i want to get some lounge furniture. is it worth considering fabric furniture... are they harder to look after do they wear quicker and look horrible after a few years... i'm not into putting plastic covers over everything like everybody loves raymond.
LEATHER IS BY FAR MORE DURABLE. A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: (1) LOOK FOR FURNITURE WITH FEW VISIBLE SEAMS. WHOLE SHEETS OF LEATHER SHOULD MAKE UP THE BACKS AND SEATS OF THE FURNITURE. SEAMS THERE WOULD WEAR OUT IN TIME. ALSO TRY TO FIND ARMS WITH NO MORE THAN ONE SEAM FOR THE SAME REASON. (2) IT SHOULD BE CLEANED ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR (I DO IT IN THE LATE SPRING AND LATE FALL) (3) IT SHOULD BE CONDITIONED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, GENERALLY RIGHT AFTER THE CLEANING. (4) USE A GOOD QUALITY CLEANER AND CONDITIONER (I CLEAN AND CONDITION 3 PIECES FOR UNDER $20.00) (5) FOR EVERYDAY USE PUT SOMETHING OVER THE BACK OF THE CHAIR. OIL FROM HAIR IS LEATHERS WORST ENEMY. (I USE HAND TOWELS THAT COMPLEMENT THE COLOR OF MY CURTAINS, THEY'RE ABSORBANT, WASHABLE AND DON'T LOOK BAD). TAKE THEM OFF WHEN YOU HAVE COMPANY. LEATHER CAN LAST FOR MANY YEARS IF TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF FABRIC COVERED FURNITURE IS FIVE YEARS.
Eww I know what you mean about the plastic. Nasty! We have leather, but to be honest it's got quite scratched, just from daily use. We've had it for a few years. Nothing lasts forever and you will have to replace your furniture every few years anyway, so you might as well get whatever you like. Leather is so expensive and it doesn't really last as long as you might think. I'm getting fabric next time.
The lifespan of fabric depends completely upon the kind of fabric that is used. More delicate fabrics may wear out a little sooner but some durable fabrics like microfiber or heavy cotton canvas will definitely outlast leather. Both leather and cloth have to be cleaned regularly or else stains can set in permanently or the fabric can get cut. Fabric can be more easily repaired than leather. To me, the huge cost premium in cost that you pay for leather is not worth it if you can find some fabric furniture made of a heavy fabric. If you are going to get leather there are actually 2 kinds of leather, I forget the crappier kind but rawhide is the better kind that will last longer.
