Guide To Real Leather Couch: The Intermediate Guide For Real Leather Couch
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It is often difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather sofa set clearance sofas because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close to the couch and examine it closely. Smell, touch and turn the cushion to see the back.
For example, one sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE test had "contact" areas (such as arm rests) upholstered in genuine reupholster leather couch but the non-contact areas were a mixture of cotton and polyester.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should be a natural, rich and luxurious. Faux leather, on the other hand, often smells chemically processed and synthetic. If your sofa smells unpleasant it could be due to urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough clean will remove any smell. If you're not pleased with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it softer and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to odors.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to eliminate unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the surface of your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to collect dirt, squeeze it out or replace with an alternative. Alternately, you can pour the solution in spray bottles and spray it onto your couch. Let the solution dry before wiping it again.
Airing out your pure leather sofa is another way to get rid of odors. Set the couch in a sunny area to let it air. This will help eliminate any unwanted smells and give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
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 smells and will keep it smelling good for a longer time.
Although the smell of natural leather is appealing but it can be difficult to maintain. Over time, it can absorb smells from smoking, cooking, or even body odor. These odors are difficult to remove, especially in homes with pets or children. Real leather couches do not absorb odors like fabric upholstery can. This makes them a great choice for families with active children.
It's important to take action immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy pee. You can try a few of the suggestions above, or use a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best way to go but be sure to teach your dog to not pee on the couch!
2. Feel
There are a few indicators to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable way to determine whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is recognizable. The scent can fade as you age however, it should be clear when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa must be soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Leathers that are faux or bonded on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this try pressing your fingertips on the couch's surface and feel for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps, the material is likely to be faux or bonded leather.
If you see vertical seams stitched on the back of sofas, this is another dead giveaway. This means that the leather isn't one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are distinguished by this.
The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a significant effect on its lifespan however, it's not always obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used to construct the frame. This will help you select the right sofa that has longevity for a long time. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but they're also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames will be less sturdy. To ensure durability, wood frames must be kiln 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 enjoy. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a good example. It is a stylish and versatile choice that's usually offered for sale and can be adapted to your home.
Another budget-friendly option is La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is a classic style and comes in a variety of fade-resistant fabric. The sofa requires at-home assembly and its back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Real leather couches offer a unique appeal that other kinds of furniture can't match. Leather sofas are incredibly robust and withstand wear and tear more than fabric, making them last for a long time to come. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. However, just like anything else in life, there are a few issues to be aware of when purchasing a leather couch - and it pays to be aware of what to look for prior to making your final choice.
If you're unsure whether the sofa you bought is genuine leather the first thing you need to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to find out exactly what type of leather or fabric it's made of. If you are unable to find any information about the sofa's material composition or the type of leather it is, you can use your senses to make an informed decision.
The couch's surface must be carefully examined, paying attention to the pattern, texture, and shading. A real leather couch is likely to have imperfections that are natural and will not be perfectly uniform in terms of structure, pattern, or shading. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh-like backing is visible instead of coarse leather, it's a clear indicator of fake or synthetic leather.
Examine the back of the cushion casing. If you see an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, it's an indication that it's not authentic leather. The reason for this is that animal hides have a limit on their size, and they can only be cut so big. To ensure the best quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew through the entire back of a couch to ensure that it's genuinely leather and not fake or bonded leather.
Finally, if you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or cushion and look at the back of the cushion. If the back of padding is covered in an unwoven material or polyurethane it is an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather modular sofa is supposed to have a rough and coarse surface that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A real leather couch is a timeless piece, and for good reason. The warm, natural appearance and feel of the material can elevate any living space. Modern tanning techniques give it added durability, so it is resistant to cracking or sagging. Since each hide comes with distinctive marks and blemishes, grain, and marks each leather couch is unique.
While labels and prices are excellent indicators but the best way to know whether you're buying authentic leather is to go close and close to it. To get a better idea of the authenticity, look at the surface texture, pattern, and structure. 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 bonded.
Another obvious sign is a backing of polyurethane on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create furniture.
Also, look at the back of the couch for two or three stitched vertical seams. This indicates that the leather was constructed with attention to last. On the other hand, if there are no seams and the back of the sofa looks like a piece of cloth, it's likely a fake or bonded leather sofa.
Once you've established that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to match it with other furniture for your living space. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the colors of your living space. You can also choose an energizing, relaxing layout by placing the couch between two pieces furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Remember to keep your leather couches for sale sofa in a well-lit area to ensure it doesn't deteriorate or show scratches due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage use a leather protection agent at least once or twice a year.