How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather sofas due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal to smell, feel and then turn over a cushion to check the back.
For example, a "leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the seats and armrests) in genuine leather while 'non contact' areas were a mix of cotton and coated polyester.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should be a natural, rich and luxurious. Faux leather, on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your sofa has a bad smell, it could be due to urine or stains from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will eliminate the smell. If you're not pleased with the results, consider applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather and make it more soft, less brittle, and more resistant to odors.
Baking soda is an excellent natural odor eliminator that can be used to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to pick up dirt, wring it out or switch to an alternative. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it off again.
Airing your leather out is another way to eliminate smells. If possible, set the sofa outside in a sun-lit area to air it out. This will eliminate any unwanted odors, and provide it with a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to keep away from unpleasant odors, you can purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will stop your leather from absorbing unpleasant odors and keep it looking good for longer.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing however, it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, it will absorb odors from cooking, smoking, and even body odor. These odors can be hard to eliminate especially when you have children or pets. Fortunately, genuine leather couches aren't able to trap the odors as fabrics can and are a good option for families with active families.
If your couch smells like the scent of a puppy's pee, it's important to address the issue immediately. You can utilize the suggestions listed above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the issue. The best way to treat the issue is to avoid the issue, so make sure you train your dog to never pee on your couch.
2. small leather couch www.sofasandcouches.com
When you're looking for a brand new leather sofa there are some things to be looking for. The best way to tell whether it's genuine is to smell it and feel it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is recognizable. This scent may fade with age, but it is impossible to miss it when the sofa is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa must feel soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have a a plasticky feel. To test this try pressing your fingertips on the sofa's surface and check for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps, the leather is likely to be fake or bonded leather.
Another indicator is if you can see vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa. This means the leather isn't one continuous piece that is typical of genuine leather couches.
The quality of the frame of the leather sofa can have a major impact on its longevity, but it's not always obvious. Ask what type of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you select an item that has a long lifespan. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and expensive alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames aren't as robust. For added durability, a wooden frame must also be dried to prevent warping and mildew.
If you're on a budget it is possible to find a genuine leather sofa that you are awestruck with. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a good example. It is a stylish and flexible option that is often available for sale and can be customized to suit your home.
Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa that has a classic design and is available in hundreds of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. This modular sofa is a bit difficult to assemble at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches have a certain appeal that other kinds of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and stand up to wear and tear more effectively than fabric. They last for a long time. They also are resistant to staining and spills, and are less likely to attract allergens and dust and therefore don't require the same amount of regular care and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. Like every other purchase, it's crucial to be aware of the pitfalls before making a final decision.
If you are not sure whether your new couch is made of leather or fabric it is best to first look at the tag that identifies the material on the frame. This will inform you exactly what kind of fabric it is. However, you should also use your own senses to help make a decision if you can't find any information on the materials used to make the sofa.
The surface of the sofa must be carefully examined and pay attention to the patterns, shading and texture. A genuine leather couch has natural imperfections and will not be perfectly uniform in structure, pattern, or shading. If the surface is uniform and smooth or if a mesh-like backing appears in place of coarse leather, it's a sure indication of fake or synthetic leather.
Another good test is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If it has an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, that's a sign that it's not genuine leather. The reason for this is that animal hides have a limit on their size, and can only be cut so large. The top-rated manufacturers 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, lift up a corner and inspect the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered with an woven fabric or covered with polyurethane, it is another sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel solid and coarse when touched.
4. Patterns
A genuine leather sofa is a timeless piece, and with good reason. The natural, warm look and feel can elevate any living room. Additionally, a modern tanning process gives it the added durability to withstand sagging or cracking. Each hide is distinct, with its own marks, grain and blemishes.
While prices and labels are great pointers but the best way to know whether you're buying authentic leather is to get up close and intimate with it. To get a better idea of authenticity, examine the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure is uniform and there aren't any noticeable blemishes, it's likely faux or the leather is bonded.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a further indicator. This is a typical feature of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed with materials that closely like the fabric used to make furniture.
Look at the back of your sofa to see if there are any vertical seams. This is an indication of a high-quality piece of leather that has been carefully constructed to last. If there are no seams and the back appears like a seamless cloth, then it is likely to be a fake or bonded-leather sofa.
Once you've confirmed that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to pair it with your other furniture for your living space. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture and add pillows that complement the colors of your room. You can also opt for an energizing, relaxing arrangement by putting the couch between two pieces of furniture with a table in between.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't fade or develop scratches from direct sunlight. If you're looking to prolong the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage use a leather protection agent every other year.