Spending money on a beautiful piece of furniture only to watch it become stained and drowned in pet hair is no one’s idea of a smart buy. Families with kids and pets need to make special considerations when shopping for furniture. There are fabrics out there that will make your life so much easier!

Quick clean-up and durable options mean you can share your space with babies and fur-babies without the headache. After all, it’s their house too!

Here are 4 kid and pet-friendly furniture fabrics:

1. Leather Furniture and Leather Furniture Substitutes

   Leather is durable and stain-resistant. If your son comes tearing through the house with a can of soda and spills on the sofa or loveseat, all you have to do is wipe it off. It’s worry free when it comes to stains; it does, however, show wear over time. For most people, that’s one of the appeals of natural leather; the wear and scratches create a patina that becomes part of the character of the piece. One word of caution: if your cats still have their claws, be careful they do not use the leather to sharpen them. Even leather can’t stand up to kitty claws.

2. Microfiber

   Synthetic microfiber is becoming quite popular and with good reason. Microfiber is a synthetic fiber with very thin strands that can be made to look like suede or leather, which makes it an attractive and affordable fabric for sofas and couches. It doesn't rip or scratch easily, and cleaning up pet hair is not time-consuming. All you need is a lint brush, or sometimes just your hands can do the trick! Most stains come out of microfiber with soap and water. Stubborn stains can be outed with a mild cleaner.

3. Patterns

   For pets and kids, patterns are your friend. Patterns help hide everyday issues like dirt and pet hair. They also help camouflage small stains until they can be properly cleaned by a steamer. A lively pattern, like the one on this accent chair, can be a parent’s best friend.

4. Texture

   Any item that features texture will help hide wear and tear on the furniture. Look at the Telluride Ottoman for example. It’s easy to see how the pattern and texture of this piece will make it hard for pet hair for dirt to stick out. It’s naturally worn and already provides the character of an ottoman that has been well used and loved. That’s part of its charm. It also has an added bonus of being easy to live within an active household.

When trying to find the most durable fabrics for kids and pets, look for something with a tight weave. Darker colors, along with patterns and textures can also help hide hair and dirt. It’s possible to have a stylish home with kids and pets! Just keep fabric in mind when furniture shopping.