I thought cream was the worst living room color, but Sofía Vergara's space gives the neutral shade an unprecedented allure

I had the impression that cream was always boring, but the actress's living room has completely changed my mind – she elevates the color

sofia vergara on a gold background
(Image credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage via GettyImages)

I used to think there was nothing more uninspired than a cream living room; even the phrase fills my mind with images of bland, ultra-modern spaces with no personality or style.

However, by styling cream with rich browns, textural grays, and pops of green, Sofía Vergara's living room has proved to me that the shade has many merits.

I spotted the actress's cream living room in a recent Instagram post, where Sofía perches on her cream sofa. Cream lamps and cream walls ground the room. Gray textured cushions, carved wood on the back of the sofa, and an abundance of houseplants add interest. It's a testament to the unequivocal versatility of the color.

Shop The Look

Sofía's living room color idea works so well because it contrasts sleek modern tones with deeper, more classic textures and materials. To style this look in your home, I would recommend thinking of cream not as your color scheme, but as a base. You can paint the walls cream, use cream light fixtures, and choose a sofa with cream cushions.

However, when it comes to decorating with cream, I recommend opting for less neutral pieces to contrast, rather than going for an all-cream scheme. Textured throw pillows, a colorful rug, plants, and bright sculptures are all good options for bringing color into the room without overwhelming it.

I also suggest integrating a variety of natural materials to make a cream scheme feel warmer. In Sofía's space, this takes the form of a wooden sofa and a jute rug, which are a great jumping off point. You could also use natural clay vases, a collection of houseplants, and woven wicker pieces to add different textures. For a more coastal look, I love the feel of pieces of driftwood as decor.


Cream is a timeless color, and there are ways to make it fit into any living room style. No matter your take on neutral spaces, don't write it off like I did. No neutral is beyond redemption, as evidenced by Sofía Vergara's home.


Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.

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