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Do you have a growing family? Then make sure your sofas are child friendly

When there are children in the house it is important to ensure that when purchasing the household sofas a careful consideration should be given to the wear and tear it will be sure to face.
There are several considerations all parents should take into account when buying a new sofa:

• Loose Cover Sofas
The first consideration is the fabric of the sofa. Parents should ensure that when buying a new sofa that the fabric is one which is easily cleaned. In this respect it may be better to opt for a loose cover sofa rather than a fixed cover sofa, as the covers on these sofas are obviously much easier to wash. However, it is also important to enquire about how the covers should be washed before purchasing the sofa. Some people may prefer to have a sofa which has loose covers which are machine washable, and so this type of information should be determined prior to the purchase.

• Fixed Cover Sofas

If buying a fixed cover sofa then the fabric must still be considered. Consideration must be given to how easily the fabric can be cleaned or vacuumed. If children are going to using the sofa then the marks left by sticky fingers or muddy feet should be relatively easily to clean off. In addition, the fabric must be durable and be able to withstand liquid spillages, which are common occurrences when children are around.

• Leather Sofas

It is a well known fact that children can be quite rough on furniture, children are forever jumping on and off of sofas and as Simon Carr said they want to dismantle them and turn them into tents or forts. So a sofa should be chosen based on its ability to withstand roughness and dirt. In terms of tackling dirt, a material which is easy to wipe is ideal. In this respect a leather sofa maybe the best option but in terms of withstanding roughness leather may not be the best choice. Children are never as gentle with or as easy on the sofa as most parents would like, so sofas which boasts material which is not easily torn should be chosen. Leather sofas nowadays are often made from quite thin leather and consequently rip easily. If a leather sofa is to be purchased it is important to ensure a sofa which is well upholstered with thick, high quality leather is chosen.

• The Sofa Frame

Finally careful thought should be given to the frame of the sofa. A sofa with a good quality frame should be chosen. A lower quality frame is unlikely to withstand the rough and tumble which children will subject it to.

Parents should think about investing a little more in a sofa in order to ensure it survives all the trial and tribulations which their children will put it through. Although investing a little more in a higher quality sofa is more costly in the short term it will have economic benefits in the long run.