12 Companies That Are Leading The Way In Real Leather Couch
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to determine if you are buying genuine leather sofas due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close to the couch and look at it closely. Touch, smell and flip the cushion to examine the back.
For instance, one sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE tested had "contact" areas (such as arm rests) upholstered in genuine leather but the non-contact areas were made up of cotton and polyester.
1. Smell
A genuine reupholster leather couch sofa should be a natural and rich scent. Faux leather, however, typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling unpleasant smell, it could be due to urine or stains from pets. In the majority of instances, a thorough cleaning will remove any smell. If you're not pleased with the results, you can try applying a leather conditioner. This will bring back the leather's moisture levels and make it more supple and less brittle, as well as more resistant against odors.
You can also make use of an organic odor eliminator such as baking soda to eliminate unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather couch. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, wring it out or switch to an alternative. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it over again.
The process of airing out your leather is another natural way to get rid of the smell. Place the sofa in a sun-lit area to air out. This will eliminate any unpleasant odors, and give the couch a natural, fresh scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from absorbing odors and keep it smelling nice for longer.
The scent of leather can be appealing, but it can be difficult to maintain. Over time, leather can absorb odors, such as smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors can be hard to get rid of, especially if you have children or pets. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabric upholstery can. This is why they are a great option for families with active children.
If your sofa smells like the scent of a puppy's pee, it's important to take action immediately. You can use the tips mentioned above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the issue. Prevention is the best way to go but be sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!
2. Feel
There are a few clues to look for when shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable way to determine whether it's genuine is to touch it and smell it. Real leather has an unmistakable, distinct natural scent. This scent may fade as you age but there shouldn't be any doubt about it when the couch is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa should also be soft to the touch and warm to the. Bonded and faux leathers, on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gently press your fingertips onto the sofa's surface and check for bumps. If you can't feel any bumps, then the material is likely to be fake or bonded leather.
Another dead giveaway is if you see stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This means the leather isn't a single piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of a leather sofa with chaise frame for a sofa can have a significant effect on its durability but this isn't always immediately apparent. Find out what kind of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you choose an item that has a long lifespan. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and expensive alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames are less robust. For added durability, a wooden frame should also be kiln-dried to prevent warping and mildew.
If you're on a budget, there are plenty of affordable genuine leather sofas that you can nevertheless enjoy. The Room & Board Stevens deep leather couch Sofa is a good example. It is a stylish and flexible choice that's usually on sale and can easily be adapted to your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another option that is budget-friendly. It has a classic style and is available in a wide variety of fabrics that are resistant to fade. The sofa is modular and somewhat difficult to put together at home and the cushions on the back tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine deep leather couch couches have a distinct aesthetic that other forms of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and resist wear and tear much better than fabric, making them last for many years to be. They also tend to resist staining and spills, and are less likely to attract allergens and dust which means they don't require the same amount of regular care and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. Like any other purchase, it is crucial to be aware of pitfalls before making a final choice.
If you are not sure if your new couch is made of leather or fabric then you must first verify the tag that identifies the material on the frame. This will reveal the exact type of material it is. However, you should also make use of your senses to make the right choice if you don't find any information on the materials used to make the sofa.
A key indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and observe the texture, shading, and patterns in greater detail. Genuine leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern or shading will not be uniform. If the surface of a couch appears smooth and uniform, or has a mesh-like backing in place of coarse suede, it's a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Examine the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching pattern on the back, it isn't real leather. This is due to the fact that hides from animals are limited in size and can be cut only to a certain extent. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you are able raise an area and examine the padding on the back. If the back of the padding is covered with a woven fabric or is covered with polyurethane, it is another sign that the couch is not genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you contact it.
4. Patterns
A genuine leather sofa is a classic, and with good reason. The natural, warm appearance and feel of the material can enhance any living space. Plus, a modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Since each hide comes with its own unique marks and blemishes, grain, and marks, every leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
While prices and labels are great pointers but the best way to tell whether you're buying genuine leather is to get close and close to it. Inspect the texture, structure and pattern for an in-depth look at its authenticity. If the structure appears to be uniform and there are no obvious flaws, it's probably fake or the leather is bonded.
A polyurethane back on the sofa is another dead giveaway. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be supported by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture.
Also, look at the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign the leather l couch was constructed with care to last. On the other the other hand, if you notice no seams and the couch's back appears like a piece of fabric, it's likely a fake or bonded leather sofa.
If you've decided that a couch is genuine leather, the next step is to match it with the rest of the furniture in your living space. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and add pillows that match the color of your living space. You can also opt for a more fluid, acoustic arrangement by placing your sofa across from other pieces with the addition of a coffee table.
Make sure your leather sofa and loveseat set sofa is kept away from direct sunlight to avoid it from fading or forming scuffs. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its lifespan, think about applying a leather protector once or twice a year.