Maybe if you have a very artistic group of (sober) friends...

Unless I have a very old peice of furniture that I really don't care about...and that I will throw to the curb if my experiment fails....Total Eek!

Sorry....before the grammar police of ohdeedoh get to me..."piece" ..."i" before "e" except after "c"....butter fingers...

chair okay, couch no way....

make it all go away, please... (i.e. eek!)

Eek! Unless you know a real artist. Any of this stuff I could not bear!!

Eek, a serious eek. That housewarming couch is just ghastly. I couldn't ever imagine living with any of this stuff.

Eek. Best done on a removable throw pillow cover.

No. Just...no.

never ever ever. can we coddle our children any more? Apparently so.

this could be ok....but most of those pieces have way too much negative space that they end up looking like craft projects gone awry, which they kind of are. the chairs in 6 and 7 work much better, not only for color saturation (because there's less space to draw on), but also because the wood trim helps define the chairs beyond the drawings. and if it's a chair or two, it's not the focal point of the space like an ugly couch would be.

hmm...I thought a couple weren't so bad. I just don't think I'd want to set something like this out in a room where everyone would see it. Ya know how the Novogratz used the room above their garage in their summer home as a place for the kids to express themselves...still interesting in terms of the canvas but certainly not 'out there' for the world to see when entering their home.

Maybe in a designated play room.

A single chair, perhaps, in a space dedicated to children or in a really avant-garde "out there" kind of space. But I would never have this on a piece as big as a sofa, or anywhere near my living room.

No.

The kid's chairs, yes, the couches-- eek!! How about a housewarming graffiti canvas to frame instead?

A resounding EEEEKKK!

I look at that and think someone is getting in TROUBLE when mommy and daddy get home. This really is not acceptable for a post on AT. It is like a big garish tattoo as we age and sag.

Hideous. Ghetto. Wretched. Sorry, but absolutely not.

you gotta fill in a lot of the white space to make it work, otherwise it just looks like kids ruined the couch, instead of looking like a kid-doodle print. the chairs are more successful than the couches.

not really for me, but in a kid's room or playroom, definitely. i'd let them draw on the walls too if it wasn't such a bitch to paint over later.

Even for kids spaces this is just not practical. I can already see prints of all this doodles on light colored clothes.

It hurts! It hurts!

NOT! It looks dirty and trashed. What is she going to do when she decides to change her furniture? Throw it all out or will she spend money having the frames disemboweled to preserve her kids art? This is not even worth being put up on AT.

The Doodle Chair works better than the others, but I'm not at all a fan of this idea. Looks very "thriftshop," and I don't mean that in a positive way.

It's definitely NOT for everyone. I like it, but only when done successfully. (I have an eclectic, bohemian, quirky, style.)

Thank you for the various examples. Here's what I think is working and what is not, and why -

First pic - Perhaps this couch is a work in progress, but the whole thing should be covered. If you're going to do this, commit!

Second pic - I like the patterned fabric created for this couch; it's a nice take on the concept. The colours are more muted and cohesive.

Third pic - Not my personal favourite, but this would be right at home in a dorm, hipster loft, or cartoonist/ graffiti artists' studio apartment.

Fourth pic - Ehhh, I don't think the worn and dated style of this sofa is a good fit for this. It looks sloppy, not as sophisticated.

Fifth pic - By far, the weakest example. Needs more patterning all-overness. And the pillows are too busy an accessory for a piece like this, best to go with a solid colour.

Sixth pic - The chair selected is a nice juxtaposition with the drawings and I like the context it's been placed in, with a child's playthings. Charming.

Seventh pic - I think this an excellent conversation and statement piece. LOVE the contrast and lines of the formal chair with the casual patterning of the doodles. Beautiful drawings, very whimsical. This, to me, is crossing over into a work of art.

Eighth pic - Fantastic riff on the original idea! Again, a well chosen piece of furniture. Really like the lines. It's a sort of easy, comfortable formality. Using a monochromatic colour scheme creates a strong pattern and really pulls this piece together. It looks well designed and executed. A nice nod to contemporary eclecticism.

Thank you for sharing! An interesting idea I'm going to mull over while nesting : ) Perhaps I'll post a pic of my own take one day!

Looks look junk; very unattractive

I guess if it's your furniture, you can do whatever the hell you want to it. But I wouldn't want it for my house, nor would I let my kids mark on anything.

It's not horrible on the smaller pieces. Kind of. But the couches are overwhelming, and look like "yearbook art."

I like the thought behind it, though. When we were kids, my parents let us paint a hallway, but it was planned, had a theme, and we were *required* to actually finish the dang thing. And you know what? It's still totally awesome 20 years later (might be biased).

I don't know if these pics are the best examples but I love the idea behind this! I probably wouldn't have small kids do this, but graphic designer and artist friends? Heck yeah! Definitely would look best in a home with a more modern style.

Yes!!! Just looking these over again. And if you're going to present your work, especially something like this take the time to iron the sheet. Really?!

My eyes ! MY EYES !!!!! (bleeds all over couch) pffffffft.

I really dislike this. But I also would never tell anyone else what they can or can't do with their furniture, like I hate when people say "I can't believe you painted that! It has ruined the value!" (Not for me, I like it more painted) or "Why did you order your steak that way, now it's ruined!"

I dunno. The Bloomsbury one seems much less bad, but maybe b/c it's out of focus? What will these kids do to rebel if they're encouraged to scribble on the furniture?? Sheesh.

@ residentgeek: I couldn't agree more. Laughin' hysterically at the tattoo remark. Honestly, I believe some (most?) of these types of posts are posted soley for their *shock value*....a thinly veiled attempt to stir up responses by passively/agressively creating a controversy. I generally just roll my eyes at such attempts & scroll on by without comment but I absolutely could NOT resist your tattoo remark (too funny). FWIW, not too happy I fell victim this time around:(

*said discerning while roflmbo*

.

Perhaps its because I have a 'thing' against the colour white as a furnishing/clothing item but I can see these quickly becoming quite dull and dirty looking.

However, having said that a couple of child (or adult) doodled cushions on a plain coloured couch would look fantastic. Must admit my favourite is #7 maybe because of the story behind it (I clicked through to the blog post) but as a one off piece, it would have a real story behind it.

Lordy Mercy. Lawsy Mawsy. Hideous. Ug-uh-lee.

Ick

I think it's cute, but I also think it's probably a bad idea to teach your kids that it's OK to do something at home that is almost definitely NOT OK to do in someone else's home.

If you want to incorporate your kids' art into your decor, there are other ways: framing the art, for instance, or there are companies that will silkscreen images (including your children's doodles) onto pillows, blankets, etc. That also lets you choose something you really like instead of seeing what happened that time Jordan touched the green marker to the sofa.

Double EEEK!

Anything when executed well will look good, no matter the subject or medium. For me, the question would be more a long-term look, ie: when I slipcover this couch, will all this crap show through?

Peering into the mind of the artist / college student / parent who might allow this, if the couch or slipcover is already stained or somehow wrecked, what's the difference? This could be an improvement over the 'before' that we don't get to see.

I like it. i like it because while I wouldn't do it myself, I like when my children feel like they have a say in decorating. This comes from someone with a treehouse in her living room and my walls filled with rainbows, but i never was one that wanted to live inside a magazine, I want a space that makes me happy. My children make me happy and I would love them to feel this is their house too. However, my 3 year old used markers and there are stick people all over his bedroom. I think it's secretly precious and I haven't painted over it, but I wouldn't' want him to do it to my wall or my white couch ;)

Screams frat house....sorry eek!

I can envision a skilled illustrator making something much more enticing than those above.

I can just imagine the unbridled glee that would result if I told my four year old that she could draw all over the furniture. Our couch is black leather but would undoubtedly be attacked with glitter pen immediately.

We have a cardboard playhouse whose walls are meant to be colored on, which I think is a much better way to let kids experiment with design.

I think the major problem with the couches is that they were only done half-way. A little crazy is infuriating. Full-hog crazy is amazing. The doodling might not be for everyone, but there's something to be appreciated.

Basically, they need more doodling. Keep going.

Maybe the late Hirschfeld (sp?), Berk Breathed (Bloom County~Opus, Bill the Cat or even I suppose the late Charles Schulz if they happened to drop by and I had a white couch. Otherwise, no, save for #7...better than the vintage bride photo shown a few pages ago on AT.

Gross, no way.

No! And, the kids just learned it's okay to draw on the furniture...Maybe if they organized a design together? Then it was a craft project, rather than just doodling.

I like #4,7 and 8.
It looks better with chairs as some have pointed it out, but I think that if the sofa is saturated with drawing like in #4, it will fit well in a boho chic style room.
I might consider something like #8 for myself if it is done by a professional graffiti artist.
Such a chair decorated by friends and relatives for a special occasion (ex: birthday, convalescence, graduation, retirement etc.) would be a wonderful personalized gift I think.

This would make me insane and I would always be trying to wipe it off. I don't find it comforting or attractive what so ever.

Very loud EEEEK!

Definitely not something I'd want in my living room. But I would consider putting an inexpensive couch in a playroom/rec room, etc. to be doodled on. White slipcovers for the IKEA Ektorp are only $49, so if you got tired of the scribbled look you could always buy another cover.
Again, not anywhere near my list of priorities, but not necessarily an awful idea either.

Obviously enjoyed by people who have not yet had kids of their own.

How is this "ghetto"? What do you mean by that?

If this brings a smile to your dial - go for it!! I painted murals all over our family home from the age of 9-20 and I loved it. The home is about the people who live in it anyway, right?

EEK! Hate it.

actually, I love all this stuff. but my partner - not so much. I could probably negotiate one chair - at a certain price - but couldn't negotiate a whole sofa....

FYI: if you're into DIY upholstering, another strategy is to have kids decorate the fabric, then choose the best sections for your upholstering project. Of course - this works best for the smallest projects (a dainty but weary antique chair); more challenging when the canvas is larger.

Jeez. I love it. Partially because I hate white furniture. If I got a free couch or an ikea slip cover I would let our almost 4 year old at it. Then again I would start doodling at the opposite corner also.

The last one's okay, but the rest just feel unfinished. A unified theme or color would help any of them a lot. As someone said above, the success of a project is in the execution.

Let your kids draw on some fabric and make it into a cushion. That was you can crop it to its best advantage. Or make some of those really cool dolls from children's drawings.

Hello, AT,

Chair #8 belongs to me and is shown on my blog The PAINTED House--please kindly make that correction to the credit given. This $10 chair lives in my painting studio and was a fun project to do with my children, and now when I paint in that chair I am amused to see the goofy faces they've drawn. If you can't have a doodle chair in a painting studio, then this is a world that I just don't want to live in.

The Painted House--thank you for making the correction.

Eek. I hate it.
But if they want it. It is their choice.

Don't like any of them, at all.

eek. just eek.

I did that to my couch...when I was a teenager. So many events/quotes/random things where drawn on it, that I couldn't bare throwing it out :b
Love the chairs!

I absolutely love the idea of not being precious about inanimate objects (you should see the state of my Jeep, which serves as dance floor when a group of us go desert camping), I think that this style wouldn't jive with me. But then, I don't like decor that makes me think of children. Maybe I agree with Moogie, about having an artistic (and sober LOL) friend(s), it might be pretty sweet.

OOOH no.

Reminds me of these celebrities and their doodle - esque tattoos. Not a good look on people...or furniture.

Oh, I love how someone called a classic George Smith tight-back sofa a "worn and dated style"...

It really depends on the context, and how well executed the doodles are... the second sofa and second chair both seem to work well.

Seriously, I'm all for having creative kids, but a JOHN DERIAN?? Who has money to toss like that?? And I think it's a terrible idea to get children in the mindset that it's a-ok to draw on furniture. I could see that going terribly awry.

The very last one,. the doodled chair, is sort-of OK, I think because it's all one colour - it looks intentional.

The rest look like a dirty seventh-grader's homework binder.

NOT a fan of this idea.

Every once in awhile we put a giant piece of paper on the wall with a cup of markers and crayons and every one gets to doodle on it as they wish. We call it our doodle wall and over a few weeks it really starts to look neat.

Friends and family are all invited to doodle when they come over. After a month or so we take a picture of it and throw it away, and then put up a new one when the whim strikes.

It's sort of the same idea, yet temporary and no risk of having a smiley face stain on your favourite pants!

OH NO, super ugly. Unless you are drawing an artistic piece you planned ahead, otherwise this is just messy and horrid. It's like those wedding pictures with the huge mats that let people sign their signature. Ugly. Who wants a bunch of scribble on their wall?

Never. Ever. Ever. I visually cringed when I saw this.

eek

Eek! Eek! Eek!

Perfectly hideous. Maybe one person in a thousand has the skill and talent to successfully decorate a white sofa in this manner, and none of them are kids.

Still, if it's YOUR white sofa and YOUR kids, you can certianly do what you wish -- but I reserve the right to sneer! ;^)

If a chair was painted in an Alphonso Mucha style, then yes. Othewise, oh no...just no.

Mm-hm. And what happens when the kids misbehave and have to skip dessert or TV one evening? As soon as possible, they will make sure you have a sofa that says "I hate you, Mommy" in big red and black letters.

No way

Terrible.

I like these. You would have to have the right setting, and other decor to match, but I think they are colorful, fun, and one of a kind.

Maybe ok for a play room but I wouldn't trust the kids to not mark on everything else.

Awful. As someone else (or more) pointed out. Why not do it on a slip cover?!

The last one is okay, but the others... No thank you.

It is ghetto. As in, it looks like they found a sofa at the curb and let their tagger friends have a go at it.

This reminds me of when people let their kids draw on the walls. I thought it was gross when I was a kid, and I still think it's gross as an adult. It's not cute or endearing in any way.

Awful. Perhaps a talented artist can make me change my mind, but all the examples are atrocious. Plus I'd be concerned that the ink would rub off onto skin and clothing.

I did a pillowcase as a child so I think something like that or a duvet cover for a kids bedroom would be kind of cute, but, unless the furniture was on the way to the curb no way!

What about a white blanket or throw for kids to scribble on? I think it would work a lot better.

I like chair no. 8.

When I was 8, our family moved into an old Victorian in need of some serious rehabbing (up until we moved in, it was a boarding house largely for ex-cons, you can imagine...). Until they got around to gutting and renovating our rooms, my parents bought a crap-ton of tempera paint and told me and my brother to go nuts on our bedroom walls. If I remember correctly, mine ended up consisting of a giant, blood-shot eyeball with a knife stabbing through it- amongst other equally grotesque features. Obviously, my room was the first to be gutted.
These kids all opted for rainbows and inspirational sayings.

In theory this seems fun and I would have loved it when I was a kid. But in reality, this looks so trashy. And like with the chalkboard wall (or furniture) we have to constantly say, "you can draw on this couch but not this couch."