Before you have kids (human or fur babies), you might have ideas about how your life will look after their arrival. And oftentimes, we think we have to give up our stylish sensibilities to accommodate this kind of seismic life change. But thankfully, there are plenty of kid and pet friendly couches that will perfectly suit your new lifestyle without sacrificing style (tour this chic Havenly home in Denver for proof).
We love a beautiful linen or bouclé sofa just as much as the next person, but performance fabrics ward off life’s inevitable messes in a way that these luxe materials simply cannot. From red wine, chocolate, and pasta sauce to paw prints, finger paint, and spit up, performance fabrics stand up to the toughest possible stains and ultimately allow us to live a more carefree life.
Best of all, popular brands like Interior Define, Burrow, The Inside, and more all have an impressive, color-rich selection of performance fabrics ranging from creamy white to deep blue, so you can shop the kid and pet friendly couch of your dreams.
What to Look For in a Kid and Pet-Friendly Couch
“Performance fabric sofas have come a long way,” says Havenly lead designer Melissa Wagner. “They’re a lifesaver during those messy toddler years or puppy training days.” She recommends investing in a budget-friendly option that will hold up for six to seven years, and either recovering or donating when “well-loved” becomes an understatement.
As far as color and fabric selection go, always mind the label when shopping: performance fabrics are man-made synthetics like polyester that are cleanable, durable, fade and stain-resistant, and long lasting. While we love a creamy white sofa, it’s best to avoid super dark or light fabrics—a single-tone charcoal sofa can show just as many stains as a white one. “Fabrics made of multi-tone threads are the absolute best at hiding spills and stains,” she adds.
Ahead, Melissa (alongside fellow Havenly designer and parent Toussaint Derby) share their top recommendations for kid and pet friendly couches that are as chic as they are durable.
1. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Sloan Sofa
Upholstered in Performance Vintage Velvet Ivy, Interior Define’s best-selling Sloan Sofa is the perfect kid and pet-friendly couch. Best of all, you can customize your own sofa for your unique space and tastes — choose from 115 performance fabrics, 18 different leg styles, and endless configurations, from loveseats to sectionals.
2. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Ambroise Black Leather Sofa
Who knew that such a stylish sofa could be kid and pet-friendly? Leather is a great, durable fabric that cleans easily—and in black, it’s pretty much stain-proof. Toussaint especially loves this CB2 sofa because of its organic silhouette. And the channel-tufted back?! The beauty is in the details.
3. Kid and Pet Friendly Couches: James Sofa
Another performance award winner from Interior Define, the James sofa (with contrast piping) is a cozy, timeless option for a kid and pet friendly couch. Shown above in Performance Velvet Terracotta with Wine Velvet piping, this beauty is equal parts striking and durable.
4. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Warren Sofa
Maiden Home’s Warren Sofa is a tried-and-true kid and pet-friendly couch, particularly when upholstered in gray performance linen. It features cozy, down-fill cushions and a timeless modern silhouette that will never go out of style.
5. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Jasper Sectional
For a sleek, modern sofa that’s still durable and long-lasting, look no further than the Interior Define Jasper sectional. Yes, you can even opt for a crisp neutral, like the brand’s Porcelain Performance Classic Weave, and rest easy knowing your dog’s muddy paw prints will wipe right up.
6. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Range 3-Piece Sofa
It’s very rare that you’ll ever see velvet on a list of kid and pet friendly couches, but this isn’t your ordinary velvet. The performance velvet of this Burrow sectional is stain-resistant, durable, and easy to clean. You can consider it totally fair game for all members of your family to curl up on.
7. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Winslow Corner Sectional
Another durable winner from Interior Define, the top-selling Winslow Corner Sectional checks every box: durable performance velvet (shown above in color Fawn), sleek bench cushion to minimize messy crumbs and lost toys, and a stylish, timeless silhouette.
8. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Ember Sectional
Performance chenille is a great upholstery option when you have kids and pets, says Toussaint—and this sectional from Burrow doesn’t disappoint. If you’re a big fan of midcentury modern design, this is a great choice for your living space. Plus, its understated sage hue adds a splash of color while still functioning as a neutral.
9. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Modern Sofa
A performance linen option, this sofa from The Inside is available in a selection of beautiful colors—including this easy-to-clean blush. The performance fabric is made of polyester and linen that’s soft to the touch, while also being easy to clean and resistant to fading. Consider this your proof that you don’t have to give up your dreams of an accent sofa for practicality’s sake.
10. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Gather Deep Sofa
With an extra-deep seat, this cozy sofa was basically designed for family movie night or snow day snuggles. Upholstered in 100% polyester chenille, it’s completely stain-resistant and easy to clean, but still feels luxe. Plus, the champagne color easily blends with any design style.
11. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Gaby Sectional
When searching for a kid and pet-friendly couch, it doesn’t get better than a dark performance fabric. The Gaby Sofa from Interior Define is a longtime best-seller thanks to its timeless, modern design, and when upholstered in Cove Performance Classic Weave, it checks the “durable” box, too.
12. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Tailored Tuxedo Sofa
The Inside’s new Tailored Tuxedo Sofa comes in a variety of kid and pet-friendly performance fabrics, from durable linens to performance Heron Luxe Velvet (pictured above). Plus, it clearly doesn’t skimp on style — we love the sleek bench cushion and matching bolster pillows.
13. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Union Sofa
Meet the customizable sofa to end all customizable sofas. In addition to seven different configuration options ranging from loveseat to U-sectional, the Union Sofa from Burrow also allows you to customize by performance fabric and leg finish. Best of all, Burrow performance fabrics are top-notch and affordable, making it a win for the whole family (fur babies, too).
14. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Maxwell Sofa
For a kid and pet-friendly couch with a traditional twist, meet Interior Define’s Maxwell Sofa. Upholstered in the brand’s Fawn Performance Velvet, this number is liquid and stain-resistant and specifically designed for high-traffic areas.
15. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Mambo Sofa
If you’re living in a small space, currently experiencing the terrible twos, just bought a puppy, or all three, this Burrow sofa is a no-brainer. It’s affordable, compact, and durable—all fabric options are crafted from performance synthetic fibers, including the stain-resistant gray. It’s low to the ground, great for small spaces, and comes in a loveseat, sofa, sectional, or an ottoman. You can’t go wrong!
16. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Scarlett Sofa
For a kid and pet-friendly couch that straddles the line between modern and traditional, the Scarlett sofa checks every box. Opt for the Cove performance fabric for a pop of color, and invite your dogs, cats, and kids to cuddle on the sofa without a second thought.
17. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: English Roll Arm Sofa
This classic beauty from The Inside is as timeless as it gets. Pictured above in the brand’s Performance Talc Linen fabric, this English roll arm sofa can stand up to wine spills, chocolate, muddy paw prints, and beyond — all while looking gorgeous.
18. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Alexander Sofa
If you’re looking for a timeless traditional sofa that will also stand up to life’s messes, look no further than the Alexander Sofa. Another gem from Interior Define, this designer favorite is also best-in-class when it comes to durability — especially when upholstered in the brand’s Sage Performance Velvet fabric.
19. Kid And Pet-Friendly Couches: Span Sleeper Storage Sectional
Burrow sofas are known for their durability and versatility, and this beauty is no exception. It’s the perfect option if you’re looking for something stylish but ultra-functional — it features a hidden sleeper plus a sleek storage compartment for blankets and pillows. Plus, you can customize it by configuration, fabric, and leg style — their performance velvets, chenilles, leathers, bouclés, basket weaves, and twills are all deeply saturated and truly top-of-the-line.
20. Kid and Pet Friendly Couches: Tatum Corner Sectional
For a spacious corner sectional that works hard for your family, the Tatum with storage is a no-brainer. It’s modular, so you can reconfigure the layout as needed, and you can customize the size, cushion fill, and fabric (though we humbly suggest the Bisque Performance Classic Weave, pictured above).
21. Kid and Pet Friendly Couches: Simon Sofa
If you can pull off leather in your space, this durable fabric is incredibly kid and pet-friendly. This leather beauty from Interior Define is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something modern, a touch trendy, and of course, high-performance. And we love the warm cognac hue!
22. Kid and Pet Friendly Couches: Nomad Corner Sectional
Melissa considers this option from Burrow her favorite kid and pet-friendly sectional. It’s one of the most affordable and customizable large sectionals on the market. You can even choose your leg, cushion, and arm style plus layout and configuration. It’s definitely a keeper!
23. Kid and Pet Friendly Couches: Classic Sofa
The Inside’s Classic Sofa is just as durable as it is charming. Choose from 120-plus performance fabrics and three leg styles from the brand to design a custom sofa built for you, your pets, and your little ones.
Whether it’s finding *THE* perfect pet-friendly sofa or unlocking the best floor plan for your space, our designers are standing by to help you create a home you love. Check out our designer’s portfolios to find your dream match.