Real leather versus artificial leather: pros and cons

If you are looking for a new piece of furniture on the market, leather is always an option to consider. If the high price of real leather puts you off, there are artificial leather furniture to consider. When trying to decide which one will work best for your home, it is important to weigh all the pros and cons of each material. Use the guide below to help you with your decision making.

Real leather

There’s nothing quite like the look, feel, and smell of real leather. Its soft and flexible texture is known to bring sophistication and comfort to any piece of furniture. Unlike other materials, leather has a unique appeal that adds a certain look to a room that cannot be exactly duplicated by any other material, including artificial leather. The smell of leather is also something to consider; it has a distinctive odor that clearly identifies it as leather.

While the decorative benefits of real leather are attractive, there are a few downsides to consider:

Natural acids and oils in the body can damage the surface of the leather. It can cause discoloration and can actually cause the leather to break. When you’ve invested thousands of dollars in a leather sofa, the last thing you want to happen is for it to fade. Real leather also tends to dry out and requires more care than its artificial counterpart. If you can commit to taking proper care of a leather sofa or chair, there’s nothing quite like the feel and texture of fabric. However, if your family’s lifestyle is rough and rugged and consistency of care cannot be guaranteed, real leather may not be the ideal choice for you.

Artificial leather

Available in a wide range of colors, artificial leather is a great option to provide some of the look and feel of leather without the hefty price tag. While it doesn’t look or feel exactly like the actual product itself, artificial leather has a smooth quality that is also attractive. One of the main benefits of artificial leather is its durability. It is much more tolerant to wear and tear than real leather. It is less careful and less likely to dry out and crack like real leather furniture does. This is good news especially for those with busy families and young children, as it is a much more durable alternative to real leather, but with a very similar look.

The downside of artificial leather is that it is artificial. Some decorators and homeowners only want the actual product in their room designs. It does not have the unique smell of real leather; And although it is a soft fabric, the texture is very different from that of real leather. If you can ignore the slight differences in texture and accept the lowest price and variety of colors, artificial leather may be the answer to your decorating needs.

No matter which fabric you choose, real or artificial leather, the look of the room will change dramatically. Leather, whether real or artificial, creates a more sophisticated and mature look in any room. It is also perfect for a men’s retreat room, formal living room, and family room. Choose the fabric that best suits your family’s needs and your budget.