Choosing the right chair for your home or office isn’t just about looks. It’s about comfort, durability, feel, maintenance, and how it suits your environment. In places like Abu Dhabi — where climate, lifestyle and design trends all matter — the decision often comes down to upholstery: leatherite (also called faux-leather, leather-look material) or fabric. This article explores both materials in depth, comparing advantages and drawbacks, to help you decide which is best for your setting — whether you’re building a home study, furnishing a guest room, or stocking chairs for a workspace.
Understanding the Materials: What is Leatherite and What is Fabric?
“Leatherite” refers to synthetic leather or leather-look upholstery. It mimics many of the visual cues of real leather — the smooth surface, the refined sheen — but typically costs less and comes in more options. Fabric upholstery, meanwhile, covers a wide range of woven materials — cotton, polyester, blends, velvets, etc. Fabric chairs have their own strengths in comfort, variety and texture.
In a UAE context, where homes and offices may experience both intense air-conditioning and warm ambient temperatures, the material you pick will affect how you feel after hours of sitting. Fabric tends to breathe more; leatherite offers a cleaner wipe-down surface and a premium look. Each has trade-offs.
Comfort & Breathability: Fabric Wins on Long Hours
If you plan to use a chair for long periods — studying, working, gaming or meeting — comfort and breathability become crucial. Fabric chairs tend to allow more airflow, making them less likely to leave you feeling hot or sticky. Some reviews note that in warmer climates, fabric is more forgiving. Meanwhile, leather or leather-look chairs (including leatherite) can feel cooler in a fully air-conditioned room, but might feel less breathable or even sticky if the climate changes or the chair is moved near windows.
Hence, for a home office in Abu Dhabi that runs many hours, fabric often has the edge. However if you have full A/C and prefer a sleek executive look, leatherite remains a strong contender.
Durability & Maintenance: Leatherite Often Easier to Clean
One of the strong points for leather-look chairs is how easy they are to wipe down. Spills and stains on leather or leatherite can typically be cleaned with a damp cloth; they don’t absorb liquids the way fabric can. ARTEIL Fabric chairs, depending on material quality, may require more care: vacuuming, deep cleaning and dealing with stains or odours.
In environments such as staff rooms, guest lounges, or high-traffic office seating, a leatherite chair might offer practical advantages. It’s also easier for allergy-sensitive users since leatherite doesn’t trap dust and pet dander like fabric can.
That said, durability depends on the material grade. Poor-quality leatherite may crack or peel over time; low-grade fabric may fade or wear. The key is choosing quality upholstery.
Style, Aesthetic & Customisation: Fabric Offers More Variety
If your décor in Abu Dhabi leans modern or eclectic, the variety of fabrics in terms of colour, pattern and texture is a big plus. Fabric chairs allow you to pick upholstery that matches your home’s style, or reflect personality and creativity. Leatherite chairs, by contrast, often stick to more limited colour palettes (blacks, browns, neutrals) and aim for a refined, executive look. They fit well in home offices, reception areas or formal dining spaces, but may offer less flexibility for bold décor themes.
So if your priority is custom style and space-matching furniture, fabric wins for variety. If you prioritise a luxury look with simpler colour scheme, leatherite excels.
Climate & Usage Context in Abu Dhabi: What to Pick?
Because Abu Dhabi’s climate can be warm and humid, especially outside of heavy air-conditioning, fabric chairs may provide more comfort due to better breathability. If your space is fully climate-controlled and you’re going for a plush home office or executive space, leatherite is attractive.
In homes where dining, lounge and office spaces merge, or in shared housing where chairs are used variedly, fabric may be more forgiving. In hotel-style offices, VIP rooms or formal meeting spaces, leatherite adds gravitas.
Cost & Value: Fabric Usually More Budget-Friendly
Generally speaking, fabric-upholstered chairs tend to cost less upfront than high-quality leather or leatherite chairs. For a business or homeowner on a budget in Abu Dhabi looking to furnish multiple seats, fabric offers more value.
Leatherite may cost more, but if maintained well, its longevity and easy cleaning may offset the higher cost over time.
Practical Guide: Between Leatherite vs Fabric Chairs
When you’re shopping for chairs — whether for home or office use in Abu Dhabi — consider the following:
- How many hours per day will you sit? If many, prioritise breathability (fabric) or premium build (leatherite).
- What’s your décor style? For flexible design and colour, fabric wins; for sleek luxury look, leatherite.
- Will the chair face spills, heavy use or multiple users? Leatherite may be more practical.
- How climate-controlled is the space? In fully-A/C rooms, leatherite is fine; in warmer, less-cooled spaces, fabric may win.
- What’s your budget? Fabric offers more options at lower cost; if you invest a bit more for leatherite, expect longer lifespan and easier cleaning.
- Maintenance capacity? If minimal cleaning and easy wipe-down are priorities, leatherite. If you’re okay with occasional cleaning and want texture and design variety, fabric.
Case Study: Home Office vs Staff Accommodation in Abu Dhabi
Consider two scenarios: A home office in a villa in Khalifa City, and a staff accommodation block in Mussafah.
In the home office, a leather-look chair (leatherite) might complement the luxury décor, match other furniture, and offer a sleek silhouette. The space is climate-controlled and used by one or two people. The wearer values look and comfort and is fine with higher price and maintenance.
In the staff accommodation block, numerous users, higher usage, variable climate control — here fabric chairs could be more economical and allow flexible design, easy replacement and large purchase scale.
Both are valid; what matters is picking based on usage pattern and environment.
Leatherite vs Fabric: Which One Should You Choose?
There’s no single “best” material — only the one that fits your needs. For many in Abu Dhabi:
- Choose fabric chairs if you value breathability, comfort for long hours, colour variety, and budget-friendly options.
- Choose leatherite chairs if you want a premium look, easy maintenance, suitability for high-traffic use, and you operate in a fully A/C’d space.
Whichever you choose, ensure the frame, padding and build quality match the upholstery. A well-made fabric chair will beat a poor leather one, and vice versa.
