Leather furniture is a timeless classic. The material is particularly popular for seating furniture due to its durability. Leather, as a mixed material, also creates a striking accent in a room. But if you have children or pets at home, you're never sure whether leather is a good choice or whether it will easily scratch or stain.
Deciding between faux or real leather as a material isn't easy and depends on your preferences and budget. For vegans, faux leather is certainly a good animal-friendly alternative. If sustainability is a key criterion for you when purchasing leather furniture, then you'll have to take a closer look at faux leather. Depending on the material and production process, you'll have to make compromises in this regard. Here are some advantages and disadvantages, as well as some ideas for both materials:
Genuine leather – beautiful, natural and breathable
One of the most important arguments in favor of this natural product is its durability. With proper care, genuine leather products will last for decades. It is tear-resistant and robust. However, it is significantly more susceptible to stains and animal claws than its synthetic counterpart.
Another advantage of genuine leather is its good breathability.
It is skin-friendly, and there are special forms of tanning that make the leather suitable for allergy sufferers. Leather has a pleasant surface. To preserve this in all its beauty,
In the home, furniture manufacturers primarily use cowhide. There is no standardized type of leather for furniture production. Therefore, sheep or lamb hides are also considered. However, they are rather the exception for seating and upholstered furniture. The individual types of leather differ primarily in their manufacturing, tanning, and dyeing processes. Depending on how the individual processes are carried out and the intensity of the leather treatment, leather types of varying quality can result. For this reason, not every piece of leather furniture has to be of high quality. & expensive. You should take a close look.
Smooth leather has many advantages in the living and dining areas
For the home, dyed smooth leather with a color layer is a convincing choice. They are particularly easy to care for and clean. Smooth leather with a color layer is particularly recommended for sofas, chairs, and other seating furniture: smooth leather does not absorb grease, meaning that even if there are spills on the dining table or potato chips on the sofa there is no risk of stains.
Artificial leather: the affordable, creative and vegan alternative
In recent years, technological advances have brought about a great deal of progress in the production of synthetic leather. It is now almost indistinguishable from its natural counterpart. Synthetic leather is available in every imaginable color and with countless surface textures, such as animal prints or glitter.
The quality can be compared to that of real leather. Artificial leather is very easy to care for and (v.a. in its scratch-resistant versions) is resistant to claws. So, if you share your home with a four-legged friend, this could be an argument for faux leather. Last but not least, faux leather is also an interesting alternative for vegans.
The only drawback: in terms of breathability, it can't quite match its natural counterpart. On warm days, you can easily work up a sweat on a chair with a faux leather cover.
Faux leather furniture is perfect for young, style-conscious people who don't want to miss out on a certain ambiance in their home, but for whom a real leather couch is too expensive.
Easy-care artificial leather
Compared to real leather, faux leather is incredibly easy to care for. You can simply wipe down faux leather furniture with a damp cloth. Removable covers can even be machine washed.
Upcycling with artificial leather
If faux leather appeals to you, there are also ways to inexpensively upcycle your existing furniture. With a beautiful new DIY faux leather cover, you can realize your dream of leather-look furniture. You'll save money, conserve resources, and be right on trend.
Conclusion: Real leather, natural and breathable, artificial leather the all-rounder
In summary, synthetic leather is a versatile, highly durable material. It's not suitable for applications where breathability and water permeability are important – only genuine leather and Alcantara® can provide these qualities.
For more information on caring for faux leather, visit this page. If you're looking for inspiration for your home, check out this interior design page. And for the best deals on faux leather furniture, check out this furniture store over.
