With over a thousand of selections in the market, choosing a sofa can be a tough job. The root of the problem is usually the material of the sofa. Leather or fabric? Fret not, we are here to guide you through the pros and cons of each material so that you can get a better idea of which sofa type best suit your family and lifestyle needs.
Comfort
In general, fabric provides a better sense of comfort as opposed to leather as leather is firmer than fabric. Leather also absorbs heat faster than fabric which is why you will feel warm when you sit on a leather couch.
Maintenance
Fabric is scratch resistant which makes it suitable around kids and pets unlike leather where even a slightest scratch will leave a mark on the surface. Loose threads on a fabric sofa can be hidden by buffing a clean finger on it.
Fabric also absorbs moisture easily which is not effective during spills as it is will most likely leave a stain behind. Spills on leather sofas are much easier to clean! Just blot the affected area with a clean cloth and there is almost no residue left behind. With the use of a leather protectant, you can be assured that your leather sofa is now stain-and-spill proof.
Fabric sofas may need more cleaning than leather sofas. Fabric has to be wiped and vacuumed regularly as it has a dust-trapping factor. Fabric is more prone to collect allergens such as dust and pet fur hence it is important to get your fabric sofa cleaned on a regular basis. For deep cleaning, fabric sofas need to be steam cleaned. As for leather, it is a hypoallergenic material hence a light dusting and wipe down is enough on a regular basis. Leather conditioning is only to be done every 6-12 months.
Style
Leather sofas exude luxury and class which adds elegance to the living room. This could be hard for fabric sofas to achieve as they give off a more contemporary and casual vibe with its trendy colours and textures.
Variety
Fabric sofas offer a wide selection ranging from colours to patterns. This makes it easier for homeowners as you are able to find one that matches your taste and interior décor. Leather sofas are however limited in its designs and patterns.
For some fabric sofas, customization is also available where homeowners get to choose their desired colours for the cushion covers. This is a great way for those who want a change of a look in the years to come. This allows them to save cost as they do not have to purchase a new sofa if they ever get bored of their current one, they could just purchase cushion covers of another colour/design to get the look that they want. This could not be done with a leather sofa as the hide is already sewn onto the cushion.
Cost
It is no surprise that leather sofas are more costly than fabric sofas. Not only that, most high quality fabric ones even cost lesser than leather sofas. This is because it is a more durable material which could last for a really long time. Budget is a subjective matter hence, choose a sofa that falls between your budget range and has the features you like.
Type
There are many different types of leather which is used for sofas, read our Types of Leather blog post to know more about them. It is important that you take note of what material your sofa is made of so that you could tailor your sofa cleaning routine accordingly.
So, have you made up your mind?
At the end of the day, your budget and preferences (willingness to clean the sofa regularly, taste in styles and lifestyle needs) are what matters the most. We hope this guide has helped you with easing out your mind for the right sofa type. If you have an eye for leather sofas, why not try out our Full Leather Sofas from Scanliving! Find us here!