Leather Or Fabric Sofa - Which To Choose?

After your home and your car, a sofa is one of the most important purchases you’ll make; a good quality sofa has the capability of lasting anywhere between seven and 10 years. Think about the amount of time you and your family spend on the sofa and then you will definitely realise that it’s a well-used feature in your home! As a result, it’s obviously important to spend some quality time considering what sofa to purchase. One of the main things you will likely need to consider along with size, is the material of the sofa and it’s a question that our store assistants are regularly asked all over the country… should you buy a leather or fabric sofa?

First, we present the benefits of both sofa choices.

As you can tell from the above, there’s some overlap in terms of the pros and cons of both sofa types so there isn’t really a definitive answer to which type of sofa is the best. What is crucial to take into account is your living situation and of course your budget at the time of purchasing.

Pets & Kids

If you have pets such as a dog(s) or a cat(s) in your home, their claws can easily scratch leather so that is definitely something to keep in mind. Of course, you can choose to add a nice throw over your leather sofa but it’s nice to show off your leather when you have it. If however, you own pets and still wish to have a leather sofa, as long as you put in a little bit extra work in terms of care, a leather sofa can still look pristine and last a long time. What you need is a high quality leather care kit which we stock in all of our stores and our sales assistants will be delighted to explain how to use it on any particular leather sofa.

In relation to kids (or messy adults :-)), spillages from things like milk and food tend to be common so in that respect, a fabric sofa might not be a good option. However, it is important to note that higher quality fabric sofas are likely to include a stain-resistant finish which does help to prevent long term stains provided that you wipe clean any unfortunate accidents but lower grade fabric sofas aren’t as likely to have this. Leather sofas are fantastic in relation to kids and spillages as you can easily wipe them clean and many of them include a sealant which will further protect from spillages and stains. Of course leather sofas have a clear advantage in their hypoallergenic nature so that is certainly family friendly too.

Support

If you or one of your family suffer from back issues, this should be taken into account when sofa shopping. The material type in this instance isn’t as important as the type of support that it provides so while the general thinking would be that you have to go for a leather sofa, that isn’t necessarily the case. A sofa can be a pillow back or a high back; pillow back sofas have loose cushions and do tend to be softer but definitely wouldn’t provide as good form, structure or support as a high back sofa would. A high back sofa is comfortable too and the supportive elements are provided via the cushions that are fixed to the back of the sofa and sometimes they also have extra lower support for the lumbar area of the back. This beautiful Cadet leather sofa is an ideal choice for people with back issues and others (without back problems) will enjoy the reclining features!

Maybe you’re choosing a sofa to furnish a property that you rent out. In that case, it’s probably best to choose a leather sofa in a classic colour and style such as this, the Daytona sofa set. This type of leather set will last the test of time in that it’s a style that is unlikely to date and it’s quite durable; leather sofas are likely to last around five years longer than fabric sofas so this is a perfect investment for your rental property.

Mix and Match

Perhaps you and your family cannot come to a final decision about the material of the sofa? Another option which can look stylish in the home is to mix and match a couple of pieces so for example you could have a leather sofa and a fabric armchair; that way you have the best of both worlds while also creating a unique look in your home. The Brooklyn sofa from our collection would be an elegant addition and if you teamed that with a fabric chair such as the Hampton armchair, you have a most wonderful duo in your home!

Whether you choose a fabric or a leather sofa, once you select a high quality option (good framing, excellent fabric quality, high-grade leather etc.), you will have a long term addition to your home which will provide many years of comfort to you and your family.