There are lots of things to think about when buying a new sofa but regardless of style, size and shape, one thing everyone should consider is: do I choose a leather or fabric sofa? This may seem obvious – but there are so many pros and cons to both that it can be more difficult than you think.

Fortunately, leather and fabric coverings are available on most styles of sofa so if you have a particular look in mind, it should be easy to achieve. In fact, more practical factors such as comfort, care and cost will help you determine what’s right for you.

Alexander & James Abraham Junior Sofa

  1. Comfort

For most, comfort is the most important thing to consider when choosing a new sofa. After all, your sofa is supposed to be the place you come to relax.

In terms of comfort, people tend to think of leather sofas as feeling cold or uninviting. But actually, this isn’t always the case. Brands like Halo only use natural leathers with a much softer, warmer quality than the cold, hard leathers associated with poorer quality leather sofas.

Like leather, fabric sofas can also vary widely. Not all fabric sofas will feel soft and cosy to the touch! Many people love the unusual feel of velvet or the rugged feel of Harris Tweed cloth, so it's all down to personal preference.

You can either visit us in-store to see the sofa for yourself or you can request fabric samples.

Halo Gable 3 Seater Sofa

  1. Care

People often think that fabric sofas are much harder to care for, because unlike leather, fabric sofas absorb moisture and attract pet hair.

Whilst it's true that fabric sofas will need regularly vacuuming, they can be treated with StainGard – an invisible shield against spills and dirt for up to 5 years. StainGard also protects against accidental pet damage, rips, burns and punctures and can be applied to leather sofas too.

This means that regardless of whether you've chosen a leather or fabric sofa, there are things you can do to keep it looking its best.

colour schemed living room

  1. Cost

Unsurprisingly, leather sofas are considerably more expensive than most fabric sofas. But they do stay looking and feeling good for longer so it would be more of an investment piece.

But if you like to chop and change your décor, a cheaper fabric sofa might lessen the guilt when it’s time to upgrade.

Content by Terence Conran Isla Sofa

Hopefully this has helped you settle the leather or fabric sofa debate but if you need any more information, our team are happy to help. Visit Taskers.com to chat to our Web Sales Advisor on Live Chat or come and see us in-store.