Living Room Furniture That Is Virtually Kid Proof

You’ve got kids. Great! Children are such joys and yet, with the birth of your first child, you probably came to the stark realization that with the coming of children, the way you furnish your home had to undergo some changes. Let’s face it. There is no practical reason for owning a white micro-suede covered sofa, loveseat and side chair if your three year old is going to be drinking cherry-red pop on it. Spills happen. Dirt and finger paint and mysterious discoloring substances you cannot identify seem to be a child’s gift to living room furniture. So, what do you do?

For starters, give up on white furniture. You can spray enough Scotchguard® to protect Fort Knox on it and somehow, a toddler will find a way through its defenses. Also, easily cleaned furniture fabrics are much more practical and much easier to get the gooey stuff off of. Try for some low knap, smooth fabric and yes, do treat it with a stain repellant. It will help, at least a little.

Throws that cover the furniture when you’re not expecting company are a great way to spare your living room furniture the brunt of your children’s wrath. Keep in mind, however, that kids love to make “tents” out of loose throws. I’d spend the extra money and go with the sorts that are designed to fit your furniture. They will look better and make it easier to spot that peanut butter and jelly sandwich that someone hid under the slipcover from their sibling.

So, relax. Enjoy your children. They’ll grow up so fast that it will seem like no time at all before they’ll have kids of their own. That means, even when they head off to college, you probably shouldn’t go out and buy that white sofa. You’re going to be having the grandkids over eventually and your living room furniture is going to need its slipcovers as much as ever.