Faux leather vinyl chairs Vs Soft Feel fabric chairs; which is best for me?

February 16, 2022 Liam Dible

As care homes across the country are updating their rooms to ensure that they look as inviting as possible and have the leading edge in their area to ensure that they attract new residents, we are getting this question more and more. Should I get vinyl chairs or soft feel waterproof chairs?

There is no getting around the fact that a chair that is upholstered in a soft feel fabric looks a lot more homely and attractive than one in a faux leather vinyl but; there is then the question around whether a soft feel fabric chair poses an infection control risk.

We know that soft feel waterproof fabrics are absolutely fine for use in a care home but it does come down to a few factors as to whether they really are suitable for your care home.

So, soft feel or faux leather vinyl?

We all know that whilst soft feel waterproof fabrics are much nicer to look at, they simply aren’t as easy to clean as faux leather vinyl and require more elbow grease to get off stains etc. So, the choice really comes down to, where the chair will be placed within the home or the type of residents in your home, and then it’s simply just a matter of your preference.

If the chair is to go in a reception area, then a soft feel chair would much nicer as it creates a much more homely and welcoming atmosphere as you enter the home and hey, first impressions are everything when attracting a new resident right?

If however, your care home is predominantly dementia patients or you have a specific dementia unit then vinyl chairs may be more suitable as they are easier to clean which inevitably makes infection control easier and simpler.

There is other options though, you don’t just have to choose either vinyl or soft feel.

Having the best of both worlds…

There are also certain compromises that you can make, and you can have the best of both worlds! Yes that’s right, many care home furniture suppliers across the UK have options where you can have soft feel waterproof fabric and vinyl on the same chair. Whether you just have a vinyl seat cushion with the rest of the chair soft feel or have the whole inside of your chair in vinyl with the outside back and arms in a soft feel fabric.

Having faux leather vinyl that looks like soft feel fabric

Really? Yes really!

Some fabric suppliers have options for vinyl that look like a soft feel fabric. While this wouldn’t fool anyone on close inspection it sure does create a good first impression. The photo at the top of this page is Panaz Tweedy Vinyl which is a vinyl that has a texture and creates a look similar to that of a soft feel fabric while still being easy to clean and wipable.

I trust this article has been helpful in helping you to create the perfect look in your care home but if you still have some questions, we are more than happy to help you, either view our chairs below or contact us and we will be more than happy to go through your questions with you.

Who is Edison & Day?

We are a UK manufacturer of care home furniture and have been supplying the market with high-quality furniture for 15 years, we create furniture and experiences that have the personal touch.

We have the largest care home furniture selection in the UK that is available to order online and with our industry-leading Dayex service, you can have your new furniture in as little as 5 working days.