Redecorate your IKEA Ektorp 3-seater sofa for a new look

It’s that time of year again, and we’ve got that old room feel to our office. So a few of us decided to see if we could mix things up easily. Here’s what we tried, without changing the IKEA Ektorp 3-seater’s custom slipcovers (in Nomad Grey). After all, the IKEA Ektorp sofa is a timeless piece with great comfort, let’s make it even better.

First there was this Scandi-minimalist. Plain grey with plain white throws give it a classy look, offset with greenery and a staid black lamp.

And then we thought, what could we do if we just swapped out the throw pillows? Would it change everything?

Well yes. Changing up the throw pillows helped a lot by giving the Ektorp 3-seater sofa a bit more character. We also played around with moving the lamp / tree.

But it wasn’t quite enough. So we tried adding back some greenery and a cute coffee table:

Before above, after below:

We didn’t really like it and felt that coffee table was a bit imbalanced compared to the sofa. Also we had a bit of a colour war here between the Democratic Eclectic / Rave Party and the HEtero-coloured Republic Party. Basically half of us wanted to go back to the mono-coloured white cushions. So we compromised.

And then the Eclectic Party overthrew the Establishment and we ended on this:

All in all, this was a lovely way to spend a Friday afternoon, and we hope that you’ve gotten some inspiration as to how you can re-think your sofa. If you liked our Nomad Grey custom Ektorp sofa cover set, find out what other fabric styles we offer on our website.

Give your Ektorp a new look

Can my sofa be slipcovered?

A while back we actually wrote an article to determine what’s the best way to re-cover your sofa, which you can find here: https://www.comfort-works.com/news/can-your-sofa-be-slipcovered/

In a nutshell, it comes down to upholstery or slipcovers but let’s face it – slipcovers are always the more affordable and practical option given how:
1) they’re mostly machine washable
2) they’re a lot more affordable than upholstery
3) they can be made snug and look as good as upholstery even

So you’re considering getting slipcovers for your sofa but you’re not sure whether it’s possible? Check out our infographic below and find out :)

Now that you know your sofa is slipcover-able and wish to have one made, you can either check out our:
Custom Slipcover Process Guide to learn more about custom slipcovers and get a quote or;
Custom Slipcover Category Page to shop now!

Don’t forget to get some fabric samples if you haven’t, always good to see fabrics (or bycast leather) in person and determine whether it’s suited for your living space, pets and overall well-being.

If you’re still not sure or have further questions about getting a custom slipcover made, drop us an email with a photo of your sofa to info@comfortworks.com.au

We’ll be in touch :)

Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2017 – Greenery

A year after breaking the rules with Rose Quartz and Serenity, Pantone have settled for a more traditional single colour this year. Introducing:

PANTONE 15-0343 TCX GREENERY

Color values:
RGB: 136 176 75
HEX/HTML: 88B04B

And as we all know, Pantone chooses their colours for a reason. One of which they’ll be more than happy to inform us of in the following quote:

“Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose”

– Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute

Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

What is the PANTONE Color of the Year?
A symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.

A rather apt statement, considering the travails we’ve gone through in 2016, both politically and ecologically. Pantone is clearly hoping for a better 2017.

Greenery has actually been popping up all over the summer/spring fashion shows in 2016, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of great fashion pieces featuring these colours this year.

Gucci Spring/Summer 2017 show

Pantone also has a neat colour palette showing off how you could pair this neutral green shade, check it out here.

But what about Decor?

Well, this green is an energetic colour that’s better suited for a room where there’s activity rather than a room meant for relaxing or sleeping. You’ll have to really get a feel for your room and define what you want it to be.

Look for ways to coordinate. From the floor to furnishings, what other colours are in the room? Use Greenery to add interest and grab attention, especially if you have neutral furniture. It works nicely with whites, beiges, and grays. For a retro vibe, pair it with orange; one is warm, the other cool.

Think about the lighting. For a room that doesn’t get much light, this shade of green adds energy. Otherwise, keep in mind that the natural light changes throughout the day in a room, and the light cast by bulbs affects how you’ll perceive colour. So paint large test patches on your walls, and look at them at different times of the day.

For inspiration, we’ve added some of our favourite decor shots from Houzz below, click the link to get more info about how they did it!

Something that people tend to miss, is that Pantone doesn’t decide or pick a colour of the year randomly. The reason why so many products are so easily marketable after a colour of the year announcement is that Pantone is merely selecting something from the fashion gestalt.

The process, which takes about nine months, is highly subjective, as Pantone admits, and more about instinct than science. Essentially, the team fans out across the globe and explores industries, to collect what they refer to as “proof points” — from car shows, on the runways, in decorator showcases and so on. At a certain stage they begin to notice meaningful overlap and narrow down the choices. Then one shade achieves critical mass.

In closing, here’s my thoughts on everything that’s happened in 2016, and what we have to look forward to in 2017, from our Pantone Colour of the Year Mascot.

It ain’t easy being greenery

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