My White Article Sofa Had Zero Stains After I Spilled Dr. Pepper On It (It’s Perfect If You Have Kids or Pets!)

My new studio is tiny — a sacrifice I was totally willing to make to live alone — but I used to rent an even smaller apartment while I was in college. In there, I could just barely squeeze an armchair next to my bed, which wasn’t ideal when I wanted to have guests over or lounge somewhere that wasn’t my bed. I made do, but when I set out to look for a new apartment, space for a couch was on my non-negotiable list.

Luckily, I found a great place that, while tiny, actually feels like a home and less like a dorm room. That’s due to the quasi-living room that I’ve created inside of it, which is anchored by Article’s Riley Napa Sofa. Prone as I am to spilling things, I’ve always been a bit wary of white couches. Plus, considering that I don’t have room for a dining table, I knew that my couch would be where I took most of my meals. However, the risk has ended up paying off. In addition to being seriously comfortable and timeless, the material it’s made of is as stain-resistant as Article claims — it still looks good as new even after I had a mishap with a bottle of Dr Pepper. Read on to find out more!

The Riley has so much going for it that I’ve been raving about it to everyone. While its stain-repellent fabric might be its most prominent selling point, its design is just as impressive. The silhouette is simple, but that’s something I always look for in a sofa; because it’s such a hefty purchase, you want something that’ll never go out of style. From the square arms and back to the plump poly-fill cushions and woven fabric — which has hints of light brown if you look closely — it can work with quite literally any design style. Speaking for myself, I have a vintage aesthetic going on, and it’s so neutral that even if I wanted to switch it up, I have no doubt the Riley would adapt to a more modern style.

After several months of naps, TV binge sessions, and dinners, I can assuredly say that the Riley sofa is a solid investment. I knew that as soon as I sat on the cushions: They’re somehow firm and supportive enough to lean against while working from home, yet cushy enough to curl up on for an hours-long nap. (I’ve even finished entire seasons of TV shows without needing to readjust.) It has a deep seat of a little over two feet, and its 84-inch width leaves enough room to lay down fully.

I’m sure what you’re most interested in hearing about, however, is the aforementioned Dr. Pepper debacle. Very early on into my ownership of this couch, I was in the process of opening up a bottle when I dropped it on the floor — inches away from my pristinely white sofa. The soda started spewing everywhere from where it fell, and droplets ended up covering almost an entire cushion. Panicked, I ran to the kitchen for some paper towels, worried that if I left it for too long, the brown liquid would seep further into the fabric.

To my enormous relief, a quick pass over the cushions with a paper towel was all that was needed to have it looking like new again. The soda didn’t leave a mark on the sofa at all. I couldn’t believe it. I could tell that the Napa material was durable from the outset — I have no doubt that it won’t wear out in the near future — but I had no idea that it would hold up through spills as well as it did. I’m not eager to test out its stain-resistant capability again anytime soon, but I’m definitely not as stressed eating dinner on my couch anymore.

• Its timeless design: The neutral shape is simple enough that works with any style.
• The durable, stain-repellent fabric: Its look won’t go out of style, and I’m confident that its fabric will last for just as long. The Napa material delivers on its easy-care claims, and it’s soft to the touch for cozy lounging.
• Its deep build and comfy cushions: The back and seat cushions retain their shape, also offering just the right amount of support and plushness.

For a little over $100 more, Article will place the sofa in the room you prefer — which is worth it if you live alone or several flights up. However, make sure to measure the width of your doorway and any stairwells before clicking the buy button. Small space-friendly as it is, I made the mistake of just assuming the sofa would fit up my building’s main stairwell, but it didn’t. Thankfully, the delivery team was extremely understanding, and they worked out a solution to take it up the emergency stairwell. The service was top-notch!

If you’re considering the Riley Sofa, the answer is a resounding YES — especially if you have pets or kids and still want the brightening-effect of a white couch. Or, if you’re prone to spilling things like me. I never thought I’d use “low maintenance” to describe a white sofa, but here we are. I recommend the Riley for anyone who wants a sofa that:

• Works well in small spaces and with any design style
• You can lounge on all day long, thanks to the deep seat and soft cushions
• You don’t have to worry about showing signs of wear any time soon

The Riley Napa couch is available exclusively at Article.

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