The leather sofa is a popular modern choice in Indian homes. But still many of us rethink about the decor value of leather.
The presence of a leather sofa in your living room defines an excellent taste and artistic sense in interior decor. And the best part about the leather sofa is that irrespective of its size and colour, it fits in almost every style of home decor.
No matter whether you are using faux, bonded or bi-cast leather, it indeed serves your needs for a long time. Even a scratched and shady leather sofa can instantly improve the look of your home. Today, a broad range of fabric and synthetic materials are available in the market. Still, leather remains the most common and highly desired choice for this purpose. But, why so? Let’s find out.
Do read this: How to choose a sofa for the living room
Benefits of Leather sofa
Wondering why leather sofas are the preferred decor choice over others? And, why do designers and homemakers think they are classier and stylish to buy?
Durability
As per the experts, a leather sofa lasts longer than a couch made up of fabric or other synthetic materials. It is flexible and naturally resists most of the regular wear and tear. Not only that, age looks good leather. As the leather fabric gets older, it becomes softer and smoother. Yes, leather is like wine – it is more attractive over time.
Maintenance
A leather sofa is not that hard to care. It is stain-resistant and is as easy as wipe and clean. An occasional vacuum or a polish conditioner once in a while restores the shine and smoothness. And just like that, the sofa will be ready at your service.
Comfort
Over the years, the leather gets softer and tends to become amazingly comfortable to lounge. Since the leather “breathes” it is the best seating option in any weather condition.
Appeal
Available in many natural colours and shades, the leather offers a charming vintage look for your home. Also, it suits any interior design style; so you need not worry about replacing it whenever you change the interiors. With regular care, the shine on the leather stays for a long time. Make sure to use oil or polish often for this purpose.
The real leather gets stronger with age; it turns gorgeous. You see, on any given day, natural leather is much more durable. Believe it or not, but a well-maintained leather upholstery can last up to 40 years, even with regular usage. On the other hand, fake leather often cracks and get damaged only within a few years of use- say 5 to 10 years of constant usage.
Which is better – Leather or fabric?
More often than not, home decor enthusiasts debate upon the better material for a sofa? The costly leather and the highly affordable fabric are usual contenders. Let’s do a quick fact check for both.
Comfort
The fabric feels more comfortable than leather. They are easily blendable in any shape and pattern. But, the leather absorbs heat more quickly and offer warm fuzzy feelings than fabric. So for a cold climate, leather is a great choice; and the tropicals and deserts do better with a fabric sofa.
Care
The fabric offers more benefits depending on the material quality. The high-quality fabric lasts longer and is typically accessible in the removal of tough stains. It might be hard in case of low-quality fabric. On the other hand, leather sofas are much simpler to clean but are more prone to scratches. Fact is that a fabric sofa needs regular dry cleaning – say twice a year. With leather, all you have to do is wipe, clean; maybe polish once a year or so.
Colour durability
The fabric offers unlimited colours and shades choices. But, these colours fade out with time due to over usage and often washes. Leather, on the other hand, offers a limited selection of colours. But these shades last for a longer time on leather, the tone also tends to mature with time.
Appeal
A leather sofa provides a classic and royal touch to your living room. The same does not go with the fabric – it adds a subtle modern look to your space.
Cost
Of course, the leather is definitely an expensive decor choice. But, some of the high-quality sofa fabrics also cost the same price.
Buy a Leather sofa?
I sense that now you are thinking about whether to buy a leather sofa. Well, let’s not rush. After all, the living room sofa is a big decor commitment. Before making a buying decision, let’s peek at the pros and cons of a designer sofa made up of leather.
Pros
- Highly durable
- Gains a charm over time
- Easy to clean, even with a piece of wet cloth
- More elegant and offers excellent comfort
- Resists most of the stains
Cons
- Costlier compared to other options
- Not pet-friendly and can get scratched easily
- Available in limited colours and shapes
- Absorbs heat quickly and gets warm
- Should be kept away from direct sunlight
All you need is love and leather.
The Limited
Finally, but most importantly, a sofa should serve two purposes for your room. It must provide high usage and uplift the whole appeal. So, think well and invest in leather sofas for your lovely home.