Leather vs fabric sofa: which one survives family life?

Take the quiz

Four questions. Your answers show which way you lean, and which SUPERBA covers to order as swatches.

Leather and fabric, side by side

The family-friendly leather: Felix

Most people assume a natural leather is a delicate one. Felix proves otherwise. It is a full aniline leather, dyed right through with nothing painted on top, so it keeps the depth and softness that make Italian leather worth having. Then its surface is given an embossed nubuck finish: a fine, velvety grain that hides the scuffs, scratches and paw prints of everyday life.

The result is one of our toughest covers, and the one we recommend most to families. Claws skate across it. Light marks usually brush out with a hand. Over the years it softens and deepens instead of wearing thin.

Built for outdoors. Living indoors.

We shot a Jasmine in Felix on the rocks by the sea. Salt air, stone, sand and full sun: everything a sofa should never meet. A living room, with a dog in it, is easy by comparison.

Shop Jasmine Small Sofa →

Aniline vs semi-aniline vs top grain: what the words mean

These words describe two different things. Top grain and full grain tell you which layer of the hide is used. Aniline and semi-aniline tell you how the leather is coloured and finished. So one leather can be both: full grain and aniline, for example.

Part one: which layer of the hide?

Tap a layer to see what it's called and where it's used.

Part two: how is it finished?

Slide from the most natural finish to the most protected. Watch what you gain and what you give up.

Which SUPERBA leather is which?

All our leather sofas are made to order in our own workshops and sold direct, so you pay for the leather, not the chain. Luxury leather sofas and premium leather sofas usually carry the heaviest retail mark-ups; ours don't. If you want a luxury Italian leather sofa for a busy home, here is how our Italian leather sofas compare.

• Felix, full aniline with an embossed nubuck finish. Our most family-friendly leather. Natural depth, velvety touch, very hard to mark.
• Momo, top grain. A smooth, even surface with a gentle sheen, in a wide range of colours.
• Marfa, semi-aniline. Natural character with a light protective coat.
• Dante, full aniline. Open, natural and full of character. It marks and darkens with use, which is the point.
• Celine, on the Oli family.

Looking for colour? Many people search for a charcoal leather sofa, a camel leather sofa or an olive leather sofa. Order swatches to see each one in your own light.

Where it starts: the tannery

Our leathers are tanned and dyed by specialist tanneries before they reach our workshop. This is Marfa in Pluto, coming off the machine.

The fabric side: Goodman and Elo

If you'd rather fabric, choose one whose cover comes off. That is the whole idea behind our two fabric favourites.

• Goodman. Every visible surface comes off: seat cushions, back pillows, arms and frame. Inset legs hold the cover tight, so it sits tailored rather than slouchy. Underneath, each cushion is wrapped in a down-proof liner, so the feathers stay put when the cover is off. Mosquito linen comes in eight colours, and replacement covers are available from our team, which means a new colour is a cover away, not a new sofa.
• Elo. Our modular blocks. On the fabric versions, Fresco and Roni, the covers come off too. Leather Elo covers are fixed.

A removable cover is the most practical feature a family sofa can have. Spilt juice, a muddy paw, a winter of film nights: take the cover off and deal with it. Always check the care label on your cover for how to clean it.

Linen sofas have a relaxed, natural texture and a natural breathable fibre that stays comfortable in summer. Mosquito is a linen blend with a little viscose, which softens it and reduces creasing. If you want a modern linen sofa that feels lived-in from the start, it is hard to beat. The best linen sofas pair that look with a solid frame and a well-filled seat, which is what makes luxury linen sofas worth it.

See all our fabric sofas, including Corsica, our velvet, in our velvet sofas.

Goodman or Goodman Mini?

Goodman comes in two sizes. Same look, same removable covers, same height. The Mini is about 9 cm shallower and a little narrower, made for smaller rooms and anyone who likes to sit upright with their feet on the floor.

Width × depth. Prices shown in Mosquito linen.

• Choose Goodman if you lounge, nap or sit cross-legged, and the room has space.
• Choose Goodman Mini for a smaller living room, a flat, or if you're on the shorter side and want your back against the cushions.

Children, pets and busy homes

Families ask us this more than anything. The honest answer: look at the exact cover, not the category.

• Claws. Most natural leathers scratch. Felix's embossed nubuck finish is built to hide them. On fabric, tight weaves resist snags better than loose or looped ones.
• Spills. Leather wipes clean if you're quick. On Goodman and fabric Elo, the cover comes off.
• Hair. Pet hair brushes off leather easily. On fabric it needs a vacuum.
• Colour. Mid tones hide everyday life better than very pale or very dark covers.

Caring for a leather sofa

Dust with a soft dry cloth. Wipe spills straight away, blotting rather than rubbing. Condition the leather a couple of times a year so it doesn't dry out, and keep it away from radiators and strong direct sun. Natural leathers need the gentlest touch: no household cleaners, no wet wipes. Our sofa care guide has the full routine.

Questions people ask