Genuine Leather Sofa: The Good The Bad And The Ugly

How to Spot a Genuine Leather Sofa

With its soft leather upholstery, this sofa looks great in any room. Customers adore its simple styling and premium, genuine leather upholstery.

Untrained eyes might have trouble discerning the difference between genuine and fake leather. Here are six tips to help you tell the difference: 1. The rough edges.

1. Labels are important

Real leather has a distinct style and feel that's difficult to duplicate. It's also durable, easy-to-clean, and doesn't absorb excessive body oils. This makes it ideal for allergy sufferers. Not all leather sofas are made equally. In fact, some stores have been known to misrepresent PVC as genuine leather.

To help you avoid getting ripped off, it's important to understand the different types of leather. This includes determining the difference between top and full grain leather, and also assessing the quality of the upholstery material. Do not hesitate to ask discerning retailers for this information.

To determine if you have a genuine leather sofa you must first examine the label. The label should clearly indicate the kind of leather used to cover the sofa, as well as any other materials such a fabric or cotton. Additionally, reliable sellers should have clear policies on exchange or return in the event that you're dissatisfied with your purchase.

If the sofa doesn't come with a label, you can still verify its authenticity by examining the upholstery's fabric backing or opening the cushion casing. You can also check the texture of the leather and determine whether it's got any bumps or imperfections, because these are indicators that you're dealing with fake or bonded vintage leather couch.

Another way to test the integrity of a sofa is touching its surface with your fingertips. Genuine leather will have a soft and smooth texture, while faux or bonded leather will be more coarse and more akin to suede. You should also be able discern the difference between bumps, wrinkles, and printed patterns of faux leather and genuine leather.

A genuine leather sofa is more expensive than a faux counterpart, but it's going to last longer. It can become an important family heirloom with time. Place your leather sofa in an airy, cool room, away from heaters, fireplaces, and air conditioning units. This will reduce the damage caused by humidity, heat and ozone. You can also use leather protection creams to keep your sofa supple and strong.

2. Take a look at the back

If the label doesn't reveal what kind of leather sofa is, it's essential to get up-close and intimate with it. The smell, the feel and the back are all clear indicators.

Genuine leather won't feel smooth when you feel it. This is because animal hides come with a variety of pores that allow it to breathe. A product that feels completely smooth may be fake leather.

Look for bumps or uneven surfaces. The process of making genuine leather requires buffing, which takes away some of the rough outer skin. If the material that covers your sofa is top grain leather, there should still be some bumps.

You can also test leather by pressing your finger into it and running it over it. If the leather is genuine, it will stretch and wrinkle just like human skin. This means it's able to breathe, ensuring that the material doesn't become dry and cracked over time.

Faux leather has a consistent pattern because it is printed, while genuine leather will have imperfections that add to the beauty and durability of the leather. This includes creases, scratches and marks. Genuine leather is soft and a bit stiff when it's new. But, it should not dry out or crack when you regularly condition it with a leather protection cream.

To cut costs, some furniture manufacturers use a combination of real and synthetic leather for their products. The contact areas like seats and armrests, as well as backs, are made from genuine leather, while the non-contact portions like the outside and base arms, are upholstered with a less-expensive synthetic fabric made of polyurethane or leather. Even if the sofa is labeled as genuine leather, examine the back to determine if the couch is genuine leather.

Labels and pricing can help identify a genuine leather sofa However, it is essential to examine it in person. Examine the back of the sofa for polyurethane which indicates that it's not genuine leather.

3 seater Leather Sofa. Check out the seat

The seat of a genuine leather sofa is a further sign of its high-quality. Genuine leather is different from faux leather, which is the same materials. It has a distinct texture and feels soft when touched. Look for bumps beneath the surface, and a distinct, natural scent. These are the characteristics that distinguish genuine leather from fake or low-quality imitations.

If the leather is stitched in a continuous, huge piece, this is another warning sign. This is common in faux leather, but if it's on genuine top-grain leather and you are looking for a sofa, avoid the sofa.

The label and price may provide an idea but the only certain method to determine is to actually touch the furniture. Real leather is not perfect, and it will feel uneven to the feel. It also has rough edges and fat wrinkles under the surface. Genuine leather is soft and different than synthetic materials. The temperature of the furniture can be an indication of whether it's made of genuine materials.

A leather sofa is a mainstay in interior design because it's elegant, durable and long-lasting. It's also easy to clean and resistant to spills of liquid. This makes it an ideal choice for families who have children or pets. Genuine leather is a timeless fashion that will never be out of style. It's also available in various prices.

For a timeless leather couch that will last for a long time, think about the Pottery Barn Turner. The two-seater is quite expensive but it's constructed of top-quality leather living room sets that can last for a long time. It's a great choice for those with limited space, as it comes with three sizes and will fit in the majority of rooms.

If you're looking for something a bit more contemporary, look at this All Modern Geo Genuine Leather Sofa. This mid-century modern-inspired sofa features an angular, sleek design with a cylindrical pillow and an elegant frame. The frame is made from plywood, composite and plastic, the sofa has genuine leather in the seating area which is a welcome step up from Ikea's faux-leather sofa that won CHOICE's "Shonky" award in 2015.

4. Take a look at the smell

Genuine leather has a distinctive smell - a natural, organic skin scent that is unable to be replicated. If the sofa that you're looking to purchase has a strong synthetic smell it's not authentic. This is often caused by the chemicals that were used to make leather. These chemicals can remain on furniture long after it's been made.

A great way to determine the quality of a leather sofa is to gently rub your fingers over the surface. Genuine leather will have bumps and lumps just like the skin of a human. If it feels smooth and cold, it's probably faux or it's bonded.

You can also open one of the cushions to look at the back. Faux and bonded leather couch with chaise may have a polyurethane backing to support the upholstery that is manufactured, whereas genuine leather has a natural back that resembles in appearance to coarse suede. If the couch has a woven backing it is not real leather.

Peter says that the best way to determine whether a sofa is genuine is to gently rub your fingernails on the surface. The grit of the leather will cause your fingers to become dull, and the surface will stretch and wrinkle a little. It should also feel soft and warm to the touch.

The sofa's back and inspecting the upholstery will tell you if it is genuine. Genuine leather is a continuous piece of leather, not a plastic coated faux leather sofa set or the bonded leather.

Consider how much you will use your leather sofa and how long it should last before you decide on the right. The more you utilize your couch the more care it will require. Peter recommends regular, gentle cleaning with a leather conditioner. This will help keep the leather's suppleness intact and prevent it from drying out and becoming hard.