Since the boys were born we’ve had quite a few friends and family remark that we’re ‘brave’ to have white sofas. I’m not sure if it’s brave or foolhardy but I’ve always loved pale coloured sofas. Plus, but I’ve got some top tips for keeping white sofas looking nice!
I love white sofas as they work well with most decorating schemes. They can be so easily styled to tie in with our home; particularly if I get bored of the colour-scheme and fancy a change.
We’ve always gone for loose covers though rather than the fully fitted.
Even though I absolutely love upholstered sofas because they look so smart. Not being able to shove the outer covers in the washing machine — when they’re a bit grubby — would drive me mad. So we’ve always avoided them.
In any case, I’ve always been quite good at looking after things. And my boys are also learning — from an early age — to take care of their surroundings too.
Sitting room furniture is generally a big investment.You don’t want to have to keep replacing it every couple of years. I say ‘generally’ as, actually, the sofas in our conservatory cost less than a tenner.
For the pair — from a well known auction site.
Yep. £9.99 for two perfectly good, Sofa Workshop, sofas.
I kid you not.
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Bagging A Bargain
I’ve always been a fan of bagging a bargain. Why pay full price when there’s a deal to be had?
I’m a bonafide, card carrying bargain hunter; eBay-queen and charity shop scavenger.
Although these days there are less true bargains to be had. A lot of things are listed as ‘vintage’ which automatically bumps the price up.
But it’s so worth it.
OK, our sofas may not be everyone’s cuppa — they may not be iconic, design-led pieces, maybe even a bit dated — but they work.
Plus they saved us around £1000 so that’s definitely a reason for us to love them!
For the last few years, our sitting room has been styled with chartreuse, yellow and a turquoise-teal shade.
My £9.99 sofas are covered in a variety of patterned and plain cushions. It’s so easy to alter the look and feel of the room simply by changing the covers and the rug.
Not For Best
These sofas have seen a lot of life since we’ve had them.
They’re not the largest sofas in the world — just 2 seaters — but they’re home to play, reading, telly watching, relaxing, wrestling, tickling, cuddling and sleeping.
They have cats and kids climbing on them.
They’ve been boats, rockets and all manner of other make-believe vehicles.
And to be honest, they’re perfect for the way we live now.
There’s a train of thought that suggests it’s tantamount to madness to have pale coloured sofas if you have kids but I don’t agree.
We have another — larger — sofa in the snug but that’s cream too. I think if you’re a bit mindful of your surroundings — and teach your littles to be too — there’s no reason why kids and white sofas shouldn’t mix.
Here are my top tips for keeping white sofas looking nice.
1. Choose sofas with loose, rather than fixed, covers. They may not be quite as contemporary but they offer greater flexibility as they can be washed if necessary.
If we were replacing our sofas, whilst the boys are little, I’d definitely go for loose covers again. The ability to pop them in the washing machine when needed has been the key to them continuing to look good.
2. Minor marks and stains can often be easily removed; with a damp cloth and a little bit of diluted washing up liquid. When we’ve had more ingrained stains, I’ve used Vanish before washing and that’s almost always done the trick. Even with red wine stains.
Yep. That *might* have been me (totally was).
Oops.
3. Use blankets or throws to cover your sofa. This is a fab way of keeping them clean, especially if you’ve gone for fixed covers.
4. It may seem obvious but we don’t allow certain food, paints or crayons in the sitting room. The twins do have snacks on the sofa; raisins or biscuits and water in sippy cups But no chocolate or sticky food or drinks. We’ve got a kitchen table for that.
Having this simple rule means that the sofas have managed to stay looking good. And our children are learning to take care of their surroundings too :)
Sofas are a bit like beds in that they get a lot of use. Choose wisely though and your investment should last a good few years; before you need to shell out any more of your hard earned cash.
Even if it is just £9.99.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
This is so strange. Last night I was ranting to The Bavarian about our sofa and how I hate it because it is pale and badly stained. Then I put the throw and cushions back on it and it looked fine again. I have been considering getting loose covers made for it . It is large and really comfy and sits all 5 of us, so I would not really want to dump it. There is a post coming soon about it.
Yours look spotless. Great rules and tips you have there Caro.
DEFINITELY get some loose covers made!! So much goes into landfill these days — it’s lovely when you’re able to upcycle something and give it a new lease of life! Especially if it’s comfy!! ;)
I can’t believe you bagged those for £9.99 – that is one big bargain! They look lovely, and I agree with you that is good to teach children to care for their surroundings, and for us adults to be mindful too (though you weren’t really with the red wine there were you!). Good tips for caring for your sofas – the proof they work is in your photos x
I know — so chuffed about it. They’re not the most exciting sofas in the world but they’ll do nicely. Especially for under a tenner!! And yep — red wine shocker. This is why I’m now back on the gin. It doesn’t make a mess if you spill it ;)
I think my chin literally hit my desk just now reading what incredible value these were!!! And you know I absolutely love this space in your home and your sofas look amazing precisely because they are loved and enjoyed and family-based. I really need to get into bargain-hunting I think! Xx
You definitely DO need to get bargain hunting!! Nothing like getting a mega bargain — especially when it’s something you’ve been after for a while!! I blooming love Ebay!!
What a bargain! I love the room, it looks so light and bright!
Aah thanks so much Lindsay
Oh I love your sofas, I think they look lovely and so comfy too. I think you are very sensible to have sofas where you can remove the covers, makes it easier to clean and really easy to update. Perfect. What is not to love!! #HomeEtc
Thanks lovely! I do love a bargain!! :)
Wow they are a serious bargain, I am very jealous, as I am of your room, so light.
I have never been brave enough as I am worried about me let alone the kids, but I agree washable covers is a total must xxx
Aah thanks Kara. Perhaps no-one else bid on them because they’re white?! Maybe the colour put other people off?! ;) xx
Your sofas look very comfy and what a bargain!! We had cream loose cover sofas some years ago and they actually held up to life with small children very well, which was rather unexpected. Now we have dogs though and I wouldn’t consider a lighter colour, we need everything to be the colour of mud to disguise the mess they make!!
They’re brilliant for the price. They’ve been really well used but still look good — that said, we don’t have a dog!!
Yet!! ;)
£9.99? I would go WILD if I’d won a pair of sofas for that. Your house is absolutely gorgeous Caro and I love how you mention that kids learn how to look after things – I totally agree. Our sofas are light coloured and so are our carpets. They seem to work for us…and look at your twinnies!!!! Blummin’ beautiful! xx
Aah thanks lovely! And yep — I KNOW!! I’d set myself a budget of 100 quid for the pair, so when they went for the starting price, I couldn’t believe my luck!!
Wonderful bargain! I love finding things on eBay and auctions too as it’s such fabulous value for money. When the boys were little I was so glad of our playroom Ikea with its removable covers which could be thrown in the washing machine. The covers on our posh sofas are technically washable but I’ve never done it! #HomeEtc
It’s addictive though isn’t it? Once you realise how little you can get things for on auction sites, it makes it really hard to pay full price for something!!
What a great bargain for such lovely looking sofas, I bet you feel very smug when you look at them knowing how much got them for. And like you said, white goes with everything and just changing cushions can change the whole look.
Haha! Not smug so much as DELIGHTED!! I love a bargain — makes me so happy :)