The decision as to whether a fabric or a leather is best to cover your furniture is not always very straightforward. At least, it wasn’t for me. I recall the last time I made the decision to buy a sofa for my living room and I was convinced that I wanted it to be upholstered in leather. I spent months ogling a three-seater in leather that had just the perfect amount of distressing and pull up; and, in my mind’s eye, the style that made it the one I was going to buy. 

Fabric or Leather? 

But once I grew serious about it and began doing my research (which included a fair amount of soul searching), I realized that a fabric sofa would actually be a better fit for me. And instead of the three-seater in leather I had had my heart set on, I selected a luscious fabric sofa with a bench seat cushion. Why? I decided it would be cozier to lounge upon—think of all the lazy naps in front of the TV after a long work day I’d be able to enjoy!

 

So, while I liked the look of the leather, it turns out that a fabric sofa was more suited to my lifestyle and I found the perfect timeless fabric, and I haven’t looked back since. What if there are two or more of you in the decision-making arena and not everyone agrees? In this case, I recommend a mix: choose a leather sofa, for instance, and add a fabric chair and ottoman to bring an uptick in color to the space. By varying the color, texture and pattern, a more interesting room is the end result. What other tips would I give you that may help you decide?

Let’s Look at Leather

Leather is timeless. It is also very versatile. It applies well to modern and contemporary styles, as well as to traditional and western sofa styles. In fact, often the leather selection alone tweaks a style from traditional to modern to transitional. That’s what is so exciting about leather: it has character! Leather is arguably easier to clean and more forgiving of those accidental spills, though there are some exceptions, such as nubuck leathers.

  

For the most part, though, leather is meant to age with grace and character and to grow suppler over time. So, if you’re not a stickler about scars and scratches and the occasional spotting, leather could be a great fit for you. It really just comes down to picking the right durability and texture, and we at Hand & Grain are happy to help you with that decision. Our leather sofas can be bejeweled with colorful fabric accent pillows, which can be made up in any of our fabrics, so keep that in mind. 

The number one objection we hear about leather furniture is that it is cold to the touch. This is not the case with many of our leathers that have a soft surface. Remember, genuine leather will warm up to your own body temperature quickly and we recommend an easy solution to help it do so more quickly: use a throw or blanket to cover up until the surface of the leather warms.

Let’s Look at Fabrics

The great thing about fabric is that there are so many patterns and materials to choose from. Do you want a Belgian linen, a glamorous velvet, or maybe a luscious jacquard fabric? Or how about a vibrant colored weave with a striking pattern? When I shop for fabrics I feel like a kid in a candy store, coming up against how difficult it is to edit my selections!

 

If you’re like me and you like to lounge and nap on your sofa, not only will you want a deep sofa, but you might prefer a soft fabric that’s instantly temperature ready. Unlike leather, which continues to increase in character over time, most fabrics will eventually fade. Also, fabric collects more dust over time and most fabrics will absorb spills quickly. This is not the case with the newest performance fabrics, of course, which we will share our knowledge of in our next post.

Bottom line: if you are shopping for living room or den furniture, consider a mix of fabric and leather upholstery to achieve a stylish look. For many families, one person may love to relax on a fabric sofa, while others in the family may prefer how leather feels on the skin. A mix of both is right for the most homes, as the way a material feels is a seriously personal preference. And in case this is the first time you are stopping by our Musings, we are happy to send swatches for both so be sure to reach out if you would like to receive them.