Sofas - do you think long or short term with DC???

[OllieWollieWoo]

We need new sofas - would you go for expensive ones that would hopefully last long term or if you had 2 DSs under the age of 4, would you go for something like Ikea which seem v good value abnd that could be replaced in the short to medium term if needed (ie if DSs continue their sofa wrecking campaign???!!!. Help needed please!

Both. We got a leather one (in a sale) and a 2nd hand 2 year old M&S one on Ebay. If you don't like leather (and I don't really) get cheaper fabric until kids older, I say.

I'd say go for a solid frame- quality- and removable, washable covers.. IME the sofas last but the covers wear out long before the rest of the sofa.

leather is good as everything just wipes off it

we just got a Leather. I have dd 22 months and 4 mth ds. M e and dh said only last night that we are so glad we picked one that is supposed to mark distress with age.

my dd has noticed it scratches, and has done a few deliberatley with her finger nails, although I was VERY cross with her I was also a little relived as if it was a Leather that was NOT supposed to mark I would have been Furious.
i dont really allow eating/drinking in that room as We have a fabric based sofa from Ikea in conservatory where she plays and the covers have already been in the wash.

I bought a large, robust, mid-priced sofa (about 4,000 euros IIRC) with two sets of identical grey velvet machine washable loose covers.

DSS1 (13), DSS2 (11) and DD (4) haven't wrecked it yet (2 years).

We bought a fairly expensive leather sofa earlier this year, have a 2.5 yr old and a newborn. It's holding up well, is v v comfy, easy to clean.

I also do the no drinks/snacks on the sofa, and amazingly DS has managed not to wee on the sofa since starting potty training (hope not tempting fate...)

if they were on a sofa wrecking campaign I'd start with a few ground rules. what exactly are they doing to it? we have 2 leather sofas (what leather wouldn't mark by the way??) and they've been great - 3 years old and we have 3 kids. We dont' have any jumping on sofas or eating/drinking on them either.

Hadn't thought about leather - we currently have duck egg blue ones from Sofa Workshop (I know, I know -but heart ruled head at the time!). Despite being washable, the covers are in a real state after 3 years (despite no food rule) and we haven't been v impressed with quality of cushions either.

Will now have to envisage what leather would look like in the lounge - which isn't that big. Would be quite a change from a pale sofa. Guess thats why I was looking at beige ones from Ikea (Stockholm or Ektorp range ) whilst DH is eyeing up v expensive ones from Heals (but can you imagine how gutted you would be if you wrecked one of those???!!!) I have now officially turned into my Mother waffling on about value for money versus quality versus practicality!!!

Yes iswym all leather marks, but this is very soft, last leather sofa I could wipe clean if spilt anything. Apparently I am not supposed to put a wet cloth anywhere near it.
Although dh says he has.
DD scratched it, I think out of jealousy about 4 months ago when new baby came along, she was lashing out at him and scratched it accidently, but when she saw what she had done she since did it again deliberatley IYKWIM.

Dark leather sofas, can't go wrong get inexpensive ones then if you hate leather and you change them in the future you won't be gutted.

Ours are 6.5 years old, palre blue and doing okay - could do with a steam clean to get out the ingrained dirt but if they were dark that wouldn't be an issue paid £500 for a 3 seater & a 2 seater together.

We got dfs leather ones just before dd1 was born, so they're 5 years old now and lasting well, very thankful I got wipe clean leather

I bought two very expensive tetrad fabric safas when we moved to this house. The boys didn't wreck them deliberately but the feet kept falling off through being leaped upon too much and the pockets on their jeans rubbed holes in the fabric and pulled threads so that after 3 years both were in a terrible condition. We replaced them with distressed leather ( which I really don't like much) but the replacements have withstood everything and still look very presentable at 7 years old

We went for leather as it's ultra practical (think I actually prefer fabric, so will maybe get that next time!) but reasonably cheap from harveys. I do believe that, having had it almost exactly 2 years, we may have finally stopped paying for it!

Ikea stockholm ones are lovely
as are the ektorp which are cheap

we just swapped to ektorp after Laura Ashley leather which I hated.

I love the stockhom red velvet one...wish I'd bought that

Yellow fabric one is holding out well here, it's been professionally cleaned twice since DD was born, I think (she's 4.9). Admittedly, there is only one of her, but she's pretty hard on a sofa (uses it as a trampoline, and drapes herself along the back like a cat). It's good quality, ten years old, I don't think any amount of cleaning would have rescued it if it were a cheap frame and padding underneath.

My sofa is 2nd hand from a charity shop. Its sturdy and comfy. Could not see the point of buying new one with a baby around and I didnt want to get all precious about keeping it clean which I would if it were new.

Where do you get removable cover sofas from. We are looking and DFS havent any. All I want is a plain, washable sofa (but must be comfy and high backed). (sorry to hijack). Dont think we can have leather as the kittens will put their claws in wont they?

I'd never get leather. Too easily scratched, split nor cut. And it's c-o-o-o-o-l-d!

And oil and fat and felt tip doesn't just wipe off leather. Get a really comfy good quality sofa covered in a chenille, velvety cover (things disappear into the pile) in a rich colour, such as claret, raspberry, chocolate or slate. That's what we did, and three kids and ten years later, it looks truly as good as new.
We also have an Ikea sofa, that nobody ever sits in as it is so much less comfortable.

Our kids jump on the sofa, eat on the sofa, lie on the sofa, drink on the sofa. I put the covers in the washing machine on 30degrees every few months and they look absolutely perfect. (it says professional clean only but I ignored that )

Ours is Sofa Workshop. Expensive at the time, but so, so worth it.

wrapstar - where from???????????????????????

I've gone for a second hand one that was from Heals, handmade, vg quality.

The covers are velvet and very grubby, so have got it draped at the moment but will make proper covers or get the originals cleaned.

It's very sturdy and comfy. I'm glad I didn't get leather as it is so cold to sit on until you warm it up with your bum!

oops - x post. Thanks.

ours looks like the four seater version of this one

this sort of colour and look in cotton chenille