This One Simple Trick Saved My Stained White Sofa

To me, having a stylish home really matters. That’s why I tend to decorate as if kids and pets don’t live here (even though they do). Unsurprisingly, though, this strategy doesn’t always work out well — especially when it comes to high-traffic areas like the living room. 

Recently I swapped out the very old, stained covers on my IKEA SODERHAMN sectional for pure white linen ones. While my newly white couch looked much better and matched my neutral aesthetic perfectly, the thought of spills, stains, and grubby paws stressed me out so much that I switched back to the dirty old covers the very same day. True story! That was, until I came across an article by Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy’s executive home director, about how she uses a sofa topper for added protection and comfort. I decided to try it for myself! 

Plenty of stylish sofa toppers were included in the article, but unfortunately none fit quite right on my sofa specifically. My SODERHAMN sectional measures well over 8 feet long, so it would likely need two toppers to stretch the full length, which would’ve created a bulky overlap in the middle (and cost twice as much). So instead I opted for a quilted bedspread from H&M Home — which, when folded in half, was approximately the same width as most of the sofa toppers I was looking at.

Covering the seats of my sectional entirely, the bedspread was the perfect length. I tucked it in at the back of my couch to help it stay in place, and voilá! Just like a sofa topper, the bedspread covers only the seating area of the couch, which means I still get to see the white linen on the back cushions. 

Luckily, this solution has worked well so far. My adorable mess-makers have had mishaps involving muddy paws, ketchup, even dark chocolate — but the bedspread has caught them all, to my enormous relief! Plus, there’s no need to wrestle with cushion covers every time there’s a spill; I can simply toss the bedspread in the wash, and my sofa looks good as new in no time.

The only drawback: Even when tucked into the back of the couch, the bedspread is easily rumpled after hours of lounging. So I do make a point to refold it around once a week. But to me, that’s a tiny price to pay for not having to sacrifice my aesthetic while living with spill-prone humans and furry friends.

If you’re looking for a chic and practical way to protect your sofa without sacrificing comfort, you’ve found it. For smaller sofas, try a sofa topper for an extra-clean look and added comfort. But in a bind, I can confirm a bedspread works just fine, too. I just can’t believe I didn’t try this sooner!