Since you sofa has no curves, it would be very easy to make a slipcover! I have made one for my own couch, with separate covers for each of the cushions. It looks quite taylored.

To make the slipcover, I borrowed several books from the library. They had some helpful suggestions and helped me to realize that it wasn't that hard of a project.

I once borrowed a sofa and chairs set that look almost exactly like those, although probably knockoffs. The upholstery was in very shabby shape but I discovered that some of the cheap and colorful IKEA large pillow covers fit the cushions exactly, so I covered all the pillows that way. It wouldn't help the arm problem but it was easy for the cushions (and suited my budget and short timeline of a year with the couch).

I am with Emile on this, although if you do not sew it can be daunting. Try putting an ad in craiglist or a local paper for a seamstress, tailor etc...they can do it cheaply dependent on the material you want to use. Joann fabrics has sales throughout the year on home decorator fabric, using a canvas or denim would make this a failry inexpensive project. The clean line of this type of sofa would make it quick. Good luck

you could have it reupholstered (I know again) in a micro suede or something similar... it wipes clean, cats claws dont catch it, its soft, long wearing.... I have a sofa in microsuede and I dont think I will have my dream linen sofa until kids and pets are gone!

I agree with @emilie_b that it would be fairly easy to make a slip cover for your piece.
I'm having a similar problem at home as we just bought a new BluDot sectional covered in a wool twill that I don't want our two cats to destroy or shed all over.
I've ended up buying two of Pottery Barn's large drop cloth slipcovers that I'm using to make a tailored slipcover. They're washable and given the large fabric size, will be easier to make a slipcover out of. Plus, it worked out to be about $10/yd.
During the week the slipcover is on to protect the sectional, on the weekend it can easily pull off and be laundered to get rid of the cat hair and dander, and when we have guests it can be removed to show off the sectional.
Pottery Barn also has slipcover stays that slip down into the sides of a couch to hold slipcovers in place - very helpful with all the use the piece is getting.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/pb-dropcloth-cotton-twill-slipcover/?pkey=cloose-fit-slipcover

Good luck!

Get rid of the cats and get a dog. A dog can be trained to stay off the furniture.

Boo - what's the fun of having pets if you don't enjoy living with them? I just wipe my stuff down with one of those lint brushes now and then. Brushing out the cats helps a little too.

Most pulls can be fixed with a blunt needle and some patience - check out the vids on fixing sweater pulls for suggestions.

I have the same problem with two extremely furry cats.

You should use a heavy plain weave cotton or linen. Save some extra fabric and just hem it and use it as a protector against fur. I do this and when friends come over I just whisk the cover off and they can sit fur free.

honestly you have a kid and pets..... theres a good chance your sofa wont survive the next 5 to 10 years +/- a slip cover. Sell it while there's still value in it and get something thats both attractive and holds up to your kid and cats. Whats the point in having something that nice and covering it up? I'm not saying you cant have nice things, its just this sofa may not be the best choice. It would kill me to have this sofa and have to cover it all the time and wonder if its going to hold up or not.

I think I'll borrow the PB slipcover idea. The walnut color is similar to the color of my dog's fur. She doesn't shed much, but colors close to her color keep things looking nicer a little longer. Thanks for the tip!

Can you slipcover each pillow separately, perhaps by creating a sham for each? It might initially be more work, but you might find that it looks better in the long run.

For those who said microsuede is cat-proof: is it really supposed to be? The reason I ask is because our cat has wreaked havoc on our microsuede (though I think it may be microfiber) couch AND our leather. Even though she has a scratching post and a scratcher, we think she likes to lie on things and "dig in" with her claws. :(

It's getting to the point where I don't know what to do, because she tears up every non-wood piece of furniture we bring into the house, AND we never catch her in the act.

I agree with the making your own slip on that simple shape - I can't really sew well, but made a nice one for a window seat, with a long zipper, etc. - It was time consuming, but looks great and was pretty easy.

If you really just want it for a nice piece for when you have company over, then throw a large (or several) throws to completely cover the couch and arms. It won't look good for every day, but it will give you protection and you can strip it off to wash and to reveal a clean couch for company. You just have to decide if you want to try to protect it for the longer haul, or enjoy it now every day and take the risks.

My sister has had numerous cats over the years and has managed to train every one of them to stay off the furniture and countertops. They have an old chair they are allowed to sit on and they stay off everything else. Not quite sure how she does it, but it always works.

I agree with everything matt manfredini said.

If it were me, since the sofa is so streamlined, I'd get some sturdy orange fabric like sailcloth or something (I presume you chose the orange upholstery because you wanted the color). I'd create a piece (probably piecing narrower lengths of fabric together -- sewing, of course) that is the width of the back and that starts at the bottom of the back of the sofa, wraps up over the back cushions to the seat. I'd add another piece that starts at the bottom of the back cushions and wraps over the seat cushions and down to the front edge. I'd sew hook and loop tape (the hook side) either continuously along the edges and along the part that fits between the seat and back cushions, or at least have several lengths of it evenly spaced along those edges. I'd press the hook tape under the bottom edge of the back of the sofa, wrap the cloth to the bottom of the back cushions and press the velcro down into the "crack", and wrap the seat cover over the cushions and attach the hook tape UNDER the front rim of the sofa. (I suppose the key here would be to test whether the hook tape will adhere to the existing upholstery fabric... sounds like it might, but if not, you might have to use some tacks instead.)

You should end up with something covering the whole sofa except the arms. You could use the same approach and make arm covers that are sewn to the seat cover and attach with hook tape under the side of the sofa.

You will then have a custom fitted cover, removable for washing, that maintains most of the look of your sofa. This is all easy straight sewing, and if you don't have a machine, someone you know might help, or a seamstress should do it for cheap since it's very easy work.

Get some sunbrella fabric cut and wrap the cushions like a present, add duct tape to finish. Voila! Easy slipcovers!

My cat doesn't claw or shed much, but my (curb find) couch still has to be protected from, uh, me and my boyfriend and our habits of dropping crumbs and spilling tea everywhere.

I bought a few Mexican falsa and serape blankets in coordinating colors for $5-10 a pop at a flea market, and used some kilt pins that I had around (they are like huge, heavy-duty safety pins). I wrapped the cushions individually, like wrapping a present, and pinned them on the bottom. Then I draped 2 blankets over the back and sides, pinning them together in the back, and then draped two small blankets over the arms, pinning them to the couch. It cost something like $40 total, much less than a slipcover. All the blankets are handmade and machine washable, and you can pick solid or striped blankets to make it as colorful or subdued as you want. (It's also easy to combine - put solids on the arms and stripes on the cushions, switch them out for different colors as the seasons change, etc.)

Having done all of the following, I can say that sewing up something using hook tape or flap closures or snaps would be easier than using zippers. For shedding, lint tape rollers can help to make furniture look cleaner quickly and easily if you don't mind having to replace the rolls.

I love your sofa, but I have to take Matt's side on this. Sell or loan out the nice sofa, and find a nice sofa for your current life. The cats are going to live a long time, and kids are messy for YEARS... maybe microsuede as someone suggested?

life is too short!

Pledge Fabric Sweeper is the greatest at getting hair out of fabric. My dog's hair gets all over the bed and the couch - and since she has a wire coat it manages to work its way into the fibers. The fabric sweeper grabs them all.

You can also train the cats to stay off the couch if you gently spray them with a water bottle when they go on it, or put lemon juice and/or tape (sticky side up) on the edges. Cats don't like the smell of lemon or the sticky feeling on their feet, so that trains them to keep off.

I knew before I got my dogs that, even working harder and longer to keep my home clean and decent, I'd have to lower my standards on its appearance and smell to be content. No regrets--their company has been well worth it.

Honestly, I think you could just choose a 'fancy' sheet that goes with the orange (think a beautiful printed one from Dwell or Missoni) instead of the plain cream one, and it would look pretty good!

Maybe something like this?

What is with these folks who are unhelpfully advocating that you sell your sofa? It's not a delicate-looking piece. The upholstery fabric isn't the most practical, but a slipcover can easily fix that....which is why this question is being asked. Honestly, slipcovering a piece of furniture is not a crazy idea or something only super finicky people do.

I'd say making a slipcover wouldn't be too difficult for a rectangular sofa like this. I'd use a sturdy cotton twill in a neutral color (maybe white so you can bleach stains...or you could Scotchguard it). Advertise on craigslist or http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/ for a seamstress. It seems like an easy project for an experienced person.

You might even try it yourself if you're feeling ambitious. It would just require careful measuring and sewing long, straight seams.

I'm also with Matt. Alternately, if you really love and want to keep the sofa... just deal with life as it comes. What's the point of having a great sofa that you can't see?

Pulls are a pain, but they CAN be fixed. And there are ways to remove even a LOT of cat hair (I speak from the viewpoint of three cats and a velvet sofa).

My grandma tried to convince me to cover my sofa with a blanket, with no success. Maybe I'll need to reupholster it sooner this way, but at least I'll enjoy it until then.

This style of sofa isn't going to look right slipcovered unless you have something custom made with a short skirt & leaving the legs exposed - Yet what's to prevent the cats from clawing & destroying the legs or the kids from spilling grapejuice which will soak thru any slipcover that's not lined?

Matt is right - there's no point in having something nice if you're going to cover it up for the next 15 years or allow the kids and animals to destroy it. Either discipline & train the kids and animals properly, or get a sofa that you won't care about getting ruined.

Careful, attaching Velcro/hook tape directly to napped upholstery will fuzz it up over time, as the little hooks gradually pull out tiny strands from the surface fibers.

It might be nicely geometric to use a heavy sailcloth or something WAXED, even, to protect against spills, and drape it over the whole sofa and just fold it where there are edges. You'd end up with some places have double layers or being folded under, but this is essentially how slipcover shapes are determined...except a sewn cover will then cut away the folded excess. Anyway, a large folded sheet could be whisked off for company or display, and a heavy waxed fabric will take and keep a good crease so things don't get too fluffy looking.

You could think of it as couch origami!

You can clip the cats' claws. It is very easy to do and will prevent them from catching furniture (or scratching toddlers).

Sometimes, though not always, the reason animal fur is attracted to a certain fabric is due to an electrical charge (think static cling). You could try "wiping" the fabric with fabric softener cloths or I think they make anti-static sprays that you can spray on.

Also, I can't believe people are suggesting you get rid of the sofa! Slipcovers are not a big deal at all. I would imagine you can have some covers sewn from the fabric of your choice for a reasonable price. It will look fine until you decide to remove them when your kid(s) are a little older.

I would try buying a very basic white slipcover for a chair that has similar style arm/back/seat configuration, cut it in half and sew in whatever length you need in the middle. You could also just make armrest covers although it's harder to keep those on with a toddler around. Apparently they make great hats, boats, blankets for small toys....

@WrigleyHogsTheBed: I wish our destructive cat would learn from water bottles and sticky tape. She's perfectly well behaved when the humans are around, but as soon as we're asleep for the night or out, that's when the mayhem occurs.

Spraying with water just teaches our sneaky cat not to do "bad" things when the humans with the spray bottle are around. Tape just teaches her to avoid something for a while, but she jumps on it again eventually, and once the tape is stuck to HER, she can rip it off herself and still lie where she's not supposed to.

We haven't tried citrus yet. Hopefully that works, because we're at the end of our wits with the constant tape on EVERYTHING and the continuing clawed destruction.

I thought clipping kitty claws was a bad idea, and very painful for them? Don't know, though. And what is with that suggestion to dump the cats and get a dog instead? Obviously it's not like you like these cats or anything.... >.>

Randomly, isn't that tv a bit small for viewing from the couch?

Good luck with your sofa, anyway.

If clipping cat's nails means making them shorter, that really do not stop them scratching. It helps though how much damage you get. ( By the way just clipping is not painful if you know how to do it.) If clipping cat's nails means declawing a cat, then do not get a cat. It is cruel. Just get a slipcover made and be done with it. It is not cheap but it is well worth it. Get a sunbrella fabric or similar and you can live with it long time. Make sure the weave is very tight and even. (Twill or similar) Try to pull out the yarns to see if they come out. Once someone makes the pattern, they usually do not charge so much to make new one.

I inherited some white furniture and since I am a slob I decided to cover the places most likely to get dirty. It involves some sewing but is not a full slipcover. I will post it on my small blog and maybe it will give you some visual ideas.

I also covered my sofa for awhile with some fabric yardage from Ikea. It covered the back and seat cushions, but not the arms.the arms had their own self covers.

http://www.smallscalesewing.typepad.com

I with the unhelpful camp... What are you saving the couch for? Resale value? The desire to keep it nice? I understand using a slip cover to cover up a couch that is in rough shape, but covering a gorgeous couch to protect the surface doesn't make sense to me unless you really want to resell it or pass it on to your kids or something. Why not just keep it uncovered, and maybe some day down the road get it reupholstered. If you do go the slipcover route, i definitely agree that it should be custom to the clean lines and not cover the legs.

Clipping a cat's nails is exactly the same as trimming a human's nails. It doesn't hurt them as long as you don't take off too much (unlike humans, cats have nerve endings in their claws). Declawing is surgically removing the tips of a cat's toes. I would never declaw a cat as I think it is cruel. But trimming the claws to remove the points can prevent kitty from snagging delicate fabrics so easily.

Again, it's not like the question asker is wondering what kind of tarp or plastic would look best over her couch. Slipcovering furniture is not a crime, people!

Custom slipcover! If you aren't easily intimidated, do it yourself. It's actually quite easy, especially with a squared couch.

If someone will be doing it for you, then do microsuede. It really does hold up nicely, although it's not kevlar. I think some previous commenters had unreasonable expectations. You'd need an industrial sewing machine, though, so it's not for the typical home sewer.

If you are doing it yourself, I suggest a heavy cotton twill. It will be soft, durable, and extremely washable. Be sure to pre-wash and dry before sewing!!

For a sofa like yours with removable cushions, I highly recommend slipcovering them separately. Otherwise, they’ll just slip around under the slipcover and drive you nuts.

For all the cat owners with cats that scratch.....I use a product called Soft Paws on my cats. They're basically rubber nail tips for cats!!! And, though the concept of applying these to your cats' nails seems scary, believe me, your animal(s) will get used to the process and learn to deal! After i put the nail caps on, to distract my cats from chewing at them, I give them some treats. The nails last about a month until they come off, and then, you just trim their nails and reapply!

Most cats hate the feel of tin foil on their feet so just put a piece where you don't want the cat. The first time our cat jumped up on our "good" couch (he is allowed on the other couch) and felt the tin foil he almost did a backflip to get off of it. It is a cheap and easy solution and the legs of our couch are hidden so we just stuffed the tin foil under the couch when we were not using it. It has been a few years and he still does not get on that one couch.

Spray bottles don't really work that well with cats -- especially if they associate the spray bottle with the person aiming at them. A good alternative is a drink can with a couple of coins in it which makes a horrendous noise - if you shake it or throw it so they can't see you they get spooked into stopping what they're doing. It's also fairly easy to teach children not to spill stuff on your nice sofa -- by not letting them eat anywhere near it. Accidents do happen, though, even adults spill stuff. That said, the best option would be a slip cover -- with microsuede. Cats don't stick to it and you can hose it off if anyone spills anything on it.

I have cats and use 1/4" thick industrial felt, cut to size, as furniture covers. It's sleeker than throwing a bedspread over, and actually keeps cat fut from penetrating. I don't sew and slipcovers are out of the question. The felt rolls up quick and tidy when I want to see my furniture in its glory. And yes, clip the cats' toenails to prevent accidental fabric pulls. Good to get them in the habit of that now.