Furniture shopping can be a very exciting journey. With so many different furniture options, finding the best furniture for you in South Texas can also be a little overwhelming.
Whether you’re interested in a beautiful brown leather reclining sofa you saw on TV or a gray fabric recliner you saw somebody sitting on in the San Antonio Magazine, you may already have a preference. That being said, what are the differences between the two? Which furniture type is best for you?
Aside from the look, texture, and feel differences between fabric and leather, there are several pros and cons and advantages and disadvantages of owning each type of furniture. La-Z-Boy South Texas has been designing both leather and fabric furniture for about half a century and is equipped with knowledge of the differences between the two types. We have been helping San Antonio residents decide which furniture type is right for them over that time.
To help with the decision-making process of which type of furniture is right for your home, we will discuss the differences between leather and fabric furniture and what you can expect from each type. As you read on, try to picture both types of furniture in your living room to help give you an idea of which is right for you.
In this article…
- What Types of Fabric Covers Are There?
- What are the Types of Leather?
- Pros and Cons of Fabric Furniture
- Pros and cons of Leather Furniture
- Can You Mix Leather and Fabric Furniture?
- Is Leather or Fabric Furniture Right For You?
What Types of Fabric Covers Are There?
La-Z-Boy South Texas offers a wide range of upholstery fabric options that can be divided into two main categories: performance fabric covers and specialty fabric. With a variety of choices available, you can find the perfect fabric to suit your needs and style.
Let’s take a quick look at what qualities are featured in performance fabric at La-Z-Boy South Texas.
Performance Fabric
Performance fabrics are designed to resist common occurrences in everyday life. These fabrics have superior fade and stain resistance, long-lasting durability, and are easily cleanable. The specific types of fabric that fall into this category are:
Micro Denier
Micro Denier is a term for the yarn itself. The term "denier" is what is used to indicate the measurement of the size of the yarn. Therefore, a micro denier yarn is a smaller yarn than normal and is usually a nylon/polyester blend. Patterns manufactured/designed using these yarns that have not been put through the suede process are referred to as "Micro Denier" fabrics.
Microfibers
Microfibers are simply the name of a company that manufactures fabric….That’s it! The name has been tossed around so much in the industry itself, that now the consumers are using it to describe the type of fabric that is actually a micro denier!
Sueded Micro Denier
Sueded Micro Denier is a fabric that is produced using a Micro Denier yarn. It is then brushed twice to achieve a suede hand. The first brushing is applied before dyeing and the second brushing is considered a "suede" process which is achieved by brushing with many small pins.
The fabric is dyed and sheared…which gives you the final suede look and touch. Finally, a finish is applied to the fabric to enable it to be extremely cleanable.
Another reason these fabrics are easily cleaned is the micro denier yarns are smaller and are woven so tightly together, that the dirt/dust/food particles cannot penetrate the fabric itself allowing the finish to work at its best!
Padded Sueded Micro Denier
Padded Sueded Micro Denier is a micro-denier fabric that also has a layer of padding between the face and the backing that adds dimension and softness.
Specialty Fabric
La-Z-Boy South Texas’ specialty fabrics are designed to protect you from pet damage, spills, mold, and mildew damage. The fabric types include polyester fabric, nylon fabric, and others. Some of these fabrics are even fade-resistant and eco-friendly.
Here are the main types of specialty fabric at Lazy Boy South Texas:
iClean
Innovative iClean technology surrounds every fabric fiber, creating a barrier that repels spills before they turn into stains. This specialty fabric is stain-resistant, easy to clean, and soft to the touch.
Pet-Friendly Fabric
Tested to simulate scratches and animal wear and tear, Pet-Friendly Fabric is durable, easily washable, and even stain-resistant.
Antimicrobial Fabric
The growth of mold, mildew, and odor-causing bacteria is prevented by antimicrobial properties that don’t wash away during cleaning.
Conserve Sustainable Fabrics
These sustainable fabrics are made from water bottles saved from landfills and are still soft, comfortable, and stylish.
What Are the Types of Leather?
With so many different types of leather, we are here to help you find the right leather for you. Here’s a look at the types of leather there are.
Authentic Leather
More than 10 different tanning processes result in this elegantly supple, but durable leather. Pure, transparent dyes bring out its unique characteristics and dramatic color. If you prefer classic styles or more contemporary designs, authentic leather only improves with age.
Aniline Leather
Perfectly imperfect, this handcrafted, premium leather is treated with Aniline dye to preserve and enhance its natural, rustic beauty. Made in America, this high-quality leather has natural markings and variations in the grain, making each upholstered piece one-of-a-kind.
Select Leather
Chosen by hand for their texture and comfort, Select Leathers make everyone feel at home. This limited collection of genuine leather matched with vinyl urethane is both beautiful and budget-friendly.
Custom Leather
Expertly suited to your needs and style, with genuine leather matched with leather-like vinyl urethane. Custom Leathers come in a wide variety of options and colors.
Custom Leather Plus
Elegant as well as comfortable, our genuine leather has an ageless quality and comes in a wide selection of rich colors and subtle textures.
Pros and Cons of Fabric Furniture
Now you have a better understanding of the different types of fabric and leather options available at La-Z-Boy South Texas. That being said, what are the advantages and disadvantages of fabric furniture specifically?
Let’s run through some pros and cons of fabric furniture!
Pros of Fabric Furniture
Appearance
As we discussed earlier, there are so many different types of fabric you can apply to your furniture that you will certainly find the style you like most. At La-Z-Boy South Texas, we have over 800 select fabric types with all kinds of colors to satisfy different aesthetic preferences.
Are you looking for a blue fabric sofa? How about a red fabric recliner? Any way you’d like it, fabric furniture will compliment your living room perfectly.
Price
Compared to leather, fabric will always be the most budget-friendly furniture option when paired head to head. The biggest driver in the cost of fabric furniture is the volume of fabric produced. For the most part, the bulk of larger volume fabrics manufactured will be a lower cost than leather.
Cons of Fabric Furniture
Maintenance
While specific types of fabrics can soil more easily than others, fabric furniture requires more frequent maintenance than leather furniture, generally speaking. For example, if you have ever needed to know how to remove chewing gum from fabric upholstery, it is not an easy process. Even if you successfully remove the gum completely from the fabric, it will still need to be spot-treated.
Durability/Wear and Tear
Since the fibers used to design fabric furniture are so ultra-fine and tightly woven, it is much easier to rip and wear down. Additionally, certain upholstery fabrics can be more easily damaged due to sunlight exposure and moisture. While fabrics have come a long way in terms of durability, well-maintained leather will usually outlast well-maintained fabric.
Pros and Cons of Leather Furniture
Leather furniture, much like fabric furniture, has several different advantages. However, there are always disadvantages with leather as well. Now let’s discuss the pros and cons of leather furniture!
Pros of Leather Furniture
Durability
As mentioned before, well-kept leather will last much longer than well-kept fabric. A question we frequently get asked at La-Z-Boy South Texas is “Is leather furniture good for dogs?” Leather can be good and bad for dogs. Leather typically does not absorb smells like fabric, however, dog scratches can certainly wear and tear the leather if it is not of high quality. If you do have a dog and are wondering what type of leather furniture is most durable, top-grain leather is the answer for those with pets due to its strength and thickness. Leather is also flame-resistant.
Maintenance
To be clear, frequent maintenance of your furniture is encouraged whether you have leather or fabric furniture. Periodic dusting and vacuuming is normal and an easier cleaning process than fabric. Leather is also water-resistant, meaning you don’t have to worry about sitting on damp fabric if you accidentally spill water on the furniture.
Cons of Leather Furniture
Cost
Top-grain leather or aniline leather can increase the final cost of your furniture drastically. Due to its durability and quality, the cost of top-tier leather is far more expensive than the cost of top-tier fabric.
Fewer color options
La-Z-Boy South Texas' fabric colors are broad, but the same does not apply to leather. While you can certainly get a brown leather loveseat if you desire, there are not nearly as many leather color options as there are fabric.
Can You Mix Leather and Fabric Furniture?
If you find yourself interested in both furniture options, why not add them both to your living space? Leather and fabric furniture can certainly be paired together in the same room. Ultimately, whether you choose to do this or not depends on how you visualize it in your own living room, and this is why it is a great idea to come into a furniture store in South Texas before you decide.
If you would like the opinion of a design expert, you can book an appointment with one of La-Z-Boy’s designers in the South Texas store nearest to you.
Is Leather or Fabric Furniture Right For You?
After going through all the different fabric and leather types and the advantages and disadvantages, we now have a much more fundamental understanding. That being said, which is right for you?
If you have pets, leather will definitely be the better choice. Its durability and thickness will lead to a longer lifespan for your furniture. On the other hand, if you prefer a more cost-friendly addition to your living room, fabric furniture will be the better choice for you since fabric is more budget-friendly.
Ultimately, the choice between fabric and leather furniture is up to you. There are so many different fabric and leather options and everybody has their own preferences.
As helpful as we hope this article has been, you may be still wondering more about the leather and fabric options at La-Z-Boy South Texas. To go further, you may be interested in just seeing for yourself.
If you are interested in coming into a store to see the different leather and fabric upholstery options for yourself, you can come into one of our La-Z-Boy South Texas locations and one of our design consultants will be more than happy to help in any way you need.
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