How to Choose a Sofa for a Family with Kids

If you have children in your home, what sort of sofa should you choose?

With kids in the house, you probably need more seats. A 1 seated sofa is not as cost effective as a 3 seated sofa. You need 3 single seated sofa to seat 3 people as compared to just a 3-seater. The price of 3 single-seated sofa is significantly less than the price of a 3 seated sofa.

That means, for a large family, you would save substantially if you go for the 3 seated sofas as compared to several 2 or 1 seated sofas.

One way to see the best value is to calculate cost per seat of that sofa.

For a single seat, the cost per seat is just the price.

For a 2-seated sofa, the cost per seat would be price divided by 2

For a 3 seated sofa, the cost per seat would be price divided by 3 and so on.

The best value would be the sofa with the lowest cost per seat, everything else remaining the same.

Next, consider the dirt factor. I mean, kids, with their tendency to jump on the sofa, would dirty the sofa very quickly. Not only that, they would eventually break the springs in the sofa. You could train the children not to walk, jump or play on the sofa. But it is wiser to get a sofa set that can withstand the stresses a kid would bring.

For one thing, the sofa would get dirty very quickly. A darker color would be more practical. Leave a white sofa in a home with naughty kids and you'll end up with a gray, or eventually black sofa over time. Dirt shows up so obviously in a light colored sofa. On a dark colored sofa, the deep color hides the gray or black dirt stains. You don't have to clean it so often. It will still look good months later.

Eventually, you still have to clean the sofa.

Our first sofa was a beautiful fabric sofa. It turned a dull gray over the years. As there were no slip covers, we would have to wash the sofa with an upholstery cleaner or to leave it be. On the hindsight, sofa sets with removable slip covers would have been the better bet.

Alternatively, we could have bought 2 sets of slip covers for our sofa while it was still new and rotated those to protect the sofa instead. Slip covers can be washed, so you can always have a clean sofa to sit on. To a busy mom with kids, slip covers are a boon. Dump the soiled slip covers in the washing machine and slip on clean covers.

Our next sofa was a leather sofa. That turned black within weeks. The kids would pretend to be Spiderman climbing the walls, with the sofa as the wall, or Spiderman jumping from roof to roof, with 2 adjacent sofas as the roofs. We bought a leather cleaner to clean it up.

The writer is the webmaster of buy furniture which covers furniture for every room in your home.

---

Cookers

If you are buying a free-standing cooker, oven or hob to makeover your kitchen, you may want to consider shopping for a few other important kitchen appliances,... Read More

Area Rugs - Accent Your Rooms with Area Rugs

One of the easiest ways to accent and decorate your home is with the use of accent rugs and area rugs. Rugs are far more than just... Read More

Carlton Ware: A Colourful Collectible

These vibrant collectibles are as charming today as they were when they were first introduced.OriginThe company Carlton Ware was formed in 1890 due to a partnership between... Read More

Want a Beautiful Limestone Floor but Worried About The Maintenance? Read On

Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock. It is chemically made up of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate). Limestone is formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate... Read More

A Look at Custom Roman Shades

Roman shades are a classic window treatment. They are simple, elegant, and can fit in any style of room. Roman shades are made from a single of... Read More

The Beauty of Copper - Copper Kitchens

Versatile, strong & attractive, it's not surprising that copper has been used for centuries and is today, the most frequently used metal! One of the oldest metals... Read More

Summer Decorating Tips To Cool You

Redesigning your home for summer gives you the opportunity to have fun with your home. A few simple changes can make your home feel refreshed as well... Read More

Choosing Bathroom Vanity Lights

The basic bathroom vanity includes a mirror or medicine cabinet above, a sink or basin and counter or 'top' below, and a cabinet beneath. In some cases... Read More

Update Your Home Decor Using Colorful Rugs

Retro, checks, black and white...looks like MOD is back. A color explosion - bright tomato red, tangerine, lime green and even yellow - is what's hot. In... Read More

Embossed Votive Holder Shade

Create the look of a Stained Glass Votive HolderSupplies Needed:Most items can be found in the Scrap booking/Stamping section of your local craft store.Straight-Sided Clear Glass Votive... Read More

Decorating with Table Fountains

With unlimited possibilities available, table top fountains can add understated beauty or grandeur to any room in your house. Fountains are a worthy investment even for those... Read More

Pizzazz Your Front Door and More!

Want your front door to really "sing?" Then paint it a color to make it the outside focal point of your home.Now, just what color would that... Read More

A Unique Look at Murphy Wall Beds

California has always been a fertile spot for fresh ideas, including the ultimate space-savers and instant room transformers ? Murphy wall beds. Invented around 1900 by San... Read More

The Benefits of Bamboo Roman Shades

Roman shades are inexpensive and elegant window treatment to block the sun or prying eyes of nosy neighbors. Roman shades can be purchased or made cheaply and... Read More

A Guide to Acrylic Kitchen Sinks

Unlike laminates, acrylic and/or polyester plastics are homogenous nonporous material. Kitchen sinks made from acrylic come in different thickness and numerous colors. They can be polished but... Read More

Persian Rugs - Care and Cleaning

You've just invested in a beautiful Persian rug. Even though they are durable, they still need to be properly cared for and cleaned. A well maintained rug... Read More

Great Tips for Choosing Furniture

You're finally going to do it! No I don't mean tie the knot, I mean your finally ready to buy that new furniture you've been dreaming about.... Read More

Beds In A Bag Make You An Instant Designing Pro!

If you feel bedroom-designing challenged like I am, then bed in a bag sets may just be perfect for you! Everything you need comes in one complete... Read More

?Too Much Stuff? Syndrome or How Decorating and Organizing Can Help Your Sanity

This area of home life is different from others in that it involves all the senses and to that degree it is successful, engendering varying emotions. Decorating... Read More

Decorating Your Kitchen With Accessories

Just like a nice outfit, your kitchen can benefit from accessories! If you are thinking about redecorating but don't have a lot of dough to put into... Read More

A Sofa Slip Cover Will Add New Life To Your Tired Furniture!

A sofa slip cover may be just what you need to add some life to that old, tired looking couch of your. There are many advantages to... Read More

The Magic of Color

Deciding what colors to use when decorating your house can be a real challenge. Do you want a soothing atmosphere, vibrant or warm and cozy? The choice... Read More

7 Feng Shui Fundamentals for Childrens Bedrooms

Feng shui is a very popular and intriguing concept in home design today. In addition to the life benefits it provides, it also offers a roadmap, so... Read More

Rustic Log Furniture, How to Find Quality Furniture and a Trust Worthy Seller

The great thing about looking for a retailer or manufacturer of rustic log furniture is there are plenty of sellers out there these days, especially with the... Read More

Bar Stools and Counter Stools Complete Your Space

There is something to be said about a space that has been lovingly designed down to the very last detail. Oftentimes, it is the small details, not... Read More

Creative Ways to Decorate Your Walls

Moving into a new house can sometimes cause a quandry. You can stand and stare at large... blank spaces for weeks wondering just what to do with... Read More