the grey seater balances the starkness of pink and black, giving some balance to the colour scheme.

For beige walls

I like the striking colour combination here – almost seems like the two ends of the spectrum have comfortably made their home in the living room. See how the deep, elegant charcoal-grey sofas effortlessly lift the mood and look of the space enveloped in a light, sandy shade of beige.Higher-octane hues help energise light-toned rooms, as seen in this image. The nest of soft blue armchairs look perky, and give a fun layering to this beige living room.

For brick-red walls

There’s so much beauty in red brick walls – they have an old-world charm and make an interior seem warm and inviting. This is why this living room makes for a striking visual – the modern seaters, drenched in two shades of blue, play beautifully against the exposed, old-style brick wall.I love the play of texture and pattern here. The red brick wall with the horizontal lines of mortar is juxtaposed with the vertical-striped black seaters, giving layering and character to the living room. The black-framed artworks also contribute to the clash of colours and patterns.

For yellow walls

An instant dose of energy, life and fun … yellow interiors bring in a splash of the sun. This living room shows an exquisite pairing, one that soothes our eyes and makes for an instant style statement. The bleached sofa and chairs with gold detailing gleam inside the yellow shell, creating a grand space.The walls invigorate this space, while the long sofa in calming grey induces a relaxing vibe (not to forget the big planter that peps up the area).

For blue walls

The bright azure of the walls gives depth and elegance to the interiors. Here, the tufting on the wall and the seater complement each other and distinct blue and white colour blocking gives the room an opulent, indulgent flair.The tone-on-tone story in this living room is unusual, but it works. The midnight blue on the wall and the complementary deep glossy blue on the sofa together create an intense, rich scape that acts as a great pull for guests.