How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

It can be difficult to determine if you are purchasing genuine leather sofas due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You must get up close and personal with the couch - smell, feel and then turn over a couch to look at the backing.

For instance, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the armrests and seats) in genuine leather while 'non contact' areas were made up of cotton and polyester coated.

1. Smell

A genuine leather sofa should be fragrant and natural. False leather on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad smell, it could be caused by stains or pet urine. In most cases, a thorough clean will eliminate any smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a leather sofa and loveseat set conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather, making it softer and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to odors.

Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor-removing agent that can be used to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use microfiber cloths to clean your leather couch. If the cloth starts to absorb dirt, squeeze it out or replace with an alternative. You can also put the solution into spray bottles and spray it over your couch. Let the mixture dry before wiping it over again.

The process of airing out your leather is another way to eliminate odors. Set the couch in a sunny space to let it air out. This will eliminate any unpleasant smells and give the sofa a natural, fresh scent.

If you want to avoid unpleasant smells altogether You can buy an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresher for longer, stopping it from absorption of the smells.

The scent of leather can be attractive, but it's difficult to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb smells from cooking, smoking, and even body smell. These odors can be difficult to eliminate, especially if you have pets or children. Fortunately, genuine leather couches don't trap these odors in the same way that fabric upholstery make them a great choice for households with active families.

If your couch smells like the scent of a puppy's pee It is important to get the problem addressed immediately. Use the tips given above or a product such as Leather Honey to solve the issue. Prevention is the best way to go but be sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!

2. Feel

When shopping for a new leather sofa there are some things to look out for. The best way to determine whether it's genuine is to smell it and feel it. Genuine leather has a distinct, distinct natural scent. The scent can fade as time passes but it should remain evident when the sofa is fresh.

A genuine leather sofa should feel soft to the feel and warm in temperature. Faux and bonded leathers on the other hand tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this try pressing your fingertips onto the surface of the couch and check for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.

If you notice vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa, it's another indicator. This indicates that the leather isn't a single piece that is the hallmark of genuine leather couches.

The quality of the frame on a leather couch can have a significant impact on its lifespan, but it's often not obvious. To ensure that you're buying a sofa which will last, ask what type of wood is used for the frame. A solid oak frame is the most durable and expensive alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames are less sturdy. To ensure durability, a hardwood frame should also be kiln-dried to avoid mildew and warping.

If you're on a tight budget, there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas you can still enjoy. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and versatile option that's often available for sale and can be customized to fit your home.

The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is a different budget-friendly option. It has a classic style and is available in a broad range of fabrics that are fade-resistant. However, this sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions tend to slide down.

3. Backing

Real leather couches have a distinct appeal that other kinds of furniture can't match. Leather sofas are incredibly durable and can withstand wear and tear much better than fabric, making them last for a long time to be. They also resist staining and spills and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens, so they don't need 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 the risks before making a final choice.

If you're unsure whether your new sofa is genuine leather the first thing you should do is examine the materials tag on the frame to find out exactly what type of leather or fabric it's made from. If you can't discover any information about the sofa's material composition, you can use your senses to make a 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 depth. A genuine leather sofa is likely to have imperfections that are natural and won't be completely uniform in its structure, pattern, or shading. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or if it has a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, this is a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather.

Another test to take is to check the back of the cushion casing. If it has a stitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, it's a sign that it's not genuine leather chaise lounge. The reason for this is because animal hides are limited in their size, and they can only be cut as big. To ensure the best quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch throughout the back of a couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.

If you are able to, 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 in polyurethane this is another indicator that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a rough and coarse coating that feels solid when you contact it.

4. Patterns

A genuine leather sofa is a classic, and with good reason. The natural, warm look and feel of the material can enhance any living space. In addition modern tanning techniques gives it the added durability to withstand sagging or cracking. Each hide is unique and has its own distinctive marks, grain and blemishes.

While labels and prices are excellent indicators, the best way to know if you're buying authentic leather is to go close and personal with it. Check the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern to get an in-depth look at its authenticity. If the structure appears to be uniform and there aren't noticeable blemishes, it's likely fake or bonded leather corner couch.

A polyurethane back on the sofa is a further indicator. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will look more natural and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making furniture.

Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign the leather has been made with attention to last. If there are no seams and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.

After you've determined that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to pair it with your other furniture in your living room. For a crisp, coordinated style, match your sofa to other furniture made of wood, and line it with pillows that match the colors in your living space. You can also opt for a more comfortable, lively arrangement by placing your sofa against other furniture pieces and placing an occasional table.

Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright space to ensure that it doesn't deteriorate or show scratches due to direct sunlight. And if you want to protect your investment by prolonging its lifespan, consider applying a leather protector once or twice a year.