Furniture advice please! If you had to choose between a leather suite or a fabric one, which would you go for?

[futterbingers]

I'd made up my mind to buy a fabric suite - ie a 3-seater and a 2-seater - as we've had a leather one for the past 12 years and, while its lasted really well aside from a tear on one of the seams, well, its cold to sit on. Or lie on. But I was in a furniture shop today which had a nice (sale) selection, and the first thing I saw was a really nice suite in leather, well made, just the design I wanted, but still, leather. I also saw a fabric suite which my dp likes, basically because its not leather. But, we have messy teenagers and hairy dogs, unfortunately we started letting the dogs onto our leather couches and I fear it will be hard if not impossible to get them to stop. (Also it looks kinda cute when they get up on the top of the couch and sit looking out the window).

So, do we go for the convenience of leather, or the look and comfort of fabric? And try to re-train our dogs? Tbh, I'm being drawn to the leather. But the rest of the family want something more comfy to sit on. (How dare they). Your wise advice would be much appreciated, tia.

Think it's personal taste at the end of the day. For me it would be fabric, no question. I hate the feel of cold (or hot!) leather on skin.

it's a bit like the carpet vs floorboards (or laminate or whatever) argument -

one is more comfortable, no contest, but really madly impractical

the other is madly practical but really not comfortable

we have fabric, but they do get shockingly grubby & scruffy looking, & we don't even have dogs (do have slobby teenagers though)...I suppose if you had darkish removable covers, & a spare set, & washed them a lot, they wouldn't be too bad!

do NOT get fixed fabric covers, you really would regret that.

we went for fabric i wish we'd gone for a nice wipe clean leather sofa and some comfy throws.

I had a leather one and could only tolerate it for about 12 months -horrible thing

when you are looking at fabric have a look if the cushions are fiber or foam filled -fiber comfy and can be plumped up better where as foam keeps it's shape, keeps it's shape, keeps it's shape then sags!

you could go for a ceaper fabric, knowing that you will have to replace it after 5 years or you could get the 'insurance' most places sell with sofas as these do cover against teenagers spilling stuff, mucky dogs climbing on th efurniture etc but check the T&Cs carefully

I'm thinking about a new sofa and would like another fabric one. My mum bought a leather one last year and knowing my feelings bought a coordinating fabric chair so I'd be happy sitting down :)

We have an aniline leather sofa, it's not cold but is wipe clean - I think the thick leather ones are colder feeling.

Ours is 11 years old and looking fine still.

stain resistant spray doesnt work either

We have a dog and a leather sofa. I much prefer it to fabric and don't find it cold or uncomfortable at all. I can't imagine having a fabric sofa as we often have spills on the sofa and they can be so easily wiped off. They also look good when they are older but fabric starts looking shabby.

Fabric - will never have leather.

How about a leather one, then get a nice throw/blanket to put over it?

Get Laz-e-boys

Some models have heaters in them. PILs won one (the lucky buggers) and it's amazing.

Maybe a leather one with a few fabric cushions?