Why No One Cares About Real Leather Couch
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to misleading price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying an authentic leather sofa. You need to get up close and personal with the couch - smell, feel and turn over a cushion to check the back.
For instance, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered 'contact' (such as the seats and armrests) with genuine leather. The the non-contact areas were a mix of coated polyester and Cotton.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should be a natural, rich and luxurious. False leather, on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your sofa smells unpleasant it could be due to stains or urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather, making it soft and less brittle. leather sofa set will also make it more resistant to smells.
You can also make use of a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to remove unpleasant smells from your couch. 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 out or replace it with a fresh one. Alternately, you can pour the solution into spray bottles and spray it onto your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it over again.
The process of airing out your leather is another natural way to get rid of the smell. Set the couch in a sun-lit space to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted smells and give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will stop your leather from taking in unpleasant odors and keep it looking good for longer.
While the scent of natural leather is appealing, it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, it will absorb odors from cooking, smoking, and even body smell. These odors can be difficult to get rid of, especially in homes with children or pets. Real leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabrics can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children.
If your couch smells like a pee-soaked puppy, it's important to address the issue immediately. Try some of the suggestions above, or you can try a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best option but be sure to train your dog to not pee on the couch!
2. Feel
There are a few indicators to look out for when you are shopping for leather furniture, but the most reliable method to tell whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct, natural scent that is recognizable. The smell fades as you age however, it should be clear when the couch is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa should be soft to the touch and warm to the. Faux and bonded leathers however tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test, gently press your fingers against the couch's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, then the material is likely to be faux or bonded leather.
Another sign of a fake sofa is when you can see vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of a leather sofa's frame can have a major impact on its lifespan, but this isn't always evident. 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. Particle board or engineered frames are less durable. To increase durability, hardwood frames should be dried kiln to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're on a tight budget, you can still find an authentic leather sofa you are awestruck with. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is one example. It is a stylish and flexible option that's often on sale and can easily be customized to fit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another option that is budget-friendly. It has a classic style and is available in a broad variety of fabrics that are fade-resistant. However, this sofa requires assembly at home and its back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are an exception to other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are incredibly durable and resist wear and tear more than fabric, making them last for years to be. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. However, as with anything else in life, there are a few dangers when buying a leather sofa - and it's important to know what to look out for before making your final decision.
If you're not sure whether your new couch is genuine leather, the first thing to look over the material tag on the frame to find out exactly what type of leather or fabric it's made of. However, you should also use your own senses to assist you in making the right choice if you don't discover any information regarding the material composition of the sofa.
The sofa's surface is worth a close examination with a keen eye on the texture, shading and patterns. A genuine leather sofa has natural imperfections and may not be uniform in terms of structure patterns, patterns, or shading. If the surface is smooth and uniform, or if a mesh-like backing appears in place of coarse leather, it's a clear giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.
Check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on the back, it is not real leather. The reason for this is that animal hides are limited in their size, and can only be cut so big. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you are able to attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or cushion and inspect the back of the cushion. If the back of the cushion is covered with a woven material or polyurethane then this is a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should be rough and coarse in coating that feels solid when you feel it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic for the reason. The warm, natural feel and look of the material can elevate any living space. Modern tanning methods give it extra durability, so it is resistant to cracking or sagging. Since each hide comes with distinct markings and blemishes, grain, and marks each leather couch is unique.
While prices and labels are excellent indicators however, the best way to know whether you're buying authentic leather is to go up close and close to it. For a better understanding of the authenticity of the leather, take a look at the texture of the surface, pattern, and structure. If the structure is completely uniform and there aren't noticeable blemishes, it's likely fake or bonded leather.
A polyurethane back on the sofa is a different indicator. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making furniture.
Also, look at 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'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.
After you've determined that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to match it with your other furniture in your living room. For a sleek, unified look, match your sofa to other wooden furniture and line it up with pillows that reflect the colors in your room. You can also opt for a more dynamic, relaxed layout by putting the sofa between two pieces of furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area so that it doesn't deteriorate or show scuff marks from direct sunlight. If you're looking to prolong the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment apply a leather protector agent every other year.