Faux Leather A Good Choice if Price and Cleanability A Concern
Nothing beats the soft, supple feel of genuine aniline leather. That's why Carrrington Court offers over a dozen leather colors. However, there are many circumstances where leather may not be the best choice for dining chairs. In those instances we recommend looking at faux leathers. These fabrics have come a long way in recent years, offering simulated grains and textures that mimic the real thing. Some advantages of faux leathers are:
- Cost - High quality leathers are expensive and can increase the price of a dining room chair exponentially.
- Maintainability - Leather is easy to clean under most circumstances, but faux leather is made of urethane and polyester and is easy to clean with simple water-based cleaning solutions. In many cases a spill will wipe right off with a damp rag.
If you're torn between the real deal and the man-made alternative, you'll probably want to consider the following:
- Do you tend to redecorate often or are you planning to move? If you're not sure you'll stick with your dining chairs for very long, faux leather may be the way to go. You'll save hundreds of dollars and won't feel guilty in a couple of years when you decide to take your room in a different direction.
- Do you have young children? It'll probably be much easier to clean up a spilled juice box or a PB&J accident with the faux than with leather.
- Do you have pets (especially cats)? While faux leather will not fair any better to cat claws than the genuine article, at least you won't be out hundreds of dollars and you may be able to repair the damage more easily and at a lower cost.
As I already mentioned, faux leather dining chairs offer a very reasonable facsimile. You still miss out on the feel and the patina that leather offers as it ages. At the end of the day, the good news is that you have choice!
