The Best Kid- and Pet-Friendly Sofas, According to Us

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Jamie Fischer is a writer for Real Simple. She has experience writing shopping content and is passionate about home, lifestyle, and beauty products.

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If you have kids and pets running around at home, you may feel tempted to grab an inexpensive couch that'll last just a few years. However, high-quality sofas made with durable materials are designed to survive use and abuse—whether it's sudden spills, sticky fingers, or cat claws.

To find the best kid- and pet-friendly sofas, we tested several models over six months, including sectionals, loveseats, sleepers, and modular options. Our top picks are easy to assemble, comfortable when sitting or napping, and durable enough to withstand wear and tear. For expert tips, we also chatted with designer Libby Rawes of Sharp + Grey Interiors and Jaclyn Genovese of Spaces By JacFlash.

It’s incredibly customizable with over 200 fabrics, seven lengths, two seat depths, and two leg finishes to choose from.

The cushions are filled with down with no choice for a down-free alternative.

After enduring over six months of use, including dog naps and cat pee, this couch still looks as good as new. We’ve noticed no pilling, staining, or dog hair whatsoever, and the cushions have stayed fluffy. Room & Board calls this couch a "Goldilocks" sofa, meaning it's just right—and we have to agree. The cushions are cloudlike yet supportive, striking the right balance for sitting and reading a book, watching TV, or taking a nap.

In addition to its comfort, we also love this sofa's heaviness. While it might not be easy to move around a room, its solid build keeps it in place when your dog has the zoomies or your kids belly flop from the armrests to the cushions.

With more than 200 upholstery options to choose from, you can tick boxes for cat-friendly, dog-friendly, family-friendly, and stain-repellent options. Also, the shorter lengths make it one of the best sofas for small spaces. It’s worth noting that the armrests aren’t well padded, and the couch only offers one fill option for the cushions. While we felt that the down and foam fill provided ample comfort, some people might prefer a down alternative or all-foam option. Nevertheless, we found the couch to be cushiony without being too soft.

Upholstery: 225 options, including performance, velvet, chenille, boucle, and microfiber | Dimensions: 65–108 by 38–43 by 34 in. | Seat Depth: 22 in.

The machine-washable slipcover comes in a variety of colors.

It's not very stylish or trendy.

Sofas are typically an investment, but you don't always have to sacrifice comfort for price. This under-$1,000 couch checks all the important boxes. It felt comfortable as soon as we sat down on it, and we found it to be suitable for napping, reading, playing video games, and socializing with guests.

Plus, it's surprisingly durable considering its cheap price. Throughout six-plus months of use, the fabric looks good as new, and the cushions are still as comfortable as they were on day one. Even with lots of toddler jumping sessions, the couch has maintained its shape and firmness.

Our favorite thing about this couch has to be the removable and machine-washable cover, which is available in 13 colors. We found the cover easy to wash and change, allowing you to keep it stain free and even switch up colors seasonally. After throwing the cover in the washing machine, we were able to remove all signs of an apple juice spill, so we think it’s ideal for households with kids. The couch cover doesn’t sit flush against the bottom though, so you'll be able to tell it is a cover. While some people may find this annoying, we think the reasonable price makes up for it.

Upholstery: Polyester and cotton | Dimensions: 88 by 36 by 36 in. | Seat Depth: 23 in.

The olefin upholstery is scratchproof and stainproof.

The cushions are very dense and not ideal for lounging.

The Burrow Block Nomad Sofa is made with pet- and kid-friendly olefin upholstery, a synthetic performance fabric that's woven so tightly that it's both scratchproof and stainproof. We could remove spills from the material with just soap and water. After one year, the fabric still looks the same as when we first got it. While the pillows and cushions look a bit lived in, there’s no noticeable wear and tear.

Since this is a modular sofa, every feature is pretty much customizable. You can add a chaise or an ottoman, pick from six different leg finishes and three arm styles, and add lumbar pillows for support. Plus, the cushions are reversible: One side is tufted, and the other smooth. And the best part? It comes with built-in USB charger—while young kids might not appreciate it, teens and adults certainly will.

We found that the sofa's dense firmness made it better for sitting and watching TV than lounging or napping, as its cushions didn't provide that "sink-in" feeling. Given its modular design, we think it's a solid starter couch that can expand to suit your needs over time.

Upholstery: Olefin, leather, velvet | Dimensions: 85 by 35 by 33 inches | Seat Depth: 22 inches

It's durable enough to survive pasta stains and cat claws with no wear and tear.

The backrest is a bit short.

If you're looking to invest in a long-lasting kid- and pet-friendly sofa, this Benchmade Modern sectional is it. Though expensive, its quality is among the best we’ve ever seen. After our cat attempted to claw the cushions, we were amazed that the fabric remained completely intact. It also prevailed against a pasta sauce stain—once we used an upholstery foam cleaner and a damp rag to clean it up, we couldn’t even see where the stain had been. Six months later, the couch still looks as good as new.

In terms of cushioning, you can opt for a standard, firmer option or a more loungey, down alternative fill. We loved the amount of customization options—it’s available in three upholstery fabrics, four leg finishes, and an overwhelming number of colors. You also have the option of choosing which side you want the bumper on, catering to any room layout. Just keep in mind that each material has different cleaning instructions.

We do wish the backrest was a bit taller, as the short height may make it difficult for taller people to relax their shoulders while in an upright position. The cushions also became a bit softer over time. However, this couch is a standout if you’re looking for a durable and functional sectional. And, if you want something smaller, it's also available in a regular sofa size.

Upholstery: 128 options, including leather, velvet, woven, boucle, and performance | Dimensions: 90–125 by 70–105 by 37 in. | Seat Depth: 23 in.

The cushions are strong and the sofa comes in a variety of kid- and pet-friendly upholstery options.

You may notice a few loose threads over time.

If you're seeking a small yet durable couch, the Albany Park Lido is a no brainer. Measuring just 75 inches in width, this sofa is perfect for apartments or smaller spaces. While we love many aspects of it, its comfort has to be our favorite. Whether napping, knitting, or working on our laptop, we've experienced no neck pain whatsoever. After several months of use, the cushions have kept their shape, the color is still vibrant, and the upholstery still looks new.

The cushions were super sturdy, keeping their shape even while accommodating us and our 25-pound Frenchton. We found the back high enough to provide adequate support and the seats deep enough so that we didn't feel like we're on the edge of the sofa. Just note that while the brand says the couch has a height of 32 inches, we measured it at 27 inches.

It comes in various upholstery options, including safe, kid-friendly materials and pet-friendly choices that are tightly woven to avoid snags. Plus, the cushions have removable covers, making them extra easy to clean and maintain. While we did spot a few loose threads over time, they were easy to pull out. We tested the bouclé fabric, which was soft, textured, and well made.

Upholstery: Velvet, bouclé, performance, basketweave, or leather | Dimensions: 75 by 38 by 32 in. | Seat Depth: 24 in.

Unfurling the mattress is a quick and easy process.

The mattress is a bit short.

The hallmark of a great sleeper sofa is a comfortable mattress, and that's exactly what this model offers. You can choose between a memory foam mattress and a spring mattress—we tested the memory foam, and found it very comfortable to sleep on. In fact, we didn't feel the metal frame through it at all. The ultra-high performance fabric was also incredibly durable when we tested it against energetic children and cats, with no snags after one year of use.

We attribute much of this durability to its heathered color, which seamlessly masks pulls and scratches. We particularly love how easy it is to remove cat hair—you can just run your hand over the surface to ball up the hair and remove it. If you don’t want a sectional, you can buy it in a regular sofa size as well.

We also appreciated the ease of setup, as it took us just six minutes to prepare, linens and all. The mattress is definitely on the softer rather than firmer side though, and it's pretty short as well. The website lists the mattress' length to be 72 inches long, which is six inches shorter than a standard queen, but when we measured it, it was just 70 inches long (for reference, twins and fulls are 75 inches long).

Upholstery: Polyester | Dimensions: 121 by 88 by 36 in. | Seat Depth: 25 in.

The seats are wide enough to comfortably fit multiple people.

The slipcovers are not high-performance, but they are washable.

Slipcovers are removable and washable, making it easy to keep your couch looking fresh and clean. That's why we loved this slipcovered sofa from Sixpenny—we found the linen material durable and were impressed that it withstood apple sauce spills with a simple spot clean, making it easy to maintain. Even with a clawing cat and wild puppy at home, the couch showed no signs of wear and tear after six months.

Since the couch is so low to the ground, the center of the cushions didn't sag at all. Unlike smaller models that can hardly fit four people in a sitting position, it was large enough to fit several of us at once. In fact, the cushions are so wide that we felt like we were lying in a bed. Just keep in mind that this couch’s 31-inch seat depth and low height are better for lounging than for formal entertaining. We also found it a bit challenging to get up from the seats, so we don’t recommend this pick for people with knee issues.

We were big fans of its pillowy cushions, which are filled with either a down or polyfill. Do note that they'll need regular fluffing to maintain their shape. We also loved this sofa's modular construction, which allows you to adjust the configuration.

Upholstery: 29 options, including cotton, linen, and velvet | Dimensions: 145 by 98 by 33 in. | Seat Depth: 31 in.

We love the Room & Board Metro Sofa for its durable scratch- and stain-resistant upholstery, which makes it a perfect piece of furniture for homes with pets or kids. Plus, it’s completely customizable. For a more budget-friendly option, we recommend the Ikea Uppland Sofa. This comfortable couch held up well over two years of use, maintaining its firmness. It also has a removable and machine-washable cover, making it great for spill-prone households.

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So far, we’ve tested 31 couches in our homes, including sectional sofas and sleeper options. First, we checked out the purchasing process, seeing how easy the website was to navigate and how helpful customer service was. Next, we rated the delivery and assembly process—how long it took to set up and how easy it was to unbox, assemble, and move the couch.

Once the sofas were assembled, we spent several months testing them. During this time, we considered their comfort while sitting, lying down, and napping, as well as how many people could comfortably fit on the couch. We also evaluated durability, noting any changes in the cushions' firmness or the texture of the fabric. If the couch stained, we assessed how easy it was to remove.

For long-term insights, we evaluated how the top-performing sofas held up in our homes after six months and one year of use.

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Upholstery

For kid- and pet-friendly households, Rawes says performance fabric is the way to go. It's stain resistant, ultra strong, and very easy to clean, making it best for high-use areas such as hotels, coffee shops, or, in this case, homes with pets or kids. All of the sofas on our list except for our best slipcovered pick have the option of performance fabric. "There are so many beautiful options now that are super durable and almost impossible to stain, like Crypton, Perennials, or even Sunbrella fabric," Rawes says.

You don't have to limit yourself to just performance fabric, though. Leather is another great option, as it's strong, odor repellant, and you can just wipe away spills. While it isn't scratch resistant, marks and clawing on leather can often pass for a distressed, vintage look. Three of the sofas on our list, the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa, the BenchMade Modern Skinny Fat Sectional, and the Albany Park Lido Sofa, come in leather options.

Genovese says microfiber is another top material for furniture in homes with kids and pets, as its dense texture blocks allergens, is stainproof, and is very hard to rip. Velvet is durable as well; its tight weave prevents snags and loose threads. Just keep in mind that velvet does attract pet hair, though it's easy to wipe away.

In addition to considering upholstery material, color is also important. If you're worried about stains, opt for a darker color sofa, which will be less likely to show them. But if your pet has light-colored fur, a lighter color fabric helps to keep you sane from the endless pet hair, Genovese says.

Frame

A frame is the foundation of the sofa, so finding a sturdy one is crucial. Genovese says the material of a sofa's legs can be a make-or-break factor if you have a dog that chews, noting that metal legs are best for teething pups.

Fill

A couch's comfort is determined by its fill, namely whether it will have a soft, lounge-like feel or a more structured rigidity. High-resiliency foam is the firmest and most supportive option, while low-density foam is softer and plusher. Medium-density foam offers a nice middle ground and is able to accommodate versatile seating needs. For households with kids, high-resiliency, high-density foam will be more durable and less likely to lose its shape over time.

Be sure to read the manufacturer's directions for cleaning before proceeding with any type of clean-up method. For instance, to clean a microfiber couch, you should determine whether you can use water, if it's vacuum only, or if a dry cleaning solvent is the only option. That said, you should always blot up any accidents or spills immediately to reduce the risk of a stain.

"A light fabric, even if it's performance [fabric], will show some dirt after regular use," Rawes says. "Just clean based on the manufacturer's instructions regularly. I always try to fluff cushions and flip them as regularly as possible."

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Leather and vegan leather do not attract pet hair. Other pet-friendly materials, including velvet and microfiber, do attract pet hair, but they're scratch resistant—you'll just need to remove pet hair regularly.

Couches usually last from seven to 15 years, though it really depends on the quality of your couch, how active your household is, and how much effort you put into maintenance. For example, if you live in an active household, your sofa's lifespan may be on the shorter end of that range.

According to Rawes, finding a high-quality piece of furniture is often worth the splurge. While you might hesitate to buy something nice with kids or pets at home, she says a well-made piece will withstand wear and tear. Cheap furniture, on the other hand, may only last you a few years,

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This article was written by Jamie Fischer, a writer for Real Simple with nearly two years of experience writing home and lifestyle shopping roundups. For this list, we tested a variety of sofas over six months. Our top picks are comfortable, stylish, and durable enough to withstand wear and tear from kids and pets. Additional reporting was done by Stefanie Waldek, who spoke with designers Libby Rawes of Sharp + Grey Interiors and Jaclyn Genovese of Spaces By Jacflash.