How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to misleading prices and descriptions of products, it can be difficult to tell whether you're buying a genuine leather sofa. You must get up close and personal to take a whiff, feel and flip over a cushion to examine the fabric.
For example, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the seats and armrests) with genuine leather. The the non-contact areas were made of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa will smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather however is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch has a bad smell, it may be due to stains or pet urine. In the majority of instances, a thorough cleaning will eliminate any smell. If you're not happy 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 against smells.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your leather couch. If the cloth starts to gather dirt, you can use a wringer to remove it or replace it with a new one. You can also spray the solution on your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it over again.
The process of airing out your leather is another natural way to remove smells. Place the sofa in a sunny area to air out. This will eliminate any unpleasant odors, and also give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors completely, you can purchase a leather conditioner that is made up of healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from absorbing odors and keep it smelling nice for longer.
Although the smell of natural leather is appealing but it can be difficult to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb the odors of smoking, cooking, or even body smell. These odors can be difficult to get rid of, especially if you have children or pets. Fortunately, leather couches don't trap the odors as fabric upholstery and are a good choice for families with active families.
It's important to take action immediately when your couch smells as if it was soaked in puppy pee. You can use the tips given above or a product like Leather Honey to solve the problem. The best way to treat the issue is to stop the problem from occurring and ensure that you train your dog to never pee on your couch.
2. Contact us with any questions.
There are some clues to look out for when you are shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable way to determine whether it's genuine is to touch it and smell it. Leather with genuine leather has a distinct, natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. This scent may fade as you age however there should be no mistaking it when a sofa is new.
A genuine leather sofa should also feel soft to the touch and warm in temperature. Leathers made of faux and bonded are often colder and have an unpleasant plastic feel. To test this, gently press your fingertips to the surface of the couch and look for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.
If you notice vertical seams stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another sign of a fake. This indicates that the leather isn't one piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.
The quality of the frame on a leather couch can have a major impact on its life span however it's not always obvious. To ensure you're getting a sofa that will last, inquire about the kind of wood is used in the frame. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but they're also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames are less durable. To improve durability, hardwood frames should be kiln dried to prevent warping or mildew.
If you're shopping on a tight budget, there are plenty of affordable genuine leather sofas you can nevertheless fall in love with. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's often offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which has a classic design and comes in a variety of fade-resistant fabric. The sofa requires assembly at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas have a certain aesthetic that other forms of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can endure wear and tear better than fabric. They can last for a long time. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. But, like leather couches for sale in life, there are some pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather sofa - and it's important to know what to look out for before you make your final choice.
If you're unsure whether your new sofa is made of fabric or leather, you should first check the tag that identifies the material on the frame. This will tell you exactly what kind of fabric it is. However, you should also make use of your senses to help make the right choice if you don't discover any information regarding the composition of the material used in the sofa.
The surface of the sofa should be examined closely with a keen eye on the texture, shading and patterns. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh-like backing appears instead of the coarse leather, it's a clear giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.
Another way to test this is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on the back, it is not genuine leather. The reason for this is that animal hides are limited in their size, and they are only cut to a certain big. To ensure the highest quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew across the entire back of a sofa to ensure that it's genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather.
If you are able to lift one corner and look at the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is coated with a woven fabric or is covered in polyurethane this is another indicator that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should be rough and coarse in coating that feels sturdy when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A genuine leather sofa is a classic and with good reason. The material's warm, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. In addition modern tanning techniques gives it the added durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Each hide is distinct and has its own distinctive markings, grain and blemishes.
While labels and prices are excellent indicators however, the best way to tell if you're buying authentic leather is to go up close and intimate with it. Inspect the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern to get a more detailed glimpse of its genuine. If the structure is completely uniform and there aren't any visible flaws, it's most likely faux or bonded leather.
A polyurethane back on a sofa is a further indicator. This is a standard feature of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and is backed by materials that closely like the fabric used to make the furniture.
Check the back of your couch to determine whether there are any vertical seams. This is a sign of a high-quality piece of leather that's been carefully constructed to last. If there are no seams, and the rear appears like a seamless cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.
After you've determined that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to pair it with your other living room furniture. For a sleek, unified look, match your sofa with other furniture made of wood, and line it up with pillows that match the colors in your living space. You can also opt for a more comfortable, lively arrangement by placing your sofa against other furniture pieces and placing the addition of a coffee table.
Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to stop it from fading or forming scuffs. And if you want to safeguard your investment by extending its lifespan, consider applying a leather protector every two or three times a year.