leather sofa – The RoomPlace

Featured Image: Marlo Charcoal 3 Pc. Sectional (Reverse) From The RoomPlace

When shopping for a new living room sofa, sectional, armchair or other upholstered furniture, it’s important to consider not just how they look but also how they’ll hold up to the wear and tear and everyday life. Factors like durability, stain-resistance and ease of maintenance will help you decide what type of fabric is best for your furniture. Let’s take a look at the benefits and downsides of a few common options.

Image: Florence Charcoal 3 Pc. Leather Sectional From The RoomPlace

Leather

Leather is one of the best options for people with young kids or pets. Durable and classic, it’s easy to clean with a vacuum or damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, you’ll want to use a leather conditioner or saddle soap to ensure your leather sofa or leather sectional set looks good for years to come. Check out our past blog post on the topic for more information on whether leather is right for you.

Image: Denali Smoke 3 Pc. Polyester & Microfiber Sectional w/Chaise From The RoomPlace

Faux-Leather

You can get the look of leather minus the hide maintenance with a faux-leather fabric. While not as durable as genuine leather, faux leather can withstand scratches and scrapes better and is not prone to cracking or peeling. It’s also a much more affordable option if you’re working with a tight budget.

Microfiber/Polyester

Another durable and popular choice, microfiber upholstery is easy to keep clean and stands up well to everyday wear. Microfiber is made of polyester, and there are other polyester-based upholstery options as well, including polyester canvas, some faux leathers, tweed and twill. Some polyester blends include natural fibers like cotton, which can be more prone to staining, so it’s important to check the sofa label for its exact composition. Microfiber furniture can also generate static and attract pet hair or clothing lint, which is a downside of the fabric.

Other Synthetic Fibers

Polyester is not the only synthetic fiber used for upholstery fabrics. Other made-made fabrics like olefin, rayon and nylon are often blended with other fibers to improve durability and stain-resistance. In general, synthetic materials are stronger and more practical than their natural fiber counterparts.

Image: Bloom Gray Tween Chaise Cotton Sofa From The RoomPlace

Cotton

Cotton upholstery provides good resistance to wear and fading, but not much resistance to wrinkling and staining. In general, 100% cotton sofas can be a great choice aesthetically, but may not be right for active families with children or pets. Cotton canvas and certain cotton blends are more durable choices than softer cotton weaves like chenille.

Image: Barrington Charcoal Linen 9-Seat U Sectional From The RoomPlace

Linen & Silk

While linen and silk are quite different fabrics, their downsides as upholstery options are similar. Both are best suited for formal, adult-only living areas that are free of kids and pets, since they won’t withstand heavy wear. Silk and linen furniture must also be professional cleaned if soiled, which is another reason why it’s not a good option for busy, high-traffic rooms.

3 Tips for Choosing a Sofa Fabric for Your Home

Now that you’re familiar with the pros and cons of some of the most popular sofa and couch fabrics, here are some additional tips for how to choose the material that’s best for your needs.

Always consider how much use your sofa will get, as well as who will be using it. Toddlers, dogs and cats can be particularly rough on upholstery, so for family rooms and other busy areas, it’s best to choose a durable material like leather or microfiber.
Fabrics with higher thread counts (number of threads per square inch) are denser and therefore more durable. To get the best possible strength and quality out of a fabric like cotton, opt for one that features a high thread count.
To ensure your new sofa or sectional has a long life, we recommend applying a water-repelling upholstery protectant like Scotchgard. This will help create a barrier to reduce the chance that spills will stain your furniture.

While finding the right upholstery fabric for your sofa takes a little bit of time and effort, we make it easy for you at The RoomPlace! You can browse all our sofas, sectionals and loveseats by material when you shop online. And when you visit one of our showrooms in Chicago or Indianapolis, we’ll help you choose the fabric that makes the most sense for your home and lifestyle.

Dreaming of your perfect haven? Well, don’t book your flights quite yet. There’s a room in your home, right here in Chicago or Indianapolis that has the potential to provide you with sweet serenity on a daily basis.

We’re talking about your new “You” Space, which is likely, right now, one of the following: a spare bedroom, office, extra living or family room, or simply a room that no longer serves you the way it used to. Transforming an under-utilized space into your ideal home sanctuary isn’t as difficult as you might think. And, you totally deserve it.

Here are our founding four principles for the perfect “You” Space:

1. Function

Creating the right room begins with planning how you’ll use it. Will you recline and read under gentle light, or scream at the top of your lungs at the game on the big screen? It’s easy to think a good leather sofa will solve any room conundrum (and that’s quite possibly true), but to get the most out of your sanctuary, be sure to put some thought into what types of furniture, lighting, and electronics will be needed to create your purest zen moment—whatever it looks like.

2. Space

This is a room you’ll be spending a decent amount of time in. As you decide on your room layout and begin to select furniture pieces (see: luxurious sectional), be conscious of the size and space that will be left around those items. Think of it as leaving yourself a little room to breathe. With too many objects or too much clutter, you’ll run the risk of feeling overwhelmed instead of decompressed. Clear floor space equals clear head space.

3. Stuff

On the flipside of Tip #2 is the fact that the furniture in the room is what makes it functional and expressive. So, whatever you do choose, make it something you absolutely love. One way is to even splurge on a fireplace since it’ll continue to make you happy month after month. When it comes to decorative elements, take the initiative to cycle through schemes and trinkets when they’ve lost their appeal to keep your space fresh and inspiring.

4. Comfort

Even if you plan to use your “You” Space as a productive lair, you’re going to need something big and comfy to nap on every once in a while. That’s where we come in. From daybeds and sofas on sale (even the leather ones!) to sectionals and fireplaces, The RoomPlace has what you’re looking for in a variety of styles, colors, and materials.

Come check out one of our Chicago or Indianapolis locations, and take advantage of our incomparable customer service. Visit our stores or shop online at www.theroomplace.com.

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