How to Choose a Family Friendly Sofa

Can you balance having children and having nice things? Some Mummy’s might say no, while others seem to have mastered the art of having a home that looks beautiful along with their little ones. You can have nice things in your home even if you have several children, but it may require a little planning!

The best thing you can do is invest in high-quality, durable furniture. You might think the opposite would be true and that it would be better to buy cheaper furniture, but if you do that, not only might your home not look as you would like, but you’ll probably end up spending more by having to replace it more often.

If you have a family, one of the most important pieces of furniture you likely buy is a sofa. You need a sofa that is going to look good, but also withstand the wear and tear of your children. We have some top tips for on how to choose a family friendly sofa:

Frame First

The frame is the foundation of any sofa, and it’s going to be one of the most important factors in just how much your new sofa will be able to take. If you want a family friendly furniture option, try to avoid sofas with soft wood frames, like pine. Choose a hardwood and definitely avoid frames that are made of MDF or plastic.

You’ll also want to look for a sofa with legs that are part of the frame, and not only attached with glue.

Joint Construction

You may not have ever though of joint construction when choosing a piece of furniture, but it’s key in the durability of a sofa. You don’t want to pick one that is held together with something like glue or staples. Screws are a much more reliable option.

The Filling

Also relevant during your sofa shopping is the filling your sofa contains. If you choose a sofa with cushions made from high-resilient foam, you might pay a premium, but that’s because this option tends to last longer, and also be pretty comfortable. If you choose something like polyester, you’ll probably find that the price tag is lower, but it will go flat much quicker. The most expensive sofa filling is often goose down and feather combinations, but this isn’t ideal if you want a family friendly home because it’s a high maintenance option.

Upholstery

Children tend to spill things constantly, and no matter what you do to prevent it, it’s really unavoidable. That’s why you need to take the time to find the right upholstery. Synthetic microfibre tends to be the most stain resistant, making it a good option. You can treat natural fibres like cotton and linen to be stain resistant, but they may not be as easy to clean. Also very durable are wool and leather sofas, but you should be prepared to pay the most for these options.

When you’re decorating a family-friendly home, look at the items you choose as a long-term investment rather than throwaways, and choose pieces that can withstand a lot and will work well in your home for years to come.

How do you choose the best furniture for your home?