How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it can be difficult to tell whether you're buying a genuine leather couch. You must get up close and personal to smell, feel and turn over a cushion to examine the fabric.
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 polyester coated.
1. Smell
A real leather sofa should be a natural and rich scent. Faux leather is, however is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch is smelling bad smell, it could be caused by urine or stains from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove the smell. If you're not happy with the results, consider applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather, making it soft and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to odors.
You can also make use of a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to get rid of unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather sofa. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, squeeze it out or swap for a new one. Alternately, you can pour the solution in spray bottles and spray it onto your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it again.
Airing out your leather is another natural way to eliminate odors. If you can, place the sofa outside in a sunny area to let it air dry. This will eliminate any unpleasant odors, and also give the couch a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to stay clear of unpleasant odors then you should consider buying a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will stop your leather from absorbing smells and will keep it smelling good for a longer time.
The scent of leather may be appealing, but it can be difficult to keep. As time passes, leather will absorb odors like smoke, cooking and even body odor. Sofas And Couches are hard to eliminate, particularly when your home is occupied by children or pets. Fortunately, leather couches don't hold these odors in the same way that fabrics can make them a great option for families with active families.
If your couch smells akin to the scent of a puppy's pee, it's important to take action immediately. You can try some of the suggestions above, or you can try a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. The best way to treat the issue is to stop the problem from occurring therefore, make sure to train your dog to never pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are a few clues to look out for when buying leather furniture, but the most reliable way to determine if it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. The smell can fade as time passes, but it should be evident when the sofa is fresh.
A genuine leather sofa should be warm and soft to the touch. Leathers made of faux and bonded are often colder and have a plasticky feel. To test this try pressing your fingertips onto the sofa's surface and look for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely to be faux-leather or bonded.
If you notice vertical seams that are stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another sign of a fake. This means that the leather is not one piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.
The quality of a sofa's frame can have a major impact on its durability but it's not always obvious. To make sure you're buying a sofa which will last, ask what type of wood is used in the frame. A solid oak frame is the most durable and expensive alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames aren't as robust. To ensure durability, wood frames should be dried kiln to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you are on a tight budget it is possible to find an authentic leather sofa you love. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and flexible choice that's usually available for sale and can be adapted to 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 variety of fabrics that are stain-resistant. This modular sofa is a bit difficult to assemble at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches are an exception to other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and resist wear and tear much better than fabric, making them last for many years to be. They also resist staining and spills and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens and therefore don't require the same amount of regular care and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. As with any other purchase, it is important to be aware of pitfalls before making a final choice.
If you're unsure whether your new couch is genuine leather, the first thing you need to look over the material tag on the frame to determine the exact type of leather or fabric it's made from. If you cannot discover any information about the couch's material composition or the type of leather it is, you can use your senses to make a 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 depth. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like back instead of coarse suede, this is an obvious sign that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Another way to test this is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on its back, it is not real leather. This is because animal hides are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain extent. To ensure the best quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew across the entire back of a sofa to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.
Finally, if you can attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or cushion and examine the back of the padding. If the back of the cushion is coated with a woven fabric or is covered in polyurethane, this is another sign that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless classic with a reason. The warm, natural appearance and feel of the material can enhance any living space. Modern tanning methods give it extra durability, so that it resists cracking or sliding. Each hide is distinct with its own unique markings, grain and blemishes.
The best way to determine whether the leather you're purchasing is genuine is to examine it up close. Inspect the texture, structure and pattern for an even more precise glimpse of its genuine. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any obvious blemishes on it, then it's likely to be faux or bound.
A polyurethane back on a sofa is another dead giveaway. This is a typical feature of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create furniture.
Check the back of your couch to see if there are any vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been made with attention to last. On the other hand, if there are no seams and the back of the sofa looks like a continuous piece of cloth, it's likely a lower-quality faux or bonded leather sofa.
Once you've confirmed that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with other furniture in your living room. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture and add pillows that match the color of your living space. Or, you can opt for a comfortable, lively layout by putting your couch against other furniture pieces and placing the addition of a coffee table.
Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to avoid it fading or forming scratches. If you're looking to protect your investment by prolonging its lifespan, think about applying a leather protection agent once or twice a year.