Choosing modern furniture for the home is a difficult task and needs a lot of thinking and considerations. The essential factors of the furniture material to consider are durability, ease to clean, colour, and comfort.
One of the most favourite materials for furniture in a modern style of the home decoration is leather. Sofas, home office chairs, dining chairs and ottomans look perfect in leather finishes and give an authentic look to the room. But, leather is an expensive material and is used in luminous high-end furniture to be afforded by a common man. Though leather is one of the most durable wide width fabric materials, it tends to fade when exposed to sunlight. Hence needs extreme maintenance and occasional treatment to prevent the ageing of the leather furniture.
A better option is the leatherette fabric that is now extensively used in making various types of furniture. Leatherette looks and feels similar to leather yet is an inexpensive choice to design stylish furniture.
Let us Find out What is Leatherette?
In simple words, leatherette is a synthetic material that mimics leather in look and feels; hence is also commonly called fake leather or faux leather. And since it is made from synthetic cloth fibre coated with polyurethane, it is also sometimes referred to as synthetic leather. Leather, on the other hand, is processed animal skin.
The Strengths and Shortcomings of Leatherette
- It is easy to maintain leatherette upholstery with regular cleaning with a damp cloth and soapy water
- Leatherette prevents the accumulation of dust mites, allergens, and fur hence is ideal for a house with kids
- Leatherette is available in various options and different colours. It can be easily dyed to add colours
- Leatherette is not susceptible to fading even when used under direct UV light
- With the heavy use of leatherette, the top layer might tend to crack, wrinkle and get worn out
- The average life span for leatherette is 6-10 years. The durability of the product depends on the traffic usage and how well it is taken care
- Leatherette is not biodegradable. It is made of polyvinyl chloride, which is not environmentally friendly
- Leatherette is a non-porous material, hence is not a great material to use during the summer or warmer condition. It causes sweating and may become uncomfortable to use during the hot weather days
- The non-porous feature of the leatherette makes it waterproof. Hence, any food and drink spillage can be easily wiped off
- Leatherette flame retardant option is also available in the market that is less susceptible to the spreading fire
- Most importantly, leatherette is a budget-friendly option. It is affordable compared to actual leather
When you are thinking of buying new upholstery materials for your furniture – think of all the pros and cons of the product. Ensure to choose the product depending on your lifestyle, usage, and even climatic condition. If your budget is low and you still need an authentic-looking piece, then leatherette is a great option. And with the close resemblance to the actual leather, leatherette is in high demand for furniture upholsteries.