How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It is often difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather couches because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal with the couch - take a whiff, feel and flip over a couch to look at the backing.
For instance, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered "contact" areas (such as the seats and armrests) in genuine leather while the non-contact areas were made of coated polyester and Cotton.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should be a natural and rich scent. The faux leather, on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad, it could be due to urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove the smell. If you're not pleased with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will help restore the leather's moisture levels, making it softer, less fragile, and more resistant to smells.
Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor-removing agent that can be used to get rid of 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 collect dirt, you can either wring it out or replace it with a fresh one. Alternatively, you can put the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it on your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it again.
Another way to get rid of the smells from your leather is to air it out. Place the sofa in a bright space to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted smells and give the sofa an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you want to stay clear of unpleasant odors, you can buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresher longer by keeping it from absorbing smells.
The scent of leather can be attractive, but it's difficult to maintain. As time passes, leather will absorb odors, such as those from cooking, smoking and even body smell. These odors can be difficult to remove, especially in homes with children or pets. Leather couches don't absorb odors like fabric upholstery can. This is why they are a great option for families with active children.
It's crucial to act immediately when your couch smells as if it was soaked in puppy urine. You can utilize the suggestions given above or a product like Leather Honey to resolve the problem. Prevention is the best way to go, though, so be sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!
2. Feel
There are some clues to look for when buying leather furniture, but the most reliable way to tell whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Leather with genuine leather has a distinct, natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. The scent can fade with age but it should remain clear when the couch is new.
A genuine leather couch should be warm and comfortable to touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded, on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test, gentle press your fingers on the surface of a couch and look for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, then the material is likely to be faux or bonded leather.
Another sign of a fake sofa is when you can see vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa. This means that the leather isn't one piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.
The quality of the frame of leather couches can have a major effect on its life span, but it's often not obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you select a sofa with an extended lifespan. A solid oak frame is the most durable and costly option, while engineered or particle board frames are less robust. To increase durability, hardwood frames should be kiln dried to avoid mildew or warping.
If you're on a tight budget but still want a genuine leather sofa that you will love. For example, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's often offered for sale and is easily customized to fit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa It is classic in design and comes in a variety of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. The sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions are prone to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas offer a unique appeal that other types of furniture cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear better than fabric. They last for many years. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. Leather couches aren't different. Like every other purchase, it's important to be aware of dangers before making a final decision.
If you're unsure whether your new sofa is made of fabric or leather it is best to first look at the tag that identifies the material that is attached to the frame. This will inform you exactly what kind of material it is. However, you must use your own senses to make an informed decision if you are unable to discover any information regarding the composition of the material used in the sofa.
The sofa's surface is worth a close examination and pay attention to the patterns, shading and texture. modern leather sofa are likely to have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading will not be uniform. If the surface of a couch appears to be smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like backing in place of coarse suede, it's an obvious sign that it's 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 the back, it isn't genuine leather. This is because hides from animals are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain degree. To ensure the best quality of their products, the top manufacturers will always stitch and sew throughout the back of a couch to ensure that it's genuinely leather and not bonded or fake leather.
If you can attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or cushion and inspect the back of the cushion. If the back of the cushion is covered in an unwoven material or polyurethane it is an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel firm and rough when the touch is made.
4. Patterns
A real leather couch is a classic and for good reason. The natural, warm feel and look of the leather can add a touch of class to any living space. Additionally the modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Each hide is distinctive with its own unique marks, grain and blemishes.
While prices and labels are excellent indicators, the best way to determine whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and close to it. Check the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern to get a more detailed look at its authenticity. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any obvious blemishes on it, then it's likely to be faux or bonding.
Another dead giveaway is a backing of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common feature of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and will be backed by materials that closely resemble the fabric used to create furniture.
Take a look at the back of your sofa to see whether there are 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 rear appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded-leather couch.
Once you've confirmed that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to match it with your other furniture for your living space. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and add pillows that match the color of your room. You can also choose a more dynamic, relaxed layout by putting the sofa between two pieces furniture, with a coffee table in between.
Make sure your leather sofa is kept away from direct sunlight to avoid it from fading or forming scuffs. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its lifespan, think about applying a leather protection agent every two or three times a year.