When it comes to furniture, couches are one of the biggest investments you can make—literally and financially. They also act as the meeting point for movie nights, an impromptu bed on Sunday afternoons, and a cozy escape for diving into a new novel.

Ideally, you’ll have it for years to come, which is why designers agree it’s worth picking one in a timeless color. “This ensures our clients don’t have to re-invest in recovering them and that we prolong their relevance to any future design changes,” Jenna Schnabel Wedemeyer, principal designer at Schnabel Interiors in Lexington, Kentucky, says.

The question is, what are they—besides beige? Four designers shared their go-to’s with us.

Green

Though the current green trend has led to a surge of velvety moss-colored sofas, Bess Pooler, designer at Summer House Lifestyle in Grayton Beach, Florida, argues that they’ve always been relevant. “They give old English library vibes and immediately add timeless charm to a space,” she explains. To complete the look, add some thrifted oil paintings and brass hardware.

Brown

Alexis Earman, founder of The Woodbury Home in Wilmington, North Carolina, recommends a rich, earthy brown for a neutral with the same warmth and timelessness as beige. “It’s inviting and has this amazing way of making a space feel cozy yet sophisticated,” she describes. “Brown connects us to nature, so it brings this effortless, grounded feel into a room.”

Plus, you’ve got options when it comes to texture—think luxe velvet for a little drama, soft boucle for a cozy feel, or performance linen if you need something durable. No matter what, a brown couch has a lived-in charm that makes a space feel like home.

White

According to 30A-based Pooler, “the white slipcovered sofa is still alive and well in the coastal South.” The appeal makes sense: The color is easygoing and relaxing, and slipcovers can easily be bleached if (really, when) stains occur. It’s also a neutral that blends with nearly any kind of style. Though a longtime favorite for many parts of the South, white will forever remain classic in beachy areas especially.

Blue

On the hunt for a pop of color that doesn’t sacrifice a timeless aesthetic? Try blue, says Rachel Little, owner and principal designer of Browne House Interior Design in Austin, Texas. It’s so popular that many consider it to be basically neutral. This is because “it has so much range, either by adding some punch and depth with some kind of navy or evoking an airy and transcendent feeling with a lighter blue.”

Camel

A current favorite for Schnabel Wedemeyer, she says camel is “a richer, more moody change from off-white or light upholstery and pairs well with every other shade—blues, greens, browns, blacks, purples, reds, even oranges.”

In chenille or velvet, Schnabel Wedemeyer says, the color reads as elegant and cozy. As Pooler points out, a buttery, camel leather sofa can also complement a variety of interior styles, from industrial to mid-century modern.