To buy this sofa with young kids in the house?

[Lycidas]

DP thinks I'm ridiculous for considering buying this sofa for our new house. Apparently leather is a must and anything else will get trashed by grubby little mits (we have a one year old and another on the way).

I've had a look at leather sofas and they look/feel very bulky. Our living room isn't big so I'd like a sofa that you can see/vacuum underneath...just feels more spacious to me.

Thoughts?

I have a 2 year old and just bought a dark grey material sofa, I too hate leather sofas. I have paid to have some extra protection against stains for 5 years though too.

We have a French connection sofa, the one they show a lot on the tv adverts, but in a mottled mushroom kind of colour rather than the teal. We bought it prior to having the kids and actually it's held up really well! A mottled colour hides a multitude of spillages 🙈 I would avoid the leather too

It’s not like it’s cream velvet, is it? It looks fine to me. Leather isn’t cosy at all, I’d never get a leather sofa.

I went through the 'leather is easier to clean' phase. But it's really not - it gets icky too. and it's way more expensive, and blankets/cushions slide around on it, and it's sticky and sweaty in summer etc.

I've compromised with that suede leatherette stuff - so it's comfortable like fabric, but a bit more wipeable. Standing up well to my kids so far.

I think it'll be fine - it's gorgeous!

If you are worried about not being able to remove the covers, why not go for the IKEA stocksund - same type of style but all the covers are removable and changeable?

www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-ikea-stocksund-sofa-model/939737

Wow, I was expecting white! You'll be fine, just don't allow food or sticky drinks in the living room. We bought a mushroom coloured fabric sofa when DD1 was 6 months old. My DH had the same opinion as yours. Ours has survived for the last four years, and that's adding another child into the mix too. Most of the spills seem to land on the (also new) carpet in this house

I'm uptight and any eating/drawing/colouring in is done at the dining table in our house.

I find it difficult keeping on top of the cleaning so knowing that nothing liquid/sticky has been left festering in the living room helps make my life a bit easier.

Been lucky so far on the vomit front (clutching wood! ) as far as the sofa is concerned.

Oh, and the sofa is gorgeous by the way! Lovely clean lines.

I can't stand leather furniture, all cold and crinkly. I have 2 boys 3&7, and a springer spaniel puppy, and I got my sofa and chair 2nd hand and I still cover them with throws! There's no way I'd get expensive furniture with them all at this age. My parents didn't until me and my brother were well into our 20's and the dog was too old to jump on it!!

We have a grey fabric sofa and it is trashed. Not intentionally, we used a steam cleaner on it a few times but ultimately it's been covered in baby vomit, felt tip pens, spilt drinks etc. I agree with your husband I'm afraid, I'd much rather have a leather one that's clean than a fabric one that's filthy. Were changing for a leather one this year!

I hate leather but I would never have a fabric sofa without removable, washable covers.

Looks like the seat covers could be removable, but the buttoned back cushions won't be, and the arms (where you can get lots of spills and mess) look fixed too.
As a sofa buying veteran, I'd look for removable washable covers, no seams over the seat area that will eventually come apart, and a firm base, ideally one you can get to by lifting seat cushions (in case of sagging, you can put an old cupboard door underneath), and definitely not leather, yeuch.
Tell him you will get plastic covers, they will be wipe clean and about as comfy as leather.

I think that looks fine! We've got a pale grey, suede sort of material sofa with a 4 & 6 year old. We just say no food or dirty clothes on it. We've got a cheap sofa in a little play room so if they want tv and snacks they can go in there! As long as you can wipe it will be fine.

I’ve got a lighter one. The kids have tried their best to fuck it up but I’ve turned in to my nan and got a sofa cover. Really sad because it could be any sofa under there. It’s pristine but unseen by human eyes.

I love leather sofas so I'd always say yes to them over other types

I really, really dislike leather sofas so I am 100% on your side OP.

I am thanking my lucky stars for my leather sofa at the moment with my baby and her reflux.

Looks fine. I'm another who cannot stand leather sofas.

I don’t like leather sofas. We’ve had fabric ones (5 DC) and they’ve always been great.
We have this Ikea one with washable covers and it’s bloody amazing. It has a mattress type bottom cushion so no cracks for shite to fall through and it comes up brill in the wash.
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/faerloev-3-seat-sofa-tallmyra-dark-grey-s39192654/

Very nice sofa and great/practical colour.
Leather sofas are quite practical as you can easily wipe over them, but they are So uncomfortable (we got rid of ours even though they looked great - classic/timeless style - but never again).

Hate leather sofas

That one very pleasant.

How old the children? I have a no eating policy on the sofa and 7 years later my beautiful sofa as good as new (I have had professional cleaner 3x in that period)

* I’ve got a lighter one. The kids have tried their best to fuck it up but I’ve turned in to my nan and got a sofa cover. Really sad because it could be any sofa under there. It’s pristine but unseen by human eyes.*

That’s a shame. Why not just be stricter re respect for your home?

I hate leather sofas but have children and pets. I really wanted a velvet sofa but am very glad I bought one with washable covers. I bought a spare set of covers and it’s been a godsend. Ikea do a range with removable covers - mine is the Stocksund which is pretty similar to the DFS one.

Leather sofas are awful but very dark fabric can be the worst for showing up marks from baby sick, snot etc.

Thank you for the suggestion! @MyFamilyAndOtherAnimals1

Mumsnet is v useful. Added ‘mottled’ to my deficient vocab...