I always liked the option of fabric when it’s removable, in which case you can throw it in the washing machine.
You can buy protectors to protects or even to give your couch a new look.
Leather is easy to wipe down and when of good quality has often a longer life. Little kids can make scrathes on the leather though

i was just about to give my opinion and read the comments and you have decided! good service you are getting with them coming out to clean if does stain.

I would buy cloth and use couch covers. Maybe plastic cover, for extra protection, with a cloth cover over the top

So decision made in the end to go fabric.
Thank you for all your advice.
We made the decision for a few reasons:
– we got fabric protection (including 5 years insurance) for any stains on the couches. This includes a kit that should clean the stains, and if the kit can’t clean it, the company has to send out a professional cleaner.
– I hadn’t thought of it, but was worried about punctures / scratches on leather when others mentioned it. We have 2 cats as well, and i think they could damage leather.
– The style we liked was about $1000 cheaper in fabric (with all the end of financial year sales, we got a very good price).

Thank you everyone for your advice, it really helped us make the decision.

I’d go fabric and get a good easy wash cover. I have leather and is not really that easy to clean when there are sticky fingers always all over it.

so did you decide on a couch?

I have a leather couch in my sons play room, it’s easier to clean when he draws on it etc

Leather! Everthing can be wiped off. Get a darkish colour and a couch with a good warranty so that you can get it replaced if the leather starts to peel with all the wiping down!

I like fabric to be honest! I find it more comfortable.

Micro suede fabric is really good for keeping clean and it’s lovely and soft. With leather you sweat in it in summer, freeze in winter, and if the kids have buckles or hard beads on their shoes they’ll scratch the leather…not to mention putting hard toys all over it!

We have a darker suede type fabric and have found it quite easy to wipe clean. We used to have a leather couch and I hated the cold feeling when you sat down on it… And sticking to it in the summer!

I would go leather if you can afford it. If not I would go fabric with washable covers in dark or child friendly colours

IF you can afford it – definitely go for the leather. We actually bought some affordable poolside furniture for our play room, it looks FANTASTIC (not at all like outdoor furniture) but it’s pretty much indestructible and we have twin terrors and a dog that jumps all over it

Leather, kids are so messy! I have a fabric lounge and my son is pretty good but he still manages to get stains on it. I try to get the stains out and it just looks worse, I need to get it cleaned professionally. With leather it is easy to clean day to day and you can also get a special cleaner to do a proper clean every few months.

If you can afford it, definitely leather. Ours has proved kid and dog proof. It is so easy to clean and always looks great. Absolutely worth it. I don’t think I’d get fabric again as it gets dirty regardless of how careful you try to be.

I’d go for inexpensive fabric couches – get hem scotch guarded but assume you may have to replace them about the time your kids hit their teens.

I would go for fabric ones, looking for seats with removable covers, so they are easy to wash in the washing machine.

It really does depend on how everyone will treat the couch too. Get everyone to test drive the couch at the store-sit on it, lie on it……:)

You know your own children and may be able to predict how the lounges will be looked after. But if this is a dedicated children’s area, do you know how your children’s friends will look after them? We were tempted with fabric because of price but am so glad we went leather. If a drink gets spilt or a nappy leaks or a crayon gets sat on, leather is much easier to clean up, and looks much better in the long run. When my nephew visits, I still throw a sheet over one of the chairs to protect it, but my kids know our house rules and (generally) we have no problems.

I would try a product that is compacted leather, good quality but a lot cheaper, not sure what it’s called but it’s great.