This IKEA Sofa Is Perfect For A Pet-Friendly Living Room On A Budget

Millions of people share their home with a canine, feline, or another furry companion. While pets can bring joy, they can also bring some inconveniences — like shed fur or last night's dinner that ends up all over your sofa. This leads many pet owners to opt for seating made of top-grain leather or another pet-resistant fabric that's durable and easy to clean. While options like this work well in many households with pets, they can be expensive, costing over a thousand dollars for a single sofa. Sure, you can keep thick blankets on your couches and limit Sparky and Cleo to a designated blanketed area, or you can try one of IKEA's KLIPPAN pet-friendly sofas for as little as $299.

The KLIPPAN series offers a soft fabric loveseat or coated fabric loveseat. The first option features a washable cover made from a 100% polyester fabric, while the latter includes a non-removable cover made of polyester and cotton, covered with a protective coating of polyurethane. You can also purchase covers separately. Customers have differing opinions, though, on the seats; some love it. Others don't.

Pros and cons of the removable cover option

The KLIPPAN loveseat with the washable polyester cover ($299 at IKEA) boasts a "durable material with a smooth weave and a nice two-tone effect" that's secured to the frame with Velcro strips. And since it's removable, you can wash it in a washing machine or by hand in a sink with warm water. It comes in gray, green, yellow-green, and Vansbro black. At the time of this article, the loveseat garnered a 3.6-star rating out of five based on 96 reviews.

So, what do customers fancy about this loveseat? One buyer described it as a good choice for homes with pets and small children since the cover can be easily removed and washed as needed. If you have a pet that sheds a lot or leaves other messes on your furniture, you'll likely also appreciate this removable cover feature. Some describe it as comfortable, a "great starter couch," and good for small spaces. Others commented on the $299 price, stating that the loveseat is a reasonable purchase for the cost.

On the other side of the spectrum lie the 1-star reviews, with most shoppers calling the loveseat low quality, uncomfortable, or disappointing. Another commented on the cushions, claiming that they wear out within months and adding that it may be a more appropriate buy for a child.

Pros and cons of the fixed cover option

Also, part of the KLIPPAN loveseat series is the fixed cover option ($399 at IKEA). It gained a higher rating of 4.3 stars based on 35 reviews at the time of this article, but it costs $100 more than the removable cover option. The Bomstad cover, although not removable, is advertised as "easy to keep clean as it can be wiped with a damp sponge or mild detergent." If you don't want to deal with removing the cover every time your pet has an accident or sheds excessively, this might be the better option for you.

Just as with the other KLIPPAN loveseat option, shoppers claim this fixed-cover version is cozy and a perfect sofa for small spaces. Others confirmed the "easy-to-clean" description, due to the faux leather protective coating. The loveseat provides a firm, durable seat, which some reviewers appreciated. And despite the price difference, one shopper felt the product was a "great sofa for the price." Only a few customers expressed dissatisfaction with this style, with one commenting on how uncomfortable the loveseat was. Another claimed it stains white clothing because the coating "melts" if you sit on it for too long.

The good news is if you have any concerns about the coating 'melting,' you can purchase a cover in one of four colors for $39.99 each at IKEA. Regardless of which style you purchase, both offer pet-friendly features and come with a 10-year limited warranty.