It’s time for new furniture. You’re ready to commit to buying something that is functional and attractive for your living space. But now you have to answer the age-old question: leather or fabric upholstery?
As far as we’re concerned, actually, there’s no wrong answer. You can choose either based on your tastes and needs, and we here at Fireside Furniture have a huge showroom with plenty of both. But if you are stuck when making this decision, then let us help you break down the choices to determine which option works the best for your situation.
Should You Choose Leather For Your Sofa?
Leather is a versatile and long-used method for covering furniture. It offers a number of key benefits that are hard to ignore.
- It’s hypoallergenic: That means that if you or anyone in your family has allergies, you’ll appreciate leather because it is far less likely to cause complications. That’s because it is not possible for dust mites, pollen, dust, or other types of allergens to hide in it.
- It’s easy to clean: It’s a misconception that leather is hard to keep clean or maintain. In fact, it can be very easy to keep clean. If someone spills a drink, it is easy to wipe it off without any complications. It may need some application of leather treatment a few times a year to keep the leather supple, but that’s hardly a drawback compared to how easy it is to maintain otherwise. (And for more tips on keeping your house clean and organized, check out this article.)
- It’s elegant and sophisticated: Though fabric is beautiful as well, leather has a timeless charm to it that is hard to beat. When thinking about a leather couch for your living room or family room, you can choose from a wide range of leather types, allowing for a range of colors and styles to match most areas. Leather sofas are often very trendy and can be updated easily with pillows of a range of styles. You can choose from a range of modern looks or a more traditional look, depending on the area.
Some drawbacks of leather to consider
Leather isn’t the clear winner, of course, and it does has a few disadvantages that may make it a deal breaker for you. For example, leather tends to be more expensive than fabric couches. Because it is harder to come by, high-quality leather is going to cost more overall. Cheap leather tends to be fake leather, which is something to avoid.
Another concern is that leather can be scratched. A sharp edge on a pocket or a toy that’s dragged across the top of it will create a scratch that is hard to remove. Also, it is harder to fix leather if there is a problem with it since every piece of authentic leather is unique.
Perhaps You Should Consider Fabric?
Fabric upholstery is available in numerous types of materials, so there is a lot of versatility here. Consider a few of the benefits of fabric upholstery as a solution for your living space.
- It’s comfortable. One of the biggest benefits of fabric is that it’s comfortable. Fabric is warmer, less likely to stick to the skin, and feels more comfortable no matter if it is a hot summer day or a cold night during the winter.
- Lots of looks. Fabric is available in numerous colors, patterns, and styles. Whether you want something very elegant or something a bit more relaxed or eclectic, you are sure to find it available to you in fabric. It’s also possible to choose a very neutral color and then add color and dimension to it with blankets. (And for more information on color and fabric trends, read our article here.)
- It can be more affordable. In some cases, fabric upholstery can be less expensive than leather. Depending on the type of material selected, it’s likely that you can find something that fits most budgets easily. Part of that comes down to the actual quality of the materials used, too.
The drawbacks of fabric upholstery
Some people may not be interested in fabric thanks to the numerous concerns with it, especially that it is sometimes difficult to keep clean. A simple set of muddy paw prints or a spilled drink makes it hard to keep it looking new and fresh. There are applications you can add to it that can help to make it more stain resistant, but there’s no way to prevent all of that cat fur or dust from sticking to it.
Fabric also makes it hard to minimize allergens in any area. If you are like many people, dust and dander bother you. While you can vacuum and work to keep it cleaner, it’s harder to do that on a consistent basis.
Which One Is Right for Your Couch, Leather or Fabric?
The truth is, we know that both leather and fabric will look great, if you get your sofa from Fireside Furniture. Either one will be a good choice depending on what is most important to you. Perhaps even more important is simply loving the feel, look, and support that your new furniture can offer to you. Instead of just focusing on the way it looks, look for the features of each piece that you love. Come by our showroom on Route 23 in Pompton Plains, NJ to have a look for yourself. Nothing beats seeing it in person!