Sofa dilemma!!

[Timtamtaffee]

I have two DC (8 and 10), a dog and two dreadful brown nubuck sofas. The only saving grace for these sofas is the fact they recline! They are 12 years old and stained with water marks. Because they are recliners, I can't seem to find anything to re-cover them (I have blankets thrown over them now).

Dh and I have been looking to get new sofas +/- an armchair.

Does anyone have recommendations for a sofas that will cope well with a young-ish family? I was looking at the Morland from DFS (with pillow back) as I thought I could wash the pillows as and when needed, but obviously the colour is quite light, and I don't think this will work :(

Any help / advice would be appreciated!

Morland Plain Body 4 Seater Pillow Back Sofa | DFS

That looks like the very last sofa i would buy with children and a dog! It will be filthy in no time.

That's going to look terrible with kids and dogs

I know it's not everyone's taste but the practical solution is leather as its wipeable. But get decent leather so it doesn't look plasticky

We have just ordered a new sofa from Next. They have a great selection. We chose rust coloured fabric as it will be easy to keep clean. There is only me and (red wine loving) DH at home (plus a dog but she doesn't go on the furniture) but we decided darker coloured would be much more sensible.

That is not a good sofa for kids and dogs. You either need removable and washable covers, or go leather.

Sofa.com do a thing where you can have damage protector spray put on. Then I go you can't get any marks out they replace the covers for free...
Ours is standing up very well to two younger children...

I second this. I have leather sofas and they have been going for 14 years and still look good. It is a nice grained leather.

Pillow back sofas are the worst. Hard to keep tidy.

I would go in and ask DFS. We’ve just bought two reclining sofas, we had a good look round and we found the two most informed and helpful showrooms were DFS and HSL. HSL have a stain resistant fabric finish on some models.

We got good attention and advice from both ( unlike John Lewis who seemed to neither know nor care) ; as it was an expensive purchase I wanted to see them in reality.

I did find a slip cover online which claimed to accommodate recliners , so you might look at that as a temporary solution.

I had one with loose back cushions. Never again.

You need leather. Got mine from Argos 23 years ago. One of the seats has been recovered but it's still immaculate.

Just offering an alternative option, we have a child and dog and went with a dark velvet sofa. Only had it a few months but it seems very easy to keep clean at the moment. Every now and again I use a damp cloth to wipe over the covers and they come out beautifully.
I previously had a leather sofa and it just got scratched by the dogs claws. Though it wasn't an expensive sofa so maybe a good quality one would fare better.

Leather is the way to go with young dc and a dog. My dh is vegetarian but even he agrees after having 2 fabric sofas over the many years that leather keeps in better condition.

We’ve had grained leather sofas for about 12 years now. Ours are M&S Abbey. We have two massive leather ones and an Abbey loveseat (in a fabric).

Leather wasn’t my first choice, but it was a very practical option. The DC was small when we got them, and DH is messy. They’re still in fantastic condition, and were a really good choice. I can’t justify even thinking about replacing them.

In a different world, if I didn’t need to be practical, I would get a textured fabric that had been pre-treated with some kind of scotchguard type thing.

Thanks for all the replies! I would've loved to have had a lovely fabric sofa but totally get your view points about it being a nightmare with DC and a dog.

Where would you recommend a decent leather sofa from? As we have nubuck, it is nice and soft but just marks like the devil. @SomethingAboutNothing that's my concern too, if the dog's claws get into it and then I'll be having to use throws anyway :(

I'm not sure whether or not to just invest in some really decent throws and nice cushions...

@timesogin and @ApolloandDaphne thank you - I'll check out those shops and see if there is something on there that takes my fancy :)

IKEA ektorp. Good value. Washable covers. Variety of sizes. Mine lasted years and was comfortable.

I prefer these types of sofa back (I have this Joules one in my snug along with the snuggle chair - love them), but when my children were young we bought chairs you can take the covers off and wash, we also had two sets of covers - those sofas lasted about 10 years and were also only DFS

https://www.dfs.co.uk/patterdale/ptd12apdv?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzaLH4t3vgIV0NDtCh1pMQFBEAQYCiABEgKsJJDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We got a cheap fake leather sofa from Ikea (one very messy dog).
And a steam cleaner to clean it with.
I'm pulling a face here but I still think it was the least worst option - changeable covers that you can wash are all very well but the arms and back of the sofa...?
Non-vegetarians would go for leather.

Mine is a sofa italia one. Tend to be stocked by independent furniture shops if you have any nearby.

What do you mean? If the covers are removable then you can wash them.

To clarify, the cushion covers of my sofa are removable but not what covers the arms and back, and I think that's not unusual (and also, where the covers are completely removable, it may be quite a faff getting them on and off...).
So that's where I'm coming from...

Ah, when they say removable covers it would mean the whole thing usually. Eg the Ektorp mentioned above.

YES to this - great sofa, so comfortable, space for everyone, and you can easily wash the covers or get new ones if you get bored. They currently have a red and white floral pattern, might not be to everyone's taste but it does hide a multitude of sins.

When you say pillow back do you mean scatter cushions?! I'd never ever buy another scatter cushion sofa again, it drives me up the wall!!!