All neutrals have a somewhat contentious reputation in interiors, but beige and sandy tones may be the most divisive of them all. They are often dismissed as bland or overly safe, yet in the right room, these warmer shades can make you realize just how cozy a neutral space can be.

In their Connecticut farmhouse, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick make a convincing case for the controversial neutral living room sofa.

Set against wood-paneled walls and vintage lamps, their sand-colored couch sits perfectly within the space. The timber brings out its warmer undertones, while the pale upholstery keeps the room from becoming too heavy.

To get their look, I love this Adika Upholstered Sofa from Wayfair. It's the perfect subtle neutral that would look beautiful in a traditional living room like theirs.

Seeing the sofa in Kevin and Kyra's space, it's understandable to see why designers and real estate professionals return to the shade – especially when the sofa is being used as the foundation for the rest of the room.

Marilyn Comiskey, a real estate expert at The Comiskey Group, says the color of a sofa can have a significant effect on how a room feels.

'What I tell sellers is that the sofa is the biggest visual block in the room, so its color sets the temperature of the entire house,' Marilyn explains.

'In San Diego especially, warm neutrals work with all the natural light we get. Cool grays can read flat and cold in a west-facing living room at four in the afternoon, while a soft oatmeal or sand tone picks up the light and makes the room feel larger.'

Against Kevin and Kyra's wooden trim, the sofa softens the room without taking away from its character. The secret is the neutral upholstery. It gives the wood, lighting, and collected pieces around it room to stand out. And when it comes to beige, experts say that texture matters just as much as color.

'The real risk with beige isn't the color; it's the lack of texture,' Marilyn says. 'A flat beige microfiber sofa looks tired. The same color in bouclé, linen, or a nubby weave looks intentional and expensive. That distinction matters more than the shade itself.'

The couple also avoid the most common downfall of a beige living room: Allowing every surface to sit in the same tonal family. Dark wooden tables, woven textiles and the richness of the paneled walls give the seating area enough contrast to keep the neutral sofa from feeling flat.

'Where I do push back is when a whole room goes beige on beige,' Marilyn notes. 'Then you lose depth, and photos come out looking washed out, which hurts you online where most buyers make their first decision. Keep the sofa neutral and add contrast with pillows, art, a darker wood coffee table, or a patterned rug. Those pieces leave with you. The sofa color is the part you want to play it safe on.'

In Kevin and Kyra's case, their room feels wonderfully inviting, making it a masterclass in decorating with neutrals in a way that's actually beautiful. And if any couple can convince us to give this shade a try, it's them.