Pets and kids have a lot in common. For starters, they offer cute companionship and Instagram content. They also know how to leave a wake of destruction behind them. If you’re pondering simply bubble-wrapping all your upholstery to avoid the stains, tears, spills, and smells pets or kids can leave behind, don’t despair. There are lots of options for fashionable and comfortable furniture that can stand up to the worst chaos from your smallest housemates.
These days, you can buy couches made of synthetic materials that look as good as their natural counterparts. Materials like polyester are surprisingly versatile: You can get a stain-resistant couch with cozy, overstuffed pillows and a soft, open weave polyester cover, or a velvet couch that looks luxe while actually resisting scratching from your cat’s claws. Even more traditional materials like leather are excellent at standing up to wear and tear.
So now that you know all the options that are out there, are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we’ve rounded up the best pet- and kid-friendly sofas for every style, space, and budget.
Best Overall
West Elm Henry Sofa
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west-elm
West Elm’s Henry sofa is the Goldilocks of couches: With a medium density support and a classic yet streamlined silhouette, it’s a “just right” couch that will look great with a number of styles. Choose between seven fabrics designed for high-traffic use, including performance velvet and a soft eco weave made from 70 percent recycled plastic.
Best Budget
Winston Porter Falco 80.1'' Round Arm Sofa
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Way Fair
If you're furnishing your home on a budget, you can't go wrong with Winston Porter's Falco Round Arm Sofa. The three-seater has a timeless design and is made of durable materials that can stand up to kids and pets with ease.
The sofa is made with the brand's worry-free microfiber fabric, meaning it's easy to clean no matter the mess. In addition to wood frame, the sofa also has durable high-density foam cushioning that'll offer prime comfort for years to come.
Price at time of publish: $570
Best Slipcover
IKEA EKTORP Sofa
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IKEA
Pets and children come with plenty of stains, so having a washable option is a real game-changer. Take IKEA's EKTORP Sofa, for example, which features a removable cover that's easy to clean when the sofa could use a refresh.
The budget-friendly, timeless sofa fits three people comfortably and is available in a neutral color that'll match just about any décor style. The sofa cover is a polyester and cotton blend that can be easily zipped on and off so you can spruce it up no matter how much dog hair and spilled food ends up on it.
Best Sleeper
Joybird Braxton Sleeper Sofa
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Joybird
Guests, like pets and kids, can bring joy and chaos to your home. Be ready for any overnight visitor with this sofa from Joybird, which cleverly hides a pull-out memory foam mattress. When it’s tucked away, you’ll still enjoy the sofa, which has high-density foam cushions and over 27 pet-friendly fabrics to choose from. Not sure which to pick? Joybird will send you swatches so you can really think about the feel and color you want for your space.
Price at time of publish: $3,755
Best Modern
Burrow Range 4-Piece One Arm Sectional
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Burrow
Burrow’s line of fast-shipping couches proves that modern silhouettes, comfort, and durability don’t have to be sacrificed for price. Their flat-packed sofas can be customized to fit your space, and you can pick the exact length and shape you want. And don’t let the sleek shape fool you: The cushions are designed for sitting and napping without losing their shape.
Plus, the stain-resistant fabric is great for life’s unexpected mishaps. Their couches are also designed to be rearranged as needed, so you can expand and rearrange the corner seat as needed after moves or just when you rearrange your furniture.
Price at time of publish: $1,995
Best Leather
Allform 3-Seat Sofa
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Allform
Leather is an investment-worthy option for so many reasons, but especially because it ages beautifully and is incredibly resistant to tearing. Extra-tough ‘performance leather’ can often be tempting for those with pets and kids; however, it’s often a faux leather substitute.
If you want the real thing, Allform’s treated leather is the real deal, designed to stand up to years of use. The classic style also means you won’t mind keeping it around for a long time, either. Pair it with bright throw pillows for added warmth, or leave as-is for a simple yet impactful statement. Allform lets you customize leg finishes and add a matching ottoman and pillows if you so choose.
Price at time of publish: $2,369
Best Velvet
Inside Weather Issa Sofa
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Inside-weather
“Velvet” and “heavy-duty” don’t often go hand-in-hand, but this luxe fabric has had a modern upgrade. Once made primarily from cotton, most velvet today is made from polyester, making it an excellent pet-friendly fabric. Because it’s not woven, cats have a hard time clawing it (and may not even be tempted to claw like they would with a wide-weave fabric).
Inside Weather stands out in the pet-and kid-friendly category, as each cushion has a nylon, water-resistant lining to keep spills and splashes from soaking into the couch itself. Pillows can also be removed for deeper cleaning, though the velvet cover is dry clean only. While customizable sofas are more common these days, Inside Weather takes it a step further: Eight components of the sofa, from pillow shape and style to base color, can be customized. Currently, they offer six plush performance velvets.
Price at time of publish: $4,389
Best Chesterfield
Etta Avenue™ Avani Rolled Arm Chesterfield Sofa
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Way Fair
A Chesterfield sofa certainly has a sophisticated look, but there are tons of options out there that are still great for people with kids or pets. Take the Etta Avenue Avani Rolled Arm Chesterfield Sofa, for example, which is upholstered in polyester and has removable cushions that are easy to clean.
The sofa is offered in three colors—emerald, navy blue, and slate—each of which are dark enough to hide any spills and stains. If you need to clean it, however, all have to do is use a simple spot treatment. Plus, it's easy to remove animal hair as well, so it'll always look good as new.
Price at time of publish: $1,100
Best Modular
Maiden Home The Jones Modular
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maiden-home
Modular sofas make a big statement, combining comfort with a striking silhouette. There’s another reason it’s a great option for families: Toys, pets, and dust can’t gather beneath it, giving you one less spot to clean. Maiden Home's sumptuous and customizable modular sofa is the kind you’ll want to jump onto time and time again—and with a range of performance-grade fabrics, you’ll be able to do just that.
Price at time of publish: $5,100
Best Loveseat
Castlery Adams Loveseat
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castlery
Spaces big and small deserve protection against daily life. The Adams Loveseat from Castlery features polyester cushions that are soft yet stain-resistant, as well as dense, cushy foam fill that won’t sink or lose its shape. The striking yet versatile dove gray upholstery is great for first apartments: Wherever you go next, the color and look are sure to fit in. Covers are removable for cleaning.
Price at time of publish: $1,199
Final Verdict
Overall, we recommend West Elm's Henry Sofa (view at West Elm) for its versatile, streamlined style and range of upholstery options. For even more bang for your buck, we recommend Wayfair's Winston Porter Falco Round Arm Sofa (view at Wayfair), a classic design made with the brand's worry-free fabric.
What to Look For in a Pet- and Kid-Friendly Sofa
Material
The most important consideration? Upholstery. Synthetic materials like microfiber are the most easily accessible in terms of budget and inventory, and they are built to resist tearing and scratching. Surprisingly, leather is a great option—although you'll need to be careful when selecting the type of leather. Aniline leather is untreated, so it's the most prone to scuffs and scratches and should be avoided. Instead, look for semi-aniline, top grain leather. If you want to really make your life easy, consider a canvas slipcover sofa that can easily be cleaned.
Color
It may seem obvious, but it's worth repeating: Dark colors are your new best friend. White and cream colored sofas already require a bit more maintenance to begin with, but add in a shedding pet or accident-prone child, and you've got a seriously rough situation. Go with darker colors like black, gray, or navy that easily hide imperfections, and strategically utilize throw blankets and pillows to hide any stubborn stains or scratches.
Price
It makes sense that you probably don't want to spend a lot on a sofa that will get a lot of attention from kids and/or pets. That assessment is spot-on: You really don't need to shell out for a stain- and scratch-resistant sofa. Synthetic materials are much less expensive than their natural counterparts, as is faux leather and velvet. Performance fabrics vary in price, but you can definitely find affordable options.
Why Trust MyDomaine?
This article was written by Marshall Bright, a freelance writer for MyDomaine. She's written about a variety of home design topics, from candles to couches, and knows what makes a product great. To make this list, she considered each pick's material, color, and price.