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Leather vs. Fabric Sofa Upholstery

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Sofas are a big investment and usually are the central point of your living space. We understand that this means you should take the decision very seriously and thoroughly evaluate all of your options.

One of the options you have to evaluate when sofa shopping is if you want a leather or fabric upholstered sofa. Fabric and leather sofas have their own set of pros and cons, so here are some things to think about to help you determine which one is best for you.

Comfort
If comfort is at the top of your priority list, you probably want to consider getting a fabric sofa. Fabric sofas are known for being the softer and cozier option of the two. Just like you experience in a car with leather seats, leather sofas can be very cold in the winter and warm and sticky in hot weather.

Maintenance
Fabric and leather sofas each come with their own maintenance requirements. With a fabric sofa you can expect to have to do some deep cleaning in order to eliminate stains, odors, and allergens that collect in the fabric. All three of these things are bound to happen to eventually to fabric sofas, even if you are extremely clean and tidy. Cleaning leather sofas, on the other hand, usually just means wiping them down with a soft cloth. In order to prevent your leather sofa from aging, you will need to regularly apply leather conditioner. This small thing will keep your leather sofa looking fabulous for years!

Appearance
One of the most important things to consider when buying a sofa is the look you are striving for. Leather furniture brings elegance and luxury to almost any space, while fabric offers a more modern and fun feeling to the atmosphere. Be sure to spend plenty of time researching photos of sofas in homes to determine which look you are drawn to.

Durability
Durability depends a lot of the quality of the specific fabric on a sofa; some will handle wear and tear much better than others. You can also find fabrics that are stain resistant (to a certain extent of course). Overall, leather is much more durable than fabric. If cared for correctly, a leather sofa can last 10-15 years. The downside to leather is that it can be scratched very easily, which can be problematic if you have house pets.

Allergies
No doubt about it, if anyone in your family suffers from allergies, a leather sofa is the best option for you. Fabric sofas collect dust mites and pet dander, making what should be the most comfortable place in your home a place where you will be bombarded with allergens. Suffer from allergies but just can’t give up the comfort of a fabric sofa? Consider having your sofa professionally cleaned on a regular basis, your (lack of) allergies will thank you.

Budget
There are a lot of factors that determine the cost of a sofa, not just the material. The frame and cushions are just two aspects of a sofa that can make or break the overall quality of a sofa. When buying a sofa be sure that you are researching its quality beyond the material it is upholstered with. However, as a general rule, you can expect fabric sofas to be less expensive than leather sofas.

Options
In general, when you go the leather route you are limited to neutral color tones. Leather sofas can come in stained colors but fabric sofas offer endless possibilities of patterns, textures, and color hues.

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to leather and fabric upholstered sofas. It’s up to you what will be a better fit for you and your family.

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