How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to tell if you are purchasing a genuine leather couch due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close and personal with the couch - smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the backing.
For example, a "leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered "contact" areas (such as the seats and armrests) in genuine leather, whereas the non-contact areas were made of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should smell rich, natural and luxurious. False leather, on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad it could be due to pet urine. In most cases, a thorough cleaning will remove any smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, consider applying a leather conditioner. This will bring back the leather's moisture and make it more supple, less fragile, and more resistant to smells.
You can also use an organic odor eliminator like baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to wipe the leather sofa. If the cloth begins to pick up dirt, wring it out or replace with a new one. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Let the mixture dry before wiping it again.
Another natural way to remove the smells of your leather is by airing it out. If you can, place the couch outside in a sun-lit area to let it air out. This will help eliminate any unwanted smells and also give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
If you want to avoid unpleasant smells altogether, you can purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will keep your leather smelling fresher longer by preventing it from absorption of smells.
While the scent of natural leather is appealing, it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, it will absorb smells from smoking, cooking, or even body smell. These odors are difficult to get rid of, especially when your home is occupied by pets or children. Leather couches don't trap these odors as 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 poop. Use the tips given above or a product like Leather Honey to solve the problem. The best solution is to prevent the problem and ensure that you train your dog to not pee on your couch.
2. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
There are some clues to look for when you are shopping for leather furniture, but the most reliable way to determine whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct distinctive natural scent. The scent can fade as time passes however there should be no mistaking it when a sofa is new.
A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Bonded and faux leathers, on the other hand tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test, gentle press your fingers on the surface of a couch and feel for bumps. If you can't feel any bumps, the leather is probably bonded or faux leather.
If you notice vertical seams stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another dead giveaway. This indicates that the leather is not one piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.
The quality of a frame for a sofa can have a major impact on its longevity however, it's not always obvious. To ensure that you're buying a sofa which will last, inquire about the kind of wood is used in the frame. A solid oak frame is the most durable and costly choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames aren't as robust. To ensure durability, a hardwood frame must also be dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're shopping on a budget, there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas you can still enjoy. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile option that is often offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
Another budget-friendly option is La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is classic in design and is available in hundreds of fade-resistant fabric. This sofa is a bit difficult to assemble at home and the cushions on the back tend to slide down.
3. Backing
mid century leather sofa Sofas And Couches are an exception to other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and endure wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They can last for many years. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. Leather couches are no different. Like every other purchase, it is essential to be aware of the dangers before making a final decision.
If you are not sure if your new couch is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the tag that identifies the material that is attached to the frame. This will inform you exactly what kind of material it is. If you can't find any information about the couch's materials then you can use your senses to make the decision.
A key indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and examine the texture, shading, and patterns in greater detail. Genuine leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be uniform. If the couch's surface appears to be smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like backing in place of rough suede, that's an indication that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Examine the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching pattern on the back, it isn't genuine leather. The reason is that animal hides have a limit on their size, and they 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 can raise a corner and inspect the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered in an woven fabric or covered in polyurethane, this is another sign that the couch is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel sturdy and coarse when the touch is made.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless design for a reason. The soft, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. Additionally the modern tanning process provides it with the added strength to resist cracking or sagging. Because each hide has its own unique patterns and grain, as well as blemishes, every leather couch is unique.
The best way to tell if the leather you are purchasing is genuine is to look at it closely. To better understand authenticity, examine the surface texture, pattern, and structure. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any visible flaws on it, then it is likely to be fake or bonded.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a different indicator. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will appear more natural and is backed by materials that closely like the fabric used in making furniture.
Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign that the leather was 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 sofa.
Once you've confirmed that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to pair it with your other furniture for your living space. To create a clean, coordinated style, match your couch with other furniture made of wood and line it up with pillows that reflect the color scheme of your space. Or, you can opt for a fluid, acoustic layout by placing your couch across from other pieces with an occasional table.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area so that it doesn't fade or develop scratches from direct sunlight. If you're looking to safeguard your investment by extending its life, you should consider applying a leather protection agent once or twice a year.