Kid “proof” couch?
Well piggybacking off the success of last week’s rug question, does anyone have a couch they like that has stood up well to the abuses of small children and pets? It seems crazy to buy new furniture in this stage of life (or even fb marketplace “new”), but our current couch is literally coming apart at the seams and it’s time to do something.
May 11, 2025
Parent Replies
I love our sectional couch from IKEA. And the great thing about IKEA furniture is that it's made WITHOUT chemical flame retardants. Please make sure any furniture you buy does not have these toxic chemicals, which cause brain damage in children. You can assume that these toxins are in there unless it specifically says they are not. There's a label on the furniture that will "warn" you if there are no flame retardants.
Our couch has stood up well to 10 years of kid abuse. Unfortunately it has not stood up to cat abuse, and they have clawed their way through a corner of the fabric. But there's not much you can do about that.
We bought a used couch for $400 and are so glad we did. We have young kids and pets. We have a steam cleaner but I don't stress at all about all the spills and bodily fluids that our couch endures! We will get a new, nice couch when we are out of this phase. Leather always helps with spills.
We have had Crate & Barrel Barrett couch for 4 years with dog and toddler- love it so much that we bought a second when we needed another couch! Galaxy fabric for both. Gets a little pilly but washable covers and easy to use a fabric trimmer to keep it looking new. Highly recommend.
Custom Sofa Company in Oakland. It's a family owned business and we bought our 2 custom couches (with pull out beds) from them right before our kiddo was born. You can customize almost every single aspect of the couch, including the size and fabric. The folks will help you select the fabric that best suits your needs (we have a 3yo and a 75lb pit bull who is a digger with longer nails). The couches have held up really well for us with the toddler constantly jumping on it, dog digging/pawing at it, and adults sitting on it between 3-10hours a day. Price wise, they were cheaper than West Elm, Crate & Barrel, etc.
https://customsofaco.com/
We got a custom couch made at Alpha Design Custom furniture (Berkeley) in 2019. 2 kids later, it still looks and feels great! We selected a fabric that is smooth, tight weave, and bright orangey red. It can be washed with a bit of dish soap and water. Fabric type probably matters. I mention this because, about 2 years ago we got an armchair from Article and the fabric is already piling. It’s clear that the couch is quality in comparison to what these internet furniture companies are selling. That said, we don’t typically let the kids eat on it, and we’re a shoe free house, but it has seen some spills and plenty of jumping. It has held up really nicely. Was definitely worth price.
I second Alpha Design. We got a custom couch for cheaper than at most big box stores, and he helped us pick a fabric that would hold up to kids and pets