My Mum and Dad are kindly giving us their high quality sofa and chairs, as they are buying a smaller suite, only problem being that it is white/very pale cream, absolutely perfect for us with 2 small children (planning another) and 3 dogs, who have been allowed to sleep on our old beaten up sofa (yes, I know, bad idea :))
Anyone know a good company that makes loose washable covers, I have got some throws but they always get pulled off by the kids - and dogs come to think of it!
Thank you
Hayley

Does the sofa manufacturer themself make loose covers for that design?  We have several local places who do upholstery so try your local paper or yellow pages.

I've not long had a new suite with loose washable covers, decided to have 2 sets of covers 1 in a raspberry and the other in wait for it- CREAM!! Don't know what possessed me! Have 2 dogs and 2 kids, all it takes is 1 paw or 1 kid being careless with a mars bar and it's spoiled. The raspberry set lasted 6 months before it need to be washed, the cream one lasted 6 hrs!! It would have been less only the kids were at school when it went on. Have now decided to dye it, could this be an option for you?

I don't think so Harriet as the current covers are 'very' fitted, and I think they have to be washed on sensitive settings - we don't do sensitive in this house, as you say, only takes one Mars Bar, or in our case, Smartie!  I would really like a set of chocolate brown covers, but haven't found any yet, still, I've not been looking long yet!
Thanks anyway!

Hi ,i had the same problem as you (still do !) but trust me it is cheaper to buy a new suite than to have it re covered ,i was even told that by an insurance company when i claimed for a sofa i threw paint over, some years ago ! (well didn't exactly throw it over ,was trying to paint beams on ceiling ,fell backwards ........& paint went  everywhere !! ,insurance company paid for new suite ! it was £200 cheaper than new covers ! now i use throws ,& my suite is pale yellow ,the throws are cream ,they are in & out of the washing machine 2 or 3 times a week !! had i have known i was going to have another pup i would not  have bought a light colour suite  !! too late,! ....never mind not a lot of point being house proud with animals (well thats my excuse and i am sticking to it !!) good luck Sue T xx

http://www.plumbscovers.co.uk
I tried this company years ago,not sure how expensive they may be now, but their covers washed  perfectly. :)

Thanks everybody
I have looked down the loose covers route today and they are very expensive, nearly £1k for the ones we like!  Harriet, how are you dying the whole sofa, are you dyeing any parts that will not go in the washing machine?, beacause only the cushion covers come off on our suite
Hayley

Well chalipud I have those Sofas where the whole lot unzips and comes off so there isn't a problem with having a different colour base. They are 100% cotton chenille and wash at 40 degrees so should be able to get a dye for that temperature, if not a cold dye should do it.
I do know that you can get fabric paints from art and textile shops so maybe you could dye the loose covers and do the rest in fabric paint- provided you can get a match. Maybe they could advise you in the shop. Am sure you are not the only person in the world that wants to do this so there must be a way to do it.
It might be worth getting in touch with "sofa workshop" they supply quite a few furniture stores (MFI, Viva sofa and 2 others but can't remember their names) and they make loose covers for most of their suites at very reasonable prices- that's why I had a spare set for mine. For example spare covers for a 2 seater sofa was £ 189.00 here is an email address they may be able to help  sales@vivasofa.co.uk
Edited to add- I was very impressed at the quality and workmanship condsidering they weren't megga expensive, definitely better quality than my old one that cost £2,500 8 yrs ago!

I made our its really easy they all come off and go in the washing machine cost 150 for the material for both sofas

We got some through one of those 'house of Bath' catalogues that come with the sunday supplements. They're like loose covers but have ties and elasticated sections so they can't be pulled off - think the colours they do are navy,terracotta and cream. Mind you they only lasted for 6 months as our new puppy compleletely destroyed both the covers and the suite !!. we gave up then and got a leather one once he'd finished his destructive phase. LLeathers definately best if you've got kids and dogs !!