Leather v fabric, traditional v Scandi – finding the perfect sofa

I’ve finally started to plan out my living room. To tell you the truth, I’ve been avoiding decorating it for a few months now. Even though I stripped off the woodchip wallpaper and gave it a coat of white paint when we moved in, I’ve still not styled it any further. I think that’s because it’s the room we spend most of our time in, so I want to get it right. It’s a good idea to live in a space for a while before committing to a design, and now it’s finally time to start gathering my thoughts…The main reason for delaying the decorating is that our current sofa doesn’t really fit into the space. It’s a little too big and chunky, so it completely fills an entire wall. Seeing as the living room also contains most of our storage furniture, this doesn’t leave much space – and I much prefer an airy feeling, rather than a cluttered mess.All our furniture needs to work together without over-filling the space, so I’ve come to the conclusion that a new sofa might be needed. I’ve therefore been doing my research on Pinterest, and on design websites like PIB Home and have noticed that I’m favouring two very different styles; classic leather, or Scandi fabric.Both styles have merits, and both would fit into the room perfectly, so how can I choose? Let’s tackle the leather sofa first. I’ve always liked how durable leather is as a material. In fact, my oversize chunky sofa is a lovely dark tan leather, which is why I know I’d be happy to have this colour and texture in my home. But this time, I want something sleek and classic that’ll last me for years to come.A Chesterfield sofa is always a winner. If you invest in one, it’ll literally last a lifetime. The style never dates. It may seem a little formal, but you can dress it up with blankets and cushions to make it feel more cosy, and those deep arms always remind me of snuggling up with a cuppa in coffee shops. Such a hygge feeling, and something I’d like to recreate at home.Even so, this style might still be a little too ‘chunky’ for the airy, spacious room I’m trying to create, so I’ve searched for Scandinavian style designs too. I love narrow sofas with clean lines like this fabric one above that I found on the PIB website. The green colour has a retro vibe that’ll look great with our teak sideboards. That said, I always wonder how comfortable these sofas would be – they look so neat. But that tidiness is the look that I really like, so it’s hard to decide.I considered a double bench-style seat rather than a sofa, as this would take up less space in the room. Having these taller wooden legs means you can see more of the floor, which subconsciously makes the room feel bigger and more spacious. I’ve found different versions of this style in both neutral fabric and tan leather, and I really like them both. I wonder if this style is a little too modern for me and, although I love how compact it is, would it actually be too small for our needs?After much searching, I think I’ve found the ideal sofa, this leather one below from PIB Home. I really like the smaller size and minimalist lines, yet it still looks squishy enough to relax into. It combines both the Scandi design I’m drawn towards and the leather finish that I prefer, so it seems like best of both worlds. That’s it. I think I’m in love. Now, to start saving for it!What do you think of these designs and which style of sofa would you choose if you were decorating your home now? Have you had a sofa you’ve loved for years or are you hoping to invest in a new one? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

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