uglytoawesome's Profile

I'm coming to this table late, but do have a definite opinion--you can keep this for a little while. People who say getting rid of this is the only option are being completely unimaginative. First of all, try moving the clock from behind it. The cord draws attention to the sofa-- like an arrow pointing to it. I love the retro look going on here and love the idea of playing that up... this can totally look intentional and you can work with it. Don't try to hide it with pillows--it's too bulky for that. I'd suggest getting rid of the red pillows and going with something funky and more neutral. You can't hide this sofa, so you might as well not try. Instead, some bold details that you love near the sofa--but not exactly on it--might make this work. I can't tell your style, but I am thinking a super funky zebra print rug and a large, framed art print above the couch. Only add elements you LOVE. One of the biggest problems I see comes from people adding things they don't like to try to hide something they hate, only increasing their dissatisfaction with the element they initially just "didn't like." I think you're on the right track here with the other elements--1980s decor actually borrowed a lot from post-war decorating (late 40s--60s) and that makes this blending a cool challenge.

If you wanted to go the neutral/black and white route, you could do a zebra rug and print like this http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3ADE%3AI%3A2%7CG%3AHI%3AE%3A1%7CA%3AHO%3AE%3A1&page_number=203&template_id=1&sort_order=2
or a Jackson Pollock print like one of these:http://www.allposters.com/-sp/No-14-Gray-Posters_i1813784_.htm or
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Yellow-Grey-Black-Posters_i153433_.htm
(or another abstract-expressionist print)...

If you wanted to skip the rug, you could go with a larger, brighter print above the sofa, like a Miro:
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/L-Oro-dell-Azzurro-Posters_i337097_.htm
(or Miro's Blue II)...

Right now, my living room/dining room is rocking a superbad 1980s feather-stuffed sofa. Most comfortable ever, but UGLY. It's covered in hideous thick cotton corduroy-like stuff, and I have a slipcover over that (which helps but does not disguise the style). The rest of the area is tricked out in 1950s American furniture, though, and, you guessed it: a fantastic framed print and some original art done by young and/or local artists. This sofa was fancy in its day, but we had to work with it for a good while before we figured there was no hiding it. Now I still wouldn't call it pretty, but the space looks "together" enough that I'm not embarrassed by it (even if I happen to be washing the slipcover and the ugly corduroy is exposed). I'm serious-- you can make this work!