The kind of sofa you enjoy most is a big question of personal taste, and there are so many options in the world for you to choose from that just about everyone can find what they need. However, despite the wealth of choice, the fabric vs leather divide is a major divergence in which everyone needs to pick a side. There are all kinds of options to choose from on either side, with just about every type of colour and pattern available, so how do you decide? Let’s take a look at both the options and weigh up the positives and negatives.

Fabric sofas

One of the first things that people tend to think of when it comes to fabric sofas is comfort. It’s hard to beat the inviting, warm and cosy feeling of settling down on a nice fabric sofa in front of the fire or the TV, and the great thing about choosing fabric is that you get all kinds of options when it comes to the texture of your sofa. Smooth, rough, natural, artificial, cosy, smooth, all of these options are possible, and the fabric sofa gives you the flexibility to choose depending on your personal style. A cosy old house can be made even more so by the addition of a cosy sofa, while a contemporary house can be added to with bold or contrasting colours. And that brings us to one of the other big benefits, patterns. One of the biggest advantages that fabric sofas have over leather is the ability to incorporate patterned designs, from subtle background patterns to bold and challenging patterns like zebra print or other motifs.

Leather sofas

The traditional view of a leather sofa is that it’s a more contemporary look and that it’s a good option for more modern houses while being too cold for cosy houses. But that’s not necessarily true. It’s hard to imagine a sofa more traditional and cosy than a nice old Chesterfield, so what is it really like to own a leather sofa? One of the biggest advantages of leather is that it tends to be easier to maintain and clean than fabric. There’s a certain amount of upkeep if you want your leather sofa to stay bright and undamaged, but by and large, they will wipe clean and can be easily vacuumed or dusted, so it’s a good option if you have kids or pets. Another great selling point is the range of colours available, which tend to be a bit brighter than the fabric alternative, and while you can’t have as many patterns as on a fabric sofa they more than make up for it in terms of bold style. There’s also a bit of a myth when it comes to comfort because many people seem to think that leather sofas are too cold or too hot. Actually, leather sofas respond much more quickly to the ambient temperature than fabric sofas, so they tend to reflect the body heat of the person sitting on them to stay warm even when it’s cool.

How do I choose?

We hope that we’ve been able to dispel a couple of myths about leather and fabric sofas for you, so you can see just how flexible modern sofas can be. But as a result, how do you make a decision? At Dreamo Living, we love helping people find their absolute perfect fit, and it really does depend on how you plan to use your sofa. If you’re a family home with children or pets, then it’s probably a good idea to consider leather as an option because of how much easier it is to clean, but that doesn’t mean leather is just a practical choice! The range of styles and colours that you can get these days is so great that leather can fit in just about any style of home, old and new, so it can make a perfect option for anyone. Similarly, while fabric sofas tend to be warmer and cosier, that doesn’t mean they have to be traditional. Adding a splash of colour or a truly eye-catching design to your home can be a great move, and fabric sofas can be a great way to do that because of their flexibility. They’re a little more difficult to take care of, but it’s all worth it for that statement piece that’s exactly what you want.

Need a little more help choosing your ideal sofa? Dreamo Living can’t wait to help. Give us a call or pop down to our showroom, and our designers will be only too happy to help you pick the perfect option for your home, and help you relax in style and comfort.