5 pet-friendly couches to fight fur and combat claw marks -

We all love our fur babies. But anyone who’s watched their cat slowly shred their couch, or seen their dog jump on the sofa while soaking wet, knows these moments can be hard on your furry friendship.

The best way to live in peace with your pet isn’t to banish them from the furniture (that would get in the way of cuddle time!) — it’s to invest in pet-friendly furniture. And the first hurdle is finding a pet-friendly couch.

The couch is where your pet spends most of their time, so it needs to be able to stand up to muddy paws, cat claws, shed hair, and hairballs — and it needs to look good doing it.

It’s a big job, but when you know what to look for, you can find a couch that’s cut out for your pet-filled life. We’ll explain what type of upholstery can stand up to your furry friends, plus share 5 pet-friendly couches that are sturdy enough and stylish enough for any living room.

The best upholstery for pets

When you’re picking a pet-friendly couch, it’s all in the upholstery.

Some fabrics, like silk and chenille, are too delicate for dog and cat claws. (Just looking at chenille the wrong way can cause a snag.) Meanwhile, woven fabrics, like tweed, end up with pet hair stuck in between the tight weave of the fabric, which makes it impossible to clean.

Beyond the type of upholstery, color is important too. All-white couches might look good in magazines, but bring one home to your best friend, and it will end up stained in under an hour. Avoid these rookie mistakes by sticking to the following tried-and-tested pet-friendly fabric options when you shop.

Microfiber

Microfiber is the ultimate performance fabric for people with pets. This is a stain-resistant fabric, so you don’t have to worry about dirty paws or the occasional hairball. Most messes wipe off with just a damp cloth. For set-in stains, you can clean microfiber with an upholstery cleaner — just be careful to spot-test any cleaner in an inconspicuous place before applying it to a visible part of your sofa.

Microfiber is also a durable fabric that’s unlikely to snag or scratch — even if you have a large dog climbing on and off of it regularly. Cats don’t like to use microfiber couches as their personal scratching post because the smooth fabric doesn’t catch on their claws, which makes it a lot less fun to scratch.

Microfiber also doesn’t attract pet hair or get hairs caught between its fibers. If you ever do notice pet hair floating around your sofa, it’s easy to clean up with a quick vacuuming or lint roll.

We don’t want to say that microfiber is the perfect fabric for pet parents, but it’s pretty close. All of these features make microfiber our top pick for pet-friendly upholstery.

Velvet

Pet owners who like a little glamour will be happy to hear that velvet is a pet-friendly fabric option. The texture of velvet doesn’t catch on claws, so this fabric is unlikely to get damaged by a dog climbing on and off of it, and your cat isn’t likely to use your velvet couch as a scratching post.

Cleanup can be a little more difficult with velvet than with microfiber because too much scrubbing can wear away at velvet’s soft fuzz. As such, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the best way to clean velvet. If your pet gets dirt or mud on your couch, you’ll need to wait for it to dry, then try to vacuum it up or gently brush it off with a soft-bristle brush.

If you’ve ever used a velvet lint remover, you’ll also know that pet hair sticks to velvet. This fabric attracts pet hair, but the hair doesn’t get stuck in the fabric, so it’s easy to clean with a quick vacuuming of your couch cushions. Just be forewarned that you’ll need to vacuum a velvet sofa a little more often than you would a microfiber sofa.

Leather

A leather sofa is on-trend in any time period, and one of the reasons it has stood the test of time is its durability. This fabric doesn’t attract pet hair, and cats have no desire to scratch it. (Much like velvet and microfiber, the texture doesn’t catch their claws, so it’s just not satisfying to scratch.)

However, leather can get scratch marks on it, even if your pet isn’t actively trying to scratch it up. So, this fabric isn’t the best choice for households with large dogs since they might accidentally leave claw marks when climbing on and off the couch.

While loose dirt and pet hair are easy to vacuum off of a leather couch, stains can be hard to remove from genuine leather. For an easier, wipe-clean option, opt for leatherette or faux leather.

Dark colors

Dark color options are less likely to show dirt and stains than light color options. When choosing a pet-friendly sofa, go dark. With a super pet-friendly fabric like microfiber, we might be brave enough to go as light as tan, but with most fabrics, we would look for colors that are closer to the navy blue, charcoal, and chocolate side of the color spectrum.

Textures and prints

Textures and prints also help hide stains. And you don’t need to choose a bold or busy print to get the benefits. Even something as simple as choosing a heathered fabric or a fabric with an aged or weathered finish can help.

Washable covers

One of our favorite tricks for decorating a pet-friendly living space is to use a daybed in place of a traditional couch. The pillow cases, sheets, and comforter can all be removed and thrown in the washing machine, which makes for easy cleanup whenever pet messes appear. If you prefer a traditional couch, you can also add a slipcover or look for a sofa with removable, machine-washable cushion covers.

The 5 best pet-friendly couches

Now that you know what to look for in a pet-friendly couch, take a look at these 5 options. They’re all stylish, comfortable, and durable places for you to snuggle up with your furry friend.

1. Blaine Upholstered Reversible Sectional in Fog

This chaise sectional sofa is made in a knitted-velvet performance fabric with a wide corduroy finish. It will add cozy, vintage vibes to your living room and give you and your best friend a comfy place to curl up for movie night.

It has a solid wood frame and wooden legs, so it’s designed for heavy use. (Bring on the Great Danes!) Plus, the back and seat cushions are reversible to help you hide stains, making this a fantastic pet-friendly sectional.

2. Locke Upholstered Track Arms Sofa in Vintage Brown

With its boxy silhouette and tuxedo style frame, this minimalist sofa will add tailored style to your living room. It’s the perfect piece of furniture for a Scandinavian or mid-century modern home.

The vintage brown leatherette is easy to wipe clean and the darker brown color helps hide pet messes. The sofa seats three, and you can pair it with a matching loveseat and armchair to complete your pet-friendly living room decor.

3. Kingston Upholstered Twin Daybed in Charcoal

If you want a sleeper sofa that’s actually comfortable to sleep on, then this Kingston upholstered daybed is the ideal pet-friendly solution. Its dramatic, velvet channel tufting and geometric silhouette will make a statement as the central piece of your living room furniture. It’s a perfect fit for Art Deco or Hollywood Regency style homes.

The velvet sides of this daybed will discourage cat scratching. You can add any bedding you choose and throw it in the washing machine for easy clean up. Plus, this sofa bed can help you carve out a place for guests to sleep, even in a small space. We just hope your guests like snuggling with your pets!

4. Gulfdale Cushion Back Upholstered Sofa in Dark Teal

For a more unique color option, this teal sofa makes a style statement. Make it the centerpiece of your living space and build your color scheme around this stunning piece of furniture. It’s a beautiful choice for coastal-style or mid-century modern living rooms.

The dark color helps hide stains in a pet-friendly velvet fabric. And it features a solid wood frame, so it’s ready for heavy use. Your biggest furry friends will be able to lounge all day. For larger spaces, you can pair it with a matching loveseat and armchair.

5. Schwartzman Modular Sectional in Charcoal

This mid-century modern sofa features clean, square lines in a dramatic (and pet-friendly) dark charcoal velvet. The black metal legs have a hairpin silhouette, and because it’s a modular sofa, it can be configured to fit your space.

In a small space, you can make it a two-seater with just enough room for you and your furry friend. And in a big living room, you can make it a 10-seater and throw a puppy party! The dark velvet fabric resists stains, and the cushions are reversible in case any accidents do happen.

Cuddle up on the perfect couch

For your living room to feel like home, you need to be able to leave your worries behind and cuddle up with your furry friend. So, choose a fabric that you don’t need to worry about. Look for upholstery, like microfiber, velvet, and leather, that can stand up to pet hair and claws. Then choose dark colors to help hide stains.

The five sofas above help prove that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or style to find a pet-friendly couch. And there’s more where that came from!

To see additional pet-friendly furniture near you, head to your local furniture store. There you can sit on every sofa to make sure it’s comfy enough for you, and sturdy enough for your furry friend. Plus, you can explore additional fabric swatches and choose an ideal upholstery. You’re sure to find the best couch for you and your best friend.