How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It is often difficult to determine if are buying a genuine leather couch due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal with the couch - take a whiff, feel and flip over a cushion to examine the back.
For example, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the seats and armrests) with genuine leather. The 'non contact' areas were made of cotton and coated 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 artificial. If your couch is smelling bad smell, it may be due to urine or stains from pets. In most cases, a thorough clean will remove any smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, consider applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather and make it softer and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to odors.
Baking soda is a great natural odor eliminator that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use microfiber cloths to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to pick up dirt, you can wring it out or replace with a new one. Alternatively, you can put the solution in a spray bottle and spritz it onto your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it off again.
Another method to eliminate odors from your leather is to air it out. If you are able, place the sofa outside in a sunny spot to let it air out. This will help eliminate unwanted odors, and provide it with a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, buy a leather sofas near me conditioner containing healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher for longer, keeping it from taking in smells.
The scent of leather may be appealing, but it is difficult to maintain. Over time, leather can absorb odors, such as smoke, cooking and even body smell. These odors can be 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 is crucial to act immediately when your couch smells as if it was soaked with puppy urine. Use the tips mentioned above or a product like Leather Honey to fix the issue. The best way to treat the issue is to avoid the issue therefore, make sure to teach your dog not to pee on your couch.
2. Contact us if you have any questions.
There are some clues to look out for when shopping for leather furniture, but the most reliable method to determine if it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Genuine leather corner sofa has a distinct natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. This aroma can dull as you age, but there should be no mistaking it when a sofa is new.
A genuine leather couch is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded on the other hand, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this try pressing your fingertips on the surface of the couch and check for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely faux-leather or bonded.
Another sign of a fake sofa is when you can see vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather isn't one piece. Genuine leather couches are distinguished by this.
The quality of the frame of the leather sofa can have a major impact on its life span however, it's not always obvious. Ask what type of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you choose the right sofa that has an extended lifespan. A solid oak frame is the most durable and costly option, while engineered or particle board frames are less robust. To ensure durability, wood frames must be kiln dried to prevent warping or mildew.
If you're on a tight budget it is possible to find an authentic leather sofa you will love. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's frequently offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa that is classic in design and is available in hundreds of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. This modular sofa is quite difficult to set up at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas have a distinct appeal that other types of furniture can't compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and resist wear and tear much better than fabrics, which makes them last for years to come. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. But, like everything else in life, there are some issues to be aware of when purchasing a leather couch - and it's important to be aware of what to look for before you make your final choice.
If you're not sure whether the sofa you bought is genuine leather the first thing you should do is examine the materials tag on the frame to find out the exact type of leather or fabric it's made of. However, you must make use of your senses to make the right choice if you don't find any information on the material composition of the sofa.
The surface of the sofa must be carefully examined and pay attention to the texture, shading and patterns. A genuine leather couch will have natural imperfections and may not be uniform in its structure patterns, patterns, or shading. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or if it has a mesh-like backing in place of coarse suede, it's an obvious sign that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Another good test is to check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on the back, it's not genuine leather. The reason for this is because animal hides have a limit on their size, and they can only be cut as large. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and stitch the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded leather or faux leather.
If you are able, lift up an area and examine the padding on the back. If the back of the padding is covered by polyurethane or a weave, then this is an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather couches leather for sale near me [no title] should have a coarse and rough surface that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic with the reason. The material's warm, natural look and feel can elevate any living space. Plus, a modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Each hide is distinct and has its own distinctive marks, grain and blemishes.
While labels and prices are excellent indicators, the best way to tell if you're buying authentic leather is to go up close and intimate with it. To get a better idea of authenticity, examine the texture of the surface and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure appears to be uniform and there aren't any obvious flaws, it's probably faux or bonded leather.
Another sign of a dead sofa is a backing made of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a standard feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will look more natural and be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture.
Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been constructed with attention to last. If there are no seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded-distressed leather couch sofa.
If you've concluded that the couch is authentic leather the next step is to pair it with the rest of your furniture in your living room. To create a clean, coordinated style, match your sofa with other furniture made of wood, and line it with pillows that reflect the color scheme of your living space. You can also go for more relaxed, energetic layout by putting the sofa in between two pieces of furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Remember to keep your leather sofa in a bright area so that it doesn't deteriorate or show scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its life, you should consider applying a leather protection product every once or twice per year.