How to Spot a Genuine Leather Sofa
This sofa is a great addition to any space. The leather upholstery is soft and silky. Customers love its simple styling, and the high-quality genuine leather upholstery.
But recognizing real leather from fake leather can be a challenge to the untrained eye. Here are six helpful tips to help you tell the difference: 1. The rough edges.
1. Take a look at the label
Real leather has a unique style and feel that's difficult to replicate. It's also durable, easy to clean and doesn't absorb excess body oils. This makes it a great choice for people suffering from allergies. However not all leather sofas are created equal. In fact, some retailers have even been known to pass off PVC as genuine leather.
To avoid being scammed, it's crucial to know the various types of leather. This includes determining full grain and top-grain leather, and also evaluating the quality of the upholstery. Discerning retailers will be more than willing to share this information, so don't hesitate to inquire!
The first step to identify a genuine leather sofa is to look at the label. It should clearly indicate what kind of leather the sofa is upholstered with, along with any other materials like fabric or cotton. In addition, reputable sellers should have clear policies on exchange or return in the event that you aren't happy with your purchase.
If the sofa doesn't come with any label however, you can still figure out its authenticity by examining the fabric backing or opening up the cushion casing to check for synthetic materials. You can also check the texture of the leather to determine if there are any bumps or imperfections. These are indications that the leather is fake or bonded.
Another method to determine the quality of a sofa is feeling its surface with your fingertips. Genuine leather has a soft, smooth texture. Faux leather or bonded leather is rougher and feels more like suede. You should also be able feel the difference between wrinkles, bumps, and printed patterns of faux leather and genuine leather.
While a genuine leather sofa may cost more than a faux counterpart, it's an investment that will last longer and often end up as family heirlooms through the years. Place your leather sofa in a light, cool room, away from fireplaces, heaters, and air cooling units. This will minimize the damage caused by heat, humidity and Ozone. Creams for protection on leather can be used to keep your leather sofa strong and supple.
2. Take a look at the back
If the label doesn't reveal what kind of leather a sofa is, it's important to get close and personal with it. The scent, the texture and the backing will be a clear indication of authenticity.
When you touch the surface of genuine leather, it may not feel smooth and perfect. This is because animal hides have different pores which allow them to breathe. A leather product that is completely smooth could be fake leather.
Look for bumps or uneven surfaces. The preparation of genuine leather requires buffing, which takes away some of the rough outer skin. If the material covering your sofa is top grain leather, there'll still be some bumps.
You can also test the leather by running your finger over it and pressing into it. If it's genuine, the leather will stretch and wrinkle slightly, just like human skin. This allows the leather to breathe and prevents it from becoming dry or cracked over time.
Faux leather is printed, and thus has a consistent pattern, however genuine leather may have natural imperfections that add to its beauty and durability. This includes scratches, creases and marks. A genuine leather sofa is soft and a bit stiff when new, but it should not break or dry out over time if conditioned regularly with a special leather protection cream.
To cut costs, some furniture makers make use of a mixture of real and synthetic leather to create their furniture. The contact areas, like the arm rests, seats and backs, are constructed from genuine leather, while the non-contact parts, such as the base and outside arms, are upholstered with the less expensive polyurethane or leather-like synthetic fabric. This is a typical practice, and even if the couch has an authentic leather label be sure to examine it carefully to see the material that the back is made of, as this will be a quick indicator that it's not authentic leather.
Labels and pricing can guide you in the right direction, but to be sure a sofa is genuine leather, it's important to get up close and intimate with it. Smell it, touch it and look at its back for a backing of polyurethane which is an obvious indicator that it is not genuine leather.
3. Take a look at the seat
The seat of a genuine leather sofa is a further sign of its high-quality. While the majority of faux leather couches utilize different fabrics for the upholstery, genuine leather has a distinctive texture that is smooth to the touch. cheap leather sofa isn't completely uniform in color and shade. Look for bumps beneath the surface as well as a deep natural, fresh scent. These features distinguish genuine leather from imitations or cheap leather.
Another dead giveaway is if the leather is stitched in a large, continuous piece. While this is not unusual when using faux leather, if you observe this with genuine top-grain leather it's likely to be a sign that the sofa is not of good quality and should be avoided.
The price and label may give you an idea but the only certain method to determine is to feel the furniture. The genuine leather isn't perfect, and it should feel uneven to the touch. It also has rough edges and fat wrinkles under the surface. The softness of genuine leather is different from synthetic materials, and the temperature of the furniture will tell whether it's constructed using genuine materials.
A leather sofa is a staple of interior design for a reason: It's elegant, durable and long-lasting. It's also easy to clean and resistant to liquid spills. This makes it a perfect choice for families who have children or pets. The best thing about genuine leather, however, is that it's a classic design that won't ever go out of fashion and is still accessible at a variety of prices.
For a classic leather couch that can last for a long time, consider the Pottery Barn Turner. While this two-seater model is priced higher, it's crafted with quality top-grain leather and has an elegant design that won't age quickly. It's a great choice for those with small spaces, too, as it's available in three sizes and is small enough to fit into most rooms.
This All Modern Geo Genuine Leather sofa is a great choice to consider if you're looking for something a bit more modern. This couch is a mid-century modern-inspired design with an elegant, angular frame and cylindrical pillows that blend functionality and form. The sofa is made from plywood, composite, and plastic. The leather is only used in the seating area. It's a step up from Ikea’s faux-leather sofa which was awarded the CHOICE's "Shonky Award" in 2015.
4. Check out the smell
Real leather has an unmistakable smell. It's an organic, natural scent that is impossible to duplicate. If the sofa you're considering buying has a strong artificial smell it's not real. It is usually due to the chemicals used to treat leather. These chemicals can remain on furniture long after it's been manufactured.
You can test the quality of the leather by gently running your fingers over the surface. Real leather will feel rough and include bumps and lumps like human skin. If it is smooth and cold it's probably fake or bonding.
You can also take one of the cushions and look at the back. Faux and bonded leather will have some form of polyurethane backing to support the upholstery that is manufactured, whereas genuine leather has an untreated backing that is similar in appearance to coarse suede. If the sofa has a woven backing that is not genuine leather.
Peter says that the best way to tell if a sofa is real is to gently rub your fingernails on the surface. The roughness of the leather should make your fingers a little dull and the surface will stretch and wrinkle a bit. It should also feel warm and supple to the touch.
cheap leather couches to determine whether a sofa is authentic is to turn it over on its side and check the back of the upholstery. The faux leather and bonded leather will have a plastic coating on the back of the sofa, while genuine leather will be a single, continuous piece of leather that covers the entire back of the couch.
Think about how often you'll use your leather sofa and how long it is expected to last before deciding on the best. The more you use your sofa the more attention it will require. Peter suggests regular and gentle cleaning using a special leather conditioner to keep the suppleness of the leather and to prevent it from becoming hard and dry.