What's your furniture made of?

A majority of the space in our homes is taken up by furniture. It is a matter of no debate that it is the furniture that determines the overall beauty of the space. Making a choice for furniture requirements appears to be a piece of cake, but in reality, it is not an easy task. Apart from considering the aesthetics of the piece of furniture, functionality and adaptability are equally important. Finding something that is a true mixture of all three aspects is not an easy task!
After choosing the right style of furniture, only half the battle is won. The other half is won after you choose the right kind of material for it to be customised with. To get a timeless, functional piece that fits your space and blends in with the lifestyle, a lot of factors such as climate, usage etc. have to be considered. The frequency of usage, who will be using it, whether your home is pet-friendly or not, what kind of climate the furniture will be set in, what kind of ambience the furniture will decorate and many such questions have to be answered before getting the piece in place.
There are several kinds of materials the furniture is made of, ranging from wood, metal, leather, fabric, panel, glass, stone, synthetic, among a lot of other materials. The taste and personal requirements will affect the choice of the material more than anything. Here is a list of various popular materials with their merits and demerits that will help you decide on the material effortlessly.
Apart from the ones mentioned here, bamboo, glass, steel etc. can also be used. In a nutshell, the choice of material completely depends on the lifestyle and furniture requirements. Select the right one and go decorate your space!

LeatherLeather has been a valued and sought after material for ages, and buying a piece of furniture that is covered by leather is an easy choice for some and difficult for others. After all, it comes down to personal choices in the end.

Merits:

• Everyone remembers an impression made by leather furniture — its quality is beyond comparison and the modern day processes can make it resistant to cracking, peeling and sagging.
  
• The durability, comfort and appearance of the leather furniture are beyond comparison.
  
• It may cost higher on initial grounds, but the value it offers for money is incomparable.

• Leather catches scratches easily.
  
• Furniture made with leather can be hot and humid in summers.
  
• Not a lot of options are available in leather, which restricts the choice. 

  
Plastic

While plastic has ruled every modern industry, its presence in any home cannot be denied. Apart from being really accessible, the furniture based out of plastic is comfortable and stylish. Although the advantages supersede the disadvantages, but they shall be considered before buying any piece, because trust us, your space will have it for a long time..
Merits:

• The furniture that uses plastic as raw material is low on cost and weight.
  
• It is available in vibrant colours and usually requires no or quite low maintenance.
  
• It is waterproof and survives really well in the humid environment too.
  
• The plastic furniture is a good option for kids and pet-friendly homes, as it is safe and has no sharp edges. Plus, it is durable beyond comparison.

• The pieces made out of plastic lack boldness and elegance. When compared with wooden furniture, plastic furniture pales in comparison.
  
• It cannot withstand high temperatures and weight. 
  
• Catering to the fact that plastic is not biodegradable, plastic furniture is not eco-friendly.

  Fabric:

Choosing the right fabric can alter the whole look and feel of the room. The selection completely depends on the personal use and the look demanded by the space. If you have kids and pets, go for a wear-resistant and sturdy fabric such as cotton twill, and for furniture that has low traffic in comparison, latex backed can be used for rendering an elegant look.
Merits:

• A wide variety of colours and patterns are available in fabrics. You can choose anything depending on your taste.
  
• Fabric is warm, cosy and much more comfortable when compared with other options.
  
• A lot of them are removable, they can be taken out, washed properly and used again.

• It can lose the look if not maintained properly, and is quite high on maintenance.
  
• It can permanently be stained by food and liquid spills.
  
• The patterns can become obsolete in no time.

 Wood:

In addition to being everlasting, wood furniture is timeless as well. Undeniably, it’s the most widely-used furniture material. But choosing the right kind of wood for your furniture needs can be a task. If you have a kid- or pet-friendly home, choose a strong wood such as oak, which is hard, durable and reasonable. If you have a modern home setting, you could go for natural maple, which gives a clean, aesthetic look. 

Merits:

• Extremely resilient and requires less maintenance when compared with other materials.
  
• Offers elegance, charm and sophistication to any space when added.
  
• Can be modified easily with paint or polish and also it can be used inside or outside the house in all kinds of weather.

• Furniture carved out of wood is susceptible to damage by water and termites.
  
• It is inflammable.
  
• It is high on cost and the processes that add value to the piece also end up making it expensive.