12 Stats About Real Leather Couch To Make You Think Smarter About Other People
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying a genuine leather sofa. You should get close to the couch and inspect it closely. Feel, smell, and turn the cushion to check out the backing.
For instance, a 'leather' couch CHOICE test had contact areas (such as seats and arm rests) covered in genuine leather however the non-contact areas were made of cotton and polyester.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa will be a natural, rich and luxurious. Faux leather, on the other hand, often smells chemically processed and artificial. If your sofa has a unpleasant smell, it could be caused by pet urine or stains. In most cases, a good cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it soft and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to smells.
Baking soda is a great natural odor eliminator that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather couch. If the cloth begins to collect dirt, wring it out or switch to another. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it off again.
Another natural way to remove the smells from your leather is to air it out. Set the couch in a bright space to let it air out. This will eliminate any unpleasant smells and give the sofa a natural, fresh scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors completely then you should consider buying a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will stop your leather from taking in smells and will keep it smelling nice for longer.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing, it can be difficult to keep clean. As time passes, leather will absorb odors, such as smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate especially if you have children or pets. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabric upholstery can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children.
If your couch smells like the scent of a puppy's pee It is important to address the issue immediately. You can try some of the suggestions above or try using a dedicated product like Leather Honey to address the issue. small leather couch is the best way to go however, so make sure to teach your dog to not pee on the couch!
2. Feel
When shopping for a new leather sofa, there are some things to be looking for. But the best way to determine whether it's genuine is to smell it and feel it. Genuine leather has a distinct natural scent that is unmistakable. The scent can fade with age but there should be no mistaking it when a sofa is brand new.
leather couch set must feel soft to the touch and warm to the. Faux and bonded leathers tend to be colder and have a plasticky feel. To test this, gently press your fingertips onto the couch's surface and feel for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it is likely to be faux-leather or bonded.
If you see vertical seams stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another dead giveaway. This indicates that the leather isn't one piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.
The quality of a frame for a sofa can have a major impact on its lifespan however, this isn't always immediately apparent. To ensure you're buying a sofa which will last, ask what kind of wood is used to construct the frame. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and costly choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames are less robust. To ensure durability, wood frames should be dried kiln to avoid mildew or warping.
If you're for a price that isn't too expensive there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas that you can still be captivated by. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's frequently on sale and can be easily customized to match your home.
Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa It is classic in design and is available in a wide range of fade-resistant fabric. However, this modular sofa requires at-home assembly and its back cushions have a tendency to slide down.
3. Backing
Real leather couches offer a unique appeal that other kinds of upholstery just can't compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and withstand wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They can last for a long time. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. However, just like anything else in life, there are a few pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather couch and it pays to be aware of what to look for before making your final choice.
If you're not sure whether your new sofa is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the tag that identifies the material attached to the frame. This will reveal exactly what kind of material it is. But, you should utilize your own senses to assist you in making an informed decision if you are unable to discover any information regarding the composition of the material used in the sofa.
The surface of the sofa must be carefully examined and pay attention to the patterns, shading and texture. A genuine leather sofa has natural imperfections and may not be uniform in its structure patterns, shading, or pattern. If the surface is uniform and smooth, or if a mesh-like backing appears instead of coarse leather, it's a clear indication of fake or synthetic leather.
Check the back of the cushion casing. If it has a stitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, that's an indication that it's not genuine leather. The reason is that animal hides are limited in their size, and can only be cut so big. To ensure the highest quality of their products, top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew throughout the back of a sofa to ensure that it's genuinely leather and not bonded or faux leather.

Finally, if you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and look at the back of the padding. If the back of padding is covered with a woven material or polyurethane then it's an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to be rough and coarse in surface that feels solid when you feel it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic with a reason. The warm, natural feel and look of the material can elevate any living space. Plus modern tanning techniques provides it with the added strength to resist cracking or sagging. And because each hide has distinctive patterns, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
The best way to tell whether the leather you're buying is genuine is to look at it in person. To get a better idea of the authenticity, look at the texture of the surface patterns, structure, and pattern. 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 bonded.
Another obvious sign is a backing made of polyurethane on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture.
Take a look at the back of your couch to determine whether there are vertical seams. This is an indication of a high-quality piece of leather that has been constructed with care to last. If there are no seams, and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it is likely to be a faux or bonded-leather couch.
Once you've confirmed that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with other furniture for your living space. To create a clean, coordinated look, match your sofa with other wooden furniture and line it with pillows that reflect the color scheme of your room. You can also go for more relaxed, energetic layout by placing the couch between two pieces furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't fade or leave scratches due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its life, you should consider applying a leather protector once or twice a year.