leather or fabric - which is best value?

mrs_moneyspinner

I am buying 2 sofas from M&S during their 30% off promotion - I can't decide which is better leather or fabric - my husband is thinking one of each in toning colours - would leather wear better last longer/look better? would one of each look a bit daft? They are going to have to last many years.

jennyjelly

For what it's worth I think that as fabric ages it looks older and tattier, but as leather ages it just looks comfy and worn. So if you go for a leather sofa with a really good quality frame it will last you forever. I like the idea of a toning fabric one but unless you are prepared to have it recovered it won't last as long as the leather. Maybe spend the bulk of your budget on the leather one and buy a cheaper fabric one which you can replace later?

latecomer

a couple of our friends have one of each and it works really well provided they complement each other of course!

We've just had 2 brown leather sofas delivered and I think they look great. I suspect the leather will be more hard wearing but apart from that its just about personal perference

Kiran

If you've got pets then leather isn't always the best. Cats seem to love scratching it and dogs, for some reason, seem to love licking it. My opinion, but I am only a bloke, is that leather ages better, lasts longer and is easier to clean. Advanatages of fabric is it stays a relatively constant temperature so you dont need to worry about being cold sitting on it in a winter or melting whilst sitting on it during a hot summer day (if we remember what those were)

mrs_moneyspinner

thanks everyone -still undecided - we have a cat but she rarely scratches, we have heavy children who throw themselves into furniture, I have a husband who balances cups on chair arms and generally makes the arms of chairs shiny and flat and also my sofas have a habit of going all misshapen on the seat cushions - the covers of which seem to slide around (probably the velvet texture fabric) - leather I think.

Chloe5

I prefer leather but it does need looking after. Make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for.

Leather wipes are not necessarily the best thing - creams are better.

A good quality one will last better than fabric so you should be ok with M&S.

However, whilst the leather may last well, the stitching doesn't always!

Friends of mine had leather sofa and the seats eventually wore and the leather kind of came off in bits. Wasn't a cheap one and did last a few years but not years and years.

maman

Definitely personal preference but: DD has leather sofas but I think they make her room look a bit austere and like an airport lounge (VIP of course!). Personally I like fabric with washable covers but then I like the worn, squashy look!

angelavdavis

I love my chocolate brown leather sofas - any spillage, just wipe it off.

I panic all the time anyone is drinking a glass of red wine on my fabric sofas in the snug - scotchguard or not!!

Mine are squashy sofas which I bought from Heals - they cost a fortune at the time, but I have no regrets.

However, one of my cats has scratched the armchair arm when they got into the habit of sitting there watching the cars go by! It is only surface luckily and has gradually faded into the background so looks like the marks the cows left behind(!) I must admit I did throw a holy paddy at the time!!! The cat doesn't sit there now (funny that eh!)

vivatifosi

I've got a 25 year old leather Charles Eames chair that still looks as good as the day it came. Sadly fabric always wears, no matter how well made it is.

Still, if you buy a good sofa and still love it ten years down the line, you can get it reupholstered and can do the same with leather, so should be down to personal preference.

Updated to add:

If you are buying from M&S, see if you can get yourself a couple of metres of upholstery fabric from the same batch. That way you'll have some spare in case the cat does go into attack mode and you need some arm covers or a new cushion. Hopefully that will be 30% off too!

annieR

Leather will be longer lasting as long as you look after it well.
There is a lot of misinformation about leather care but if done properly then a leather suite will last a lifetime. We have a 30 year old leather sofa that looks as new because it has been regularly cleaned and protected (no creams, oils or waxes). Fabric would not last as long.