How Much Should I Spend on a Sofa?
I was recently asked by Better Homes and Gardens, what a good price is for a sofa and whether you should pay less for something that can get beat up and then repurchase OR find a pet/kid/husband friendly sofa and pay more for one that will withstand the wear.
Thought this was a really good question that I could talk about on Design Diaries so here we go! and at the end of this story, look for a link to the full article as they list the best kid and pet friendly sofas on the market!
For heavily used furniture like a sofa, know that the thing that shows the most wear first will be your fabric! And for this I say you need one of two solutions. Either get a slip covered sofa that you can take off the covers and throw them in the wash, or you need to get a fabric that will be easy to clean when dirt and spills do happen – because we all know they will.
Slipcovers
The great thing about a slip cover, is that they clean up just like your clothes. You throw the covers in the wash, dry them and then slip them back on and your sofa looks practically brand new. But this method is time consuming and not everyone wants to wash their covers as often as they need to. I think this is a great solution, if you are like me and are determined that you must have a white sofa. If you are a white sofa must-have kind of person, really the only part that makes sense with pets and kids is to get a sofa that comes slipcovered. My slip covers are very fitted, so they are not sloppy and have good structure to them – I purchased the sofa at Quatrine and though it was expensive, I’ve had it for years and years. Pottery Barn also make slipcover sofas (such as the one pictured above) and several other manufacturers - just do a search for “slip cover sofas”. But again, I won’t lie, it is quite the chore to get them off and put them back on after washing.
Performance Fabric
SO, if you want something that is more maintenance free then you will need to look for “performance” fabrics such as Crypton. I love a good performance velvet, these fabrics tend to look good, they have a nice texture, are soft, and clean up really well.
Another thing to think about when purchasing a new sofa is what fur babies are allowed to sit on it. When you have pets, especially pets that shed, it’s best to look at fabrics that are similar to the value tone of their fur. For instance, if you have a white dog, and you purchase a navy sofa, you will see every hair shed on that beautiful rich color. Same goes for a light-colored sofa and a dark furred pet.
Patterns will typically camouflage some stains and spills, and soils that you would prefer people not see so if you have kids and pets and a husband – a pattern may be a great way to get some long wear out of your sofa. If and when you do have a stain on the sofa, make sure to check out the care instructions from the manufacturer before you just dive in and start trying to clean it. Usually water-soluble solutions are best and they will be the easiest thing to use to get stains out.
Cushion Quality
Okay, now let’s talk cushions. Lumpy, bumpy, misshapen cushions are going to look unsightly and show the age or quality of a sofa. A better-quality cushion will maintain its shape for a longer period of time. Look for cushions made with high resilience foam. Sofa cushions made with high resiliency foam will take much longer to deteriorate then non-HR foams and won’t be prone to sagging over time.
And if you are wondering about price, a decent quality sofa with a good long wearing fabric will start off around $3,000.
To read the full article from Better Homes and Gardens and find out their best sofa recommendations - click here! https://www.bhg.com/best-kid-and-pet-friendly-couches-7255001
Till next time!
Your friendly neighborhood design pro - Kim
