Best Sectional Sofas for a Pet-Friendly Home

If you share your home with a dog or a cat — or a few of both — you already know that your sofa takes more punishment than almost anything else in the house. Muddy paws, sharp claws, shedding fur, the occasional accident: over time, the wrong couch will show every bit of it. The good news is that the right sectional sofa can handle all of that without sacrificing the look of your living room.

What Makes a Sectional Sofa Pet-Friendly?

Before getting into specific products, it's worth understanding what separates a pet-friendly sofa from one that will look worn out after a year. There are a few non-negotiables.

Frame Construction

A sturdy frame is the foundation of any durable sectional sofa — but it matters even more in a home with pets. Dogs and cats jump on and off furniture constantly, and that repeated impact stresses the joints over time. Look for frames made from kiln-dried solid wood, which resists warping and holds its shape far better than frames built from raw or green lumber.

Kiln-drying removes moisture from the wood before it's used in construction, which means the frame won't shrink, crack, or loosen at the joints after purchase.

Upholstery Material

The fabric or leather you choose will define your day-to-day experience as a pet owner. Here's a quick breakdown of the most common options:

• Genuine leather: Fur sits on the surface rather than embedding in it, and most spills and messes wipe away with a damp cloth. The trade-off is that sharp claws can leave visible scratches over time, especially on softer full-grain hides. Semi-aniline or protected leather holds up significantly better.

• Performance velvet: A well-made performance velvet uses tightly woven synthetic fibers that resist snags. It's softer underfoot for pets, and the tight weave means claws have less to catch on compared to loosely woven fabrics like bouclé or linen.

• Vegan/synthetic leather: Synthetic leather — sometimes called vegan leather or faux leather — shares many of the same practical benefits as genuine leather. Fur doesn't stick, cleaning is straightforward, and it tends to be more scratch-resistant than natural hides.

• Suede: Suede is softer and more textured, which some pets find appealing. It's generally not the first choice for heavy-shedding dogs, but microsuede — a synthetic version — is considerably more resistant to stains and easier to clean than natural suede.

Size and Layout

A sectional sofa — particularly an L-shaped couch — works better in pet households than a standard sofa for a simple reason: it creates more zones. When there's enough space for everyone, pets naturally settle into a corner or on the chaise, which concentrates wear to one area rather than spreading it across the entire piece. An L-shaped configuration also gives you room to stretch out without feeling crowded even when a 70-pound dog has claimed the other half of the cushions.

Cleaness

Removable seat and back cushions make a meaningful difference when it comes to maintenance. Being able to pull cushions off and vacuum underneath — or spot-clean the cover directly — saves a lot of frustration over the life of the sofa. High feet construction also matters: a sofa with enough clearance underneath can be cleaned with a robot vacuum without having to move anything.

Mid In Mod Picks for Pet-Friendly Homes

With those criteria in mind, here are four sectionals from our collection that check the right boxes for households with pets.

1. Delano Dark Green Velvet Sectional — Best for Everyday Durability

The Delano Sectional is upholstered in performance velvet — engineered for wear, not just appearance. The tight weave resists snags, the frame is kiln-dried solid wood throughout, and the elevated feet are high enough for a robot vacuum.

The dark green is also a smart color choice for pet owners — saturated tones hide dust and fur far better than light upholstery.

2. Daphne Tan Leather Sectional — Best Easy-Clean Genuine Leather Couch

For households where cleaning speed is the priority, a genuine leather couch is hard to beat. The Daphne Leather Sectional is a dog-friendly leather couch in the practical sense: fur sits on the surface (not woven in), and paw prints wipe away with a damp cloth. The tan leather L-shaped design fits the mid-century aesthetic while being genuinely low-maintenance day to day.

If cats are the concern, keep nails trimmed — and a small throw over their preferred arm prevents most surface scratches without changing how the sofa looks.

3. Alto Cognac Vegan Leather Sectional — Best for Scratch Resistance

The Alto Vegan Leather Sectional uses synthetic leather (vegan leather) — a polyurethane-based material that mimics the feel of genuine leather but is somewhat more forgiving of claw activity. Non-porous, easy to wipe down, and no conditioning required.

The cognac color way is practical for pet households: warm medium tones blend with fur from light, dark, and mixed-coat animals. Clean mid-century modern furniture lines, solid wood legs, low profile. A good choice if you want wipe-clean leather performance without the premium maintenance routine.

4. Ashland Recliner Chair in Cream Suede — For When Your Pet Needs Their Own Spot

The Ashland Recliner Chair isn't a sectional, but it deserves a mention here for a practical reason: One of the most effective ways to keep a sectional in good shape is giving pets a dedicated chair they prefer. The Ashland Recliner — with its wide, plush suede seat and reclining position — is exactly what most dogs gravitate toward. 

Pair it with one of the leather or velvet sectionals above and you'll find most pets default to 'their' chair, leaving the main sofa in considerably better shape.

A washable cover on the seat is worth adding when you're out of the house.

Quick Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

No sofa — regardless of material — stays pristine without some basic upkeep. These habits make a noticeable difference:

• Vacuum regularly. Use an upholstery attachment weekly on fabric sectionals, or wipe down leather and synthetic leather with a dry or lightly damp cloth. Fur that sits in seams long enough becomes harder to remove.

• Rotate cushions. If your pet has a favorite spot — and they always do — rotating the seat and back cushions every few weeks helps prevent uneven wear.

• Keep nails trimmed. This applies across all upholstery types, but it matters most with leather. A monthly trim significantly reduces the chance of visible scratches.

• Address accidents quickly. Blot — don't rub — any liquid immediately. On leather, follow up with a conditioner after cleaning. On performance velvet or synthetic leather, most cleaners are safe, but check the product care guide first.

• Use a throw strategically. A washable throw on the end of the chaise — the most likely pet landing zone — is one of the simplest and most effective protections you can add to any sofa.

What to Avoid If You Have Pets

A few upholstery types and sofa features tend to work against pet owners:

• Loose weaves (bouclé, chunky knit, linen) — claws catch easily and fabric pills quickly.

• Very light colors — white and cream show every trace of fur and dirt.

• Skirted or floor-level sofas — trap fur and hard to clean underneath.

• Non-removable cushion covers — deep cleaning becomes much harder over time.

Finding the Right Balance

Owning pets doesn't mean settling for furniture that looks worn after a year. A sectional sofa with the right frame, the right upholstery, and enough room for everyone can handle daily pet activity and still look intentional in your living room. 

Whether you go with a genuine leather couch, performance velvet, or synthetic leather, the key is matching the material to your specific pets — and maintaining it consistently from day one.

Browse our full sectional sofa collection or stop by our showroom at 2803 Westheimer, Houston TX — open daily 11am–7pm.