Best durable, kid and cat friendly sofa

5 years ago

My sofa I bought 6 years ago from "Bob's Discount Furniture" is dying a slow death, so I'm starting to think about replacing it. I think I paid something like $400 for it and within a few weeks one of the cats had scratched to the padding on a front corner.

I use my couch a LOT - 3/4 hours a day at a minimum, with weekend naps on it. I'm 5'2" so it doesn't have to be super long and I don't like too deep because I feel like I have to crawl out of it. In the next couple of years I'll be having a kiddo so I need something that's either slip-covered or easy-to-clean, as well as durable for the use it'll get.

I am debating between if I get something like the Ikea Ektorp (or whatever it's replacement is) which fits my proportions well, and is slip-covered, and definitely I would be able to spend the money now, or going for something like the Article Sven. (https://www.article.com/product/15218/sven-birch-ivory-72-sofa).

If I go with something like Ikea, I'm fine with every couple of years needing to pay to get a new cover or have cushions restuffed. But if I'm spending $2000+ on a sofa, I feel like it's gotta last 6+ years before needing work. (Which might be totally unrealistic and feel free to tell me that!)

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Gargamel

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I have an Ektorp. I’ve had it for 15+ years. It is in my living room and has survived 3 boys, 2 cats and 15+ years of me snoozing on it. It has had HEAVY DUTY use. I bought 2 slipcovers to make it easier to change them. There are companies (Benz) who make slipcovers for the Ektorp It needs some new seat cushions now (they’re squashed - but I stuck cheapo pillows in to plump them up). I will replace the cushion inserts and the Ektorp shall live on -lol. I think it is a great , durable couch for so little money

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Comments (11)

Sharon Fullen
5 years ago
I think your sofa choice is excellent. Furniture needs to be more than stylish, it needs to fit into your life. With kids and pets and regular naps, you need the flexibility to refresh your sofa without breaking the bank. Plus there is no guarantee that the $3,000 sofa lasts any longer. Life happens. Enjoy your new sofa.
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
5 years ago
I have an Ektorp sofa bed and a Freiheten sofa bed, The Freiheten is more comfortable and has a storage section. We've have the Ektorp for over 10 years, no quality issues other than I got tired of the beige slipcover.
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eld6161
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Sunbrella fabric. Many choices for indoor use.
Erica Croall
5 years ago
The suggest finding a couch with removable coushes that all can be removed for easy vacuuming. Get a spray bottle of water and zap the cat when she starts to scratch. Or find a scratching post for the cat. I used to not even look at price tags. I like making things simple for myself now, I just bough a couch for 500.00 that I love. If it gets damaged I will trash it and get another one. Most of the time its more expensive to replace the fabric and coushin inserts then getting a new couch all toether. Plus who is to say in 6 years your taste wont change? :)
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
We had an Ektorp for 10 years and loved it. it got a little slouchy looking but (I think) was very comfortable. we only got rid of it because we wanted something fancier.

note: Ikea phased out almost all of the Ektorp line, but the sofa is still there. there's only one color option, and who knows how long they will continue to offer it. lots of 3rd paty sellers make covers though. It was such a popular couch for such a long time! so a fair warning: if you buy the Ektorp hoping you can refresh it every now and then, you may or may not be able to get new slip covers in the future. so maybe consider buying an extra cover now just in case. some of the 3rd party covers are really nice!
Jenna Richard (Tucson, AZ)
5 years ago
Sounds like you live in a fun household! I have two cats and have found velvet furniture to be the best thing ever: really the only thing they don't shred. A performance or treated velvet should suite your needs well. IMO slipcovered items tend to look sloppy pretty quickly.
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
5 years ago
@Jenna Richard (Tucson, AZ) Is the cat hair easier to remove from the velvet? Seems it would be a nightmare. I have a chair with a "suede" cover and the hair is a pain to remove.
User
5 years ago
slipcovered items tend to look sloppy pretty quickly.

Ektorps have custom fit slipcovers so they stay in place better than the "one size fits all" types. but yes, I had to occasionally take off the cushions and re-position the cover. worth it to me since you can also take off that cover and wash it!

what bugged me is that the seat cushions would stick out by the end of every day-- but I feel like that's a problem with just about any couch that has individual cushions. the only one that I didn't have to do that is a joybird with one huge bench cushion. there are also sofas with solidly attached cushions -- but then you can't have the option to flip if there's a bad stain.
Maureen
5 years ago
We have had four cats over the years and velvet couches...none were every interested in scratching. A good quality velvet will last for years (padding may go first lol).
PRO
Norwood Architects
11 months ago
Depends on the cat really. Some will scratch and some won't. Sometimes you can break them of the habit but being a cat, it will more than likely do as it wants, LOL.