Furniture shopping? One word: microfiber.
My wife thought she needed leather, to keep up with the Jones. It was great high quality leather. I eventually skinned that sucker out and used the hide for many projects.
The ottoman. The kids got home from school a half hour before Momma and I got home from town. They were playing with our female golden retriever in the house and somehow enticed the dog to jump over the ottoman. Doing so, she "spun out " on the ottoman and left a six inch cut through the leather from her toenail. The chair and ottoman were about a month old.
I just simply detest leather upholstery in the living room or in an auto. Bare skin sticks to it. You sweat through a T shirt sitting on it. Outside, it is cold in the winter and gives 2'nd degree burns in the summer.
Microfiber for the win. 20 years of daily use without showing a wear mark. Easily shampooed if the need arises.
Our local family owned furniture store gives lifetime warranty on their products with microfibre coverings.
