New Sofa.... with a newborn and 2 year old?

maman

heuchera wrote: »

I bought a cheap IKEA sofa about 6 years ago and it's still going strong! I would look for something that's easily cleanable, as the children won't have grown out of drinking squash or having mucky fingers for a good few years yet

DigForVictory wrote: »

or machine washable loose covers (two sets).
.

foolofbeans wrote: »

an Ikea sofa as they were the only ones that had fully removable covers at a reasonable cost.
I usually fully wash the covers in summer so I can get it dry and I iron it while damp and it goes back on a treat.

I'm for a comfy, fabric sofa every time but with washable covers. Ikea have a number of different styles.


I think it's normal for children (and adults) to spill things. I'm assuming that's where OP's reservations come from rather than needing a strong sofa that children will be allowed to climb/jump on.

Tiddlywinks

I have an Ercol suite which is over 40 years old.

It has a hard wood frame, webbing strapping (rather than springs) and all cushions have removable covers.

I was given it second hand many, many years ago from another family member. It has been recovered more times than I can remember and I last replaced the cushion pads and webbing 7 years ago.

I have made covers myself and have also had them professionally made in the past when I didn't have the time.

The sofa has never looked old fashioned or out of place because the fabric coverings have always reflected the trends of the time.

Even with all the professional recovering and the costs of the fabrics, that suite has worked out way, way cheaper than any I could buy in a discount store and is so well made that it'll outlast me.

Plus, I've never had the worry of little or large people or pets possibly ruining the covers etc as everything is easily replaceable.

So, my recommendation is to buy a premium hard wood framed suite and have it redone in removable covers in a fabric of your choice.

anmarj

We had the same delimema as we have a three year old, but ended up getting one off free cycle, so that we did not throw money on a new one only for him to ruin it.

GoldenShadow

We have a nice DFS corner sofa and their insurance too. They basically said I can spill foundation all over it by being clumsy and the insurance covers it to be cleaned, just like if my dogs tear it by climbing on etc.

People can say what they like about DFS but I was happy with the guarantee on offer too. We upgraded to foam seat cushions from fiber as really don't intend to buy a new sofa anytime soon, much nicer to sit on foam!

19lottie82

Check out sofa sofa. They do everything online so you save a LOT due to not having the overheads of showrooms and sales people. Obviously the disadvantage is you can't physically "try out" the sofa before purchase, but they will send you fabric samples and I can vouch that the quality and customer service is fantastic.

Also I'm pretty sure they have an X days no quibble returns policy, but double check this rather than taking my word as gospel.

Broadwood

We bought an Italian leather three-piece locally last year that we found on Ebay. An elderly couple were down-sizing to a smaller bungalow. The suite might be 8 years old but looks almost new and has hardly been used as it was in their "best" lounge.

It cost us £80 plus diesel for the 40 mile trip to collect it in the trailer. The hardest part was wrapping it all with plastic sheeting and brown parcel tape to protect it. Saved us about £900 compared to buying brand new.

System

pigpen wrote: »

Leather.. 11 children, 6 cats and a mucky male.. there is no way on earth I would even contemplate anything else!!

Nor me. Leather every time!

Lucyxx

I would say whichever option you go for just don't get cream fabric!!

We had children, bought a cream one, it looked a bit grubby but was ok, and washable. Our children are a bit older now, and went for cream again and spent more on one that I really liked, rather than one to 'make do' . This fabric is terrible. It has bobbled almost immediately, the covers are not removable. I got a tiny dot of chocolate melted on it, washed it with a white piece of kitchen roll, well the fabric seemed to soak up the water and has watermarks, now our seats look like someone has weed on them

For DFS prices this was expensive, even if it was cheap it would have been rubbish. I am not happy! also the easy glide things they recommended fell off - it's essentially a plastic thing on a sticker.

I definitely recommend a darker colour, and preferably washable covers.!

onlyroz

Definitely check out the charity shops especially the British Heart Foundation.

But for the record our DFS sofa is still going strong after nearly 9 years.

Racky_Roo

I have the revive, had it a year, loved it so much I bought it another to replace sofa number 2.

It's comfortable, still as firm as it was when bought a year ago and fluids seem to sit on the top for a while before starting to sink in so if you're quivk you can catch them (I'm pretty clumsy so it's happened a few times