Fabric vs. Leather Sofas: Which Should You Choose? | AllModern (2024)

Choosing a sofa requires careful thought and consideration. Along with design and size, you should also consider sofa material. Discover the benefits of fabric vs. leather sofas to help you select the right material for your comfort and lifestyle.

What Is a Fabric Sofa
What Is a Leather Sofa
Benefits of Fabric Sofas
Benefits of Leather Sofas
Considerations When Choosing Between a Fabric or Leather Sofa

What Is a Fabric Sofa?

Pro Tip:

Considering fabric options like linen or cotton? Check out Linen vs. Cotton: A Simple Guide.

What Is a Leather Sofa?

Leather sofas offer a sleek look to your living room. Made from animal hides, this durable upholstery material achieves its look through a tanning process, which enhances its strength and life-span. An alternative to leather, faux leather achieves the look without the use of animal hides. It is made from fabric which is then treated with a synthetic polyurethane wax or dye to replicate the look of genuine leather.

To decide whether you want genuine leather vs. faux leather for your sofa, think about how long you want your sofa to last. Faux leather upholstery is water-resistant, easy to clean, and more affordable than genuine leather. Genuine leather is durable, gets more comfortable over time, and lasts for years.

Pro Tip:

Want to learn more about faux leather? Read What Is Vegan Leather? Our Unbiased Guide for more information.

Benefits of Fabric Sofas

Optimal Material for Colors + Patterns

Fabrics can easily transform into rich colors or intricate patterns, making a fabric sofa the optimal choice if you want to make a bold, artistic statement in your living room or want a variety of options to choose from.

Pro Tip:

To brighten up a neutral living space, consider a patterned sofa. This adds interest to your living room and acts as a more forgiving option for food or drink stains.

Immediate Comfort From the Start

While leather cushions may require a break-in period to achieve the right level of comfort, fabric sofa cushions can provide it instantly. Fabric sofas also don’t stick to you like leather sofas, so you can get up or move around without the hassle of peeling yourself free. Choose linen, cotton, or wool fabric for a breathable material.

Unphased by Nicks + Scratches

This may not apply if your pet enjoys digging into your most beloved furniture pieces, but if not, a good-quality fabric sofa is a durable choice for a scratch-free, clean look.

Benefits of Leather Sofas

Quick Cleanup for Simple Spills

Because leather is less porous than fabric materials, you can clean up spills during TV dinners or morning coffee lounges within seconds. This is a great time-saver and alternative to dabbing out coffee stains on a fabric sofa.

Refreshing + Cool to the Touch

Maximize your comfort during summer months or when living in warm climates by cooling down on a leather sofa.

Pro Tip:

To maintain a refreshing, cool feel, place your leather sofa out of direct sunlight. This helps prevent heat absorption and keeps your leather sofa looking brand-new.

Durable Material for Years of Use

Leather is one of the most durable, high quality sofa materials when compared with fabric ones. With the right care, you can make your leather sofa a worthwhile investment for years of use in your home.

Pro Tip:

For the highest quality leather sofa, look for leather options labeled full-grain. Full-grain leather consists of the outermost layer of animal hide, meaning it's extra thick, moisture-resistant, and strong. Top-grain leather is the next best thing, and involves sanding the outermost layer of animal hide for a thinner appearance.

Reduces Allergens

Leather’s less-porous nature also makes it a preferable sofa finish for anyone with seasonal allergies or allergies to pet hair or dust mites, because it reduces the amount of particles absorbed and makes for easy dusting.

Odor-Resistant

Leather absorbs less particles resulting from spills, body odors, and beloved pets. This means you can spend less time cleaning and more time relaxing.

Considerations When Choosing Between a Fabric or Leather Sofa

So now you understand the key benefits of fabric vs. leather sofas. Review these considerations to help you finalize your decision and start shopping:

Home Aesthetic

Leather and fabric sofas bring their own dynamic looks to your home, so it’s important to think about your current home aesthetic and which material would complement existing color schemes, furniture pieces, and decor items.

Timeline for Use

When choosing between a fabric or leather sofa, think about your future goals and what you want to get out of your sofa. To get started, ask yourself questions about your future home-buying or design goals and whether you want to enjoy your sofa for more than a few years or want something you can trade in as your design preferences evolve.

Asking yourself these types of questions can help you narrow down your decision between a fabric or leather sofa to choose one that aligns with your ever-changing life.

Kids + Pets

Children and pets should also factor into your sofa-buying decision. Although leather is easy to clean in the event of accidents or spills, it’s also easily markable. To reduce cracking, leather sofas require regular maintenance. In contrast, fabric sofas may require additional cleaning to get stains out. Therefore, when deciding between a fabric vs. leather sofa, it’s important to determine which factors matter to you and which you can live with.

Environmental Factors

Do you have seasonal allergies to pollen or your beloved pet’s dander? If so, a leather sofa may work best for you, as some fabric materials can trap particles and contribute to your allergies. However, if you’re set on a fabric sofa, you can minimize allergies by regularly cleaning it.

Alternatively, linen and cotton fabrics offer hypoallergenic solutions and provide easy cleaning, so if you like these materials, you may want to consider a cotton or linen fabric sofa.

Ready to find your next living room staple?