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 genuine leather sofa. You should get close to the couch and look at it carefully. Smell, touch and turn the cushion to examine the back.
For instance, a sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE tested had "contact" areas (such as arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the 'non-contact' areas were made of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should smell rich and natural. Faux leather on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to stains or urine from your pet. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will eliminate the smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will bring back the leather's moisture which makes it softer and less fragile. It will also make it more resistant against smells.
Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor remover that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth starts to gather dirt, you can wring it or replace it with a fresh one. You can also put the solution in spray bottles and spray it onto your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping again.
Airing your leather out is another way to eliminate odors. If you can, place the couch outside in a sunny spot to let it air dry. This will eliminate any unpleasant odors and give it a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to keep away from unpleasant odors, buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This will stop your leather from taking in smells and will keep it smelling good for longer.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing however, it can be difficult to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb odors from cooking, smoking, and even body odor. These odors are hard to remove, especially in homes with pets or children. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabric upholstery can. This is why they are a great option for families with active children.
If your couch smells akin to a pee-soaked puppy It is important to address the issue immediately. You can use the tips mentioned above or a product such as Leather Honey to resolve the problem. The best solution is to prevent the problem and ensure that you train your dog to not pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are some clues to look out for when you are shopping for a
light leather couch sofa, however the most reliable way to tell whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Leather has a distinct distinctive natural scent. The scent can fade with age however, it should be evident when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa should also feel soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Faux and bonded leathers on the other hand tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gently press your fingers to the surface of a couch and check for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it is likely bonded or faux-leather.
Another indicator is if you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather isn't a continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of the frame of the leather sofa can have a major impact on its lifespan however, it's often not obvious. To ensure that you're buying a sofa which will last, inquire about the type of wood is used in the frame. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames are less durable. To ensure durability, wood frames should be dried kiln to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of low-cost genuine leather sofas that you can nevertheless be captivated by. 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 suit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It is a classic design and is available in a broad range of fabrics that are fade-resistant. However, this sofa requires assembly at home and its back cushions are prone to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are a class apart from other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are incredibly robust and withstand wear and tear much better than fabrics, which makes them last for years to come. They also are resistant to spills and stains and are less likely to attract allergens and dust which means they don't require as much regular maintenance and cleaning. But, like everything else 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 prior to making your final choice.
If you're unsure if your new sofa is genuine leather, the first thing you need to look over the material tag on the frame to find out the exact type of leather or fabric it is made of. However, you must use your own senses to help make an informed decision if you are unable to find any information on the materials used to make the sofa.
A good way to tell is to take a closer look at the couch's surface and look at the texture, shading and patterns in detail. A genuine leather sofa has natural imperfections and may not be uniform in its structure patterns, shading, or pattern. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, this is an obvious sign that it's fake or synthetic
distressed leather couch.
Examine the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching pattern on the back, it isn't real leather. This is due to the fact that animal hides are restricted in size and can only be cut to a certain extent. The top-rated manufacturers stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine
leather living room sets and not bonded leather or faux leather.
If you are able lift one corner and look at the padding on the back. 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 sofa set price should feel firm and coarse when the touch is made.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless classic for a reason. The soft, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. A
modern leather couch tanning procedure gives it added durability, so that it resists cracking or sagging. Because each hide has its own unique markings, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is unique.
While labels and prices are excellent indicators but the best way to determine whether you're buying genuine leather is to get close and close to it. Examine the surface texture, structure and pattern to get a more detailed glimpse of its genuine. If the structure appears to be uniform and there are no obvious flaws, it's probably faux or the leather is bonded.
A polyurethane back on a sofa is a further indicator. This is a typical feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create furniture.
Finally, check the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is an indication of a top-quality piece of leather that has been designed to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather couch.
Once you've confirmed that your sofa is made of genuine leather and fabric sofa (
find more), it's time to match it with other furniture in your living room. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the colors of your room.
