Everyone knows leather. Leather jackets, leather car interior, leather handbags, leather boots and of course, leather sofas. It’s frowned upon by groups like P.E.T.A while covers the runways, red carpets and nightlife scene across the world. And it’s occasionally viewed as a sign of wealth.

Microsuede on the other hand, not so much. We know suede- we know its soft and warm but can stain easily and we can’t really get it wet. But what exactly is microsuede and is it better than leather for your living space? Well, it depends.

Both suede and leather are made from the skin of animals like pigs, deer, lambs etc. There’s one difference, suede is made from the underskin of these animals while leather is made from the tough exterior skin. Therefore, suede is leather “with a napped finish”. Of the two, leather is much easier to protect and clean. But when it comes down to it, suede tends to be slightly more expensive due to its finer appearance and extra time spent creating it, versus raw leather.

Now, microsuede steps away from P.E.T.A.’s most-wanted list since it’s totally man-made. The cohesion of thousands of thousands extremely fine micro-fibers creates this very dense, high-quality fabric. Microsuede’s increased cost comes with quality benefits: it has increased stretch, wrinkle resistance, water resistance, a general dirt resistance, and its very easy to clean (but can be less durable than regular suede). This fabric has a very chic, clean finish, appearing like a “furry leather”.

So which to choose for your new living room set- a new Chicago leather couch or the newer microsuede? Like I said, it depends. It depends if you’re more concerned about comfort or appearance. It depends if you have little kids running around that have a tendency to spill. It depends if you’re an animal activist. It depends how often it’s going to be sat on. It lastly depends on how much you’re willing to spend.

While there’s no definite way to go, these facts should at least help make that decision easier. Visit one of the most popular in Chicago furniture sales, Walter E. Smithe, and check out their selection of leather and microsuede sofas among hundreds of other home furnishings. Smithe is renowned as one of the best furniture Chicago dealers and will be ready with a knowledge, personable staff to help you.