So for Mother's Day, I got to take a nap. A really long one. On the couch. It was glorious.
country living
But then, when it was time for bed, I couldn't fall asleep. I mean, I stayed in bed for a good thirty minutes waiting... and I just knew it was not coming. So I got up, got out my trusty home notebook, and started thinking. Back on my couch, with the light from the entry, I scribbled out some new furniture plans, scratched out some other ideas that didn't seem so good or necessary any more. I'm very excited about where things are going.
country living
My hubband made an announcement the other day. He wants to get rid of our oversized giant Pottery Barn sectional. I nearly fell over. I thought we'd have that until we died. Heck, I thought when my hubband died, we'd have him cremated and stuffed in the pillows because he loves that sectional so much. But, like many love affairs with my hubband, this one is done. And I can't say that I'm not super excited about that. I've been
secretly desperately dreaming for white slipcovers for a while. I have a toddler. He has sticky hands. Two of them. All the time. It's like there's a jar of sticky somewhere hiding in his room and every time I clean him up he ventures back to the sticky jar. I have dreams of easy washable, bleachable slipcovers. So. I. Am. Tickled.
ballard designs
My question is this: which sofa do I go with? Part of me thinks Ikea is the way to go because they are so very inexpensive and I can replace the slipcovers for only fifty bucks. Seriously people, why am I considering other options? Oh yeah, because I love the lines of theHollis model from Ballard Designs and I've heard good things about Rowe, too. What's your experience with quality and price and comfort and durability and everything else important with these sofas and white slipcovers. Did you wash one and it shrunk? Have you purchased a couch with your last pennies for it to only be really uncomfortable? Please share your wisdom with me. I know this next investment needs to last for a while, and we're only in the beginning of growing our family, so whatever this is needs to be hearty and tough.
Posts
The trick to not having the slipcovers shrink is to only dry them for about 15-20 minutes, depending on your dryer. Then you put them on the couch while they are slightly damp. No ironing necessary that way. I have had the IKEA love seat and sleeper sofa for nine years. Style have the original white slipcovers.
ReplyDeleteFor bang for you buck, you cannot beat ikea ektorp sofas. The covers wash well, are easy to replace and last a long, long time. I bought my sofa and loveseat 2nd hand and the previous owners had them for 6 years of everyday family (and pet) use. They are still wonderful. Once your kids grow up, sit your tush on any sofa you like, until then live life in ektorps :)
ReplyDeleteI like the Ikea couches. I have never owned one, but have considered buying one several times. As a person with children I think it is a great idea to own furniture with slipcovers that you can bleach when the kiddos have decided to make the couch their latest art project.
ReplyDeleteI work at Ballard so thought I'd weigh in. OF COURSE, I think our sofas are much better than IKEA :) But just so you know, our slipcovers are all custom made and fit our sofas to a T. I agree with the tip about drying them just a little then letting them finish up on the sofa.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just so you know, you can order one of our sofa & slips and try it for 10 days. if you don't love it you can return it for free including all of the shipping. We realllly believe in them.
Good luck on your hunt!
oh, and i recommend our white quilted fabric. it looks great and is very forgiving with kids!
ReplyDeleteWHITE couches? Come on girl.
ReplyDeleteI know they're all the rage and yes "you can wash slipcovers" blah blah blah....but people say the same thing about white floors, right? You can just mop them and they look as good as new. But who wants to HAVE to mop all the time? Because when they look bad they look really bad. Give me a floor that HIDES stuff so I can relax. Relatively speaking.
But that's just me. I can't even keep up with regular everyday laundry. I'd shoot myself if I had to keep furniture washed as well.
Good luck!