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What are the best (and worst) couch fabrics for dog owners? Here are some handy tips for picking out the best sofa fabrics for pet owners.
There are plenty of options available to both show off your style and keep your pup happy, but leather is the best fabric for dog owners.
Of course, some strategies will help you avoid scratches, stains, or even fur on everything else in the house! So read on if you’re ready to learn more about which couch fabric is the best sofa material for dogs. Because let’s be honest. As pretty as my dogs are, they don’t always leave my furniture looking as shiny as they do.
Where to Buy Dog Friendly Sofas?
These are great places to shop for pet-friendly sofas that look amazing and are also durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of your pet’s claws. They all have an extensive collection of pet-friendly sofas in various fabrics, colors, and styles.
The Best Sofa Fabrics for Dog Owners
You love your dog, but you also love your home and don’t want to see your furniture destroyed by your lovable fur baby. Even if your pet isn’t trying to damage your furniture, the simple act of jumping up on the sofa can leave unwanted scratch marks, not to mention it can be hard to keep your sofa free of the fur, oils, and dirt that accumulate over time.
Whether you’re a firm “no dogs on the sofa household” or allow your pup to cuddle up to you during your Netflix binge, I know it can be hard to keep your sofa free of dog hair, scratches, and scratches stains.
So, how do you save your home and furniture from being destroyed by your lovable fur baby? Luckily, several durable fabric options are available that are pet-friendly and don’t sacrifice style! Just because you have a pet, that doesn’t mean you should cover the entire furniture or rugs with plastic.
Leather
My personal favorite is leather. Leather is a great sofa fabric for pet owners because it is durable, and pets are less likely to scratch or chew on this material.
Leather couches are easy to clean and come in a variety of colors and styles. For example, distressed leather hides claw marks. Our sofa is from the West Elm Leather Collection, and we absolutely love its durability and aesthetic. Not to mention that the pet hair and dirt paw prints wipe right off.
Leather is one of the best options for a pet-friendly sofa, and I highly recommend it! Leather couches are easy to clean and come in a variety of colors.
You can go with distressed leather, which hides claw marks better than smooth leather, but if distressed leather isn’t your style, smooth leather is an excellent option as long as you keep your pet’s nails trimmed. As I said, our Leather Couch is from West Elm, and we have been so happy with our purchase. It is the second couch that we’ve purchased from West Elm.
That said, leather can be expensive, which might make you think twice about choosing it. However, the cost of leather is worth it because you won’t need to replace it as often due to scratches or stains. Way Fair & CB2 have a wide selection of quality Leather Couches.
How to Care for a Leather Couch
Leather couches are expensive pieces of furniture that should not be neglected when it comes to cleaning. Whether you have a brown, tan, or black leather sofa, the below methods will help you keep them looking their best. It is recommended to vacuum your couch once a week or more if necessary to get rid of dust, pet hair, and other particles that accumulate on the furniture.
This will also help prevent dirt from becoming embedded in the material. I recommend using a microfiber cloth to spot clean stains and spills with diluted dish soap and water. Please ensure this is damp enough so it doesn’t leave behind dry spots. You can dip it in water for easier wringing out before wiping down the area with a cloth.
Tight Weave Fabrics
While leather is a great choice, it can be a bit pricier than other types of fabrics. If leather is not in your budget (or you’re aesthetic), but you still want a stylish and durable sofa, stick with fabrics that have a tight weave.
A tighter weave will reduce the likelihood of hair or fur being caught in the fibers and will also hold up longer to your dog’s claws. Microfiber, canvas, and even denim are great choices for pet-friendly fabrics.
A microfiber couch is a great option for your next pet-friendly sofa because it has a very close-knit weave that makes the fabric more water-resistant and easy to clean. In addition, it has a soft finish and a slight texturing that looks chic and modern, and since it is a synthetic fabric, it comes in a wider range of colors. Canvas is an excellent option since it holds up better to cleaning solutions than other types of fabrics.
Performance Fabrics
While typically, you would want to avoid open-weave fabrics, such as tweed, or more absorbent fabrics like velvet, many furniture retailers offer premium or performance fabrics that are designed to be water-repellent and abrasion-resistant.
West Elm has several high-performance velvet options (as well as performance-washed canvas fabrics) that come in various posh colors. Almost all of their collections have the option to select one of their high-performance fabrics.
Our first couch from West Elm was the Andes. Since purchasing our Sedona Leather Couch, we’ve taken the Twill Andes Sectional couch to my photography studio.
Andes West Elm Couch Sectional
A General Rule
In general, darker colors and fabrics with patterns or textures are better at hiding dirt and stains, so even if you fall in love with a sofa with an open-weave fabric, you can still maintain its beauty by choosing a darker color or pattern.
However, if you still aren’t sure which fabric is best for your lifestyle, West Elm has an amazing sofa guide.
Not only does it give you a variety of fabric choices and colors, but it also has a size guide, advice for arm and cushion details, inspiration, and more resources.
5 Sofas for Dog Owners
1) Park Sectional Sofa
This chic sectional sofa embodies timeless style and sophistication. High-resiliency foam wrapped in feathers ensures long-lasting comfort and support. Arrives quickly in easy-to-move boxes intentionally designed to maneuver through tight spaces.
2) Kova Sofa 121″
Come home to the world’s most comfortable sofa. Kova’s feather blend seat cushions provide cloud-soft comfort. Combine Kova’s modular pieces to create endless configurations to fit your space and your lifestyle. Arrives quickly in easy-to-move boxes intentionally designed to maneuver through tight spaces. Assembles easily without any tools.
3) Andes 2-Piece Bumper Chaise Sectional
This sofa is perfect for pet-owners who want a stylish and comfortable piece of furniture. Its sleek lines and tufted details make it an instant classic. This pet-friendly West Elm couch will be the perfect addition to your living room!
4) Block Nomad Sofa Sectional
Your pup will love lounging around on this luxurious sofa from Burrow! We took our Nomad Sofa and added a chaise lounge for maximum relaxation. The chaise is reversible, so you can put it on either side of the sofa. Or put it in the middle. Or go wild and get two chaises.
All you have to do is ask. Like everything we make, our modular design is incredibly easy to move and packed with all the clever, life-changing features you expect from Burrow, starting with a built-in USB charger.
5) Block Nomad Leather Sofa
The perfect leather sofa is now in reach. Our Nomad Sofa is 86″ of soft, supple, and sophisticated top-grain Italian leather, and includes all the clever, life-changing conveniences you expect from Burrow, like our modular, easy-to-move design and built-in USB charger.
FAQS: Best Couches for Dogs
Should I let my dogs sit on my couch?
Many owners had no problems except for vacuuming up pet hair and cleaning up pet oil stains. The cuddling privileges are often well worth the risks, particularly for the owners of the couch privileges. However, some dogs with a couch advantage can be considered equal to the home’s human inhabitants, which may lead to disobedience.
What is the best material for a pet friendly couch?
The best materials for pet-friendly couches are leather, microfiber, canvas, and performance fabrics such as tweed or velvet. Leather and microfiber will both be easy to clean and much less likely to suffer from stains or damage from claws than other fabric types.
Canvas and performance fabrics are also great choices as they can be more durable than other materials.
How do I clean a pet friendly couch?
Using a vacuum cleaner at least once a week is recommended for cleaning your pet-friendly couch, but if you want to get the most out of it you should use some tips for spot cleaning. Start by using a lint roller to remove all pet hair and then dampen a clean cloth with warm water and mild soap. Use the cloth to gently scrub away any dirt or stains from your couch and then dry it off with another clean towel. Once the surface is completely dry, use a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to reach into all the crevices and corners. Finally, use a pet-safe fabric protector to help protect your furniture against future pet messes.
What is West Elm’s sofa guide?
West Elm’s Sofa Guide is an online resource that provides advice, inspiration, and resources for choosing the right couch. It offers a selection of fabrics and colors, size guidelines, advice for arm and cushion details, and even more resources to help you make the perfect choice. It’s a great resource for finding out exactly what couch is right for you and your lifestyle.
What are some tips for choosing a pet friendly couch?
When it comes to choosing a pet-friendly couch, you’ll want to look for ones that are durable, easy to clean, and stain-resistant. Leather and microfiber are great choices as they tend to be more resilient than other fabrics. You should also consider darker colors and fabrics with patterns or textures, as these will be better at hiding dirt and pet hair. Finally, make sure to use a pet-safe fabric protector to help protect your furniture against future pet messes.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a pet-friendly couch or just want something comfortable to relax on, there are plenty of options to choose from. Consider the materials, color, size and features that will work best for your lifestyle and home decor and don’t forget about the importance of using a pet-safe fabric protector. Now all that’s left is deciding who gets dibs on the chaise lounge!
I wish I would have read this post sooner!! I bought a new couch from a local store a few months ago, and I’ve already had to get an upholstery cleaning twice because of all the pet stains and hair. Next time I’m doing more research and going with a darker, more durable couch!