The Benefits of Fabric vs. Leather Sofas
Sofa shopping is confusing, to say the least. There are a thousand different choices to make in the quest for the perfect sofa. Among the considerations: Modern or classic? High or low back? Fixed or loose cushions? All important questions, in terms of style and look. But, as a designer, the question most often asked is, “Should I buy leather or fabric?”
General Considerations
As you might expect, there is no single right answer, as both fabric and leather sofas have their positive and negative characteristics. And rather than following personal opinions, recommendations, or experiences, it's best to look at the benefits of each material to help you decide which sofa finish is right for you, your family, and your home. The most important considerations are durability, care requirements, appearance, comfort, and cost.
Chances are, you will use your sofa every day for many years, so take your time with this decision. Assess your family’s needs and habits, then allow yourself a little time to find just the right piece. You’ll thank yourself later.
Benefits of Fabric Sofas
Keep in mind that the category of "fabric" is much broader than the category of "leather" because there are so many different types of fabric.
Comfort
The feel of fabric sofas varies widely depending on the fabric itself and the support system of the sofa (i.e. the cushions and frame). However, fabric sofas, on the whole, tend to be much more comfortable than leather sofas for several reasons.
First, fabric tends to be an overall softer, warmer material than leather; just like your leather car seats, leather sofas can feel hot and sticky in the summer and cold in the winter, and leather sofas tend to feel firmer than fabric sofas.
Second, because fabric is generally softer than leather, a fabric couch comes to you already “broken in.” Of course, be careful with this. You want a fabric that’s soft enough but not too soft—the fabric should keep its shape and not wrinkle or sag when you get up.
Care
The wear and tear of fabric sofas most often depend upon the grade of fabric. As you’d expect, high-quality fabrics (just like high-quality leathers) will withstand wear better.
Most fabric sofas are treated with a stain-resistant finish, so when spills do happen, they’re easily cleaned with specialty products or a handheld steam cleaner. Also, fabric doesn’t get scratched as leather does, so it tends to handle pets' claws and kids' homework binders better than leather.
Color and Pattern Options
Although leather can come in a variety of colors, fabrics are virtually unlimited in pattern, texture, and color, so fabric offers a much better chance of matching existing decor and getting the look you want.
This is a great opportunity to express your family’s style. Choose a sofa with a fun, bright fabric to grab attention or, alternatively, choose one in a calming neutral to anchor a room filled with art or decorative pieces.
Cost
You can usually get more bang for your buck if you go with a fabric sofa. Quality fabric and framing are expensive, but the same sofa in leather will always cost more.
Benefits of Leather Sofas
If you're leaning toward a leather sofa, you're probably drawn to the look, feel, durability, and perhaps the cleanliness of authentic leather. Faux leather shares some of the same characteristics, but not all (particularly durability and natural aging).
Hypoallergenic
Allergy sufferers often do better with leather sofas because leather doesn’t harbor dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens as easily as fabric does.
Appearance
A leather sofa can lend a certain elegance to a room that is hard to duplicate in a fabric. Leather Chesterfield-style sofas are very traditional, but as a rule, leather sofas are typically more trendy than their fabric counterparts.
If you like a contemporary or modern look, leather sofas tend to appear sleeker and more high-end than most fabric sofas.
Care
Leather is very easy to clean—usually requiring a light dusting or rub down a couple of times a year—whereas fabric needs to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly. Leather is durable and can last for decades if cared for properly. However, while leather doesn’t require constant attention, it should be conditioned consistently to prevent cracks and splits.
Leather vs. Fabric Couch
People often think the choice between buying a fabric couch or a leather couch comes down to cost, but there are many other factors to consider. While it's true that leather sofas generally do cost more, there are other pros and cons beyond mere price. Fabric sofas are often unfairly maligned as cheap and undependable when the truth is far more complicated. There are different kinds of fabrics that wear differently, just as there are different grades of leather. When contemplating a leather vs. fabric couch, it is best to leave your preconceptions at the door.
Comfort
The consensus is that fabric wins easily when it comes to comfort. It's softer, more pliable, and less temperature-respondent to room conditions. Leather, on the other hand, can turn sticky and sweaty in hot weather or provide a chilling jolt when it's cold. However, some cheaper fabrics will pull and stretch over time or become loose and create bunching on cushions. Higher grades of leather can feel buttery soft to the touch. The question to ask is, which would you rather take a nap on?
Style & Color
Fabric couches offer infinitely more choices than leather, with a dizzying array of patterns, colors, shapes, and upholstery techniques. On the other hand, nothing matches a high-quality leather couch for making a sophisticated impact on a room. Once again, it comes down to personal choice. Do you want your sofa to be the main design element in your living room, or do you want pillows and side chairs to perform that function? If you're okay with the couch being neutral, you can opt for leather and augment with additional patterned pieces.
Care
When it comes to food spills and daily wear and tear, leather couches are the champs. Even the nastiest spills wipe right up, and, as animal hide is meant to withstand the natural elements, it's up to any challenge most families can throw at it. However, a leather sofa will require regular maintenance to keep it supple and prevent cracking. As for fabric couches, most are treated with stain resistors, but there is always the risk of an especially tough red wine, ink or tomato sauce stain becoming permanent. Higher-quality fabrics will also be longer-lasting. Ask about the rub rate of the piece you are considering, which is a test given to fabric sofas to check durability. You will want a piece with a rub rate of over 25,000.
Allergies
It is an often overlooked fact that leather couches are hypoallergenic. If you share your home with someone who has an environmental allergy, this can be invaluable. Leather sofas won't trap dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens as easily as fabric couches, which are like sponges for the offending matter. Plus they are much easier to clean, which also pays dividends in the allergy department. It is possible to keep a fabric sofa free of allergens, but, in the long run, it will be costlier, more time consuming, and take more effort than it will with a leather couch.
Cost
By and large, it is true that leather couches are more expensive than fabric couches. However, there are some luxurious fabrics on couches made by name designers that will rival or exceed the cost of any leather couch. There also is lower-grade leather that can seem like a bargain, as long as you're not expecting the durability of a higher grade.
Comparing apples to apples in the debate of the leather vs. fabric sofas, two couches in the same style, made with the same quality frame, will always cost more in leather but is likely to last longer.
Leather Sofa VS Fabric Sofa, Which Is Better?
Shopping for a sofa is a major decision. Probably the first thing you'd go to after stepping in, and the place where family and friends will gather, the right sofa should set the tone of your space without compromising on comfort. But, with so many options on the market, picking one can get really confusing! And usually, you will be stuck between picking a leather sofa or a fabric one.
It is time to put an end to the sofa dilemma. Figure out which sofa type is best for you, as we highlight the benefits and disadvantages of both materials.
Comfort
There are many factors that determine the comfort of the furniture. The type of textile and the support system, such as cushions and frames play a huge role. In this case, the fabric pieces are more comfortable than their leather counterparts for several reasons. The main one is that fabric is overall more comfortable than leather. Like your car seat, leather absorbs heat faster than fabric. The same is with leather furniture, it will feel warm after sitting on it for a while. Leather furniture, however, is firmer than the fabric ones.
Our take: Fabric sofas
Maintenance
Depending on the quality of the material, fabrics have different lifespans in terms of wear and tear. Of course, higher quality materials usually last longer, as many probably come with a stain-resistant finish that makes it easy to wipe off any unfortunate stains. Plus, fabric cleaning products are widely offered and affordable, or simply take care of spills with a handled steam cleaner or with a sponge and soap. But! If the fabric is not of premium quality, removing stains might prove tough. In this case, leather might be a better solution.
On the other hand, leather sofas are more vulnerable to scratches and humidity than the fabric pieces - making them not-so pet-friendly. While it’s worth mentioning that leather is very easy to clean, mostly requiring light dusting and vacuuming, you may want to consider investing in leather softening or polishing products to keep it from forming cracks.
Our take: Leather sofas
If you keep cats or dogs at home, it's a choice between having fur getting stuck on the (torn) fabric or unsightly scratch marks on the leather. Otherwise, leather seems more resistant and easy to care for.
Colour Durability
Both materials offer varieties of options. Fabrics provide unlimited tones and pattern choices that will fit any decor. The downside is that colours tend to fade out very quickly in time. It can be due to the excessive use of the sofa, frequent washing, or the fact that it simply fades out with age. On the contrary, leather’s colour palette is more lasting - but only if you don't mind the slight sheen that comes with the material.
Our take: Leather sofas
Appearance
A leather sofa, with its sleek and classic appearance, adds a certain elegance to the room. You can hardly achieve the same effect with fabrics. Fabric sofas are available in many hues and designs and tend to add to a contemporary vibe to a home.
Our take: It depends.
What kind of look are you going after? If you like something clean and matte, fabrics in solid colours work great as a compliment. For something timeless, sleek (and slightly masculine), A leather sofa may be a better choice. Why not see how leather and fabric sofas set the tone for these homes before deciding on one?
Safety
The leather sofas are hypoallergenic, which makes them appropriate for people with allergies. Unlike fabric, leather doesn’t accumulate dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens easily. In the case of allergies, you need to turn professional cleaning or take care of the furniture regularly. With the leather sofa, you will save effort, money and time.
Our take: Leather sofas
Budget
The cost of both types of sofas is determined by quality. Undoubtedly, good fabric and framing are expensive. At the end, however, the same leather piece will cost you the same if not more as buying a high-quality fabric sofa. The best strategy is to compare prices and features such as ease of cleaning, comfort, and durability. When making your decisions, take into account your own preferences.
Our take: It depends.
If you own cats or dogs at home, opt for a more premium material for durability, so expect to pay more.
So which should you pick?
Both materials have their benefits and disadvantages. At the end of the day, you need to decide what you value most – durability or comfort.