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Furniture Design Dilemma living room

Couch Dilemma! Leather or fabric?

last year

Hi everyone! Hopefully you can help me solve this problem. I am torn about a couch selection.

I am buying a new home and I currently have a leather couch which will end up in another room and I need to replace it.

I absolutely live on my couch. I eat there, nap there, the dog is on the couch all the time. It is in use 18 hours a day. I need a couch that will stand up to all manner of use (no kids though!). I would LOVE a velvet couch but I'm not sure it could stand up to the abuse.

Do I purchase a leather couch or a fabric one? If fabric, what fabric? And from which manufacturer? So many manufacturers are having issues these days with shipping/delivery (I'm looking at you Joybird and Interior Define!) and quality of the build and the fabric (I'm talking to you Basset!).

I appreciate your responses more than I can say!!

Featured Answer

chispa

last year

last modified: last year

I had leather when I had young kids. The problem is when you buy at regular furniture stores they don't always have the best High Traffic/Heavy Duty fabrics. The average sofa become too expensive as those fabrics are more expensive. Make sure they can give you the wear test ratings for any fabric you are considering. Look for the words Wyzenbeek and Martindale.

I now have all seating in fabric, and although I spent more for Heavy Duty fabrics, we stopped allowing the dogs on the seating. We bought several nice Orvis beds to place around the house ... they have adapted just fine to the new rules!

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Comments (6)

Lyn Nielson
last year
I vote for Fabric.
lisaj1354 thanked Lyn Nielson
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Thank you both for the support. The sofa I saw in the store was a similar leather to the one you linked to, postum. The cushions were a very dark paisley and I thought it look quite nice. I know I'm making this old sofa sound awful but I'm sitting here looking at it now and it's not that bad. I have a throw over it that covers the cracks in the seat cushions and throw pillows at each end. I'm just thinking that if I get a good coordinating fabric on the cushions it would eliminate the need for the throw that I'm constantly readjusting after DH has his nap.
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trishb1
last year
I would definitely stay away from a velvet if you are using this couch every day. Leather is extremely wear hardy, but I agree with Chispa, with furniture you get what you pay for. Rather get a good wearing quality fabric piece than a cheaper leather.
lisaj1354 thanked trishb1
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Go with a high performance fabric. Most furniture companies are offering that option these days.
lisaj1354 thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I ahve always had leather but never anything but Italian made . I do not like spring constrction with leather and NS makers seem to never use anything else. Our old Italian made leather sofa is 40+ years old our son has had it in his media room for 10 yrs the only thing he did was replace the foam in the cushions it still sits just like whe it was new. All leather everywhere no cheating with vinyl where the body does not touch. IMO with any furniture you get what you pay for and cheap leather is not one bit better than cheap fabric. I think if you USE your furniture get good quality leather and relax.
lisaj1354 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
marmiegard_z7b
last year
I think fabric is a problem if the dog will sleep on it, unless you cover with one of those thingys, or have washable slipcover. It’s not about just spot- cleaning if pets are living on it.
If just people using it, then it’s a personal preference- I prefer the feel of fabric to leather( though I have a leather chair I use) and if no kids you should be able to get a good modern fabric, but likely custom order or from companies that have the range of quality selections and $$&.

But I agree the devil’s in the details - furniture I see the young people buying now has not good quality construction or fabrics.
lisaj1354 thanked marmiegard_z7b

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