15 Unquestionably Good Reasons To Be Loving Real Leather Couch

How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

It is often difficult to determine if are buying genuine leather couches because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal - smell, feel and then turn over a cushion to check the back.

For example, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered 'contact' (such as the armrests and seats) in genuine leather while 'non contact' areas were made of coated polyester and Cotton.

1. Smell

A genuine leather sofa should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather is, however, often smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to urine from your pet. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove any smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will bring back moisture to the leather which makes it softer, less fragile, and more resistant to odors.

You can also use a natural odor eliminator like baking soda to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then employ a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the surface of your leather couch. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, you can either wring it out or replace it with a fresh one. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it over again.

Airing out your leather modular sofa is another method to eliminate the smell. If you can, place the sofa outside in a sun-lit area to let it air out. This will help remove unwanted odors and give it a fresh, natural scent.

If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, you can buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This will stop your leather from taking in smells and will keep it smelling good for longer.

The smell of leather can be appealing, but it can be difficult to keep. In time, it may absorb odors from cooking, smoking, and even body smell. These odors are difficult to remove, especially when your home is occupied by children or pets. Genuine leather couches do not absorb odors like fabrics can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children.

It's important to take action immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy pee. Use the tips mentioned above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the problem. Prevention is the best option but be sure to teach your dog to not pee on the couch!

2. Feel

There are a few clues to look for when buying leather furniture, but the most reliable method to determine whether 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 however it is impossible to miss it when a sofa is new.

A genuine leather couch is supposed to be warm and soft leather sofa to the touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded however, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test, gently press your fingers against the couch's surface and check for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps, the material is likely to be faux or bonded leather.

Another dead giveaway is if you notice 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 the frame on leather couches can have a major impact on its lifespan, but it's often not obvious. To ensure you're getting a sofa that will last, ask what type of wood is used in the frame. A solid oak frame is the most durable and expensive alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames aren't as sturdy. To ensure durability, a hardwood frame must also be dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.

If you're on a budget There are plenty of low-cost genuine leather sofas that you could still enjoy. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and versatile choice that's usually available for sale and can be customized to fit your home.

Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is classic in design and is available in a wide range of fade-resistant fabrics. However, this sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions are prone to slide down.

3. Backing

Genuine leather couches offer a unique aesthetic that other forms of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and stand up to wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They can last for many years. They also resist staining and spills, and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens, so they don't need the same amount of regular care and cleaning. But, like everything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather couch and it pays to know what to look out for before you make your final decision.

If you're not sure if your new couch is made of leather or fabric it is best to first look at the tag of materials that is attached to the frame. This will tell you the exact type of material it is. However, you should also utilize your own senses to help make a decision if you can't find any information about the materials used to make the sofa.

The sofa's surface is worth a close examination, paying attention to the texture, shading and patterns. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern or shading will not be uniform. If the couch's surface appears to be 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.

Another way to test this is to check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching pattern on the back, it is not genuine leather. The reason is that animal hides have a limit on their size, and can only be cut so large. To ensure the highest quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of a sofa to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.

If you are able, lift up one corner and look at the padding on the back. If the back of padding is covered by a woven material or polyurethane then this is a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you feel it.

4. Patterns

A leather sofa is a timeless classic with a reason. The natural, warm design and feel can add a touch of class to any living room. A modern tanning procedure gives it additional durability, meaning that it resists cracking or sliding. Each hide is distinct and has its own distinctive imperfections, markings, and grain.

While labels and prices are excellent indicators, the best way to tell whether you're buying authentic leather is to get close and personal with it. To better understand authenticity, examine the texture of the surface, pattern, and structure. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any visible blemishes on it, then it's likely to be faux or bound.

Another obvious sign is a polyurethane backing on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and will be backed by materials that closely resemble the fabric used to make the furniture.

Take a look at the back of your sofa to see if there are any vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been constructed with attention to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears like a seamless cloth, then it is likely to be a faux or bonded leather couch.

Once you've established that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with your other furniture in your living room. To create a clean, coordinated style, match your sofa to other wooden furniture and line it up with pillows that match the colors of your living space. You can also choose a more dynamic, relaxed arrangement by putting the couch between two pieces of furniture with a table between.

Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't fade or develop scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you want to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment use a leather protection agent once or twice per year.