How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to misleading prices and descriptions of products, it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying a real leather couch. It is important to get close and personal with the couch - take a whiff, feel and flip 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 while 'non contact' areas were made up of cotton and coated polyester.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should smell rich and natural. Faux leather on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling unpleasant smell, it could be due to urine or stains from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you're not happy with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will help restore moisture to the leather and make it more supple and less brittle, as well as more resistant against smells.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to eliminate unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and then employ a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the leather couch. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, you can wring it out or replace with an alternative. Alternatively, you can put the solution into the spray bottle and spray it on your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it again.
Another way to get rid of odors from your leather is by airing it out. Set the couch in a sunny area to air out. This will help eliminate unwanted odors, and provide it with an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you want to avoid unpleasant odors, you can purchase an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher for longer, stopping it from absorbing smells.
The scent of leather may be appealing, but it can be difficult to keep. In time, it may absorb smells from smoking, cooking, or even body odor. These odors can be hard to eliminate particularly if you have children or pets. Genuine leather couches do not trap these odors as fabric upholstery can. This is why they are a great option for families with active children.
It's crucial to act immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy urine. Try some of the suggestions above or you can try a specific product such as Leather Honey to address the issue. Prevention is the best solution but be sure to train your dog to not pee on the couch!
2. Contact us if you have any questions.
When you're looking for a brand new leather sofa There are a few things to look out for. The best way to determine if it's real is to smell and feel it. Real leather has an unmistakable, distinct natural scent. This scent may fade with age however there shouldn't be any doubt about it when the sofa is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa should feel soft to the touch and warm in temperature. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have a a plasticky feel. To test this try pressing your fingertips on the couch's surface and feel for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it's likely faux-leather or bonded.
If you notice vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa, it's another sign of a fake. This means that the leather is not one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.
The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a significant effect on its lifespan however, this isn't always immediately apparent. To ensure that you're buying a sofa that will last, ask what type of wood is used in the frame. Solid oak frames are the most durable, however they are also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames are less durable. To ensure durability, wood frames should be kiln dried to avoid mildew or warping.
If you're for a price that isn't too expensive There are plenty of low-cost genuine leather sofas that you could nevertheless enjoy. For instance, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's frequently available for sale and can be easily personalized to fit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which has a classic design and comes in a variety of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. This modular sofa is a bit difficult to assemble at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches offer a unique aesthetic that other forms of upholstery can't compete with. Leather sofas are incredibly robust and withstand wear and tear far better than fabric, making them last for years to come. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. Leather couches aren't different. Like every other purchase, it is crucial to be aware of the risks before making a final decision.
If you're not sure whether your new couch is genuine leather the first thing you should do is look at the materials tag on the frame to discover what kind of fabric or leather it's made from. If you are unable to find any information regarding the couch's materials, you can use your senses to make a decision.
The surface of the sofa is worth a close examination, paying attention to the texture, shading and patterns. A genuine leather couch has natural imperfections and will not be perfectly uniform in structure, pattern, or shading. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh backing appears instead of coarse leather, it's a clear giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.
Take a look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on its back, it isn't real leather. The reason for this is that animal hides have a limit on their size, and are only cut to a certain large. To ensure the highest quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew throughout the back of a couch to ensure that it's genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you can attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or a cushion and inspect the back of the cushion. If the back of the padding is covered with a woven fabric or covered in polyurethane this is another indicator that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless classic with the reason. The soft, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. Plus cheap leather sofa provides it with the added strength to resist cracking or sagging. Since each hide comes with distinctive patterns and grain, as well as blemishes Every leather sofa is truly one-of-a-kind.
While labels and prices are excellent indicators however, the best way to determine whether you're buying authentic leather is to go up close and close to it. To get a better idea of the authenticity of the leather, take a look at the texture of the surface, pattern, and structure. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any visible blemishes on the surface, then it's likely to be fake or bonded.
A polyurethane back on a sofa is another dead giveaway. This is a standard feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture.
Look at the back of your sofa to see whether there are vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been constructed with attention to last. If there aren't any seams and the back appears like a seamless cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.
Once you've determined that the couch is authentic leather the next step is to pair it with the rest of your living room furniture. Match your couch with wooden furniture and add pillows that match the colors of your living space. You can also choose a more dynamic, relaxed layout by placing the couch between two pieces furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to prevent it fading or developing scuffs. And if you want to safeguard your investment by extending its lifespan, think about applying a leather protection product once or twice a year.