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tommyflan

POLL: Fabric or leather sofa?

Tom Flanagan
9 years ago
There are thousands of sofas out there, but fabric and leather sofas are often the most popular choices, for reasons that include comfort, care and aesthetic.

But which do you prefer and why? Vote away and let us know your reasonings!
Fabric
Leather
Other
Featured Answer
  • Kate Burt
    9 years ago
    Personally I find leather sofas really uninviting - so cold to the touch, and cushions are so slippy on them... Fabric any day - and a steam cleaner!

    • Comments (60)

    • nanagranda
      9 years ago
      i really dont like the feel of leather, i think it needs to be 50 years old before it gets comfortable.
    • jeandulcie
      9 years ago
      I don't like leather as it smells, is cold to sit on, and you slide about it it.

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    • sharynday
      9 years ago
      We have bought 3 leather lounges over the last 30 years. One that is 30 year old still looks great and is still lovely to sit in, though worn. Our cat taught her kitten how to climb it the very first day we had it! We have also bought a fabric lounge and had it treated and it still looks terrific.
    • PRO
      Button & Sprung
      9 years ago
      It has to be fabric.. No matter how lovely a leather sofa can look, it's very difficult to snuggle in to them as you tend just to find yourself sliding off!
    • PRO
      Icon Wall Stickers
      9 years ago
      Depends what style of wallpaper and other furniture you have. Brown leather looks good in more traditional houses however any fabric sofas go with the contemporary/modern look. Also, fabric sofas tend to be more comfortable and warm whereas leather can get really cold and not as comfortable. Leather can also look really tired and worn out after a while
    • Natalie Patton
      9 years ago
      I have just bought a leather sofa after falling our with my beautiful cream fabric corner group sofa because I felt it was too big for the room. I HATE my new one. Hindsight is a wonderfully annoying thing!
    • Rachel Bancroft
      9 years ago
      Have to disagree with the cold and slippery comments with regards to leather sofas. I've had a leather sofa for 10 yrs it still looks new, is extremely comfortable and not at all cold. I have cushions of various textures that are a good contrast to the leather. I'm moving house and will need a larger sofa the maintenance of a fabric sofa puts me off slighty-especially with a dog who likes to dry herself on any available fabric in the house after a bath!!
    • k11agl
      9 years ago
      I think it depends on the room, colour scheme and most importantly the feel. In most contemporary homes I'm likely to go with fabric. That said, if I were to place one in the kitchen or nursery/playroom - go leather!!
    • Bella Tanner
      9 years ago
      Oh Natalie I was about I get rid of my cream corner sofa (I think too big for room too!) and get 2 squishy leather aged sofas from eBay but now I am having second thoughts!
    • saya85
      9 years ago
      I'm just in the market for new sofas and have always hated leather sofas, but am 'warming' to them now.

      Apart from the look it's the comfort and support that's hard to find!

      With elderly people in the house and back problems myself I need something that's soft but spring/foam and overall support. A lot of sofas these days you just sink into....

      Unfortunately the most comfortable ones are usually the ugliest. I don't want a granny chair or a lazy boy recliner -help!
    • Natalie Patton
      9 years ago
      Clofty24 don't do it. Every night I sit down on my perfectly proportioned black leather sofa trying to get comfortable wishing I'd kept my old one. It was very difficult going from a corner group to a 3 & 2seater there is nothing better than a fabric corner group in my opinion.
    • johunt
      9 years ago
      Have brown leather And have always hated it. Cold, slippery and look sun inviting. Just ordered a beautiful grey velvet British made john Sankey sofa from Woodcocks. Apparently wipe clean with a baby wipe ( from someone who has one not a sales man!) can't wait.
    • PRO
      H is for Home
      9 years ago
      We have a mid-century modern leather sofa out of practicality mainly, - although we think it looks good too. The dog thinks it belongs to him, we only get a look-in if we're prepared to share! On the up-side, having a big warm dog beside you eliminates the cold problem. We also have a big woollen throw and cushions to soften the look and feel.
    • Average Jo
      9 years ago
      Ah this is one of those confusing polls where you think you know the answer to the question and then the photos seem to beg a different response. Voting "blind", I'd say I'd prefer a sofa in linen or other natural fibre but I'm sorry to say that I have a mild (irrational and unjustifiable) aversion to sectionals. On the other hand, I tend to steer clear of leather in large expanses.... unless, of course, it's a charming old, worn tan or brown chair/settee with the added ethical appeal of being second-hand.
    • neotoma
      9 years ago
      I generally prefer fabric, but I'm lusting after a well aged antique second-hand brown leather armchair.
    • jessegee
      9 years ago
      Dog owner - leather!
    • Tom Flanagan
      Original Author
      8 years ago
      Wow, so many thoughts, who knew we were all so passionate about our sofas? There's something lovely and comforting about an old, worn down leather sofa, but fabric may just take the edge for me for your average day-to-day one!
    • PRO
      Rugby Home
      8 years ago
      We have been selling Leather & Fabric sofas in our shop for 5 years, 95% of those we sell are covered in fabric. We could have assumed it was because leather sofas are more expensive but many of our customers told us they selected fabric because it felt more comfortable and warmer in winter. For some of our customers, the choice between fabric and leather is often determined by whether they have pets. Fabric, or Leather? we like them both, so you could say, we are " sitting on the fence", albeit a very comfortable fence.
    • crowningfashion
      8 years ago
      I have both leather and fabric sofas. The grade of leather does have a significant bearing on how comfortable the sofa is.
    • PRO
      Rugby Home
      8 years ago
      For those who cannot decide between the two, we sell sofas that combine fabric and leather like the Barnaby sofa by Wade Upholstery.
    • maggieandrichard
      8 years ago
      What I want is a cat proof sofa. Anybody got one?
    • Tom Flanagan
      Original Author
      8 years ago

      Agreed @maggieandrichard!

    • quinnster
      8 years ago

      Like others have mentioned leather is just too slippery. I feel as if I need velcro for the cushions to stay put. It's driving me mad!

    • southernpointofview
      8 years ago

      Well, I have both and I give the edge to this leather Chesterfield! It has never felt cold or slippery. With an interior length of over 8 feet and a cushion depth of 28 inches, it is a wonderful place to curl up to read a book or watch a movie, and it is absolutely the best "nap sofa" ever!

    • PRO
      User
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Although we also love fabric sofas, leather sofas patina over time - age makes them more beautiful.

    • leslie2904
      8 years ago

      I,m currently deciding on a new sofa as my two fabric ones are looking tired and are not as comfortable as they once where. I love old leather which has acquired a beautiful aged patina, given I hate changing furniture I think leather is the way to go, in a simple classical, unfussy shape. Have to say I've yet to slide of a sofa and I'm not unduly concerned about the cold thing either. Soon warm up with the log burner going full belt.

    • embletoni
      8 years ago

      Fabric!

      I absolutely hate leather sofas for lounging (& it's cold), though it's much easier to keep clean. Linen is my favourite. No chintzy fabric allowed.

    • PRO
      Bobbin & Fleck
      8 years ago

      I voted for fabric because our clients prefer the look.

    • tinoria
      8 years ago

      my choice is fabric which can be changed more frequently. leather has a somewhat 'cold' look.

    • PRO
      Designitures
      8 years ago

      We find that our customers choices vary. Some prefer fabric for that cosy feel whilst others feel that leather is more durable.

    • Elizabeth Stewart
      8 years ago

      My choice is fabric for a sofa as it has more of a comfy feel to the furniture.

    • PRO
      M Kelly Interiors
      7 years ago
      last modified: 7 years ago

      Furniture · More Info

      We stock a large selection of Fabric & Leather sofas . One of our best sellers at the moment is the Dune corner group .

    • PRO
      Mary Goodman
      7 years ago

      Leather looks great but is cold in the winter so have some sheepskins or blankets too.

    • PRO
      by me soft furnishings
      7 years ago

      Fabric is always cosier & the variation is greater. This is an example of a chair which may suit, perhaps a leather cushion on this type of chair.

      Chair update for Garden Room · More Info

    • PRO
      greenwood furniture waterford ltd.
      7 years ago

      we supply both fabric and leather sofas

    • PRO
      Yorkshire Fabric Shop
      7 years ago

      leather tends to look and feel cold

    • PRO
      Pamela Langbridge Curtains and Upholstery
      7 years ago

      I find leather sofas cold and uninviting. They have there place though especially in traditional studies. We love recovering them or making new sofas in leather. Especially deep buttoned.

    • PRO
      Ecopropi Ltd
      7 years ago

      Love the feel of leather, and it can last forever if you treat it well.

    • PRO
      Interior Supply
      7 years ago

      Both look great, a leather sofa is always easier to clean.

    • lisa77226
      7 years ago
      Leather looks great but I always feel it's uncomfortable to lounge on. I also have a dog, but to keep k9 funk at bay, I opted for machine washable slip covers... In white! :)
    • PRO
      Roon & Rahn
      7 years ago

      Love our new sofa, which we bought from Lauritz.com. The textile is Hallingdal from Kvadrat, so the quality is still very good!

      Stue · More Info

    • PRO
      NV Interiors
      7 years ago

      I have had both and prefer fabric. Leather is always cold in the winter and sticky in the summer. I feel fabric is more comfy.

    • PRO
      Tadhg O'Connor Furniture
      7 years ago

      We find that our clients like both. There's always a steady mix of leather & fabric sofa buyers.

    • PRO
      Richard Power & Sons
      7 years ago

      I prefer fabric

    • K B
      7 years ago

      I have slaved to keep my cream leather sofas clean for years. They're not easier to clean in my opinion! The dirt gets right into the grain! I once came into the sitting room to find my 2 year old had been having a great time scribbling ALL OVER one sofa with blue biro! I scrubbed and scrubbed with specialist cleaner for hours to rescue it. Now several years later my third child has done the same thing; i didn't tackle it straight away so the pen just will not come off. When I can summon up the energy I am going to make slip-covers in white denim as I've seen in a Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic book. If any bad stains get on them I can bleach them out.

    • PRO
      Ecoflap
      7 years ago

      With children it's leather for us. A wipe down with a soda crystal solution gets rid of grime and stickiness.

    • PRO
      Lifeshapes
      7 years ago

      Although we've gone for fabric in this poll, we know that for most of us this very much comes down to a choice between comfort and aesthetic. Leather is a bit more of an acquired taste when you're talking about comfort, whereas the right fabric sofa comes with comfort built in. If like us you love great textile design, a sumptuous fabric sofa is definitely an opportunity to explore the work of some well established textile designers like Margo Selby or new breed upholstery & textile design houses like Native Flok in Edinburgh. Okay, so you may just be looking for a lovely, comfortable sofa you can curl up on and watch Strictly, but even then, if approached with a sense of adventure, navigating the brave new world of textile design can still be very exciting stuff!

    • PRO
      Bio Fires
      7 years ago

      We find fabrics are more warming and cosy. We also find they come in more beautiful, homely styles.

    • PRO
      Carpet-Clean.ie
      7 years ago

      Leather is cold in the winter and sticky in the hot summer,but easier to clean by hand..wears down quicker than fabric though...Fabric lasts longer than leather and much more comfortable,can be cleaned by machine many times as seen below...

      Sofa Cleaning methods


      Sofa Cleaning methods

    • Gary Sharp
      7 years ago
      I prefer fabric but here in a hot humid climate in Vietnam leather is preferred for its coolness and its non absorbent surface ...
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