How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to determine if are purchasing genuine leather sofas due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. You should be able to walk up to the couch and inspect it with care. Smell, touch and flip the cushion to examine the back.
For instance, a sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE tested had 'contact' areas (such as arm rests) upholstered in genuine leather but the 'non-contact' areas were a mixture of coated polyester and cotton.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should smell rich, natural and luxurious. False leather, on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to pet urine. In most cases, a thorough clean will remove any smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it soft, less brittle, and more resistant to odors.
Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor-removing agent that can be used to remove 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 absorb dirt, wring it out or switch to an alternative. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it again.
The process of airing out your leather is another method to eliminate odors. Set the couch in a sun-lit area to let it air. This will eliminate any unpleasant smells and also give the couch a natural, fresh scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant smells altogether, you can purchase a leather conditioner that is made up of healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher longer by keeping it from absorbing smells.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing, it isn't always easy to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb the odors of smoking, cooking, or even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate particularly when you have pets or children. Fortunately, leather couches aren't able to trap these odors like fabrics can, making them an ideal choice for households with active families.
It's important to take action immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy pee. Try some of the suggestions above or try using a dedicated product such as Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best option but be sure to teach your dog not to pee on the couch!
2. Feel
There are a few clues to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable method to tell whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Leather has a distinct, distinct natural scent. The scent can fade with age however, it should be clear when the couch is new.
A genuine leather sofa should be warm and soft to touch. Bonded and faux leathers on the other hand, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this, gently press your fingers against the surface of a couch and feel for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it's likely to be faux-leather or bonded.
Another indicator is if you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This means the leather isn't a continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of the frame on a leather couch can have a significant impact on its longevity, but it's not always obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used in the making of the frame. This will help you choose the right sofa that has a long lifespan. A solid oak frame is the most durable and expensive choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames are less sturdy. To ensure durability, a hardwood frame must also be dried to prevent warping and mildew.
If you're for a price that isn't too expensive There are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas that you can still be captivated by. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's frequently offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is classic in design and comes in a variety of fade-resistant fabric. This sofa is somewhat difficult to put together at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Real leather couches are an exception to other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are incredibly robust and withstand wear and tear far more than fabric, making them last for years to be. They also are resistant to staining and spills, and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens, so they don't need more frequent maintenance and cleaning. However, just like anything else in life, there are a few 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 the sofa you bought is genuine leather, the first thing to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to find out exactly what type of fabric or leather it is made of. If you can't discover any information about the couch's material composition then you can use your senses to make an informed decision.
A good way to tell 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 won't be completely uniform in its structure patterns, patterns, or shading. If the surface of a couch appears to be smooth and uniform, or if it shows a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, this is an obvious sign that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Another test to take is to 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 be cut only to a certain extent. To ensure the best quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of a couch to ensure that it's genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather.
If you are able, lift up a corner and inspect the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered with polyurethane or a weave, then it's a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel sturdy and coarse when touched.
4. Patterns
A leather couch is a timeless classic with a reason. The warm, natural feel and look of the material can enhance any living space. Plus the modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to resist cracking or sagging. Since each hide comes with distinct markings and grain, as well as blemishes, every leather couch is unique.
The best way to tell whether the leather you're purchasing is genuine is to examine it closely. To better understand the authenticity of the leather, take a look at the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any visible blemishes on it, then it is likely to be faux or bonding.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is another dead giveaway. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be supported by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture.
Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is an indication of a high-quality piece of leather that's been designed to last. On the other the other hand, if you notice no seams and the couch's back appears like a continuous piece of fabric, it's likely a lower-quality faux or bonded leather sofa.
If you've decided that the couch is authentic leather the next step is to pair it with the rest of your living room furniture. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the color of your space. You can also opt for a more comfortable, lively layout by putting your couch across from other pieces with an occasional table.
Keep your leather sofa from direct sunlight to avoid it from fading or forming scuffs. And if you want to safeguard your investment by prolonging its lifespan, consider applying a leather protection product every once or twice per year.