Real Leather Couch Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or faux leather couch
It can be difficult to determine if are purchasing genuine leather couches due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal - smell, feel and then turn over a cushion to check the fabric.
For instance, a leather-upholstered couch CHOICE tested had 'contact' areas (such as seats and arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery however the non-contact areas were a mixture of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should smell rich and natural. False leather, on the other hand is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch smells bad it could be due to pet urine. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove the smell. If you're not happy with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a american leather sofa conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it more soft and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to smells.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the leather couch. If the cloth begins to absorb dirt, you can wring it out or replace with a new one. Alternately, you can pour the solution in the spray bottle and spray it on your couch. Let the mixture dry before wiping it over again.
Another method to eliminate the smells from your leather is to air it out. If you are able, place the couch outside in a sun-lit area to air it out. This will help eliminate any unwanted smells and also give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, purchase a leather conditioner with healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresher for longer, stopping it from absorption of the smells.
The scent of leather can be attractive, but it's difficult to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb smells from smoking, cooking, or even body odor. These odors are difficult to get rid of, especially if your home has pets or children. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabric upholstery can. This makes them a great choice for families with active children.
If your couch smells akin to an odor of a dog that has peed on it It's crucial to get the problem addressed immediately. Try some of the suggestions above or use a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best way to go however, so make sure to teach your dog not to pee on the couch!
2. Contact us with any questions.
If you are looking for a new leather sofa there are a few things to be aware of. But the best way to determine if it's real is to smell and feel it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is recognizable. The smell fades with age however, it should be evident when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa should also be soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Leathers made of faux leather sofa and bonded tend to be colder and have a plasticky feel. To test this, gently press your fingertips on the sofa's surface and check for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it is likely bonded or faux-leather.
If you see vertical seams stitched across the back of a sofa, this is another indicator. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of the frame on a leather couch can have a major effect on its life span, but it's not always obvious. To make sure you're buying a sofa that will last, inquire about the kind of wood is used for the frame. A solid oak frame will be 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 avoid mildew and warping.
If you're shopping on a budget, there are plenty of low-cost genuine leather sofas that you can nevertheless be captivated by. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and versatile option that's often on sale and can easily be customized to suit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is classic in design and is available in a wide range of fade-resistant fabrics. The sofa is modular and a bit difficult to assemble at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches offer a unique appeal that other types of upholstery can't match. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can endure wear and tear better than fabric. They last for a long time. They also resist spills and stains and are less likely to attract allergens and dust and therefore don't require as much regular maintenance and cleaning. Leather couches are no different. Like any other purchase, it is crucial to be aware of risks before making a final choice.
If you are not sure whether your new sofa is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the tag of materials that is that is attached to the frame. This will tell you exactly what kind of material it is. If you cannot find any information about the couch's materials then you can use your senses to help you make the decision.
The sofa's surface must be carefully examined and pay attention to the texture, shading and patterns. A real leather couch is likely to have imperfections that are natural and may not be uniform in structure patterns, shading, or pattern. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or has a mesh-like backing in place of rough suede, that's a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Check the back of the cushion casing. If there is an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, that's an indication that it's not authentic 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, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch throughout the back of a couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather.
Finally, if you can, try to lift up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and look at the back of the padding. If the back of the cushion is covered in a woven fabric or is covered in polyurethane this is another indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel firm and rough when the touch is made.
4. Patterns
A real leather couch is a classic, and for good reason. The soft, natural look and feel can elevate any living space. Modern tanning techniques give it extra durability, so that it doesn't suffer from cracks or sagging. Each hide is distinct with its own unique marks, grain and blemishes.
While prices and labels are excellent indicators but the best way to tell whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. To better understand the authenticity, look at the texture of the surface, pattern, and structure. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any obvious blemishes on the surface, then it's likely to be fake or bonding.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a further indicator. This is a common feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will look more natural and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture.
Look at the back of your couch to determine whether there are any vertical seams. This is an indication of a high-quality piece of leather that's been designed to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.
If you've decided that a couch is genuine leather the next step is to pair it up with the rest of your furniture in your living room. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and add pillows that complement the colors of your room. You can also choose an energizing, relaxing layout by placing the couch in between two pieces of furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't deteriorate or show scratches from direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its life, you should consider applying a leather protection agent once or twice a year.