When the time comes to shop for a new sofa, you have a lot of decisions to make: What color should you buy? Do you want legs or no legs? How long of a sofa do you want? One question, however, stands out from the rest and is one of the first decisions you'll need to make when shopping. Do you want leather or cloth? Read on to learn the benefits and drawbacks of both options.

Leather Sofas

Pro: Leather sofas are seen as luxurious.

If your home has an upscale appeal, a leather sofa can add to that look. Leather fits in well with formal decor.

Pro: Leather won't fade.

The colors of cloth sofas tend to fade out over time, especially if they are placed in the sun. Leather, on the other hand, holds onto its color, even with years of wear and sun exposure.

Con: Leather can develop scratches.

If you have kids or pets, you may worry that they'll leave marks on the leather. Some light scratches can be buffed away with a good leather conditioner, but the deepest ones will be there to stay.

Con: Leather sticks to your skin when it's warm out.

If you like wearing shorts or skirts, a leather sofa won't be very comfortable during warm weather, since your skin will stick to it. Of course, this problem can be combated with a good air conditioning system.

Cloth Sofas

Pro: Cloth sofas come in many colors and patterns.

Patterns are not really an option with leather sofas. Cloth sofas, however, come in any pattern from geometric to floral, along with a lot of bright colors. If you have a modern, artsy home, a cloth sofa will fit right in, but there are also more upscale styles that look good in more traditional homes. Put simply, cloth is versatile.

Pro: Cloth is comfortable.

Most people prefer the feeling of soft, soothing cloth against their skin to the sticky, sleek feeling of leather. If you plan on curling up on your sofa to watch television, cloth is the cozier choice.

Con: Cloth attracts pet hair.

While you can wipe pet hair off of leather in an instant, it's tough to get off of a cloth sofa. Lint rolling and vacuuming are effective but time-consuming.

Con: Cloth holds onto allergens.

Dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens can work their way into the cloth and are hard to remove. If you have serous allergies, cloth might not be the healthiest choice for your sofa.

To learn more about the drawbacks and benefits of various types of sofas, talk to your local furniture store representative, such as at AAA A-1 Appliance Salvage Warehouses.