12 Companies That Are Leading The Way In Real Leather Couch
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It is often difficult to determine if are purchasing a genuine leather couch because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close to the couch and look at it carefully. Feel, smell, and turn the cushion over to check out the backing.
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 of coated polyester and Cotton.
1. Smell
A real leather sofa should smell rich and natural. Faux leather however, often smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad smell, it could be due to urine or stains from pets. In most cases, a good cleaning will eliminate the smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, you can try applying a leather conditioner. This will bring back the leather's moisture, making it softer, less fragile, and more resistant to odors.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator like baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then employ a cloth (preferably microfibre) to wipe the leather couch. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, wring it out or replace with another. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it over again.
Airing out your leather is another method to eliminate odors. If you are able, place the couch outside in a sunny area to air it out. This will remove any unwanted odors, and give the sofa a natural, fresh scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors then you should consider buying an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresher longer by keeping it from taking in the smells.
While the scent of natural leather is appealing however, it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, leather will absorb odors such as smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors are hard to eliminate, particularly if your home has children or pets. Fortunately, leather couches don't hold the odors as fabric upholstery and are a good choice for families with active families.
It's crucial to act immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy urine. Use the tips given above or a product like Leather Honey to resolve the issue. The best option is to prevent the problem and ensure that you teach your dog not to pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are some clues to look out for when you are shopping for a leather sofa, but the most reliable way to determine if it's genuine is to touch it and smell it. Leather with genuine leather has a distinct, natural scent that is unmistakable. The scent can fade as you age, but there should be no mistaking it when the sofa is new.
A genuine leather couch should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have a plasticky feel. To test this, gently press your fingertips onto the couch's surface and look for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.
Another dead giveaway is if you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece that is the hallmark of genuine leather couches.
The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a significant impact on its durability however, it's not always obvious. Ask what type of wood was used in the making of the frame. This will help you choose a sofa with an extended lifespan. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and costly option, while engineered or particle board frames are less sturdy. For added durability, a frame made of hardwood should also be kiln dried to prevent warping and mildew.
If you're shopping on a budget there are plenty of affordable genuine leather sofas that you can still be captivated by. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's often offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It has a classic style and is available in a broad range of fabrics that are resistant to fade. The sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions have a tendency to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are different from other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear better than fabrics. They can last for a long time. They also resist spills and stains and are less likely to attract allergens and dust which means they don't require more frequent care and cleaning. But, like everything else in life, there are issues to be aware of when buying a leather couch and it pays to be aware of what to look for before making your final decision.
If you're not sure if your new couch is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the materials tag on the frame. This will reveal exactly what kind of fabric it is. If you can't find any information about the sofa's material composition, you can utilize your senses to make an informed decision.
A good way to tell is to take a closer look at the couch's surface and examine the texture, shading and patterns in detail. Genuine leather sofa with chaise couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the couch's surface appears to be smooth and uniform, or if it shows a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, this is a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Another good test is to examine the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching on its back, it's not genuine leather. The reason for this is that animal hides are limited in their size, and are only cut to a certain big. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure it is genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you can, try to lift up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and look at the back of the cushion. If the back of the cushion is coated with a woven fabric or covered in polyurethane, this is another indication that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should be rough and coarse in coating that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A Beige Leather Recliner Sofa: Stylish and Comfortable (click for more info) sofa 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. In addition modern tanning techniques provides it with the added strength to withstand sagging or cracking. Since each hide comes with its own unique markings and grain, as well as blemishes each leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
The best way to tell whether the leather you are buying is authentic is to examine it in person. Inspect the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern to get an in-depth view of its authenticity. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any obvious blemishes on it, then it's likely to be faux or bound.
Another sign of a dead sofa is a backing of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will look more natural and be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create furniture.
Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is a sign the leather was constructed with attention to last. If there are no seams, and the rear appears like a seamless cloth, then it is likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.
Once you've established that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with your other furniture for your living space. For a crisp, coordinated style, match your sofa with other wooden furniture and line it up with pillows that match the colors in your space. You can also opt for a more dynamic, relaxed layout by putting the sofa in between two pieces of furniture with a table between.
Remember to keep your leather sofa in a bright area so that it doesn't fade or develop scuff marks from direct sunlight. And if you want to protect your investment by prolonging its life, you should consider applying a leather protection product every two or three times a year.