This post made me laugh and I will work on a picture, but I get dirty daily. As I go from job to job all day I step in drywall mud, rub against wet paint, get drywall dust smear all over my pants, and for sure the sticky epoxy gets somewhere. I have busted shoes, torn purses, and scratched glasses. Hazards of the job, it's all in a days work.

The most kid and pet friendly couch material is leather. So far our blue leather couch has coped with 18 years of toddlers falling asleep and weeing on it, cat vomit, Easter eggs melting between the cushions, spilt milk, spilt orange juice, spilt red wine, spilt coffee, and muddy dog paws. It just wipes clean. Our white leather chair is just as durable and is now 24 years old and just starting to look grubby. So go with beige or cream if you want. It would be a lovely choice, just make sure it is leather. Black or mid or dark brown would also look lovely with that beautiful rug but I think lighter colours would look fresher. Don't be at all scared to use light coloured leather.

Because there is a lot of timber and dark paint in the room ( which i like) and because it creates a neutral background you could easily takes some risks. The problem with fitted plain and very light fabrics is the risk of stains showing etc. so I would choose a mix and match red ( not a blue red) in leather if you have the money or a blue could be good to match the painted area. Another idea is to have fabric covers in natural fibres like washed linen that can be removed and washed easily. Look at beach house styles for inspiration. Add colour in a new rug!

Sue, congratulations. You've not only identified a colour you feel happier about, you've actually created it. I suspect you'll now be able to create a pleasing mix of warm greys, plywood browns, stone tones, coppers or bronzes, warm whites, etc; maybe with a bit of yellow added come spring; and you'll be able to live with the brownish sofa until you're ready to update or reupholster. I have some KAS cushion covers from a couple of years ago which show how this kind of colour mix can be done. One has stylised flowers (a la Mexican) in grey, brown and caramel with a touch of burnt orange. (You mention liking ochre.). Another is lighter grey, brown, taupe and bone-white on a natural linen. A third (less subtle) is warm greens with brown, taupe, yellow, white and a little aqua. I'm not saying go for styles that are a few years out of fashion. But do be confident enough to resist a harsh, hard-edged option if a gentler one is right for your temperament and household and the room's aspect. Robyn