In this head to head: Faux Leather vs Genuine Leather, I'm going to compare both options to see who reigns supreme in the battle for best leather upholstery buy.
Today I will be covering the following talking points.
I'll be doing a side by side comparison for each talking point and listing the winner for each as we go through them. Let's get cracking.
1) Cost - Which is Cheaper To Buy?
From a cost per square metre standpoint, genuine leather is significantly more expensive than faux leather. It can make a huge difference to a products final price, making it twice or even three times more expensive to buy. Genuine leather is sold by the hide and suppliers have to purchase 4-5 square metres at a time, as that's the average cattle hide size.
In comparison, faux leather is a lot cheaper to produce, being man made, and sold on the roll on a per square metre basis. This makes buying the exact amount of material you need much easier. In nearly all cases, a faux leather item will work out significantly cheaper to buy.
From a cost per square metre standpoint, genuine leather is significantly more expensive than faux leather. It can make a huge difference to a products final price, making it twice or even three times more expensive to buy. Genuine leather is sold by the hide and suppliers have to purchase 4-5 square metres at a time, as that's the average cattle hide size. Cost Winner: Faux Leather, and it isn't even close.
Faux leather takes the lead 1-0 with an early strike.
2) Look and Feel - Which is more attractive?
Real leather is rich and warm and has a long history of use in upholstery, and for good reason. It has a timeless appeal, and with its distinctive appearance and aroma it can really transform a room. Each leather hide is unique and showcases it's history in every scar and bite mark. Leather has a premium quality to it that faux leather just can't match. Over time, a rich patina will develop, giving every piece of furniture it's own unique appearance full of character, and steeped in history.
Faux leather tends to be very uniform in appearance and colour by comparison, and depending on the finish used, can look quite shiny and fake, especially at the side of more premium genuine leathers.
Real leather is rich and warm and has a long history of use in upholstery, and for good reason. It has a timeless appeal, and with its distinctive appearance and aroma it can really transform a room. Each leather hide is unique and showcases it's history in every scar and bite mark. Leather has a premium quality to it that faux leather just can't match. Over time, a rich patina will develop, giving every piece of furniture it's own unique appearance full of character, and steeped in history. Most Attractive Winner: Genuine Leather, no real surprises there.
And just like that genuine leather levels the proceedings to 1-1 as we approach the halfway stage.
3) Care and Maintenance - Which is easier to look after?
Depending on the type of leather used, genuine leather can be very low maintenance. If we use pigmented leather as the example, it is resistant to soiling, staining, scuffing and fading and due to the binder pigment that's applied during treatment, it tends to be water-repellent as well. A bit of mild soap and water should suffice for regular cleaning.
Faux leather is also low maintenance, with a bit of soap and water also sufficing for regular cleaning in most cases.
Depending on the type of leather used, genuine leather can be very low maintenance. If we use pigmented leather as the example, it is resistant to soiling, staining, scuffing and fading and due to the binder pigment that's applied during treatment, it tends to be water-repellent as well. A bit of mild soap and water should suffice for regular cleaning. Maintenance Winner: I'm calling this one a draw.
Things remain all square after the halfway mark, 1-1 with two rounds to play for.
4) Longevity - Which will stand the test of time?
Genuine leather has been known to last for generations when properly cared for. I'm not saying that will always be the case, of course, but it can last a very long time indeed, under the right circumstances. I have a set of inherited dining chairs that are close to 60 years old. They are still covered in the original leather and are going strong. Some food for thought for you.
The vast majority of PU and PVC faux leathers, whilst hard wearing and easy to care for, do have a tendency to crack and peel off over time.
Genuine leather has been known to last for generations when properly cared for. I'm not saying that will always be the case, of course, but it can last a very long time indeed, under the right circumstances. I have a set of inherited dining chairs that are close to 60 years old. They are still covered in the original leather and are going strong. Some food for thought for you. Longevity Winner: Genuine Leather, by a decade or two.
It's 2-1 to Genuine leather with the end in site.
5) Best Value For Money Overall?
I'm tempted to give this one to genuine leather as well, given it's longevity. However as this section is for the best value for money, I'm going to have to award it to faux leather. It's significantly cheaper to buy, and its practical nature makes it the very definition of value for money.
I'm tempted to give this one to genuine leather as well, given it's longevity. However as this section is for the best value for money, I'm going to have to award it to faux leather. It's significantly cheaper to buy, and its practical nature makes it the very definition of value for money.Best Value Winner: Faux Leather, cheap and practical.
It's tied 2-2 at the close. A fair result, I feel, given the pros and cons of both options. Depending on your circumstances, you'll be leaning more one way than the other; personally, I lean towards genuine leather, as with so many things in life. It depends.
A cop out perhaps, but I stand by it.
Final Result: 2-2 It's a draw.
We have a great selection of faux leather tub chairs and genuine leather tub chairs to choose from here at tubz, regardless of which side of this debate you find yourself on, we have an answer for you.