Sofas by Material — Fabric or Leather?

The question dividing the room is fabric or leather. Some people would never part with the cosiness of a fabric sofa, while others swear by leather and how great it still looks a decade after.

The fact is that neither one is better than the other. It is contingent upon who lives in your house, how the room is used and what you are prepared to put up with. This is how you do it.

Fabric Sofas

Fabric is the warmer, softer option and allows you so much more variety – colours, textures, patterns and weaves that leather can’t match. It is the more comfortable seat on a cold evening, which is more important in our climate than many care to acknowledge, and it doesn't go cold in winter or sticky in summer as leather may.

It’s also the best choice if you have cats. Claws will snag and scrape leather forever, but a densely woven fabric will be much better at dealing with kneading and pawing.

Trade-off is cleanliness. Spills aren’t left on the surface of fabric, they’re absorbed, so when accidents happen you need to act promptly. With modern performance textiles that are treated for stain resistance the gap is much less and washable, removable covers make a big difference when you have young children.

Leather Sofas

Leather is the easy to care for pick, and the one that wears best. A spill stays on the surface long enough for you to wipe it up, pet hair does not stick like it does to a weave and it does not hang onto scents. A decent leather sofa will last for decades, getting better with age and developing a patina that fabric never will.

It is also a logical choice if anyone in the house suffers from asthma, eczema or dust allergies. Dust, dander and pollen don’t stick to a flat surface like they do to fabric.

The catch is scratches.  A cat with a will will mark leather. Or a bag zip. Or the corner of a hardcover. Some individuals adore the lived-in look that results; some truly don’t. Be honest with yourself about which camp you fall into.

Fabric or Leather: Which Sofa Should You Choose?

If comfort, warmth, colour and lounging are the most important things, then go fabric. If it’s going to be used every day, consider a hard-wearing weave with a high rub count.

If you want something easy to clean, durable and with a classy style, go for leather.

Young kids: either works. Leather because you can wipe it, cloth since it’s nicer to fall on, and washable covers exist. Lightweight fabric with cats. Soft leather with hair that falls.

And whatever you chose, the frame and cushions are more important than the cover. The fabric will let you down long before the cloth is a magnificent fabric on a terrible frame.

Try Our Fabric and Leather Sofas in Enniskillen

This is a decision that images can’t decide for you. You are just there and you know how a fabric feels against your fingers, how a leather sits as you sink into it, if a colour appears the way you thought it would in real light.

You are very welcome to come and visit our Enniskillen showroom and try both and talk it over with our experts. Tell us about your house, your pets and how you really live and we will tell you straight which will suit you better.

Fabric vs Leather FAQs

Are leather sofas better than fabric sofas?

Neither is preferable outright, depending on your home. Leather is easy to clean, doesn’t retain pet hair or allergens, and will last longer with proper maintenance. Fabric is softer, warmer, has significantly more range of colour and texture and is more resistant to claw damage than leather. Opt for leather for low maintenance and lifespan, cloth for comfort and colour.

Which sofa material is best if I have pets?

That depends on the pet. Leather's better for shedding dogs; fur doesn't stick to it and it doesn't hold smells, a quick wipe and it's gone.  Cats, however, are a different story. Claws do a number on leather, and a tightly-woven fabric can handle kneading and pawing much better. If you have cats, opt for a tight flat weave instead of a loose loop that claws can pull.

Are fabric or leather sofas better with young children?

Both would work fine. Leather is easier to clean up after a spill since the liquid sits on top and does not get absorbed. If a toddler takes a tumble, fabric is softer and safer, and performance textiles with stain-resistant treatments - or removable, washable covers - deal with family life more better than people imagine. If you're going fabric with kids, have a tough weave and washable covers.

Are leather sofas better for allergies?

Yes, generally. Dust mites, pet dander and pollen aren’t trapped in a fabric weave and settle into a smooth leather surface, so a wipe removes them. Generally, leather is the safer choice for anyone with asthma, eczema or dust allergies. That said, for most people, a fabric sofa with detachable, washable covers and vacuuming on the reg works just fine.