A family with children or pets makes completely different demands on a sofa than a living room for occasional guests. The upholstery is in daily contact with claws, hair, spilt juice and felt-tip pens — so it's worth choosing the fabric deliberately, before you buy.
A tight weave is the main criterion
Fabrics with a tight weave resist snagging from claws better and get "combed out" by them less than fabrics with a long open pile. Basket-weave fabric (rogozhka), microfibre and chenille are practical options precisely because of their dense structure. A detailed breakdown of fabric types is in the article "Types of upholstery fabric".
A protective treatment makes daily care easier
Fabrics with a water-repellent treatment don't absorb liquid instantly, so a juice or milk stain can be wiped off before it soaks into the fibres. This doesn't make the upholstery invulnerable, but it makes life much easier — we debunked common myths about such fabrics in the article "Anti-vandal fabrics: myths and reality".
Scotchgard — a separate category for kids' furniture
For kids' sofas, MeBelle offers fabric with a special Scotchgard treatment — it's available, for example, for the JOLIE model. This material copes well with spilt drinks and felt-tip marks, which is especially relevant for a kids' room.
Darker shades are more practical than light ones
Even the most practical fabric gradually collects fine dust and hair — on dark and mid-tone shades this is much less noticeable than on cream and light beige. If you have a pet with light or dark fur, choose an upholstery colour that contrasts with it, or a neutral greyish-brown tone.
Regular care is still necessary
No fabric frees you from basic care: vacuuming weekly and dealing with stains as soon as they appear extend the life of the upholstery whatever the fabric type. Five simple rules are in the article "How to look after your sofa".
Choose a sofa and a practical fabric that can stand up to busy family life.
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