Let’s say you’ve got your eye on a certain style of sofa. You know what size you want and where it will go in your living room. The next step in the buying process is usually deciding on leather sofas vs. fabric. It’s one of the eternal battles in the furniture world, this leather sofas vs. fabric sofas conundrum. Which should you choose?
Ultimately, this decision comes down to personal taste and budget. But let’s put those two crucial criteria aside for the moment and get down to brass tacks. (Speaking of which, we love to customize items at Broadway Furniture in Tigard. This includes accents, colors, and choice of trim, which can include brass tacks!)
What are the pros and cons of leather sofas and fabric-covered sofas? Which one is right for you and your family? Take a look at our lists below; you’ll notice that embedded in the pros of leather are the cons of fabric, and vice-versa.
Leather Sofas
Leather is extraordinarily versatile. It’s available in a variety of grains (corrected grain, split grain, full-grain, etc.), colors, and styles (contemporary and traditional, for example).
All types of leather offer a long list of benefits compared with fabric.
- Durability and toughness (it’s not as easily torn as fabric)
- Higher quality (with proper care, a leather sofa won’t crack or rip)
- Stylish and elegant
- Easy to clean and maintain (less likely to stain than many fabrics)
- Available in many colors (e.g., aniline leather)
- Colorfast
- Unique (no two leather pieces are alike)
- Nontoxic
- Fire-resistant
- Hypoallergenic (won’t promote the accumulation of allergens, pet hair, pet dander, dust mites, etc.)
- Ages well and in distinctive patterns
Depending on your choice of grain, your leather sofa will be one-of-a-kind. And over time and after years of use, it will take on its own distinct characteristics that will make your leather sofa truly your own.
That’s a tremendous list of benefits. But as we examine the topic of leather sofas vs. fabric further, we’ll see that many types of fabric also have a lot going for them.
Fabric Sofas
Consider the following benefits of fabric sofas, both natural and synthetic.
- Less expensive than leather
- More variety (chenille, jute, velvet, cotton, linen, silk, wool, rayon, microfibers)
- Customizable patterns (for example, pleating)
- Good for homes with young children and pets (especially sturdy fabrics,
such as denim) - Available with prints, weaves (twill, herringbone), and other textures
- Synthetic fibers can imitate natural textures (e.g., vinyl is a popular substitute for leather)
- Available with high-performing stain-resistance
- More available options (prints, patterns, colors)
When it comes time to choose a leather sofa or a fabric sofa, consider what the sofa will be used for.
Will pets and children be climbing all over it?
Will you eat on it? Sleep on it?
Are you willing to put in the maintenance work required to keep more expensive furniture looking and operating at peak performance?
How much wear and tear to your sofa material are you willing to manage? Quality fabrics, leather couches, faux leather, all have their pros and cons. Some fabric couches are easier to clean. Some leather sofas are damaged as easily as fabric.
What you need is quality leather, quality fabrics, and a quality furniture store to deliver it all for you.
Broadway Furniture has been helping people make the best furniture-buying decision for themselves, their families, and their homes for decades. Get in touch with us today, and we’ll get started on a leather vs. fabric conversation that leads directly to the sofa of your dreams.
