At what point exactly...

At what point exactly, do you break down and buy a new couch?

I bought this couch 11 years ago right before Ross started kindergarten - it was the first piece of new furniture I ever owned.

And I have to say that it has held up pretty well given what it endures on a daily basis.

Seems like in the last few months though, the couch just kind of gave up the fight and all the tiny little holes that it once had somehow became big, huge gaping holes seemingly overnight (maybe it has something to do with how much Courtney Lee likes to stick her fingers in them).

We've talked about a new couch, but the nice thing about his one, is that I really don't care what the kids do on it anymore.

A new couch might make me neurotic (and I don't need any help in that department).

And if I got a new couch, I'd have to get a new matching rug.

And I'd have to finally break down and repaint that horrible terracotta colored wall that creates the worst color casts in every photo that I take in the living room.

I'd love to have a bright, white wall.  And a funky white couch with some really fun, bright colored pillows (but when you have children, you pretty much have to give up the color white...unless you are a big fan of dingy-with-fingerprints-all-over-it-white).

I could get a couch cover.  But I've already got one on the chair in the living room and I hate it (the cover is always falling off on one side and all bunched up on the other).

Honestly, the holes don't even bother me all that much - it is more the thought of having company over (the kind of company that doesn't know I have big holes in my couch) that bothers me.

So (for now), the old couch stays.

I'd rather spend my money on something important (like a new lens) anyhow.

And yes, I think that is blue dice, a book and a baseball hiding underneath my couch (because that's how my kids help "pick up" around the house...just shove it under the couch where Mom can't see it).

And that photo of the three of them watching T.V. just cracks me up.

Comments

[Juel]

Nice couch really. We have a comfortable couch too! It is terribly stained, but it has a extra wide seat. We decided that the couch is still in good shape so we are going to just get it recovered. Would that be an option? Then you don't have to shop for a new couch at all, just pretty fabric with a matching rug......oh, and maybe some cute pillows, ooooooo, which could lead to painting.......lol.

[Joan]

I love that couch! I vote for recovering it too...but I would do it on a dime and just buy some cool coordinating fabric and pull it tight around the cushions and safety pin it on the bottom. That mis-matched-fabric-on-the- cushions look seems to be really popular right now. Even if you had to change it out every few months it would be like getting a new couch 4 or 5 times in 1 year! Oh, and I love the HOME on the wall behind the couch.

[Linda]

Therein lies the CRUX of the problem. We broke down and bought a new couch in 2003. The old couch gave up its support after my big fat pregnant butt sat on it and I HEARD the frame crack. We kept it for another 2 years, but finally, it too gave up the fight. So we bought a la-z-boy recliner set...reclining couches and rocker/recliner. WORST decision ever made. The fabric which we thought would hold up..DID NOT. It gets "pilly" and I HATE pills on fabrics; they are MUCH worse when you are sitting on them. So I use the clothing shaver. OF course, this ruined some of the chenille-like threading. I've spent the better part of 6 hours (so far) weaving threads in and out to secure the mess. I finally gave up and went to look for a throw. Couldn't find one that I liked...and couldn't bear the thought of shelling out close to $100 for something I'd be tucking in every day. ICK. So...I went to the next line of defense. Curtains and tablecloths! Our sofa is LONG, so curtains were out of the question. I needed at least 100 inches to cover the length. But tablecloths...well, they had some really long ones. I bought one in burgundy, which is one of the 47 colors in the threading of my couch (hey, it goes with EVERYTHING, my couch!). And I don't cover the entire couch, just the seats and leg rests. Because of that, I don't have to tuck and retuck a million times a day. I take it off every few days to shake off the crumbs, but that's IT! You might want to consider that tablecloth for a short term fix....

[tara pollard pakosta]

the girls look tired LOL!
i wouldn't get a new one until the youngest is at least hmmm 8?! LOL
i say get a leather one so you can just wipe it up> i have one and the only bad
thing is when the dog scratches it or ava decides to write her name with her finger nail LOL>
i had a dream last night and you and your kids were in it, we were picking strawberries one scene and then playing in the snow. guess what you were doing? taking photos LOL>>>>isn't that funnY? i think i read your blog too much! HA>
tara

[Kimberly]

Our couch is beginning to wear out too, the holes are still small though, and like you no family room just a living room, so the furniture is fair game to all. I agree about terracotta in imaging, my sons have TaeKwonDo in a room with a terracotta colored floor and flourescent lights, yuck! I say paint the wall, keep the couch, flip the cushions around so the holes are in the back and buy a lens!

[stacy]

i hear ya, haha

i just cover the cushions when people come over-the rest of my sofa, like yours, looks great.
my problem is that I bought a new rug because mine is so awful from the just turned 2 year old, new puppy and dirty boot dh and i cant bring myself to put it down because i know it will look like the old one in about 2 seconds.

[Erica Hettwer]

Buy a slip cover and only dig it out when people who don't know about your couch holes are coming over. :D

[Tanya Webster]

LOL! you crack me up...it doesnt look that bad honestly...:) but i LOVE the stuff that is under it...just makes me smile :)

[shabbyVTchic]

OMG... can I just tell that this is MY life to a tee! It's times like this that I just want to pick up the phone (like we're old pals you know lol)! Our furniture had holes in it, and then we covered it with the slipcovers that I only liked when they were freshly laundered and neatly tucked (lasted all of 5 minutes). And like you, I hesitated to purchase new stuff because I didn't want to have to stress over ONE.MORE.THING. It's exactly why I'm content driving around in my 98 caravan with 143,000 miles on it (well that and the fact that I don't have a car payment). I think it's safe to say that I'd probably have a breakdown if the interior of the new car I dream of having looked anything like the interior of my old, but reliable, caravan. Back to the furniture... I finally gave in and decided that we needed to do something different. But I still wanted the new camera too. So I decided to start checking out Craigslist. I'm telling you, if you are willing to travel (well maybe not you... I live in rural VT), you can find exactly what you are looking for and all but STEAL IT! We spent a little bit less than $1000 on a sofa, chair, ottoman, pottery barn modern shelves (new in packages), and a beautiful armoie (enormous and solid.. they paid $2000, we paid $275!). The livingroom set was used to stage a house.. it doesn't get newer than that (we paid half of what it cost new... still available for sale at the store). It's a sueded fabric (spot cleans effortlessly). Just something to consider. We had to drive 2 hours (Hartford CT), but it was worth it!

And BTW, my kitchen is painted the SAME color... our kitchen needs a complete remodel, but it hasn't been in the cards. I tried to just work around the flooring that was there. I too, though, dream of a new paint color.

[Leah]

Go for the new lense! Less stressful :)

[Kelli]

I say stitch the holes, get a new lens! We put in new flooring, which meant we had to paint, get new curtains, pillows, a rug, and now I'm looking for a new phone table. It's the snowball effect.

[Ann]

One word: slipcover.

They can be expensive, but look at overstock.com for them. Or Pottery Barn has great sales. Or Crate & Barrel too, or Target even has good ones. It will buy you time until you're ready to buy a new couch. Good luck. :)

[Keely]

I am so with you on this, but we have a dog that likes to scratch the cushions in her nesting routine. I don't see the point in replacing the sofa until you absolutely can't take it anymore. Put a few $ away each week to save up for the eventuality.

[Meredith]

I highly recommend leather! We have 3 boys (ages 1-8) and I love the leather because you can just take a wipe or Windex and wipe it right off. We've had our leather couches for 8+ years, and they are still going strong. Just a tip. :)

[dmatthews]

Karen, this is a never ending cycle. Unless you can buy a new couch and enjoy it BEFORE any kids come along, then just forget it! Because as you know, as soon as you have kids, they just ruin it. Then if you are waiting until the kids all move out (which as you know takes YEARS and then they even sometimes move back IN!) then by that time you have the grandkids to worry about! So really, you either need to go for the nice new couch WAY BEFORE KIDS or after you are about 85 years old!!!

[cynthia]

i vote for a slip cover...a good temporary answer for now!

[Natalie]

Hey - i think it looks awesome, especially for being 11 years old. my couch is only about 4 and the center beam got broken (wonder how???) anyway - it looks like it is throwing up where the center cushin is. i'm looking for a new one constantly (yard sales and thrift stores) to get me buy until we can get a new one.

[rachael]

I love you because you are so much like me! i have a similar couch and have strict rules that the overhead light in my tv room is never turned on when we have company. indirect, low watt lighting makes it tolerable.
great blog!!
rach

[Jenn]

haha didn't notice the holes did you said that and I went back and looked at the picture ;) We've had a couch like that too! No worries... when the time is right you'll find one you love!!! lol

[april]

add me to the list of people who didnt even notice the holes until I read the entry! I was distracted by the cute kids and the "home" on the wall behind the couch! :)

[Jessica]

I think those kind of couches are the most comfortable and make a home a home.

[Ginny]

I can understand worrying about a new couch. I drive an old car & I kind of like it since the kids can eat without me freaking out. Maybe you could find a couch cover for when you have company over & wait a bit longer before buying a new one.

[Kami]

I love how real you are! And you are funny too!

[jamie]

K- your latest photos are out of this world-- you guys look like you have so much fun. :)
what is it about the NO one song? LOL we have to have it on repeat for the elfster.
:)

[Joanne]

As always, stunning pic. We have two leather sofas (Kudu not bovine) and they hold up to anything, not the prettiest but the kids can do what they like on them. Your home looks so happy, i would keep the holey sofa. x