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Paws and stains dont stand a chance against these stylish and durable sofas.

A dog sitting on the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

The Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional made cleaning up dog hair so easy—we only needed to spot clean.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

Her first bit of advice?

Dont let your need for a utilitarian sofa stop you from finding a couch that reflects your style.

For more information on how we tested kid- and pet-friendly couches, check outour testing processbelow.

Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

Credit: Burrow

We found it was a bit crowded with three adults sitting on the couch.

Themidcentury-style sofamade a standout first impression with a stress-free delivery and assembly process.

Transporting the boxes indoors and down a flight of stairs was easily accomplished with two adults.

A person assembling two sections of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

We didn’t need any tools to assembly the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Andrea Lavinthal

If tufted back cushions arent your favorite lookdont worry.

The Block says it can fit three adults, but we found three to be a crowd.

Product Details: Dimensions:85 x 33 x 35 in.

A closeup of the lower part of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

The contemporary L-shaped sectional is custom-made with a solid wood frame and reversible and detachable high-density foam cushions.

Both conversions felt straightforward and didnt require much muscle to get the job done.

We found that our home movie nights changed dramaticallyfor the betterwith Emilia on hand.

Boxes containing parts of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

The Devyn was delivered in three boxes, and we were able to assemble it quickly.

The ultra-spacious sectional accommodated several people and pets comfortably, some sitting and others stretched out.

Luckily, all traces of the sauce were wiped away with a wet rag.

A person assembling two sections of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

We needed toconstantly fluff the cushionsand rearrange them to ensure they looked presentable and inviting.

The low-profile silhouette didnt provide much neck support.

This oversized design features a low-profile silhouette and pet-friendly performance upholstery that holds up against muddy paws.

A closeup of the lower part of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

The cushions require fluffing to return to their original shape but they remained comfortable and cozy.

Product Details: Dimensions:120 x 39 x 78 in.

Its only available in two jewel tones and may be challenging to incorporate into your established space.

Boxes containing parts of the Burrow Block Nomad Sofa

TheArticle Abisko sofawas a favorite of ours during testing because of its contemporary design and statement-making performance velvet upholstery.

It features a solid and composite wood frame, two seat cushions, and dainty metal feet.

Product Details: Dimensions:28 x 91 x 35 in.

Article image

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

This sofa is limited to three cool-toned colorways and the bed component may be uncomfortable for long-term use.

Despite a very determined cat scratching the cushions numerous times over the year, the couch upholstery remained unscathed.

While we adored the sofa for its quality construction and upholstery, we were unimpressed with the bed component.

The Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional decorated with pillows against a living area wall with coffee table in front

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The supportive cushions and abrasion-resistant upholstery maintained their original shape and appearance even with daily scratching attempts.

Product Details: Dimensions:33 x 87 x 35 in.

The cushions take time to break in and may feel too firm for some during the first few months.

The foldout bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional fully extended with covering over mattress

TheJoybird Briar sleeper sofais perfect forhosting out-of-town guestsor welcoming your grandkids for weekend sleepovers.

This fashionable sofa features a polished midcentury silhouette, an engineered hardwood frame, and supportive high-density foam cushions.

Joybird Exclusive Offer

Use codeJBDDM35to save 35% on yourJoybirdorder.

The foldout bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional partially pulled out in living room

Unlike the seat cushions, we gave the Briar mattress a perfect comfort score from our first test run.

The queen mattress was plush, yet supportive and provided guests with restful sleep.

The pet-friendly upholstery proved infallible against notoriously tricky stains, including chocolate and mud.

The bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional partially pulled out in a living room

Product Details: Dimensions:79 x 36 x 35 in.

The midcentury-style sofa maintained its shape and its upholstery held up against regular use with young children.

Thanks to technological advancements in textiles, todays upholstery offers cutting-edge performance fabrics, Horton says.

The Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional decorated with pillows against a living area wall with coffee table in front

The fabric fibers are engineered with built-in protection that makes maintenance a breeze.

These fabrics are engineered to repel liquids, resist fading, block stains, and hold up against friction.

More specifically, the genuine top-grain leather like the one used on theEmilia five-piece leather modular sectional.

The foldout bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional fully extended with covering over mattress

This natural material offers unmatched softness, a timeless appeal, and develops a patina that adds character.

Plus, you canwipe your leather cushions cleanin no time.

Durability is key, Horton says.

The foldout bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional partially pulled out in living room

To help you choose, materials often undergo testing for their abrasion level, called a rub test.

These machines check how well a fabric performs after so many rubs, each being slightly different.

Many offer a lifetime-limited warranty, which is ideal.

The bed inside the Apt2B Tuxedo 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional partially pulled out in a living room

It’s equally important that you choose a sofa that covers, at minimum, manufacturer defects.

We also recommend considering an extended warranty if your couch features stain- and fade-resistant performance materials.

Your Questions, Answered

What materials are cats less likely to scratch?

Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

Credit: Ashley Furniture

If cats dont have enough scratching posts, they will scratch any available material.

That said, some materials are more heavy-duty than others.

What is the best couch color to consider when you have pets and kids?

Overall view of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional in a living room corner

The high-density foam cushions spring back to life after someone stands up, which is a plus.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Austin Reyhons

“Medium tones with flecks of color and texture are also great for multi-colored fur.

If you feel passionate about a white couch, a stain-repellingperformance fabricis a must.

But if neutral tones arent your cup of tea, you have plenty of options.

A photo of the delivery of Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

You don’t have to limit yourself to a safe color palette, Horton says.

Feel free to have fun with your choices.

How much can you expect to spend on a couch?

Closeup of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.

In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

the corner seat of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

View of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional from the left side

Overall view of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional in a living room corner

A photo of the delivery of Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

Closeup of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

the corner seat of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional

View of the Ashley Furniture Emilia 5-Piece Leather Modular Sectional from the left side

Sixpenny Devyn L Shape Sectional

Credit: Sixpenny

The Sixpenny Devyn Sectional in a living room setting

The Sixpenny Devyn Sectional is large but has a low back that made it easier for delivery.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Disconnected cushions from Sixpenny Devyn L Shape Sectional in a living room

Closeup of light grey fabric

The Sixpenny Devyn Sectional in a living room setting

Disconnected cushions from Sixpenny Devyn L Shape Sectional in a living room

Closeup of light grey fabric

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa

Credit: Albany Park

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa displayed in a home with pillows and a blanket

The couch has a low profile, so it may not be the best option for taller users.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Boxes containing the Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa displayed on a porch

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa sectional turned over to display the underside

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa couch cushions turned over

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa assembled in a U-shape in a living room

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa displayed in a home with pillows and a blanket

Boxes containing the Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa displayed on a porch

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa sectional turned over to display the underside

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa couch cushions turned over

Albany Park Kova Pit Sofa assembled in a U-shape in a living room

Article Abisko Sofa

Credit: Article

The Article Abisko Sofa in the corner of a room on a carpet

The center of the couch didn’t sink or box, even after six month of testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Abigail Wetzler

The Article Abisko Sofa in the shipping box from Article

The Article Abisko Sofa in the corner of a room on a carpet

The Article Abisko Sofa in the shipping box from Article

Article Nordby 87" Sofa Bed in blue

Credit: Article

Joybird Briar Sleeper Sofa

Credit: Joybird

The Joybird Briar Sleeper Sofa pulled out into bed

Although there was a bit of a learning curve, it was easy to convert this sofa into a bed.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens