Fabric versus leather: How to choose a sofa that's right for you

The first sofa I ever sat on was in my grandparents’ house in Gosford. They called it a settee, a long-forgotten term used by the working-class.

That settee, purchased “on tick” from Waltons department store, was the most uncomfortable lump of furniture in the universe, largely because it was upholstered in grainy red vinyl. The upshot being you’d freeze on it in winter and it would stick to your sweaty legs in summer.

While, thankfully, vinyl is no longer an option when it comes to selecting upholstery, other options are greater than ever, with a plethora of colours and textures available from a multitude of companies.

Before you even start thinking about who is going to be making your upholstery, the first choice comes down to whether you’ll be using fabric or leather? Both materials have their pros and cons and their lovers and haters.

“I definitely like fabric, it’s softer than leather and warmer,” says Greg Natale, of Greg Natale Design. “It also offers a lot more in the way of texture.”

Natale sticks with a neutral or plain fabric for his sofas and makes it pop with cushions and rugs. “I tend to opt for black; it goes with everything. I also use a lot of velvet. It adds luxe and it’s soft and quite sexy. At home, I have a white velvet sofa, while the office sofa is charcoal-grey velvet.”

Interior designer Meryl Hare, of Hare and Klein, agrees with Natale and says she tends to choose fabric because it works well with Australia’s climate. Hare’s go-to fabric is natural linen. “Linen is a beautiful fabric for a sofa; it provides a lot of texture,” she says.

“In saying that, I still use leather where it is appropriate, such as a study, or den … and I always use natural leather colours such as tan. I don’t like coloured leather. It just seems counter-intuitive.”

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King Living celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and is responsible for such iconic sofa designs as the Jasper and Delta. General manager Renata Bayer-Volf says the current trend is for fabric, as people seek more colour and texture in their homes. “However, our TrueTouch leather remains popular; it’s a better choice for people with any allergies or asthma, plus it’s easier to keep clean day-to-day.”

Designer Charles Wilson recently collaborated with the design team at King Living to create the new Zaza sofa. When it comes to the question of fabric or leather, Wilson says he doesn’t have a preference. “It all depends on where it is being used. I have a black leather sofa that I’ve owned for yonks.”

Interior designer, author and owner of Society Inc, Sibella Court, believes there’s a season for leather, and that season is autumn. Generally, she prefers fabric. “There’s just something a bit cosier about fabric,” she says. “My first choice is usually a neutral linen from Unique Fabrics. They do really beautiful linens.”

But Court doesn’t always play it so safe. “I also have a sofa covered in a teal fabric by Kelly Wearstler, called Graffito. It’s teal with a cream geometric pattern all over it. It’s pretty out-there!”