Leather vs Fabric: The Pros and Cons Designers Consider

It’s furniture finishing factor decision time. You’ve chosen the brand. You’ve chosen the style. Now, you have to choose the upholstery, and with that there’s really only one question – will it be supple, indulgent leather or tactile, expressive fabric? There are a lot of elements to consider… Here’s what to think about.

Cassina Maralunga Sofa

Style

Leather is timeless and inexorably linked to the idea of luxury. Its smooth surface, slight sheen and generally neutral palette make it both striking and subtle within most schemes. Fabric brings a wide range of colours, patterns and textures with almost limitless fibres, weaves and finishes to pick from, so its aesthetic is up to you.

Person sitting in a de Sede DS-707 armchair, holding a vase of colorful flowers.

A green de Sede DS-707 armchair next to a wooden table and staircase.

De Sede DS-707 Canada Armchair

Modern chairs in a stylish interior setting with textured backgrounds.

Beetle DIning Chair by Gubi

Comfort

Fabric is soft and warm to the touch, making it cosy and inviting, its flexibility working well with cushioning to add to a comfy sensation. Leather can initially feel cool and firm, but becomes supple with use, eventually leading to that famous stroke-me-stroke-me buttery feel.

Two stylish chairs in pink and blue against a bamboo backdrop.

Series 7 Chairs by Fritz Hansen

Modern Vitra Eames Lounge Chair with wooden base, placed in a stylish interior setting.

Eames Lounge Chair by Vitra

Durablity

Highly resistant to tearing, leather is extremely hard-wearing, eventually developing a rich patina as it softens, darkens, or acquires subtle marks – which many consider part of its character. Fabric can wear faster especially in high-use areas, although contemporary performance fabrics are becoming tougher.

Two Poltrona Frau Archibald armchairs in a modern living room with a fireplace and plants.

A modern blue Poltrona Frau Archibald armchair in a stylish, well-lit room with wooden walls.

A modern gray upholstered Archibald chair by Poltrona Frau with black legs beside a glass table.

Archibald Collection by Poltrona Frau

Modern bedroom with a Zanotta Talamo bed, chair, lamp, and decorative art on walls.

Talamo Bed by Zanotta

Ethics

Fabric can be natural, synthetic, blended or reused; organic fabrics are renewable but can have heavy water or pesticide footprints, while synthetics can be recycled but rely on petroleum. Leather is animal-derived, with tanning impacts – but its durability means fewer replacements, and responsibly sourced and vegetable-tanned options offer greater sustainability.

Additionally, for the environmentally conscious mind, brands like Audo Copenhagen follow a strict set of 9 rules dubbed their "responsibility criteria." A code of ethics that has been designed to ensure the entire organisation remains as eco-friendly as possible while formulating some of Scandinavia's most beautiful furniture.

A modern wooden chair with black leather seating in a bright room.

Spanish Chair by Fredericia

A woman sitting in a chair against a warm-toned wall.

Elizabeth Lounge Chair by Audo

Maintenance

Its sleek surface easy to wipe clean and less likely to trap dust or pet hair, leather also repels odours. Fabric can stain more easily and require professional cleaning, but unlike leather, many fabric designs now offer removable covers for easy washing and swapping.

Two modern chairs with curved backs at a dining table.

Greta Chair by Cattelan Italia

A modern chair beside a bookshelf with decorative items.

Lia Chair by Molteni & C

A modern living room with a beige armchair and black tiled floor.

Inland Collection by &Tradition