How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to misleading price tags and product descriptions it can be difficult to tell whether you're buying a genuine leather sofa. You should get close to the couch and examine it with care. Smell, touch and turn the cushion to examine the back.
For example, one 'leather' couch CHOICE tested had 'contact' areas (such as arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the non-contact areas were a mixture of cotton and polyester.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather however, often smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to pet urine. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will eliminate the smell. If you're not happy with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather and make it soft and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to odors.
You can also use an organic odor remover such as baking soda to remove unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to gather dirt, you can use a wringer to remove it out or replace it with a new one. Alternately, you can pour the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it over your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping again.
Airing out your leather is another way to eliminate the smell. If possible, set the couch outside in a sunny area to let it air out. This will help remove unwanted odors and give it an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors completely then you should consider buying a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from taking in odors and keep it smelling good for a longer time.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing but it isn't always easy to keep clean. In time, it may absorb odors from cooking, smoking, and even body odor. These odors are hard to remove, especially if your home has children or pets. Fortunately, real leather couches aren't able to trap the odors as fabrics can, making them an ideal option for families with active families.
It is crucial to act immediately when your couch smells as if it was soaked with puppy poop. You can utilize the suggestions listed above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the problem. The best option is to avoid the issue, so make sure you teach your dog not to pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are a few indicators to look out for when buying leather furniture, but the most reliable method to tell whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Leather has a distinct distinctive natural scent. The smell can fade as you age however, it should be clear when the couch is brand new.
A genuine leather couch should be warm and comfortable to touch. Bonded and faux leathers however, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gentle press your fingers on the couch's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, the material is probably bonded or faux leather.
If you see vertical seams that are stitched on the back of sofas, this is another indicator. This means the leather isn't a continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of a frame for a sofa can have a significant effect on its longevity but this isn't always immediately apparent. 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 also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames will be less sturdy. For extra durability, a hardwood frame should also be kiln-dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're on a tight budget it is possible to find a genuine leather sofa that you love. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a good example. It is a stylish and flexible option that's often available for sale and can be customized to fit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another option that is budget-friendly. It is a classic design and is available in a wide range of fabrics that are stain-resistant. The sofa is modular and quite difficult to set up at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Real leather couches offer a unique appeal that other kinds of furniture can't match. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can endure wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They last for a long time. They also tend to resist spills and stains and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens, so they don't need the same amount of regular care and cleaning. However, as with anything else in life, there are a few dangers when purchasing a leather couch - and it's important to know what to look out for prior to making your final choice.
If you're unsure if your new couch is genuine leather, the first thing you need to look over the material tag on the frame to discover the exact type of fabric or leather it is made of. If you can't discover any information about the sofa's material composition, you can use your senses to make an informed decision.
A key indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and look at the texture, shading, and patterns in detail. A genuine leather couch will have natural imperfections and will not be perfectly uniform in its structure patterns, shading, or pattern. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh backing appears instead of the coarse leather, it's a sure giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.
Another good test is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on its back, it is not real leather. The reason is that animal hides are limited in their size, and they can only be cut as large. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure it is genuine leather and not bonded leather or faux leather.
If you are able to lift a corner and inspect the padding on the back. If the back of the padding is covered in an woven fabric or covered in polyurethane, this is another sign that the couch is not genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you feel it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless design for reasons. real leather sofa , warm appearance and feel of the material can enhance any living space. In addition modern tanning techniques gives it the added durability to resist cracking or sagging. And because each hide has distinct markings and grain, as well as blemishes each leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
The best way to determine if the leather you are buying is genuine is to examine it up close. To better understand authenticity, examine the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any visible flaws on it, then it is likely to be faux or bonding.
Another sign of a dead sofa is a backing of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely resemble the fabric used to make furniture.
Look at the back of your couch to see whether there are 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 appears like a seamless cloth, then it is likely to be a fake or bonded-leather couch.
If you've decided that a couch is genuine leather the next step is to pair it with the rest of your living room furniture. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that complement the colors of your space. You can also opt for a more dynamic, relaxed layout by putting the sofa between two pieces furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit space to ensure that it doesn't deteriorate or show scratches due to direct sunlight. If you want to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment, apply a leather protector agent every other year.