How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to misleading prices and descriptions of products, it's sometimes difficult to know whether you're buying a real leather sofa. It is important to get close and personal - smell, feel and turn over a cushion to examine the fabric.
For example, a "leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered 'contact' (such as the armrests and seats) in genuine leather, whereas 'non contact' areas were made 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 has a bad smell, it may be due to stains or pet urine. 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 bring back the leather's moisture levels and make it more supple, less fragile, and more resistant against smells.
Baking soda is an excellent natural odor eliminator that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather sofa. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, you can wring it out or switch to another. You can also spray the solution on your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it again.
The process of airing out your leather is another way to eliminate the smell. Set the couch in a sunny area to air out. This will remove any unwanted smells and also give the couch an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors completely then you should consider buying an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher longer by preventing it from absorption of smells.
The smell of leather can be appealing, but it is difficult to keep. Over time, leather can absorb odors, such as those from cooking, smoking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to remove, especially in homes with children or pets. Leather couches don't hold in these odors the way fabric upholstery can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children.
It is crucial to act immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy urine. Use the tips mentioned above or a product such as Leather Honey to solve the problem. The best option is to avoid the issue therefore, make sure to train your dog to not pee on your couch.
2. Feel
If you are looking for a new leather sofa there are a few things to be looking for. However, the most effective way to determine whether it's genuine is to smell and feel it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is unmistakable. The smell fades with age but it should remain evident when the couch is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded on the other hand tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gently press your fingers to the surface of a couch and feel for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, then the material is likely to be fake or bonded leather.
If you see vertical seams that are stitched on the back of sofas, this is another dead giveaway. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece that is typical of genuine leather couches.
The quality of the frame on the leather sofa can have a major impact on its lifespan, but it's not always obvious. Ask what type of wood was used to make 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. Engineered or particle board frames will be less sturdy. To ensure durability, a hardwood frame should also be kiln dried to avoid mildew and warping.
If you're shopping on a tight budget there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas you can still fall in love with. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's frequently offered for sale and is easily personalized to fit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is a different budget-friendly option. It has a classic look and is available in a broad range of fabrics that are stain-resistant. This modular sofa is a bit difficult to assemble at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches have a certain aesthetic that other forms of upholstery can't compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear better than fabric. They will last for a long time. They also tend to resist staining and spills and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens, so they don't need more frequent care and cleaning. However, as with anything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather couch and it's important to be aware of what to look for before making your final decision.
If you're unsure if your new couch is genuine leather the first thing you need to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to determine what kind of leather or fabric it's made from. But, you should utilize your own senses to assist you in making the right choice if you don't find any information on the composition of the material used in the sofa.
The couch's surface should be examined closely and pay 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 uniform. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh-like backing appears in place of coarse leather, it's a dead indicator of fake or synthetic leather.
Take a look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching pattern on the back, it is not genuine leather. The reason for this is because animal hides have a limit on their size, and are only cut to a certain big. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and stitch the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather, not bonded or faux leather.
If you can lift an area and examine the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered with an unwoven material or polyurethane it is a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a coarse and rough coating that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic for the reason. The natural, warm feel and look of the leather can add a touch of class to any living space. Plus, a modern tanning process provides it with the added strength to withstand sagging or cracking. Each hide is unique with its own unique imperfections, markings, and grain.
The best way to determine whether the leather you are purchasing is genuine is to look at it closely. To get a better idea of the authenticity of the leather, take a 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 flaws on it, then it's likely to be fake or bonding.
A polyurethane back 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 with materials that closely match the fabric used to make the furniture.
Finally, check the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign of a high-quality piece of leather that has been designed to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it is likely to be a fake or bonded-leather couch.
Once you've established that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to pair it with your other furniture for your living space. Combine your sofa with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the color of your living space. Or go for a more fluid, acoustic arrangement by placing your sofa across from other pieces with an occasional table.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit area so that it doesn't fade or leave scratches due to direct sunlight. If you want to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage, apply a leather protector agent once or twice per year.