Choosing a new sofa can be a lengthy process, involving a lot of debate with your partner.
Do you go for a 2-seater or a 3-seater? Matching armchairs? But one debate as old as time is whether you go for a leather sofa or a fabric one.
There are pros and cons to both types, which we have gone over here so that you can make the best decision for your family.
We don't know about you, but for us, cleaning is one of the most important aspects of new furniture. How easy are leather and fabric sofas to clean?
Spills are going to happen whether you like it or not, so it's best to find out before you make a big purchase.
Leather is a less porous material than most fabric sofas. That makes it much easier to clean. If you spill something on your leather sofa - a drink, yoghurt, curry... you can simply wipe it off! In most cases, that will be enough.
The other great thing about leather is that you can pre-treat it for occasions such as this. Simply keep your leather maintained by buffing it and that makes it less likely to soak up spills.
Selecting a sofa made of aniline leather can also be a great help, as this variety is intended to look worn.
If you have a fabric sofa, you will simply have to find out the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning anything off it.
As fabric sofas can be made from many different types of fabrics, it really depends on which one you choose. However, fabric sofas are generally a more open weave than leather, which means that anything spilt on them will soak in more.
If you have kids, you may want to find a couch that has cushions you can flip over. Why? All sorts of things can happen when you have kids. Markers all over your couch cushions, a huge vomit stain, you name it!
Fabric couches are more likely to have cushions you can flip. Plus, you can get these professionally cleaned much more easily than a leather couch.
Another critical aspect of selecting a sofa is how long the fabric will last and how difficult maintenance is.
Leather is a highly durable material that will not wear out as quickly as many fabrics. As mentioned, aniline sofas are intended to have a patina from you sitting on them.
This is a pattern of wear which many people think make a leather sofa look even better. So, the more you use it, the better it will look!
A fabric sofa is a good choice for those with kids or pets. That's because scratches don't show up as easily as they do on leather. Your pet can get your paws all over a fabric sofa without leaving unsightly scratches or dents in the material.
In terms of maintenance, you will need to regularly vacuum your fabric sofa. Especially if you have pets, as the fur can get trapped in the weave of the fabric.
It also traps dust mites much easier than leather, so if you have allergies, you may want to choose a leather sofa.
Another critical quality for many people when hunting for the ideal couch will be comfort. After all, you may spend a lot of time sitting on it!
Many people love leather and consider it highly comfortable. However, if it is a hot day and you sit on a leather seat with shorts or a skirt, it's highly uncomfortable.
You can end up sticking to the leather and even getting angry red marks on the backs of your legs.
This is why many people don't enjoy having leather seats in their cars. However, homes tend to be less hot and sticky.
Fabric tends to be a more comfortable option for many people. Which type of fabric or couch you find the most comfortable will be entirely subjective. It's all about finding a soft fabric that is comfortable on your body.
One advantage of fabric is that it is warmer too.
You want to keep your home looking sharp. That means that you will need to find a sofa that fits in with that. Let's take a look at what the style factors are for fabric and leather sofas.
Leather sofas can come in different colours. Black, grey, brown, even blue! However, the colours that would look good with leather are limited. So if you want to add a pop of colour to your home, a leather sofa is probably not the way to achieve that.
Leather sofas also generally only come in a limited range of styles. That's because leather is fantastic if you are perfecting that look of old-world charm. If you want a highly modern or minimalist home, it's unlikely that you'll choose a leather sofa.
Fabric sofas can come in any colour under the sun! Red, yellow, green, any colour you can imagine. You can also get patterned sofas with any type of pattern on the fabric you wish. Leather sofas simply can't provide the same range of options.
You will also get many additional options when it comes to selecting a style. Are you interested in a sleek, modern style? Or perhaps a more Scandinavian look to match your other furniture?
You can spend hours just selecting the style alone as there will be so many to choose from.
Cost will make or break whether you can afford to buy the couch of your dreams, so let's see what the differences in costs are between fabric and leather sofas.
Leather sofas are likely to have a higher upfront cost to purchase than their fabric counterparts. However, as they are likely to last for longer, they provide better value for money over time. The longer they last, the less you spend on them on a per-year basis.
Fabric sofas, on the other hand, will usually cost less to buy. That's because the fabric is much cheaper than leather. But it's also because they likely won't last you for as long as a leather sofa will. So if you are strapped for cash and need a new couch now, you may need to choose a fabric one.
However, if you have the choice, we suggest splurging on a leather one for better value.
Overall, when looking for a couch, you need to consider what type of lifestyle you have. Do you have kids or pets? If you do, this may become the main factor determining what type of couch you will purchase.
You'll need to consider what will be the easiest to clean because messes are bound to happen.
Otherwise, a large consideration for most people will be how the couch looks and feels. Will it be comfortable and tie in with your current decor? Does it suit the minimalist feel of the room you are going to put it in?
Just remember to buy a quality couch that will stand the test of time. That's really how you can ensure that you are getting the maximum value, no matter the cost of the couch. If you do that, then you've chosen the right one for you.