Bath or shower cubicle?
Kitchen diner or separate kitchen and dining room?
Low-maintenance garden or an outside space Alan Titchmarsh would be proud of?
When it comes to making design decisions for a home – or even a business – it’s not always easy. Too much choice can mean we can quickly become overwhelmed. Not to mention the fact that decisions like these can often represent a big investment.
If you – or your client – is currently umming and ahhing about whether to add leather or fabric furniture to their space, this is the article for you. Choosing one or the other comes down to lifestyle and priorities, but by understanding the strengths of each, you can choose furniture that best suits your requirements while standing the test of time. Read on for just four reasons why leather might be the obvious choice…
Durability
We’ve already mentioned durability, as it’s often one of the key deciding factors for those who are at the early stages of reimaging – or redesigning – a space.
People regularly choose leather from our sustainable leather wholesale company for this reason (amongst many). When they plump for our leather, they’re opting for hides that have undergone five (yes, five!) different stages of selection and quality control at our partner tannery.
Each range tells its own, unique story: the texture, each and every natural mark, as well as the distinctive colour of the individual hide itself.
All of the above combine to bring sofas, chairs, transport interiors and hospitality furniture to life. Our leather is designed to last; its natural, densely interlocking collagen fibres provide superior tensile strength and resistance to tearing make it a great choice.
Fabric, meanwhile, can be more susceptible to general wear or tear, meaning it can look ‘worn’ much more quickly. That said, it can often be much cheaper – and can offer a much more contemporary aesthetic, if that’s the look you prefer.
Cleaning and Maintenance
If cleaning your fabric furniture is the bane of your life, perhaps leather is the best option after all though. It’s much easier to keep clean than fabric, as it resists spills and doesn’t trap dust deep inside its surface.
Accidentally spilled a drink on your leather sofa? No problem. If it’s a recent spill, you’ll be glad to know that liquid stays on top of leather, instead of soaking in right away. You can therefore wipe most spills off with a dry or damp cloth. Of course, this isn’t a problem at all with a fabric sofa if you simply ban food and drinks while lounging on it – but this isn’t always possible, especially if you have children or unexpected guests.
Leather furniture doesn’t trap dust, either. Thanks to its smooth, solid surface, you’ll find that you can easily clean loose dirt and dust using a soft cloth or a brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner. So, if those guests do decide to turn up, you can simply give your leather sofa a quick dust and it’ll look as good as new.
Fabric absorbs oils, mud, and coloured liquids into its threads, while leather blocks these substances from sinking in, meaning you won’t have to contend with any deep stains either. On top of this, shampooing or deep cleaning will thankfully also be an infrequent task when you own a leather sofa.
Appearance
You just can’t beat the appearance of a timeless leather sofa or chair, can you? This is the factor that comes high on the list of priorities when clients come to us for their wholesale leather.
Aging gracefully, leather develops a unique character over time. Like a fine wine, it really does get better as it gets older. It never goes out of fashion, either, which means your investment will stand up five, ten or even 15 years after you take the plunge and purchase a leather sofa or chair.
Holding a firm shape, leather doesn’t sag, wrinkle or pill like soft fabrics can do over time too. Just another reason to say ‘no’ to a fabric sofa, then.
If you don’t have the budget just yet to splash out on leather furniture, a fabric one is a good choice too. Opt for a neutral shade and you can change up its aesthetic seasonally, by adding soft furnishings like coloured cushions and throws. You can also buy washable sofa covers relatively cheaply, if you wanted to switch the shade of your furniture more often too.
Long-term Value
If long-term value is what you’re looking for too, you’ll certainly get it when you opt for leather furniture, made from sustainable hides from Nene Valley Leather.
High-quality leather like ours resists tears, punctures and daily wear, unlike some synthetic fibres. Choose correctly and you’ll benefit from a sofa, chair or footstool that will last for decades, rather than just a few seasons – and unlike plastic-based synthetics that can crack permanently, leather can be conditioned, polished and repaired, as and when it needs it.
Of course, fabric sofas can stand the test of time too; the key here is to select a more durable fabric, such as nylon, which is considered one of the strongest and most wear-resistant synthetic fibres when blended.
Ready to have a chat about our sustainable leather range and if it’s in line with your plans for your home or business? Simply contact the Nene Valley Leather team on 01933 420140, or via email at info@nenevalleyleather.com
Until next time…
