Ikea’s Karlstad sofa in Grönvik Multicolour hits just the right note of subtlety.

This sofa’s palette is fresh and feminine, but the pattern won’t stand out too much in a living room or open-concept condo. Plus, the price is right. A sofa is usually an investment piece, so choosing a bold pattern can be daunting. But the Karlstad is priced low enough to have a little fun — plus, you can buy separate slipcovers in a solid colour if you tire of the print.

Karlstad sofa in Grönvik Multicolour. 31 1/2″ h. x 80 3/4″ w. x 37″ d. $699. At Ikea.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Stripes are perhaps the most timeless pattern.

The PB Square Grand Slipcovered Sofa from Pottery Barn comes in four different stripes and many solids. It’s a tad pricey, but the customization options are endless with over 90 fabrics to choose from. This ticking stripe in Harbor Blue has a casual cottage feel, perfect for a summer home or family room.

PB Square Grand Slipcovered Sofa in Ticking Stripe Harbor Blue. 37″ h. x 95″ w. x 41″ d. $2,919. At Pottery Barn.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

With new advances in printing and fabric making, any photograph or artwork can become a pattern on a sofa.

This stunning love seat is upholstered in an original motif by ’60s textile designer Vera Neumann. She believed that “fine art should not be relegated to the walls. It should surround you.” And so Anthropologie adapted several of her original prints for clothing and furniture pieces, including this Francine Sofa, and several other chairs, rugs and pillowcases. This pattern is especially eye-catching — pair it with antique-looking chairs for contrast, or place it at the end of a black bed frame to add a pop of colour to a monochromatic bedroom.

Francine Sofa in Red Motif. 34″ h. x 72″ w. x 35 3/4″ d. $3,498. At Anthropologie.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Dark ticking stripes update a classic shape.

The Tailor Sofa from Crate & Barrel has a traditional form with roll arms and nailhead trim, but the charcoal fabric and exposed legs give it a modern, masculine feel. It would work equally in a formal living room or tailored loft.

Tailor Sofa. 31″ h. x 86″ w. x 37 1/2″ d. $1,999. At Crate & Barrel.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

This armless design with a simple seat cushion draws the eye to the pattern, not the sofa.

A bright red nautical stripe works well with a sofa that isn’t too fussy, like this Brighton Sofette from Pottery Barn. Add it to the end of a bed or corner of a bedroom for a nautical accent, or use one or two as dining seating in a country kitchen.

Brighton Sofette in Red Nico Stripe. 36″ h. x 48″ w. x 32″ d. $499. At Pottery Barn.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Ikat is often quite bold, but this soft palette is more refined and feminine.

This piped seat cushion is upholstered in a simple stripe that doesn’t compete with the back cushions. All in all, Anthropologie’s Henning Sofa offers just the right amount of a global/exotic style.

Henning Sofa in Neutral Motif. 32″ h. x 94″ w. x 38″ d. $1,998. At Anthropologie.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Small and simple, perfect for a cramped space.

The compact Sutton Sofette from West Elm comes in 26 velvets, cotton basketweaves, twills, faux suedes, and linen/cotton prints — including six gorgeous patterns. Bold prints like these work best with simple cushioning. We love the clean lines of the Sutton.

Sutton Sofette in Ikat Feather Gray/Flax (front) and Geo Oregano/Clay (back right). 29″ h. x 56″ w. x 30″ d. $839. At West Elm.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Add subtle pattern to a traditional space.

Hickory Chair’s Sheraton Sofa is upholstered in a soft white damask print that would complement other well-worn furniture. Pair it with a couple of wing chairs or solid love seat in a Victorian-style sitting room, or use it in a more modern space to up the glam factor.

Sheraton Sofa. 34″ h. x 77 1/2″ w. x 30″ d. $3,625. At retailers across Canada.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

This would make a perfect statement sofa in a stark, modern room.

Marcel Wanders designed this Boutique Sofa for Moooi, and it comes in an array of colours and prints (including a more subtle grey-on-white pattern, not pictured). We love this dramatic damask print (can you see the nude figures on it?) paired with textured seat cushions. No need for competing armchairs — this sectional seats several people and deserves centre stage.

Marcel Wanders’ Boutique Sofa. 24 1/2″ h. x 34″ or 50″ or 86″ w. x 34 1/4″ d. (for single sofas). At Moooi Boutiques across Canada.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.

Flared arms and turned, tapered legs maintain a classic shape, so this sofa will work in both modern and traditional living rooms.

Infuse a room with feminine florals without the colourful detailing of smaller patterns. Hickory Chair’s Elinor Sofa is covered in a soft green and creamy white fabric that is more contemporary than cutesy, and the single bench seat cushion showcases the large pattern more than two seat cushions would.

Elinor Made To Measure Sofa. 32 1/4″ h. x 28″-120″ w. $4,655. At retailers across Canada.

See our Patterned Sofas photo gallery for more prints and styles, or our Budget-Friendly Sofas for our most affordable picks.