Real Vs. Artificial Leather: Pros And Cons

By Jessica Ackerman

If you are in the market for a new piece of furniture, leather is always an option that should be considered. If the steep price of real leather turns you off, there are artificial leather furniture pieces that can be considered. When you are attempting to decide which will work better for your home, it is important to weigh all of the pros and cons for each material. Use the guide below to help you with your decision making.

Real Leather

There is nothing like the look, feel and smell of real leather. Its soft, supple texture is renowned for providing sophistication and comfort to any piece of furniture. Unlike other materials, leather has a unique appeal that adds a certain look to a room that cannot be duplicated exactly by any other material, including artificial leather. The smell of leather is also something to consider; it has a distinct smell that identifies it clearly as leather.

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While the decorating benefits of real leather are attractive, there are some disadvantages to consider:

Natural acids and oils on the body can damage the leather surface itself. It can cause discoloration and can actually make the leather break down. When you have invested thousands of dollars in a leather sofa, the last thing that you want to have happen is for it to become discolored. Real leather also tends to dry out and requires more care than its artificial counterpart. If you can commit to properly caring for a leather sofa or chair, there is nothing like the feel and texture of the fabric. However, if your family’s lifestyle is rough and tumble and the consistency of care cannot be guaranteed, real leather may not be the ideal choice for you.

Artificial Leather

Available in a wide range of colors, artificial leather is an excellent choice for providing some of the look and feel of leather without the high price tag. While it does not look or feel exactly like the real product itself, artificial leather has a soft quality to it that is also appealing. One of the major benefits of artificial leather is its durability. It is much more tolerant of wear than real leather. It takes less care and is less likely to dry out and crack as real leather furniture can. This is especially good news for those with busy families and young children, as it is a much more durable alternative to real leather, but with a very similar look.

The drawback to artificial leather is that it is artificial. Some decorators and homeowners want only the real product in their room’s designs. It does not have the unique smell of real leather; and while it is a soft fabric, the texture is very different from real leather. If you can overlook the slight textural differences and embrace the lower price tag and variety of colors, artificial leather may be the answer to your decorating needs.

No matter which fabric you choose, real or artificial leather, the look of the room will change dramatically. Leather, whether it is real or artificial, creates a more sophisticated and mature look to any room. It is perfect for a men’s retreat room, a formal living room and a family room, as well. Choose the fabric that is going to work best for your family’s needs and your budget.

About the Author: Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com where she provides detailed instructions for decorating with

metal door toppers

and

Mediterranean iron wall grille

.

Source:

isnare.com

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Learning Which Decorating Styles Utilize French Antiques

Learning Which Decorating Styles Utilize French Antiques

by

Claire Winters

When an individual starts thinking about antiques, they may very well consider French antiques above all. The French styles that have been protected until our day are generally very attractive and agreeable to most people’s tastes. There are interesting antiques that have come from many different French periods, and this variety is what is appealing to different people who like different styles.

One of the most obvious styles that French pieces will fit into is a style called country French. For someone who collects antiques, this shouldn’t be surprising. This style generally combines a continental elegance with homespun fabric and an informal feeling. The style is frequently of beautiful, floral-printed material and soft ruffles. When combined with antiques, it can help soften the antiques themselves, while making for a nice balance of both luxury and a relaxed, comfortable look.

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It’s also possible to incorporate French antiques into more modern styles if you take care that the styles will not jar each other. To achieve this, choose antiques that have crisp, clean lines, while keeping away from any designs that flourishes or flowers of some sort on the antique anywhere. If incorporating fabric of any kind, work with solid colors, clean lines and no bold floral or country-feeling type prints.

American country is a theme that lends itself very well to mixing with antiques. American country is often comprised of soft, textures and designs that mix seamlessly with the textures, colors and curves of French antiques. Choose American country pieces made of distressed wood in muted colors like chairs, trunks and chunky tables that aren’t bold and harsh.

Classic furnishings are known for blending with French antiques due to the curves and patterns that frequently make up classic furnishings. This kind of furniture is frequently finished with elegant, intricate finishes in silver or gold, and it can be used for accessories or even walls. The patterns on the furniture in this style room can be very large and obvious as long as they coordinated with the other items in the room.

No matter which style you want to decorate your home in, you can almost certainly find some sort of French antique to complement it. Look for antiques that will fit your budget well. Generally speaking, you will be much better off investing in just a small authentic antique or two rather than trying to purchase a bunch all at once or getting fake ones just to round out your decorating plans. Authentic antiques feature a luster and beauty that can not be duplicated. There’s no need to try to buy everything at once, as many beautiful homes come together slowly because many homeowners wait and look for the ideal pieces to add slowly over time. It is very important that you always buy from a reputable dealer so that you know you will get what you are paying for and that you are not overpaying for what might turn out to be just a really good looking copy.

When you have a need to discover many pieces of

French antiques furniture

, then check out LeLouvre Antiques to view their large choice in one place. Check out

LeLouvre Antiques

by looking at their web page which is http://www.lelouvre-antiques.com/.

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Learning Which Decorating Styles Utilize French Antiques