Aibu to want a white sofa - new baby soon?

[TheMagnificentEthel]

We are looking at new sofas. I am hoping for recliners (wall hugging), if even just the armchairs.

I have always wanted white/cream. I know someone who says her white sofa is stain resistant due to new fangled fabric technology.

A) can anyone recommend a good wall hugging recliner that’s not too ‘poofy’ as it’s a cramped space. (The wall hugging ones are the ones that can recline even flush against the wall.

B) has anyone had a white sofa in a house with children and it hasn’t ended in tears or paranoid living. We often eat on laps sometimes.

Brown leather sofa here which is a mumsnet Nono but it just wipes clean. Unlike my carpet sadly. Would love a fabric sofa but pointless with kids and pets

Oh god. Don't do it! We had a white sofa pre kids and had to cover it in blankets after as it was filthy. It's gone now for a more sensible coloured one!

I have one with washable loose covers. Had it for 3 years and it looks as new. However, I have adult children and one cat. In your situation I would not bother.

I have a cream fabric sofa when my oldest was a baby and toddler. But the covers were all removable and washable.
It was a lovely sofa actually. I washed the covers every couple of months and it was fine.

I've 2 sofas that are an oatmeal colour...2 cats and 1 toddler later I thank the powers that be for removable, washable colours.

Frankly, white? I wouldn't even dream it.

You know babies vomit, wee and have poo explosions right?

Also children wipe their sticky food covered fingers on everything, felt tip pens, chocolates, jam.

Stomach bugs.

Potty training. They forget and wee anywhere.

That’s all I’m saying.

It’ll get wrecked! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon...

God no. Don’t do it. We gave away our cream sofa when our baby was due and bought a burgundy one. Much more practical!

You will be ruled by a white sofa, you will regret it, you will be stressed by it.
Don't introduce anything into your life that will make you frown, it's a darkness that doesn't need to be there when you will have so much to be happy about.
Leave it a dream for a few years, go for shit easy for now, really, shit easy is the only way for the first few years.
Honestly, we know what we are talking about. Believe in mn wisdom.

Even if your children are absolute angels, you can't police their friends 100% of the time and they're often the perpetrators! I have permanently paint stained carpets upstairs to prove it. I'm not going to replace them until DC are considerably older.
Seriously, forget about your 'home being your sanctuary' and 'pleasing aesthetics' for the next 15 years or so if you value your sanity.

We often eat on laps sometimes.

I think that makes a white sofa impractical for you; even before a baby/toddler/child gets their hands on it...

Don't. You can have all the "only eat at the table" rules you want. You think all the food is off them. But some pasta was hiding in a cuff and is now smushed into your sofa.

I'm going to go against the majority here.

I got a very very pale coloured sofa before I had children and always sat with throws on it as was cautious that even jeans and other dark clothing would make the sofa look dirty.

4.5 years later we have a dog and one Dc who occasionally has a free reign snack and we still use throws to sit on and always if we eat on the sofa. And I would say you'd be hard pushed to find a mark on it.

We did pay for stain protection that was guaranteed for 5 years when we got our sofa from DFS so that helps me relax in knowing that it's covered should the worst happen.

First DC?

Just keep your current sofa another 5 years, or 7 years if you have DC2. Use the savings for things to benefit your health and sanity.

Give it 20 years then buy a white sofa. What's the point of it f it's always smothered in throws? Buy a dark colour or leather.

I would not get a white sofa. We got a light grey one just before DD arrived, it was second hand but was in very good condition. We have now come to the agreement that should we ever buy a new sofa the babies need to be A LOT older and no animals. Safe to say its ruined, with stains even the carpet cleaner thing and washing machine cannot get out. It looks so grubby and awful. Actually embarresses me when people come over x

I'm having flash backs to ds last Christmas with both his hands and his face covered in chocolate hurtling towards our new cream sofas while dh chased after him with a wet wipe shouting 'the Christmas scarecrow would be absolutely livid'!

My sofa is buttermilk. It looks like shit

You won’t be eating on a sofa with a small child as they wont manage. Toddlers are well known for getting food every where at a table never mind while trying to plan things on there knees.

For the love of God don’t get a white sofa. Baby sick is white but as soon as they get to 6 months you are asking for a multicoloured sofa.

I regret the sofa we got before having a child because he covers can't be removed for washing. It is disgusting. Get something low maintenance.

No, no,no! I've got quite a dark brown fabric sofa with a 10 month old. I've lost count of how many times I've had to wash the cushions for one reason or another!

Well I assume you’ve decided a white sofa is not a good idea till DC is about 10 yo!
I’m intrigued by the idea of a wall hugging recliner though. I’ve never seen one. I’ve had a lazy boy type sofa and now have a recliner chair and both had to be placed a good distance from the wall. Does the whole seat unit slide forward along the flooring?

DON't DO IT!!

Seriously, don’t. Also, I may be a bit paranoid but I’d worry about the crushing tiny fingers potential of recliners.

Not unreasonable. Mad.