Leather or Fabric

[Julisa4]

Thoughts please? I have twin DC aged 5...do I buy fabric or leather sofas? Do fabric sofas really get that dirty?

Fabric. Can’t stand leather sofas.

Fabric. With waterproof covers that can come off when you have visitors.
You will stick to leather when it's hot!

If leather....what colour would you go for?

Do the fabric ones look tired after a couple of years?

Yes fabric ones look tired after a few years unless you pay £££.
The ones where the covers can come off to be washed are better- but they are a right pain to get on and off, take forever to dry and sometimes fade badly if washed too often.
But they look good and are nice to sit on.

I've got twins- grown up now- and would recommend a pattern that is a mix of black currant, orange juice, coffee and yogurt colours.

Leather wipes clean, looks good for years and doesn't have to be hard and shiny. It can be sticky it hot weather, and at least on Mumsnet, seems to be out of fashion.

I got a huge squashy leather one from M&S when I had DD1. She is now 10 and has 2 younger siblings. The sofa has aged slightly but looks good for it. I love a fabric sofa given the choice, but I would have been a much more shouty mum for the last 10 years if we'd got a fabric one. I vote leather.

Imagine a variety of bodily fluids plus a selection of foodstuffs soaked in to your fabric sofa compared to a leather one which won't soak it up as bad, and you can wash down.

I have leather ones which are 6 or 7 years old now and the leather is flaking off. I've already had one repair done and I've just given up now.

I had no idea it was some sort of bonded leather when I bought it, so flakes of leather mushed together and remade. They weren't cheap. I paid just under 4k for 2x 2 seater sofas.

I'm thinking of new sofas at the minute and wondering hte same question. Kids are grown up but I have a slightly stinky dog. So leather has been good with the dog being on the sofa. But I think I'll get fabric next time.

I used to have one in a shared flat.I couldn't get past the fact that I'm lying on a dead animal. I'm not even a vegan so not sure why it makes me feel so bad. It kept going around my head that I was touching the skin of a cow. Also it felt horrible compared to a comfy fabric one.

Fabric. And no drinks or sticky hands outside of the kitchen.

Leather as long as good quality. Only problem with leather is they just last and last and last, so pick one you love!

We’ve got a toddler and our white sofas are clean but LO eats at the table and gets his hands wiped before going off.
The covers are removable and we wash them about once a year or even less frequently.

Leather sofas are harder too pull off. I’d especially avoid getting a matching set in black or dark brown leather as that just seems to always look very tacky.

Depending on your style, light tan sofas can look quite cool.

I have cream fabric ones but cover them with washable throws when the children are around. They are still ok at 8 years old but I will probably get them cleaned soon as the arms are a bit grubby. The seat and back cushions are removable for washing.

Fabric

If you buy fabric sofas see if you can buy two extra sets of covers at the time of purchase.

If they stop making the covers in a years time and you need a new set you’ll be glad you have some in the cupboard to make your suite look like new. And they will fit perfectly!

I prefer leather but a thousand cat scratches in the seats later they look bad :-(

Leather.

Puked on, spills, DD wrote her name on it. Theyve all wiped off. Quick Anti-bacterial-ed after Norovirus and DD coughing. Couldn't do that with fabric.

Still look fab nearly 16 years later. Not bad for a cheap ikea sofa (less than £600 for two)