Do you want to buy a new sofa, but you are not sure what is the best fabric choice to meet your needs and lifestyle? When choosing furniture for your home, the choice of cover is a crucial decision.

Before you start to narrow the choice of sofas and chairs, you need to choose a basic sofa cover. Do you want fabric furniture or leather furniture?

Leather furniture upholstery

Compare fabrics and leathers in the following areas:

• Comfortable
• Appearance
• Durability
• Maintenance
• Cost
• Environmental impact/sustainability

Can you mix fabric and leather furniture?

Types of decorative fabrics
The type of upholstery fabric is natural fiber or man-made fiber. Their origin can further distinguish them. Below are the textile fibers you will find when you peruse the different fabric options.

Natural fiber
Natural fibers are continuous filament materials derived from plants or animals. They are often soft and pleasing in aesthetics and touch.

wool
• External waterproof of wool fiber
• The wool fiber absorbs water inside
• Keep the air to keep it hot
• Durable and heavier than other textiles
• Anti-wrinkle and anti-fouling
• Easy to color and fade resistant
• Slightly antibacterial, so it can resist the accumulation of odor

silk
• The texture is smooth and soft, not slippery
• Durable, but loses up to 20% strength when wet
• Lack of elasticity, even if stretched a little, it will remain stretched
• It will weaken if exposed to too much sunlight
• Unique non-toxic and biodegradable properties

cotton
• Soft and strong
• Absorb moisture
• Retain the color, very suitable for keeping the dye, making the color more vivid
• Renewable and biodegradable
• Breathable
• Lots of shrinkage and wrinkles

Linen
• Textiles made from flax plant fibers
• Manufacturing labor-intensive
• Better than cotton
• Water absorption is lower than cotton and dries faster
• It has an extraordinary sense of coolness and freshness in hot and humid weather
• Hypoallergenic, no mold in humid climate
• Difficult to remove stains and spills
There is a kind of woven imitation linen fabric that is very similar to him, which is also a good choice.

Man-made fiber
Synthetic man-made fibers come from chemicals. They include nylon, polyester, acrylic, polyolefin, and vinyl. Rayon is a regenerated fiber that comes from natural sources. Artificial fabrics tend to be more durable than natural fabrics and are generally more resistant to fading and dyeing. They are cheaper, but they don’t feel as high-quality as natural fibers.

Polyester
• Dim to semi-bright luster
• Anti-wrinkle, thus maintaining shape
• Anti-wrinkle, anti-fading and abrasion resistance, easy to care
• Usually mixed with natural fibers to give it quality
• Will not mold or absorb water
• Lean towards pills
• Oil stains are difficult to remove

nylon
• High strength but lighter than any other commonly used fiber
• Be flexible and flexible
• Low moisture absorption
• Highly resistant to abrasion, mildew, mildew and wrinkle
• Dirt will not adhere to this smooth fiber, and the cleaning effect is very good
• Under the influence of sunlight, it turns yellow with age
• Resistant to oil and most chemicals

Polypropylene (olefin)
• Made of melted plastic pellets
• Degraded by exposure to light, heat and chemicals
• Durable and stain resistant
• Good volume and coverage
• Keep its color
• comfortable
• The material may undergo deterioration, such as discoloration, cracking and deformation

Acrylic fiber
• Light, soft, warm, with a wool-like feel
• Can imitate other fibers, such as cotton
• Maintain shape
• Non-allergenic
• Resistant to sunlight, oil and chemicals
• Absorbs body moisture and can be washed
• There are problems with pilling and wear

Rayon
• Regenerated cellulose
• Be introduced similar to silk, wool or cotton
• Smooth and luxurious
• Often used for mixing
• Easy to wrinkle, the color is easy to fade

Textile weaving
It is important to recognize this superficially. The rest of the furniture uses matching two-layer leather or artificial leather.

Ask the question again while shopping so that you can make an informed decision. You need to compare the prices of furniture with the same quality leather.

Comfortable
Comfort is subjective and can mean completely different things to different people. The comfort of furniture starts with a high-quality frame structure and other functions such as suspension, reclining position and cushion foam density. The following highlights some of the characteristics that define comfortable interior decoration.

leather
The luxurious soft and warm-touch leather "breathes" so that it can adapt to your body temperature. Unlike processed grain leather or artificial leather, top grain leather stays cool in summer and warm in winter.

Full-grain leather fits your body shape and is more comfortable to use. If properly maintained, including regular dust removal, the leather will become softer and shiny over time.

The genuine leather has a distinct leather smell. Even after the tanning process, it can still maintain its fragrance, a pleasant fragrance.

Fabric
The feel of the fabric sofa varies with the fabric itself, frame structure and support system. Natural fibers are often the softest. If comfort is the top priority, cotton or linen will be a good choice.

There is no clear winner in this category because it depends on your personal preference. The perfect seat or sofa frame for you is very important. Once you are sure that you have chosen the right furniture, both leather and fabric covers provide some great options for comfort.

appearance
leather
With natural beauty and unique personality, top grain leather can bring interest and prestige to any room. It is timeless and classic, and looks better with age. It will darken due to contact with external factors and form a gorgeous finish called patina.

Some people may find leather wrinkles or puddles aesthetically unpleasant. Those who appreciate the quality of natural leather will only see this increase its appeal.

Although the leather can have many colors, the top grain aniline leather is dyed only once. The lack of pigmentation limits the available color leather options.

Fabric
The fabric has unlimited patterns, textures and colors. Fabric coverings provide a better opportunity to complement existing decorations and get the look you want. It has the versatility and color range to suit any imagination. Whether it is solid, patterned, woven or printed. Fabrics are a great opportunity to express your style and create your own unique items.

Fabric or artificial leather can also give you a more tailor-made sofa style. Don't like the idea of ​​wrinkles? Then tightly woven synthetic fabrics like polyester are the perfect match for you. It resists wrinkles and maintains its shape. Set up.

Durability
The way you plan to use the sofa and its location in your home will determine the importance of durability in your top priority. Does your sofa need to withstand sticky hands or dirty paws? Is there a possibility of leakage during entertainment?

leather
Leather has incredible tear strength, and its service life is 4 times longer than that of fabric. Natural oil prevents cracking, peeling, peeling and tearing even along the seam line. Don't worry about your pet's paws piercing holes in your new leather furniture. The top grain leather is too thick and hard.

However, aniline leather that does not receive a protective coating is susceptible to surface scratches. Although your furry friends will not pierce the leather, they will leave marks. Owners of high-quality leather believe that this adds to the characteristics of the leather. Top grain protection leather is harder to scratch

Leather is also flame-retardant and will not burn or melt easily.

It has tight and strong fibers that prevent the penetration of dust, lint and animal hair. It can also remove odors. Dandruff and smell will not penetrate into leather like most fabrics. If you are sensitive to dust or suffer from allergies, this makes it an ideal choice.

If longevity is the top priority, the life expectancy of leather is 15 to 20 years.

Fabric
The most durable type of fabric is microfiber, which is a synthetic blend that usually contains polyester. The fibers are very thin (smaller than the diameter of a silk thread) and are woven tightly to form a strong protective layer. If you are sensitive to dust or allergies, a smooth synthetic blend is also a better choice.

Canvas has many of the same qualities as superfine fibers, but has larger fibers and is not as soft or comfortable.

Cotton linen also has very strong fibers. Their weaves are usually looser, so they are more prone to fraying and tangling. The tightly woven thread prevents dirt and spills from penetrating in, so it is more durable.

Although fabrics have made great strides in durability, even the best fiber-based fabrics and well-maintained holsters can be durable, which makes leather a winner in durability.

Of course, if you have other questions, you can consult sofa fabric supplier.