Submitted by stbunny t3_y7b0x7 in BuyItForLife

Hello all! I’ve got a question for you regarding couches. I’ve got 3 dogs and I’m not the kind of person to not allow dogs on furniture. The last couch we bought was leather, but cheap leather and the paint is flaking off. In the next year or so, I want to replace it with something that will LAST.

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Vertigo_uk123 t1_istiybk wrote

have a look at nabru they are flat pack but you can replace every single part and design it exactly how you want. covers are also easy and cheap to replace.

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Meretneith t1_istlcf4 wrote

Get something with covers that can easily be machine washed and replaced from a retailer that will still be around when you need to buy new covers. Steer clear of anything with covers that cannot be washed or replaced. Spills and accidents happen and stuff breaks. It just happens, especially with pets or kids around.

A cheap-ish version would be the Ikea Ektorp series. It doesn't look like it but my Ektorp pieces (3 seat couch, armchair and stool thingy) have survived multiple moves (also surprisingly light and easy to take apart and move) and my rowdy cats for years with their original white (!!!) covers intact. If the covers ever get damaged or stained beyond help, I'll just get a set of new ones and won't have to buy a new couch.

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clayphish t1_istok4r wrote

If you want quality leather that will withstand your dogs you’ll need to go with a full grain leather, not top grain (where the surface is sanded) and definitely not bonded like your couch. Chances are you’ll want to find a reputable manufacture in your area as there can be some very shady practices going on when it comes to couches. There is so much cutting corners and trickery that you need to find a company with a known reputation for quality.

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TimLikesPi t1_istxsyz wrote

I have a modern style Natuzzi leather sofa with very thick, black leather. It is 16 years old and looks like new. It survives German Shepards, Pit Bulls, and little dogs that like to dig. One little dog tried digging through it. A little black shoe polish later and I cannot tell where the dog did this and that dog passed away over 10 years ago.

You need full grain. You will pay more, but it will last.

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Ella0508 t1_istzn3w wrote

Mohair. I’m sitting on my almost-20-year-old sofa right now. The stuff is fantastic. Cats don’t claw it, fur comes off pretty easily. Vomit wipes off/vacuums up easily. Human activities like eating and drinking do more damage than pets.

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itsasseatnszn t1_isudzd0 wrote

I bought an ikea couch. Hear me out. I reinforced it with 2x4 while assembling. The covers last years. It’s held up to a bunch of friends and parties. And if it doesn’t work out, you’re only out the cost of an Ikea couch.

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sleepybutsunny t1_isue9b3 wrote

Crate and Barrel Lounge couch with the performance velvet. I hate that the pillows get slouchy after a while but the performance velvet is amazingly stain resistant. I easily vacuum it for dog hair. Reason I got it was because of its great longevity reviews and has lived up to the hype.

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stbunny OP t1_isugpal wrote

My first apt couch was an ikea Klippan which I think I paid $249 for it? It went to my brother (two cats, and mystery stains) after I got married, now it's back in my office! New cover, and you'd never know it was over 10 years old.

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OneMorePenguin t1_isumpss wrote

Thanks for the recommendation. I have four cats and my couch is total sh** and I would really like a new couch. I just an't see spending $2k on a Pottery Barn couch, but I want something comfortable and good for laying on. My current one is not very deep and the cushions are pretty airy foam compared to some couches that I have found comfortable. No leather for me.

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vesati t1_isurswa wrote

Second vote on Natuzzi.

I bought mine years ago, and aside from the cushions losing their will to live, the leather doesn't have a single hole or tear.

Plenty of scratches and patina, but 100% intact.

I just wish I could get replacement cushions.

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itsonlypaint t1_isuxek2 wrote

Leather, but shop wisely (I highly recommend a good used sofa over cheap crap for the same money)

Hickory Tannery, Hancock and Moore, etc.

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caroonth t1_isv3psg wrote

I'm 7 years into my McKinley Leather Furniture couch and with dogs and kids. I think I'll be tired of it long before it wears out. I'm from what was once the furniture capital of the world in North Carolina but it's hard to find good quality furniture anymore. Even the recognized better brands are actually cheaply made overseas garbage now. Search carefully and you can still find some good US manufacturers. It'll cost a little more, but it's the built to last stuff.

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FionaTheFierce t1_isv9cs3 wrote

So my fix for the dog and sofa (and kids) situation is to buy a high-quality used sofa and not feel that bad when it gets wrecked. Like $200 or less. Look for Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, Henredon, etc. etc. Basically anything that suits your taste. The frames and cushions will still be good and when it gets gross you can just trash it after a few years.

Alternatively, look for new sofas from those companies or similar. Lee Industries, Mitchell Gold, etc. all very good. Will cost you $3000+ for a high quality well-constructed sofa. Go for down or down blend cushions. Try to pick a sofa with removable cushion covers, with matching fabric on both sides, and washable. Look at the rub test value and look for one with a very high rating (50,000 or whatever)

Blankets or covers will also help.

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FionaTheFierce t1_isv9l03 wrote

Wool is an amazing fiber for upholstery and carpet - $$$$$ but really incredibly durable. I have a cat that has been trying to destroy a wool upholstered chair for 20+ years and it still looks good. Sofa, not so much.

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demography_llama t1_isw4h9v wrote

We finally broke down and bought a Lovesac Sactional. Pricey, but worth it. The covers are removable and can be easily thrown in the washing machine. We have a dog and foster kittens. The animal hair rarely sticks to the covers we bought. So far we're very impressed with the quality.

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arkofjoy t1_isw8xnj wrote

3 dogs are going to destroy any couch. Your only hope is to find the companies that build couches for places like college dorms

Or, you can do what we did when we had teenagers at home. In my city, a couple of times a year we have the "verge side chuck out" my wife would spot a decent looking couch on someone's verge, I would hook up the trailer and go pick it up, then put the old, now clapped out couch on the verge, and bring the "new" one in

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nirad t1_iswfhap wrote

I have the same issue. I have one big puppy and another big puppy friend who often stays over, sometimes for weeks at a time. And the two wrestle constantly. They have destroyed my old sofa.

After doing some research, my conclusion is that it’s probably best to buy something that has been made for a long time and has replaceable cushions with some durable fabric choices. I am not getting leather because I think it will just get destroyed too quickly.

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Faeglantina t1_isx3dp3 wrote

Lovesac. It was expensive, but modular so you can start with a chair, then expand to a loveseat, then full couch if you want. I love that it can be disassembled and cleaned, also that parts can be replaced, including covers. They have a great warranty too. I’ve had the same couch for fifteen years, and we’re pretty hard on them. I’ve had to replace a couple of worn covers and called in the warranty for a damaged side. It looks like a new couch. You’d never know.

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TimLikesPi t1_isxedva wrote

Pretty sure you can get an upholsterer to replace those. They know how to hide any seams and what foam and batting to use. My cushions are in amazing shape, and I sit or lay on mine all the time. They get abused and still hold their shape after 16 years.

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sacredxsecret t1_isxoqaz wrote

All of the suggestions are moot without knowing what your price range is.

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Faeglantina t1_isz2o1t wrote

He digs, hence replacing one of the covers. It was worn through. If you mean that it gets disgustingly dirty, the covers all come off and are machine washable. Every single one. Not just the cushions, the back and sides and base too. It’s modular, so the whole thing comes off.

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Sabrina912 t1_it0c6ik wrote

I have had an IKEA Kivik sectional for 7 years. Covers are all removable and machine washable. Looks nearly new. I did buy a spare set of covers once when I found them in the as is section. So that has helped maintain its life too.

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spoilmydoggos t1_ithzvz2 wrote

Restoration Hardware makes solid leather sofas.

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