What couch colors are going out of style in 2025? Designers say these 6 shades should be avoided

A couch is one of life’s commitments. It’s not forever, but it should look and feel great for a good long while. So, if you’re shopping now or in the near future, the couch colors going out of style for 2025 and beyond are worth knowing about.

What’s in and what’s out isn’t merely a whim of fashion. ‘Design evolves the way language does – certain tones fall out of conversation not because they were wrong, but because they no longer say what we need them to,’ says Rachel Blindauer, interior and product designer.

Here, interiors experts reveal which living room sofa shades are the ones to swerve, the reasons why they’re not a great contribution to interiors right now, and what timeless couch colors you might like to pick instead.

1. Cool gray

Once a reliable choice for a living room, cool-toned grays, especially those with blue undertones, have had their moment. Cool gray is out for 2025, in fact, it's been on the out for a long time, so avoid this shade when choosing a couch color.

‘Gray was a staple during the farmhouse and minimalist years, but they’re now being seen as overly cold and one-dimensional,’ says Alice Moszczynski, a New York-based interior designer at Planner 5D, of the color also known as millennial gray.

But that’s not to say all neutrals are out; simply avoid the chillier versions. ‘I’m seeing people are leaning into warmer neutrals instead, like taupe, camel, and mushroom, which offer the same versatility but with much more warmth and depth,’ says Alice.

2. Bright white

The same accusation of chill is being leveled at bright white for the couch that’s the centerpiece of living room furniture. Like cool gray, a white couch can lack the warmth and depth that current interiors are leaning into, explains Rebekah Moore Murphy, co-founder and architect of design at Murphy & Moore Design.

‘Bright white upholstery, while still a classic in small doses, tends to be impractical for most households and misses that sense of patina and lived-in luxury that many are craving,’ she says.

The shades to choose instead are along the same lines as those that might replace cool gray. Think ‘warmer hues like mushroom, ivory, soft taupe, and creamy off-whites’, recommends interior designer and founder of June St George Ally-Catherine Trenary.

3. Dark gray

Yes, gray again, but there’s another take on gray you should know is out of style for couches, and that’s charcoal.

‘For years, charcoal gray was the go-to “safe” option: dark enough to hide stains, neutral enough to suit every trend,’ says Rachel Blindauer. ‘But its reign is quietly ending. Today, charcoal reads more corporate than cozy – especially in open-concept homes flooded with natural light.’

The color’s flaws are that it can feel heavy and cold in bright or coastal spaces; often flattens other colors in the room instead of enhancing them; and is associated with mass-market, builder-grade decor from the 2010s, she says.

The alternatives to choose, Rachel says, are ‘earth-infused neutrals like mushroom, oat, or warm flax’.

4. Navy blue

Even the staples of living room color can become out of joint with the times. ‘Navy had a strong run as a safe but stylish choice,’ says interior designer and operations manager at 123 Remodeling Lior Kahana. ‘Lately though, it can come off a bit heavy or overly formal.’

You needn’t give up on decorating with blue, however. ‘Dusty blues or slate tones offer a similar grounding effect but feel more relaxed and natural,’ says Lior. ‘They pair well with wood, leather, and woven textures, making them a better fit for casual, layered spaces.’

5. Aqua

Swerve sofas upholstered in shades from the blue-green area of the color wheel, too, if you want to be in style, suggests Rachel Blindauer.

‘Aqua-toned sofas had their moment, especially in coastal or boho-inspired interiors,’ she says. ‘But as design moves toward subtler expressions of place and personality, these bright blues are starting to feel too loud, too theme-specific.’

Problems with this hue are that it’s too characteristic of beachy, she explains, plus it is difficult to integrate into evolving palettes or seasonal decor.

There are some appealing alternatives. ‘Consider muted sage, mineral blue, or dusty olive,’ Rachel suggests. ‘These shades feel fresher but more grounded, offering a nod to nature without veering into novelty.’

6. Millennial pink

One more shade that’s become a blast from the past in room color ideas is millennial pink. Remember when every cool living room on social media had a pink velvet sofa?

‘That soft blush tone dominated sofas and accent chairs for years, but it’s now being replaced with more saturated hues,’ says Alice Moszczynski. ‘Richer tones like terracotta, clay, or even oxblood colors still bring warmth and romance, but feel more grown-up,’ she suggests.

If you’ve seen the signs you need a new couch, it’s not a matter of slavishly following fashion to reject the colors going out of style for its successor. Choose the tones that suit the times, and your living room will bea nurturing space as well as elegant.