Fabric vs. Leather Upholstery: Which Is Best For Your Home?

You’ve found the perfect living room furniture set, but you have one major decision ahead of you: fabric or leather? Both materials have their pros and cons, so consider your interior design goals, your lifestyle, and your budget when making this choice.

Types of Fabric

You’ll find a lot of options when it comes to sofa fabrics. Velvet, microfiber, cotton, denim, and LiveOn performance fabrics allow you to choose the colors and texture that best fit your style. Specialty selections like LiveOn performance fabric are durable. stain-resistant and hold up to the demands of busy everyday life. When it comes to cost, fabric is generally less expensive than leather.

Types of Leather

Full grain leather showcases the natural variations in the hide and wears uniquely, making each piece one-of-a-kind. The hide for top grain leather gets sanded down to create a more consistent pattern. Although you may most often see leather furnishings in classic colors such as black, brown, grey or white, it can be dyed vibrant colors for a true stand out living room contribution or collection. Leather furniture provides the look and feel of luxury and appeals to a wide audience.

Caring for Fabric

Certain fabrics can soak up spills fast, so it's important to address them as soon as possible. A clean, dry cloth is your first line of defense against a potential stain. Spot clean that area so the liquid doesn't have time to set into the material. Vacuum fabric using a soft brush upholstery attachment.

Caring for Leather

Leather isn't always the preferred choice if you have an active family with young children or indoor pets, but it holds up well in other situations when you care for it properly. Much like fabric, you want to clean spills as quickly as possible. Once you've soaked up the majority of the mess with a clean, dry cloth, use a leather-specific cleaner to get the rest. It’s also recommended that you use a leather conditioner to preserve the look and quality of the upholstery. When choosing the placement for your leather furniture, try to keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid fading and cracking.

If you decide to select a custom fabric for your sofa, chair or sectional, give it some careful thought. Because we tend to keep our key pieces of furniture for long periods of time or even pass them down from one generation to the next, it’s important to consider your current lifestyle, your preferred interior design and your budget to help you determine the upholstery that’s best for your home.