February 2019 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

5 ways to make your sofa spark joy

Posted on February 20, 2019April 28, 2025 by Hema

Spring is almost upon us and everyone is a Marie Kondo at this point of time.

The rooms are spick and span, the closets organized to a tee, there’s not a trace of clutter in sight. Your living space is all set to spark joy.

But, what about your sofa? How do you revitalize your sofa and make you smile again? Here are five ways how.

#1. Give Your Sofa Some Legs Or Replace The Old Ones

Replacement sofa legs are probably the easiest way to make your sofa look new again. And, who can resist the temptation of shiny new legs that have the magic powers to instantly give your decor a ‘lift’?

If you’re in need of replacement sofa legs, check out the brand new additions to our sofa legs family, the Cooper, Stella and Peroni.

#2. Make It Over With A Sofa Slipcover

Just slip one of these babies over your sofa and it’ll look fabulous all over again.

That’s just how simple it is to give your sofa a new look with replacement sofa slipcovers.

Speaking of slipcovers, our new tempest grey Rouge Storm velvet fabric has just arrived. A new set of dark grey velvet sofa slipcovers sound good, don’t they?

#3. Plump Up Your Cushion With New Inserts

Cushions are the very essence of a cozy sofa. As bouncy as they may have been, fresh out the delivery trucks, cushions are the ones affected the most by wear and tear.

But, that’s no reason to throw out a perfectly good (and super pricey) sofa. Just replace the cushion inserts, get them upholstered or slipcovered and your sofa will be as good as new!

#4. Re-arrange Your Sofa Layout

Change up your sofa placement. Move the decor around. Highlight your sofa with statement decor items. Use sectional pieces, like a corner unit, on their own, to give you a brand new, statement seating piece.

Use chaises as day beds by the window. So many layouts, so many ideas, leave it up to your creative soul to guide you to your perfect sofa and living room layout

#5. Hack Your Sofa To Make It Smarter

You know what’s smart? A sofa with a built-in wireless charging. No one wants to be interrupted from their weekend of lying on the sofa, scrolling away on social media but what happens when you run out of battery?

Plug in, chill out. Grab that book that you’ve always wanted to read and leave your phone in the charging pocket for the next 30 minutes.

You guys are already familiar with our built-in USB charging ports, but, that’s going to have a partner-in-crime real soon so make sure you stick around for more smart sofa updates from us.

So, that’s five of our best “KonMari” methods to give your sofa new life. Be sure to try them out and have fun with your newly, redis-covered sofas! If you have additional suggestions on how to make old sofas spark joy again, drop them in the comment section. Sharing is caring, after all.

9 tips to clean a couch super effectively

Posted on February 16, 2019April 28, 2025 by Chuck

How exactly do you clean a couch filled with pet hair, kids mess, popcorn, red wine, juices, pee and whatever else all rubbed all over your couch?

While all may seem bleak and unsightly, your tired and worn sofa can easily be rejuvenated.

Tip #1: Get rid of the dry before going damp

NEVER drench a fabric couch in soapy water and while this may seem like common sense to most, there will definitely be some who get this order wrong.

Once dirt and pet hair get moist it will become a pain to remove from the couch. Not to mention it would take significantly longer having to wait for these issues to dry.

Tip #2: Vacuum

Removing the bulk of dust, dirt, food — all the dry particles will go a long way to making the rejuvenation process a lot easier.

Remember to remove all loose cushions and thoroughly vacuum, using the small upholstery brush attachment normally designed for small crevices. Make sure every nook and cranny is as clean as possible.

Once done, we can deep clean the couch itself.

Tip #3: Check upholstery cleaning instructions

Typically you’ll be able to find special instructions with the couch. This is based on the fabric used so you’ll need to clean accordingly.

Some fabrics are treated and thus cannot be cleaned with water or can only be cleaned using specialised solvent based cleaners, whilst others may simply state – only vacuum.

Like cleaning instructions for clothes, these should be followed so as not to void the warranty (if there still is) and more importantly – not ruin the couch.

Tip #4: Test on hidden areas

Maybe there are no instructions at all, or you just want to be very prudent about cleaning your couch.

To be absolutely sure, ALWAYS try a test patch on an inconspicuous area of your couch which no one would ever notice, especially if using homemade cleaners or steamers. If you notice any discolouration, you might have to go with a different formula or method altogether.

Tip #5: Be careful with water

Given we need water to clean a couch, you still have to make sure as per Tip #4 that water doesn’t stain your couch.

Ideally, working with less liquids lower the likelihood of creating unwanted, large blob patches. Some people would use baking soda and a vacuum to mitigate this, but once again – test on a hidden area first.

Tip #6: Use gentle cloths

Microfibre cloths are usually the best for cleaning your sofa with, just make sure they are colour fast. Some new cloths can bleed colours on to your couch, so you could soak it in water and soap overnight to see if any dye bleeds into the water. You’re good to go otherwise.

The other trick here is to always firmly dab and blot stains. NEVER scrub or rub as this may damage fabric fibres, as well as smudge/spread the grime all over the sofa instead.

Tip #7: The power of baking soda

Okay so first and foremost – stains are best treated as soon as they happen. The longer stains are left the harder it will be to remove them. If it happens after nonetheless, we’ll bring out the bigger guns.

Every home should have baking soda first of all and the first step would be to sprinkle this over the stains quite liberally. Spread evenly with your finger tips, but do not rub it in to the fabric.

Allow to draw for 20-30 mins. As per Tip #1, this dry tactic using baking soda should be applied to a couch before applying cleaning mixtures.

Vacuum couch completely to get rid of all the baking soda. The next step will blow your mind – some people would use vinegar or lemon juice (weak acids) which react with the baking soda. While I’m not a chemist, I know for a fact that it’s removed the curry stain from my carpet.

Just remember Tip #4.

Tip #8: Leather care

In all fairness, most stains at its infancy can be removed with just warm water. Baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice works too.

Leather (depending on whether it’s genuine or faux) has many store-bought solutions so it’s crucial you know what kind of leather sofa you have firstly. As per Tip #2, do remember to vacuum first before proceeding with damp solutions.

Synthetic leather is usually a lot easier since it would have a polyurethane coating, meaning a slightly damp cloth is all you need to wipe something off. Genuine leather on the other hand isn’t too far off – you can use equal parts soap and water with a microfibre cloth, but once again do make sure it’s only damp and not wet.

The most crucial part is making sure there’s no more soap on the leather couch, and the sofa gets dried as quickly as possible.

Tip #9: Drying

The more natural the better – use a desk or stand fan to dry affected areas. Never use a hair dryer or any form of electric heater. Many fabrics contain synthetic fibres so you don’t want to damage them with concentrated heat.

Natural ventilation, or air drying with the assistance of a fan is the best way to dry off your couch.

All in all, the bonus tip would be to never give up – some couches have seen serious abuse over time, so removing stains may take a few attempts. Whining over the wine stains will not help, neither will elbow grease. In these cases the persistent gentle approach yields best results.

Too much of a hassle to clean a couch that’s upholstered? Why not consider getting an easy-to-remove, easy-to-clean, made-to-measure slipcover?

The best sofa fabric for parents & pet owners

Posted on February 2, 2019April 29, 2025 by Jan Johan

Has this ever happened to you?

Your brand new sofa gets delivered to your doorstep. You put it in the living room and everyone in the house (including your pets) is eager to break-in the new sofa.

In your mind, you’ve chosen the best sofa fabric to go with all the other pieces of furniture in your living room. Your cat swaggers over to inspect your newest climb-able, lounge-able piece of furniture.

In an instant, your brand new sofa becomes your cat’s favourite scratching post. On top of that, your kids still haven’t realized why you’re constantly telling them to “use both hands” when drinking and eating.

You finally come to the realization that not everyone at home is capable of taking care of the sofa as well as you thought.

Enter sofa fabrics and why it matters that you pick the right one.

To help you narrow down which sofa fabrics will work best for your home, we’ve put together our top tips below:

IKEA Karlstad sofa slipcovered in Comfort Works Savannah Saddle Leather

Look for durability.

Sure, fabrics like linen and silk might give you that rich, luxurious look, but how long can you keep it that way for with your kids and pets constantly running around the house?

In homes where spills are a common occurrence and pets have free reign over your domain, it’s probably best to save yourself the hassle by opting for a fabric that’s durable and low maintenance.

Our recommendation? Leather can deliver that classy look, while still being durable and easy to maintain. Things like smudges and fur can be wiped off easily without needing to be cleaned as often as other fabrics.

Another upside to leather is its ability to withstand most spills. So if drool and wet paws have been a big issue in the past, then leather is probably the best sofa fabric for you.

Keep in mind that although you can’t go wrong with leather, it’s important to remember that your pet’s demeanour and behaviour should factor into how well your fabrics will hold up in your household. Sometimes, what it really boils down to is how well-trained your pets are.

Go for a tight weave.

IKEA Kivik sofa slipcovered in Comfort Works Claw-proof Velvet Green

If you’re worried that your brand new sofa will become your cat’s new scratching post, the best fabrics to consider would be those that are unappealing to scratch.

Cats love to sink their claws into rough surfaces and highly textured fabrics, which is why the general rule of thumb is to avoid any fabrics with loose weaves such as linen or wool.

Soft materials like polyester velvet is one of the best fabrics for families and pet owners. It’s comfy, with a texture and resilience that make it a must-have in a household that is constantly at the mercy of cat claws.

Velvet that is tightly woven is even better as it makes it difficult for claws to snag onto, ruining the scratching experience. Our claw-proof velvet uses these principles to stand up to cats and is made to be soft, durable, and machine washable, while delivering a fresh look of elegance.

For some additional tips on how to protect your sofa, check out our 7 proven ways to cat-proof your sofa.

Choose low-maintenance.

For something low maintenance and long lasting — fabrics like polyester and leather can withstand tons of wear and tear while still keeping up their fresh appearance.

These fabrics hold up especially well in households where there are young kids and pets.

Leather sofa covers make it particularly easy to brush off things like dirt or fur and is perfect in households with well behaved pets.

Some sofas are fully upholstered, making them a hassle to clean. If yours fits this description and you want to avoid having to steam-clean or vacuum your sofa every time it gets dirty, you might want to consider g e tting a slipcover to keep your upholstered sofa pristine.

Slipcovers are a great way to not only protect your sofa, but also give your space a fresh new look without having to buy a brand new sofa. Slipcovers are easily removable and in most cases, also machine-washable.

Join the dark side.

Out of sight, out of mind, goes the saying.

So why not try and make the dirt and fur on your sofa a little less obvious by getting a sofa fabric in a dark color, or a fabric that closely resembles your pet’s fur?

Having a patterned design on your sofa fabric can also be helpful when trying to make fur and dirt less obvious on your sofa.

It should certainly go without saying that if you so happen to own a Golden Retriever or some other pet with bright fur, that getting a black sofa might not be the best choice. Consider getting a sofa fabric in a lighter tone if that turns out to be the case.

Although we highly encourage you to give your sofa a good clean every so often, getting a sofa in the same color as your pet’s fur is certainly one of the ways you can keep your sofa looking clean and presentable for much longer.

Make it personal.

At the end of the day, the best sofa fabric to choose is the one that caters to your lifestyle.

While there are many different fabric options to choose from, keep in mind that some are more durable and easier to maintain without needing to be cleaned as often.

If you’re in the market for a new sofa and live in a house with pets and young kids, consider the tips above before making your purchase.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an easy way to protect your sofa from your kids and pets, it could be that a new sofa slipcover is all you really need.

Not sure which fabric to get for your sofa? Order up to 8 of our slipcover fabric samples online here and take them for a test run with your pets and kids.

GET FABRIC SAMPLES