The Best Materials for your Sofa: A look at Leathers & Fabrics

It’s not just about the colour or the style, figuring out whether you want a mid-century, daybed, chaise lounge, or a camelback is definitely a good first step to buying a sofa, but keep in mind that the material your sofa will be upholstered in will dramatically change the feel it gives, how it’ll affect and change the atmosphere in your living area, and how much time you’ll have to dedicate to its upkeep.

Of course, the price is another factor heavily influenced by choice of material.

When shopping for your new sofa or living room set, you’ll be in need of something that will last you a long time and won’t let you down when it comes to achieving the style you want to go for.

It’s a common tendency to get stuck between picking a leather sofa or a fabric one, so this article will put the two alternatives next to each other and compare. With that said, let’s go over the four materials:

Leather

When it comes to coverings for sofas, leather, made up of processed animal hide (usually that of the cow) remains a constant favourite and a beloved option that many homeowners opt for if they can afford it. Using the entire thickness of the hide, top-grain leather represents the cream of the crop in the hierarchy of leathers. Split-grain and suede leathers are thinner, because the hide is split in two, and show a cut surface rather than skin. These leathers can be dyed in a range of colours as well as the more natural-appearing browns and tans.

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.

Maintenance: Leather sofas are more vulnerable to scratches and humidity than the fabric pieces, so they’re not-so pet-friendly.

Tip: Invest in leather softening or polishing products to keep it from cracking

Eco-leather

The fundamental difference between eco-leather and real leather lies in the way they are made. Eco-leather is manufactured following an environmentally safe process, whereas the latter — albeit produced more cheaply — releases toxic chemical effluents from their manufacturing processes that harm the environment in a big way. Tanning of eco-leather is done with vegetable or organic sources, which makes it environmental friendly for both the labours as well as consumers.

Nubuck

Nubuck is a top-grain cattle leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to leave a slight nap of short protein fibres, this produces a velvet-like surface on your sofa. It is resistant to wear and can be found white or coloured. Albeit similar in appearance to suede, nubuck is more robust and durable than suede. It is soft to the touch but unfortunately scratches easily..

This leather cannot receive protective finishing coating. Thus, it is one of the most vulnerable leathers and should be a well thought-out choice. Nubuck should also be avoided if you have domestic animals who like to occupy the living room sofa, or if you have kids of very young age.

Fabric

Two key advantages that you will benefit from by choosing fabric over leathers are customisability and comfort. Fabric is overall more comfortable than leather, and is less likely to absorb heat as quickly. But, Leather furniture tends to be firmer than fabric counterparts. Also, unlike with leather, allergens, like pet dander and dust, can collect in the fabric of your sofa, so cleaning is particularly important if you have allergies.

Choosing fabric over leather allows you to really get creative with patterns, colours, and décor, it also allows you to be more flexible with your budget. 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, but this might just be its way of telling you that it’s time for new colours to adorn your furniture!

Microfiber

If your household includes pets and kids, then microfiber is a great option to go for when it comes to fabrics. Microfiber fabric is stain-resistant, and the blended material it is made out of is tightly knit, making it difficult for dust to penetrate it. If you ever have to clean the seats a vacuum or microfiber-specific cleaner from a furniture store is essential.

Chenille

Chenille Made using yarn, chenille is another couch fabric favourite. The material is known for being soft and durable and should be regularly vacuumed with a brush attachment. It is not practical for families with kids and pets as it can easily get dirty and would have to be reupholstered. That being said, it is a great fabric blend for heavily-used sofas and looks silkier and more elegant than microfiber material.

What kind of material would you go for in your house?

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