A faux leather sofa is upholstered in a synthetic, leather-look material rather than real hide. The surface is engineered to mimic the appearance and wipe-clean feel of leather, usually over a fabric backing, giving you the smart leather aesthetic at a much lower price. It's sometimes called PU leather, bonded leather or leatherette.
Faux leather sits at the most affordable end of the leather-look range. It gives you the look — and a practical, wipe-clean surface — for the least outlay, which makes it a popular budget-friendly choice for families, first homes and any room where easy cleaning matters.
Faux leather sofas come in a full range of colours and configurations — 2 and 3 seaters, corner designs, matched sets and recliners — so there's a design to suit most rooms.
Faux leather earns its place for a few clear reasons.
If you love the look of a leather sofa but not the price, faux leather is the way in. It delivers the smart, contemporary leather aesthetic at a fraction of the cost of genuine hide — ideal for a tight budget or a first home.
Faux leather wipes clean in seconds. Spills, food and sticky fingers come off with a damp cloth, and the smooth surface doesn't trap dust or crumbs the way fabric can — a genuine advantage for a busy household.
The wipe-clean surface is a real plus with pets. Pet hair brushes straight off rather than embedding in a weave, muddy paw prints and the odd accident wipe away easily, and there's no fabric pile for hair to cling to. For households with cats or dogs, faux leather is one of the easiest sofas to keep looking clean on a budget.
The two most popular budget-friendly sofa materials are faux leather and fabric, and they suit different households. Here's an honest comparison.
| Faux leather | Fabric | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Wipes clean in seconds | Vacuum and spot-clean; spills can soak in |
| Pet-friendliness | Excellent — hair brushes off | Good in a tight weave; hair clings more |
| Feel | Smooth, cooler to the touch | Soft, warm, cosy |
| Colours & textures | Leather-look shades | Widest range of colours and textures |
| Look | Smart, contemporary, leather-style | Soft, relaxed, homely |
| Best for | Wipe-clean practicality, pets, budget | Warmth, softness, colour choice |
In short: choose faux leather for the easiest cleaning, a smart leather look and a pet-friendly surface on a budget. Choose fabric for a softer, warmer sofa with the widest choice of colours and textures. Both are budget-friendly — it comes down to the look and feel you want and how the sofa will be used. Still deciding? Call us on 02476 705 600 and we'll help you weigh it up.
If you want the leather look now and price matters most, faux leather gives you the aesthetic and the wipe-clean practicality for the least outlay. It's a sensible choice for a first home, a rental, a child's den or a room you may restyle before long.
For families who want an easy-clean surface on a budget, faux leather handles spills and sticky hands with a quick wipe — far easier to keep clean than fabric.
The wipe-clean surface and lack of fabric pile make faux leather easy to live with when you have cats or dogs — hair brushes off and the odd accident wipes away in seconds.
Faux leather comes in a range of colours. Browse by your preferred shade.
Faux leather is available across our full range of sizes and layouts. Every design qualifies for free standard UK delivery, with premium fast-track available if you need it sooner.
Because faux leather spans every size in our range, the right dimensions depend on the configuration you choose. These figures are typical — always check the specific dimensions on the product listing, and leave at least 80cm of walkway clearance in front of the sofa.
| Configuration | Typical width | Comfortably seats | Suits a room around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armchair | 90–110cm | 1 | Any room / pairing |
| 2 seater | 130–165cm | 2 | Under 3.5m wide |
| 3 seater | 170–220cm | 3 | 3.5–5m wide |
| 3+1 set | two pieces | 4 | 3.5–5m wide |
| Corner sofa | 230–300cm+ | 4–6 | Larger / square rooms |
A little care goes a long way with faux leather, and the right routine helps you get the most years out of it.
Wipe regularly with a soft, damp cloth. Dust and wipe the surface every week or two, and deal with spills promptly. Avoid harsh household cleaners, solvents and abrasive wipes, which can damage the synthetic coating and bring on cracking sooner.
Keep it away from direct heat and sun. This is the big one for faux leather. Prolonged direct sunlight and close heat sources like radiators dry out the surface and are the main cause of cracking and peeling, so position the sofa away from both where you can.
Don't overload high-wear spots. Rotate where you sit and plump loose cushions occasionally so wear spreads evenly across the sofa rather than concentrating on one seat. A gentle approach keeps the surface looking good for longer.
Want help choosing the right finish or colour for your room? Call us on 02476 705 600 and we'll talk it through.
Standard delivery across the UK is free on all in-stock faux leather sofas, typically within 7 to 10 working days. If you need it sooner, premium fast-track delivery gets your sofa to you in 36 to 48 hours for a small extra charge. Either way you receive a confirmed delivery date once your order is placed — not a vague window — and the day before delivery we call to confirm a 2-hour arrival slot.
Our own two-person employed team — not a courier — delivers your sofa, positions it in your chosen room and removes all packaging. If you've added old sofa removal at checkout, they take your existing sofa away on the same visit.
Smaller sofas are delivered as a single piece; corner sofas and sets usually arrive in sections. Before ordering, check the relevant piece will pass through your front door (standard UK doors are around 76cm) and through any tight corners in your hallway. If you have any access concerns, call us on 02476 705 600 before placing your order — we'd rather solve it beforehand than deal with a problem on delivery day.
We've been supplying quality sofas to homes across the UK for over 20 years. Here is what every order includes.
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Faux leather is a synthetic, leather-look material — usually a polyurethane (PU) coating over a fabric backing. It's sometimes called PU leather, leatherette or bonded leather. It mimics the look and wipe-clean feel of real leather.
Choose faux leather for the easiest cleaning, a smart leather look and a pet-friendly surface on a budget — spills and pet hair wipe and brush away. Choose fabric for a softer, warmer sofa with the widest choice of colours and textures. Both are budget-friendly; it comes down to the look and feel you want.
Yes — it's one of the most pet-friendly budget options. Pet hair brushes straight off the smooth surface rather than embedding in a weave, and muddy paws and the odd accident wipe away in seconds. There's no fabric pile for hair to cling to.
Because it's a synthetic surface, faux leather can crack or peel at high-friction areas after a few years of heavy daily use — especially if exposed to direct heat or sunlight. Keeping it away from radiators and strong sun, and cleaning it gently with a soft damp cloth, helps it last much longer.
Yes — it's a sensible budget choice for families. The wipe-clean surface handles spills and sticky hands easily, and it costs far less than real leather, which makes it popular for first homes and children's rooms.
Yes. Our range includes faux leather corner sofas and recliner sofas, as well as 2 and 3 seaters and matched sets, in a choice of colours.
Wipe regularly with a soft, slightly damp cloth and deal with spills promptly. Avoid harsh household cleaners, solvents and abrasive wipes, which can damage the surface. Keep it away from direct heat and sunlight to help prevent cracking.
Most in-stock faux leather sofas are delivered free across the UK within 7 to 10 working days. If you need it faster, premium fast-track delivery gets your sofa to you in 36 to 48 hours for a small extra charge. You receive a confirmed delivery date at checkout and a 2-hour arrival window the day before.
Yes. Easy finance options let you spread the cost so it's easier on your pocket. Apply at checkout in minutes. Subject to status and approval.
Every sofa at Furniture Instore comes with a 5-year warranty. Full warranty details are listed on each individual product page, and claims are handled directly by our team on 02476 705 600.
We offer 14-day returns on all sofas. If the sofa isn't right — wrong size, wrong colour or change of mind — call us within 14 days of delivery on 02476 705 600. We arrange collection and process a full refund. The sofa must be in its original condition.
Furniture Instore · Coventry | Free standard UK delivery — 7–10 working days | Fast-track 36–48 hrs | Easy finance | 5-year warranty | 14-day returns | 02476 705 600 · Mon–Sat 9am–5pm
