Which is your best option?
Now, here’s a topic that can be very polarizing. Everyone has their preference. Understanding the differences between fabric and leather will aid in making an investment in your next upholstered piece.
In short, there’s no right answer here. But one will make more sense for you and your family and how you live. When you get right down to it, how you answer that question will direct you towards your right choice. Fabric and Leather each have their positive and negative characteristics. It will boil down to the requirement you have for durability, care requirements, needs, habits, appearance, comfort, location and investment.
Take your time as you make your decision because chances are you’ll be using your piece every day for many years to come.
Benefits of Fabric
Comfort
Tends to feel more comfortable and “broken in” upfront
Softer, warmer than leather without feeling hot or cold
Take care in using soft fabric, be sure it isn’t too soft, it should keep its shape, not wrinkle or sag when you get up
Care
Wear & tear depends upon the grade of fabric, better fabric will withstand wear better
Ensure fabric is treated with a stain-resistant finish, to make spills easy to tidy up
Performance fabrics will offer beauty and durability
Good for hiding scratches made by pet claw, scratches, kid’s toys, etc., as it can be flipped over
Choose fabrics with more than 15,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs or 20,000 Martindale rubs, colourfastness, stain resistance, thread count and weave tightness
Colour & Patterns
Great way to express your family’s style
Virtually unlimited patterns, textures and colour to choose from offering much better chance of obtaining your personal aesthetic
Investment
Quality fabric and framing are expensive, but a quality piece may be reupholstered many times in order to change with your changing aesthetics
The same upholstered piece in leather will always cost more
Now for Leather...
Benefits of Leather
Comfort
At the beginning it must be broken in
Takes on the environment in which its kept, so cold when it’s cold, but can absorb heat so it gets warm fast
Sits a little firmer than fabric
Hypoallergenic
Good for Allergy sufferers
Doesn’t harbor dust mites, pet dander and other allergens as easily as fabric
Appearance
Look, feel, durability, natural aging and cleanliness are what attracts people to authentic leather
Lends a certain elegance, that cannot be duplicated with fabric
Excellent for pets
Scratches more easily
Typically gives an upholstered piece a more modern, contemporary, sleeker, high-end feel than its fabric counterpart
Care
Durable, can last for decades when cared for properly
Very easy to clean, lighter colours may require more frequent cleaning
Occasionally, dust, buff or rub with a conditioner to clean, moisturize and prevent cracks and splits
The sun is harsh, it will change the hue, especially on those places where it is more exposed, sticking with Top Grain over other leathers will be realized in the long run
Ultimately, look for durability in whichever covering you choose. When considering either the Wyzenbeek or Martindale testing, consider using industry standards as your very minimum guide for fabric choices. Remember your investment will relate directly to the durability of an upholstered piece of furniture.
Here at Anthony Interiors, we understand the meaning behind these tests and take everything into consideration. Quality Furniture is an investment. Anthony Interiors understands, we take all the guess work out of the process. Free up your time, make your life easy. Contact us today.
Have questions? Please reach out!
Until next time! – A.M.A. (next BLOG post "Leather")
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