What Sofa Material Is Best For Dogs?

If you're interested in buying a luxury fabric sofa but you have pets at home, you might be wondering, what sofa material is best for dogs? 

Our interior designers explain the characteristics of various fabric sofas and the benefits of each type of material.

Types of materials for fabric sofas

The first step to choosing a fabric sofa that will withstand the impact of your dog is understanding the fabrics that are on the market and their properties. Here are the top 5 most popular fabrics for sofas. 

Microfibre

Microfibre is a non-porous, man-made fabric that is tough yet soft in texture. It is stain-resistant and easy to clean provided you act fast and wipe up spills and messes before they have time to sink in.  Microfibre can withstand lots of traffic without losing its shape. It is similar in feel to suede but is far more cost-effective. One thing pet owners should note is that this fabric tends to attract fur which can then be quite hard to remove, even with a good lint roller.  

Polyester

Polyester upholstery for your fabric sofa is very affordable compared to other fibres. It will generally resist stains better than natural materials like cotton and linen. It's a strong, synthetic fibre that can stand up to the daily use expected from a sofa. It is especially good for outdoor sofas as it's water resistant and doesn't fade easily.

Leather

Leather is the most popular fabric for contemporary sofas. It creates a timeless look and appears almost ageless in terms of durability and toughness. Leather sofas are highly resistant to stains and very easy to clean. It's worth noting that not all leather is the same. Pigmented leather has the most consistent surface and aniline leather looks more natural. Leather is generally the most expensive of all fabric sofa options.

Cotton

Cotton is another natural fibre that is perfect if you want a fabric sofa that feels soft and comfy. It is surprisingly durable and is also a stable fibre, so it won't deteriorate when washed frequently. Cotton fabric sofas will give your space a modern if slightly formal look. On the downside, it fades easily and wrinkles when washed.

Linen

Linen is an earthy, natural fibre that feels smooth and soft, making it extremely comfortable to sit on. Natural materials tend to be less durable and hold stains for longer than synthetic fabrics, and linen is no exception. It gets stained easily and will also weaken quickly when exposed to sunlight. Linen is not suitable for outdoor sofas or indoors where rooms get excessive amounts of sunlight.

How Do Dogs Damage Sofas?

While we all love snuggling up with our furry friends on the sofa, the more your dogs use your fabric sofa, the higher the risk of damage or distress.

If your dog is bored or just quite young, it might use your sofa as a chew toy. Or in the case of housetraining dogs, they might have an accident on the seat. And even if they are very well-behaved puppers, they may unintentionally scratch your sofa or drool on it during a comfy nap. They will also almost certainly shed their fur all over it.

Best Fabric Sofa Materials For Dogs

Now that you have a grasp on the various types of sofa materials and the ways in which your dog could damage them, which sofa fabric is best for your dog? 

Synthetic fabrics are generally the best choice for fabric sofas in homes with pets. Synthetic or microfibre fabrics are easy to clean and their construction makes it tougher for spills to seep through the fibres and set into the material. This rules out linen and cotton.

If you look only at the easy cleaning factor, leather is going to be your top choice by far. However, we don't usually recommend it for homes where your dog lies on the sofa. If your dog accidentally scratches the leather upholstery, it will be far more expensive to fix than fabric upholstery.  

Our best advice is to choose a dark-coloured fabric in stain-resistant fibre with a tight weave. You'll be hard-pressed to beat microfibre as the best dog-friendly sofa material for your fabric sofa. Plus as an added bonus, what's good for dogs is usually good for kids too.

Interior designer hot tip:  choose a fabric sofa with removable upholstery so you can put the cover in the wash whenever the inevitable messes happen.

In conclusion

AT FCI London, we love luxury sofas AND dogs! We've been curating our collection of fabric sofas for almost 40 years and we're proud of the brands that we work with. 

We'd love to help you choose the perfect sofa for your home, whether you have to accommodate dogs or kids or both. Take a look at our design credentials, browse our fabric sofa selection or get in touch and let's chat about your requirements.