Please, Don't Rule Out This 'High Maintenance' Couch Color – Jennifer Aniston Shows How Liveable and Chic it Can Be (and Designers Agree)

White may be one of the most avoided colors when it comes to picking a couch, due to fears that it will easily stain and quickly lose its freshness. However, seeing what a striking feature a white couch makes in Jennifer Aniston's home is enough to convince any doubter that it's worth a try. Plus, with the help of durable materials and washable covers, you can keep yours looking just as pristine as Jen's – she even lets her dogs sit on hers, which is a testament to how livable it can be.

For those still wondering 'is a white couch a good idea?' I've tracked down some expert advice on how to make this bold choice work in your living room, both aesthetically and practically. Plus, I've rounded up a selection of white couches with different looks, including this IKEA couch for less than $500, as well as some pieces to style them with, inspired by Jennifer Aniston's open-plan living room, such as this glass coffee table (at Bed Bath & Beyond), to convince you to give it a try.

The White Couch Edit

'White couches are often considered high-maintenance furniture, but in reality, they act as a neutral foundation and a versatile choice,' explains Marissa Burrett, Lead Designer at DreamSofa.

Jennifer Aniston's white sofa brings this clean and fresh aesthetic to her otherwise dark decor, leaning into a subtly monochrome look. It brings a welcome contrast to the dark gray rug, black built-in units and window frames and geometric glass table. But that's not to say this is the only white sofa living room idea you can try.

'White sofas work particularly well in interiors where texture and contrast create visual interest. I have often used them successfully alongside warm words, linen textiles, and darker accent tones like walnut or navy,' says Marissa. 'They also reflect more natural light, making the room feel brighter and more open, especially for small living room layouts.'

While Jen's space certainly isn't small, her white sofa does act as a visual barrier, sectioning off her seating area from the rest of the space and the natural light from the large window achieves that brighter look that Marissa refers to.

'A well-designed white couch helps homeowners easily refresh their space by adding cushions, throws, or accent furniture without replacing the main piece,' explains Marissa, and whilst Jennifer styles hers simply with throw pillows in a matching fabric, you could ring the changes with inexpensive throw pillows and blankets for a different look, when the mood takes you.

When buying couches, it's not only the color and style that are worth your consideration. It's also important to think about practicality and durability. It's true that white couches may take a little more maintenance, but if you choose fabrics that repel stains or pieces with washable slipcovers, you can keep yours looking fresher for longer.

'The fabric matters more than the color, from a practical perspective,' Marissa agrees. 'Today’s performance fabrics are stain and moisture-resistant, making white upholstery more practical than before. I recommend woven fabric with removable or washable covers to clients.'

If you look closely, Jennifer's sofa is in fact an off-white hue, which is a good choice if you want to avoid anything too stark, and it also works beautifully with natural materials like wood (find a lookalike of Jen's wooden stool at Serena & Lily), linen, and wool. Marissa also vouches for this option from a practical point of view. 'Slightly warmer shades of white, like ivory or soft cream, feel more practical and forgiving in everyday use.'

I think it's safe to say that a white couch is no longer reserved for show homes and can actually be really livable (as proved by Jennifer Aniston and her dogs), thanks to subtle variation in texture and hue, as well as modern, high-performance fabrics. Marissa adds: 'A white sofa can maintain a timeless, transitional feel across seasons when treated with the right material and used as a long-term design anchor.'

If you're shopping for new living room seating, bear in mind these couch dos and don'ts before committing to avoid making an expensive mistake.