10 Key Factors On Real Leather Couch You Didn't Learn At School
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It is often difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather sofas due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal - smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the back.
For instance, 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 real leather couch should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather however is often chemically processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad, it could be due to pet urine. In the majority of instances, a thorough cleaning will eliminate any smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather, making it soft and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to smells.
You can also make use of a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use microfiber cloths to clean your leather couch. If the cloth starts to accumulate dirt, you can wring it or replace it with a fresh one. You can also put the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it over your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it over again.
Another natural way to remove the smells of your leather is to air it out. Set the couch in a sunny space to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted smells and give the sofa an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you want to avoid unpleasant odors then you should consider buying an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from absorbing unpleasant odors and keep it looking good for longer.
Although the smell of natural leather is appealing, it isn't always easy to maintain. Over time, leather can absorb odors, such as smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to get rid of, especially when your home is occupied by pets or children. Fortunately, genuine leather couches don't hold these odors like fabric upholstery can make them a great choice for families with active families.
If your sofa smells like an odor of a dog that has peed on it It's crucial to take action immediately. Try some of the suggestions above, or use a specific product like Leather Honey to address the issue. The best option is to prevent the problem and ensure that you train your dog to never pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are some clues to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable way to tell whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Real leather has an unmistakable unique, natural scent. The scent can fade as you age but there should be no mistaking it when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa must feel soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have an unpleasant plastic feel. To test this try pressing your fingertips onto the sofa's surface and feel for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, the leather 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 indicates that the leather is not one piece. Genuine leather couches are distinguished by this.
The quality of the frame on leather couches can have a major effect on its life span, but it's not always obvious. To ensure that you're buying a sofa that will last, inquire about the kind of wood is used for the frame. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and expensive choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames are less robust. For extra durability, a hardwood frame must also be dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're on a tight budget there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas you can nevertheless 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 fit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It has a classic look and is available in a broad variety of fabrics that are stain-resistant. However, this sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Real leather couches are a class apart from other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and withstand wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They can last for a long time. They also are resistant to spills and stains and are less likely to attract allergens and dust, so they don't need as much regular maintenance and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. As with any other purchase, it is crucial to be aware of the risks before making a final decision.
If you're unsure if your new couch is genuine leather, the first thing you should look over the material tag on the frame to discover exactly what type of leather or fabric it is made of. If you can't discover any information about the couch's material composition, you can use your senses to make a decision.
The couch's surface should be examined closely, paying attention to the texture, shading and patterns. Real leather couches are likely to have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern or shading won't be consistent. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh-like backing appears instead of the coarse leather, it's a sure indication of fake or synthetic leather.
Check the back of the cushion casing. If it has an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, this is an indication that it's not authentic leather. This is due to the fact that hides from animals are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain extent. To ensure the best quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will sew and stitch through the entire back of a sofa to ensure that it's genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.
If you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or cushion and examine the back of the cushion. If the back of the cushion is covered with an woven fabric or covered in polyurethane this is another indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a rough and coarse surface that feels solid when you contact it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic with the reason. The material's warm, natural design and feel can add a touch of class to any living space. A modern tanning procedure gives it additional durability, meaning that it resists cracking or sliding. Since each hide comes with distinctive marks, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
The best way to know if the leather you are buying is authentic is to examine it closely. Examine the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern to get an even more precise glimpse of its genuine. If the structure is uniform and there are no visible flaws, it's most likely fake or bonded leather.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a different indicator. This is a typical feature of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will appear more natural and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making furniture.
Also, look at the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is an indication of a top-quality piece of leather that's been constructed with care to last. On the other hand, if there are no seams and the couch's back appears like a single piece of fabric, it's likely a fake or leather couch that has been bonded.
Once you've determined that the couch is authentic leather the next step is to match it with the rest of the furniture in your living space. For a crisp, coordinated look, match your sofa with other furniture made of wood, and line it with pillows that echo the color scheme of your room. Or, you can opt for a fluid, acoustic layout by placing your couch in a row with other furniture pieces, and an occasional table.
Remember to keep your leather sofa in a bright space to ensure that it doesn't fade or leave scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by prolonging its lifespan, consider applying a leather protector every once or twice per year.