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 must get up close and personal to smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the back.
For example, one sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE was tested with 'contact' areas (such as arm rests) upholstered in genuine leather but the 'non-contact' areas were a mixture of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should be a natural and rich scent. Faux leather however, often smells chemically processed and synthetic. If your sofa smells unpleasant, it could be due to urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove the smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather and make it softer and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to smells.
Baking soda is a great natural odor-removing agent that can be used to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather couch. If the cloth starts to gather dirt, you can either wring it or replace it with a new one. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it again.
Another natural way to remove the smells of your leather is to air it out. Set the couch in a sunny space to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted smells and give the sofa a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors completely, you can purchase a leather conditioner that is made up of healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from soaking up smells and will keep it smelling good for a longer time.
While the scent of natural leather is appealing, it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, leather will absorb odors, such as those from cooking, smoking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate particularly when you have pets or children. Fortunately, real leather couches don't trap the odors as fabric upholstery can make them a great choice for families with active families.
If your couch smells akin to the scent of a puppy's pee It's crucial to address the issue immediately. You can try some of the suggestions above, or use a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the issue. The best solution is to stop the problem from occurring, so make sure you train your dog to never pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are a few indicators to look out for when you are shopping for a leather sofa, but the most reliable method to determine whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct natural scent that is recognizable. curved leather sofa can fade as time passes but it should remain evident when the sofa is fresh.
A genuine leather sofa should feel soft to the touch and warm to the. Bonded and faux leathers, on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this test, gently press your fingers onto the sofa's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it is likely faux-leather or bonded.
If you see vertical seams stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another indicator. This indicates that the leather is not one piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.
The quality of the frame of leather couches can have a major impact on its lifespan however, it's often not obvious. To make sure you're getting a sofa that will last, ask what kind 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. For added durability, a wooden frame should also be kiln-dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you are on a tight budget, you can still find an authentic leather sofa you will love. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile option that is often on sale and can be easily personalized to fit your home.
Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa It is a classic style and comes in a variety of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. However, this sofa requires assembly at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches have a distinct appeal that other kinds of upholstery can't compete with. Leather sofas are incredibly durable and resist wear and tear better than fabric, making them last for many years to be. They also are resistant to spills and stains and are less likely to attract allergens and dust, so they don't need more frequent maintenance and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. As with any other purchase, it's essential to be aware of the risks before making a final choice.
If you're unsure whether your new sofa is genuine leather the first thing you should look over the material tag on the frame to find out the exact type of leather or fabric it's made from. If you are unable to find any information about the couch's material composition, you can utilize your senses to make a decision.
A good way to tell is to take a closer look at the surface of the couch and examine the texture, shading, and patterns in detail. Real leather couches are likely to have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading will not be uniform. If the surface is uniform and smooth or if a mesh-like backing is visible instead of coarse leather, it's a clear indication of fake or synthetic leather.
Another test to take is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching on its back, it isn't genuine leather. This is due to the fact that animal hides are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain degree. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather, not bonded or faux leather.
Finally, if you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and look at the back of the padding. If the back of the cushion is coated with a woven fabric or covered in polyurethane, this is another indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a coarse and rough coating that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless design for a reason. The warm, natural appearance and feel of the material can enhance any living space. Plus the modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to resist cracking or sagging. Each hide is distinctive, with its own markings, grain and blemishes.
While labels and prices are great pointers, the best way to know whether you're buying genuine leather is to get close and close to it. To better understand the authenticity, look at the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure is uniform and there aren't noticeable blemishes, it's likely fake or bond leather.
Another obvious sign is a polyurethane backing on the sofa's back. This is a common feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture.
Take a look at the back of your sofa to see whether there are vertical seams. This indicates that the leather was constructed with attention to last. If there are no seams and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded-leather couch.
If you've concluded that a sofa is genuine leather the next step is to pair it up with the rest of the furniture in your living space. For a crisp, coordinated style, pair your sofa with other wooden furniture and line it with pillows that match the color scheme of your living space. You can also choose a more dynamic, relaxed layout by putting the sofa in between two pieces of furniture, with a coffee table between.
Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to avoid it from fading or forming scuffs. If you're looking to prolong the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage, apply a leather protector agent at least once or twice a year.