Do we have to get a leather sofa?

[cavycavy]

1st world problem alert!!

We are desperately in need of a new sofa. However, because we have a 4 year old and TTC#2 my DH has said we should wait until the 2nd child (as yet not even conceived!) is at least 6!!!!

I can’t wait that long. Our sofa is sagging in the middle, very light cream and covered in stains. It’s also a stupid L shape with a very low back which I hate. Bought it pre children when we were all modern and fashionable. I think we should get a cheap but comfy, high backed sofa that is easy to clean, possibly quite dark in colour to cope with any potential ‘art work’ by our DC.

I don’t really like leather sofas (they always feel cold to touch, but I’m drawn to them for their wipe clean potential.

Is there a fabric wipe clean option?!!!

I’ve had my fabric sofa from Next for 16 years. It’s survived two toddlers, and is now surviving teenagers. I think it has Teflon coating or something. I just wiped it with baby wipes when they were small, and I wash the covers occasionally, ie once a year.

The solution is throws. Either on fabric or leather.

For me, ability to hoover down the sides, in crevices etc, is equally important.

I should have added that DD has sofas from M&S, with removable, washable covers. You can also get replacement covers.

My kids have ruined my fabric sofas within weeks I'd always say no

We have cats, so leather sofas would never work for us.

At the moment we are making do with hand-me-downs from relatives, but as soon as the DC are reliably potty trained I am looking for replacements. Something durable like those Next sodas sound great actually.

If you are looking for a tide you over sofa until the kids are older how about the Erktop sofa from Ikea? It’s inexpensive has removable washable covers and is available in the corner style if you like that design.

Corner version.

We have a leather sofa which has seen us through 3 kids from birth. It's 17 years old now and whilst shabby, is still going strong. It's been brilliant for spills and daily life.

I wash my sofa covers at least once a year even though it says they can’t be. Bit of a pain to get them back on the cushions but think it’s a bit grim to sit on the same bit of fabric for years on end without washing it. As long as the covers are removable and not made of something like chenille it should be fine.

We had this exact dilemma. Also not leather fans.

We went for dark grey fabric (quite carefully selected). I'm delighted with it we have had the sofa for about 6 months and we have a 5 year old, 3 year old and a 9 month old. It's been ok so far!

If you go for fabric just don't go for a light colour. Also invest in some spray on vanish for upholstery. I've only needed it one or twice but babywipes probably would have been ok on their own xx

P.s. incase you were interested the fabric looks similar to this sofa (though we didn't get this one)
www.sofology.co.uk/sofas/MAJESTIC?category=Fabric&code=555-41917

m.dfs.co.uk/eloise/eos14eese-1 I have this is brown. With high back instead of scatter cushions. It was fairly cheap and we got the insurance as that was cheap which means if it does get any major stains that a baby wipe won't cover they just come out and clean it for you totally free. However 1 year in with a 2 year old and 4 year old and no stains!

I just think I decent sofa is really important. Especially when I’m nursing the baby through the nights etc.

Basically, I want a lush comfy sofa. Even if it’s just for the 4 years it takes to pay it off.

I’ve seen the ‘matte’ leather sofas which look less cold to touch. Or the suede effect ones which look softer. But are they still wipe clean??

Sorry, posted that before the more recent replies!

(V pleased I’m getting replies!)

We bought a faux suede sofa, well 2 actually from Harvey's 4 years ago. It is sectional so you can chose different configurations.

It scrubs up like new. Just starting to feel slightly less plush so am going to swap to seats around when I can be arsed.

It was £800 for 2 x 3 seaters, has survived ds (now 5), a builder DH, teenage dd and flounces and a whippet that thinks she is queen of the sofa. I dropped throws over it at Christmas purely to save cleaning it and will invest in some fancier ones when I get a bit of spare cash.

Thank you for those suggestions. I’ve decided to get it and pay the monthly fee myself. (And DH can obviously sit on the floor or in the garage on the sofa.)

I have a sofa covered in a micro suede (alcantara) for years, that is stain resistant, its been great, yes they wipe clean. The first time I had a friend round, she spilt a whole glass of red wine on it, it just laid on the top of the fabric in a puddle and I wiped it up, didn't leave a mark.

Frouby That’s so cheap!!

Be careful with the softer leathers. We almost bought a 'great outback leather' sofa as we don't like the normal shiny leather. BUT then found out they can't really be cleaned - the DFS lady was like ' I won't sell you this sofa, you have kids. The only cleaning it takes it to be wiped with a DRY cloth.'

We've had our leather sofas for about 13 years now. Because of the amount of pure unadulterated filth I clean off of them weekly, I surmise that fabric ones wouldnt have lasted that long, and would have become complete health hazards.

It was very cheap which pleased DH greatly.

I did originally want leather but at 2.5k for a decent sized one, I just couldn't justify it with a house full of dcs.

I will get one eventually, but for now the pretendy suede one looks nice and is comfortable and I won't be devastated if Ds blows it up in an experiment or dd spills nail polish on it.

We have 3 teens (who still drop food everywhere, it doesn't stop at toddlerdom) a cat and a shaggy labradoodle (doesn't shed but gets dirty). I get our sofas steam cleaned by the sofa-steam-cleaning-man (always the same guy!) before Christmas and in the summer. Keeps them nice and no washing of covers and trying to get them back on (hint: if you do this they are easier to get back on when slightly damp).

Another leather sofa fan here - two dc and three dogs and the sofa still cleans up beautifully!

And yes to throws, and blankets

Throws, as pp have said. Big big throws. We actually use dust sheets as they're cheap and actually work really well with the rustic look.

@spudlet7 That could help justify buying a new one right? We’ll cover it in throws until the children are 6, only uncovering when we have visitors.

Ikea Ektorp here, ours has survived about 14 years including being weed on and thrown up on by the dc.
It has had a second set of covers about 6 years ago and only now am I beginning to think that it needs replacing.