Fake vs. Real Materials: The Pros and Cons

Upholstery 

Fake: Pleather

What it is: Components of plastic PVC (yes, the kind used in pipes) stretched very thin and coated onto a woven backing.
What it costs: About $35 to $100 a yard.
Pros: Tough and stain-resistant, plastic leather is shedding its tacky rep, and new versions have more aesthetic appeal.
Cons: Vinyl and other synthetics feel hot in summer, and most don’t age gracefully. When pleather finally shows wear (which, in high-end versions, could take decades), it cracks.

Real: Leather

What it is: Animal skins and hides tanned in a chemical stew, stretched, and stained.
What it costs: About $250 to $500 a hide.
Pros: It develops an alluring luster as it ages. Since it’s a natural product, it breathes and feels cooler than vinyl.
Cons: It scratches and stains easily and is hard to clean. You can find products that claim to remove spots, but often only a pro can give you good results.