How to style a black corduroy couch with the furniture you own

A black corduroy couch looks different beside a pale wood table than it does against a dark wall. Its color is solid, but the ribs catch the light, so the surface still has some variation.

Start with a piece you already like. A worn wood table or a patterned rug can give you a better direction than buying a set of matching accessories.

Let the room bring some contrast

A smooth tabletop beside the ribbed upholstery creates contrast without adding another color. Light wood brings a warmer note; a pale cushion stands out against the black fabric.

The black corduroy on our 96-inch L-shaped couch is worth leaving visible. Fold a throw over one section instead of covering the whole back, and see how it looks with your table alongside it.

If your rug has a strong pattern, try a plain cushion beside it. In a room with mostly solid colors, a patterned cushion can pick up a color from a print or curtain. Keep the pieces that look good together; they don't all need to match.

Work with the light you live in

Look at the corner in daylight and again in the evening. The corduroy ribs may show more clearly beside a window. At night, a lamp near the arm of the couch can light the fabric and the table beside it.

Move a lamp you already own into that position before deciding the room needs a brighter rug or another wall color. Leave enough room on the table for the cup or book that ends up there every evening.

You'll see whether the corner feels too dark without buying anything first.

Keep a place for living on it

Leave the chaise clear enough to put your feet up. Keep the cushions you use and a throw within reach; set aside the extras that end up on the floor each night.

A basket beside the couch makes sense if it holds your blankets. If it's empty and makes the corner harder to walk past, try the room without it. Some visible floor around the chaise gives its L shape room to show.

Use the room for a few evenings before adding more. You may find that the lamp and the table you kept were enough.