How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

It is often difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather sofas because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close and personal with the couch - smell, feel and then turn over a couch to look at the back.

For example, one sofa that was 'leather' CHOICE tested had contact areas (such as arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the non-contact areas were made of coated polyester and cotton.

1. Smell

A genuine leather sofa should be fragrant and natural. False leather, however, is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch is smelling bad, it could be due to stains or pet urine. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you're not happy with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the leather's moisture levels and make it more supple, less fragile, and more resistant to smells.

You can also use an organic odor remover like baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to collect dirt, squeeze it out or replace with a new one. You can also put the solution in a spray bottle and spritz it on your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it again.

Airing your leather out is another way to remove the smell. If you are able, place the couch outside in a sunny spot to let it air out. This will help remove unwanted odors and give it a fresh, natural scent.

If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, purchase a leather conditioner with healthy oils. This will keep your Shop Premium Leather Sofas for Ultimate Comfort fresher for longer, keeping it from taking in the smells.

The scent of leather may be attractive, but it's difficult to keep. As time passes, leather will absorb odors such as those from cooking, smoking and even body smell. These odors are difficult to eliminate especially if you have pets or children. Fortunately, genuine leather couches don't trap these odors like fabric upholstery and are a good choice for families with active families.

If your sofa smells like the scent of a puppy's pee, it's important to take action immediately. You can use the tips mentioned above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the problem. Prevention is the best option, though, so be sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!

2. Contact us if you have any questions.

There are some clues to look for when buying a leather sofa, but the most reliable method to determine whether it's genuine is to touch it and smell it. Leather has a distinct, distinct natural scent. This scent may fade as time passes however it is impossible to miss it when the sofa is brand new.

A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to the touch. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have a plasticky feel. To test this, gently press your fingers against the couch's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps, the material is probably bonded or faux leather.

Another sign of a fake sofa is when you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This means the distressed leather sofa isn't a continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.

The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a major impact on its longevity, but this isn't always immediately apparent. Ask what type of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you select an item that has an extended lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames are less durable. For extra durability, a wooden frame should also be kiln-dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.

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

Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa that has a classic design and is available in hundreds of fade-resistant fabric. The sofa requires assembly at home and the back cushions have a tendency to slide down.

3. Backing

Real leather couches are a class apart from other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear far more than fabric, making them last for a long time to be. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. However, just like anything else in life, there are some issues to be aware of when buying a leather sofa - and it's important to be aware of what to look for before you make your final choice.

If you're not sure whether your new sofa is genuine leather the first thing you need to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to find out what kind of leather or fabric it's made of. If you cannot discover any information about the couch's material composition, you can use your senses to help you make an informed decision.

The most important indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and observe the texture, shading, and patterns in detail. Genuine leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be uniform. 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.

Take a look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching pattern on the back, it is not real leather. This is due to the fact that hides from animals are limited in size and can be cut only to a certain extent. To ensure the best quality of their products, the top manufacturers will always stitch and sew through the entire back of the couch to ensure it's genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.

Finally, if you can, try to lift up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and examine the back of the padding. If the back of the cushion is coated with a woven fabric or 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 solid when you contact it.

4. Patterns

A leather couch is a timeless classic with reasons. The natural, warm look and feel of the leather can add a touch of class to any living space. A modern tanning procedure gives it extra durability, so it is resistant to cracking or sagging. Each hide is unique, with its own imperfections, markings, and grain.

The best way to tell whether the leather you are purchasing is genuine is to inspect it closely. Check the surface texture, structure and pattern for a more detailed view of its authenticity. If the structure of the leather is uniform and there aren't any obvious blemishes on it, then it is likely to be faux or bonding.

Another dead giveaway is a backing made of polyurethane on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create furniture.

Finally, check the back of the couch for one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign that the leather has been constructed with attention to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it is likely to be a faux or bonded leather couch.

Once you've determined that the couch is authentic leather, the next step is to pair it up with the rest of the furniture in your living space. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the colors of your living space. Or, you can opt for a fluid, acoustic arrangement by placing your sofa in a row with other furniture pieces, sofasandcouches and a coffee table in between.

Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to stop it fading or developing scuffs. If you're looking to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage use a leather protection agent every other year.