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Original poster

What's the consensus on leather sofas?

85 replies

Hassled · 02/10/2010 21:04

Nice or naff? We're talking dark brown, soft leather. The ghost of my mother is whispering "common" in my ear, but I think I quite like them and in fairness my mother thought most things were common.

How do you clean them? If I spilt a cup of coffee on one, what would happen?

OP posts:
FattyArbuckel · 02/10/2010 22:07

A massive style crime

mitochondria · 02/10/2010 22:08

I'm sitting on one now. It's not brown though, it's dark blue (to match the red sofa and the purple chair....).

It's easy to wipe after boys have been sitting on it. Also got completely scribbled on with biro, wiped it off with a baby wipe.

I don't ever WAX it - should I?

FattyArbuckel · 02/10/2010 22:08

Vinyl car seats would in fact be preferable

FattyArbuckel · 02/10/2010 22:11

Don't WAX, BIN IT and move on...

JaneS · 02/10/2010 22:11

Leather chairs are nice, but not sofas. You want to snuggle up in a sofa and put your feet up - and sweaty, leathery feet are less than appealing.

Original poster
Hassled · 02/10/2010 22:13

I did spot a red leather chaise longue in DFS. Now that was classy. Maybe we'll just get a row of them.

OP posts:
traceybath · 02/10/2010 22:14

We have a leather sofa from here.

Most certainly is not common.

But am not sure what type you want - are we talking more dfs?

Original poster
Hassled · 02/10/2010 22:16

Nooo - DFS is the precise opposite of what I want. I don't actually know what I want, but it's not DFS.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hassled · 02/10/2010 22:18

Useful link - thanks. I quite like the Deco one.

OP posts:
supersalstrawberry · 02/10/2010 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

traceybath · 02/10/2010 22:21

I meant to add a wink after the dfs comment Grin

I've got the lansdown and its really lovely. I like to think its more country house hotel drawing room rather than leather suite from dfs Wink

usualsuspect · 02/10/2010 22:41

I have a lovely primark throw on my common sofa..for when its cold

supersalstrawberry · 02/10/2010 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dexter73 · 03/10/2010 08:14

I can never understand why people don't have leather sofas. They are so much better than fabric sofas. You can spill stuff on them and just wipe it off. When they age they look better instead of looking shabby. I don't ever feel sweaty or sticky on it.
Also I hate sofas with patterns on them as they look so grannyish!

gorionine · 03/10/2010 08:20

I have a cream colour leather sofa and the only reservation would be "do not buy a cream colour leather sofa!" (have had to cover sitting cushions with a throw as frequent pen/feltips incidents have worn the colour off a bit but leather is great and not smelly. I cannot talk about all leather sofas in the universe but ours is soooooo comfyGrin.

Tippychoocks · 03/10/2010 08:25

I wouldn't have leather for ethical reasons dexter, if that was an actual question Smile
But aside from that I do think they can be horribly naff. Old chesterfields and battered club chairs are OK in the right environment - period house probably - but I've not seen a new one yet that didn't make me shudder. Especially the crinkly ones or the onew with weird dashboard panels.

But you buy what you like for your own house OP, it doesn't matter what we think! Diversity for home furnishings - that's the dream Grin

dexter73 · 03/10/2010 08:34

No not a question just a statement Smile.

Tippychoocks · 03/10/2010 08:35

Grin Fair enough

Rockbird · 03/10/2010 08:40

We've just replaced fabric with leather and they're fab. Fabric is unspeakably naff, haven't seen one that doesn't make me cringe and we went round every shop you can think of. Would never go back there.

JustGettingByMum · 03/10/2010 09:21

We've got both a leather sofa, and fabric smaller sofa and armchair. All in the same style, but with different (complementary) fabrics.
DH wasn't sure, but he wanted leather and I didn't want a sitting room full of leather so this was our compromise and it looks great

izzybiz · 03/10/2010 09:31

I have dark brown leather sofas as I have small Dc's.

Have had fabric in the past and they just end up looking grubby.

I think if you can spend the money to get decent leather they are not slippy, sweaty, smelly, common, naff, any of those things!

They can be slightly chilly in the morning when you first sit down and that lasts all of 30 seconds!

On times that I have had to sleep on the sofa I have put a sheet down first as I would on any sofa.

I am curled up on it now, in PJ's and slipper socks, perfectly comfy and cosy.

I will not be getting fabric sofas again untill I am old and maybe a pensioner! Grin

FrameyMcFrame · 03/10/2010 09:33

Yack!
Uncomfortable and look crappy.

FrameyMcFrame · 03/10/2010 09:34

I would like a nice leather chair though.

SixtyFootDoll · 03/10/2010 09:35

I have brown leather sofas and chair.
They were cheap about 4 yrs ago and still going strong and are ideal for my mucky DS's.

They go lovley with my laminate floor too.

Common all round here. But I think my room looks fab. Grin

Original poster
Hassled · 03/10/2010 10:26

You've failed me, MNers - I wanted CONSENSUS, dammit - stop with your differing opinions Wink.

The ethical aspect hadn't actually occurred to me, as a meat-eater, - my vegetarian friends will hate me for it forever and find it massively offensive, won't they? Or will they regard it as they do leather shoes - unavoidable to have to look at?

We're going back to the shop with the least tacky looking sofa later today. I'll annoy DH with my dithering still more - he can't wait.

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