The Pros And Cons Of Leather – Are You Sure A Leather Recliner Chair Is Right For You?
Before you go off shopping for your new leather recliner chair, you need to make sure you understand the pros and cons of buying leather. Whilst I’m a huge fan of it, I know it’s not for everyone, so I thought it was important to start off with some information to help you make the right choice.
OK, first the pros of leather furniture, specifically leather recliner chairs – which is what this website’s about, right?
- Leather is just soooo luxurious! I guess this is a matter of taste and preference, but I really love the smooth feel of leather against me. I find that in the warmth of a centrally-heated house, cloth-covered furniture can get hot, prickly and sweaty, whereas leather keeps it cool (unless the weather’s really, really hot, in which case anything will feel uncomfortable).
- Leather keeps its good looks for years. If you care for it (which is pretty easy if you follow a few simple rules which I have elsewhere outlined) it won’t fade, and it’s far more stain-resistant than cloth.
- It’s really easy to maintain a leather chair or sofa. No scrubbing with soapy water, no covers to shove in the washing machine. Nine times out of ten, you just wipe over the leather with a damp cloth and you’re done. A decent leather won’t mark if food or drinks are spilled on it, especially if you wipe them up quickly. Compare that to cleaning a fabric sofa and you’ll see the benefits very quickly.
- A leather recliner chair, sofa or suite will hold its resell value really well. I know you’re not thinking about selling it on right now, but it’s nice to think that if you decide to splash out on a new leather sofa or leather chair in the future, your old one will still be worth a reasonable amount of money. I often have friends ask me “Anne, how much do you want for that leather recliner?” Whilst I’m not interested in selling my fave chair, it still gives me a buzz when they ask! Fabric-covered furniture just doesn’t hold its value, and you often end up having to give it away, just to get it out of the house.
OK, so I’ve told you the great things about leather furniture, I guess I need to come clean and admit that there are some disadvantages…
- It’s more expensive than fabric furniture. There’s no denying this one, but you get what you pay for, and if you want the sumptuous luxury of a leather recliner chair, you have to accept that you’ll need to pay more up front. Having said that, with minimal care, leather chairs and sofas last a whole lot longer than fabric ones, so it can often work out cheaper in the long run.
- If you’ve ever been wearing shorts (or a short skirt), and sat on a leather chair that’s been in direct sunlight then you’ll know that this can be a bit of a shock! Leather can get quite hot when the sun is shining on it, so this is one to watch out for. This isn’t a real disadvantage, because you can make sure to place your chair out of direct sunlight, or cover it with a cloth when you’re not using it, but I guess it needed saying.
OK, hopefully you understand the pros and cons now, and are ready to look for your new furniture. Watch this site, because I’ll be adding more useful information to help you choose the right leather recliner chair, without spending a fortune!