The Three Greatest Moments In Real Leather Couch History
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it can be difficult to tell whether you're buying a real leather couch. You must get up close and personal with the couch - take a whiff, feel and flip over a couch to look at the fabric.
For example, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered "contact" areas (such as the armrests and seats) in genuine leather while 'non contact' areas were made up of cotton and coated polyester.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa will be fragrant and natural. Faux leather however, often smells chemically processed and synthetic. If your sofa smells unpleasant, it could be due to stains or urine from pets. In most instances, a thorough cleaning will remove any smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather, making it more soft, less brittle, and more resistant to odors.
Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor eliminator that can be used to get rid of unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather couch. If the cloth starts to accumulate dirt, you can wring it or replace it with a fresh one. You can spray the solution onto your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it again.
The process of airing out your leather sofa set is another natural way to eliminate odors. Place the sofa in a bright area to air out. This will help remove unpleasant odors and give it a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to stay clear of unpleasant odors then you should consider buying an oil-based leather sofa restoration conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will stop your leather from absorbing unpleasant odors and keep it looking nice for longer.
While the scent of natural leather is appealing however, it can be difficult to keep clean. As time passes, leather will absorb odors such as smoke, cooking and even body smell. These odors are hard to eliminate, particularly in homes with children or pets. Fortunately, genuine leather couches don't trap the odors as fabrics can, making them an ideal option for families with active families.
It is crucial to act immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy poop. You can use the tips listed above or a product such as Leather Honey to solve the issue. The best way to treat the issue is to stop the problem from occurring and ensure that you train your dog to not pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are some clues to look out for when you are shopping for leather corner Lounge furniture, but the most reliable way to tell whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Real leather has a distinct, natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. The smell can fade with age but it should remain evident when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa should be warm and soft to the touch. Faux and bonded leathers, on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this try pressing your fingertips onto the surface of the couch and check for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.
If you notice vertical seams stitched across the back of sofas, this is another indicator. This means that the leather is not one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are distinguished by this.
The quality of the frame of a leather couch can have a major impact on its lifespan, but it's not always obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you select the right sofa that has a long lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames are less durable. For extra durability, a hardwood frame should also be kiln dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're on a budget it is possible to find a genuine leather sofa that you will love. For example, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's often available for sale and can be easily personalized to fit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is classic in design and comes in a variety of fade-resistant fabrics. However, this modular sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions are prone to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are an exception to other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and endure wear and tear more effectively than fabrics. They last for a long time. They also tend to resist spills and stains and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens which means they don't require as much regular maintenance and cleaning. However, as with anything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather couch and it's important to know what to look out for before you make your final choice.
If you're unsure whether your new sofa is genuine leather the first thing you should do is examine the materials tag on the frame to discover what kind of leather or fabric it is made of. If you cannot find any information about the sofa's material composition then you can use your senses to make the decision.
The most important indicator is to take a closer look at the surface of the couch and observe the texture, shading, and patterns in depth. Genuine leather couches are likely to have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be uniform. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh backing appears instead of coarse leather, it's a clear indicator of fake or synthetic leather.
Another way to test this is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If you see stitched vertical seams on the back of the cushion, it's an indication that it isn't authentic leather. This is due to the fact that hides from animals are limited in size and can be cut only to a certain degree. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and stitch the entire back of the couch to ensure it is genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you are able to, try to lift up a corner of the sofa or cushion and look at the back of the cushion. If the back of the padding is covered with a woven fabric or covered with polyurethane, it is another indicator that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel sturdy and rough when touched.
4. Patterns
A real leather couch is a classic and with good reason. The natural, warm feel and look of the leather can add a touch of class to any living space. A modern tanning procedure gives it extra durability, so that it resists cracking or sagging. Each hide is distinct with its own unique marks, grain and blemishes.
While labels and prices are great pointers however, the best way to determine if you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. For a better understanding of the authenticity, look at the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any visible flaws on it, then it is likely to be fake or bonded.
A polyurethane back on the sofa is a different indicator. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to make the furniture.
Look at the back of your couch to see if there are any vertical seams. This is an indication of a top-quality piece of leather that has been carefully constructed to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it is likely to be a fake or bonded leather couch.
If you've decided that the couch is authentic leather, the next step is to pair it with the rest of your living room furniture. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and add pillows that match the colors of your space. Or go for a more fluid, acoustic layout by putting your couch across from other pieces with a coffee table in between.
Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit area to ensure it doesn't fade or develop scratches due to direct sunlight. And if you want to protect your investment by extending its life, you should consider applying a leather protection product every once or twice per year.