How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to tell if you are buying a genuine leather couch due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You should get close to the couch and examine it with care. Smell, touch and turn the cushion over to see the back.
For instance, 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 up of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should be fragrant and natural. Faux leather however is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch is smelling bad it could be due to urine from your pet. In most cases, a thorough clean will eliminate any smell. If you're not happy with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it more soft, less brittle, and more resistant to smells.
You can also make use of a natural odor eliminator like baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use microfiber cloths to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to absorb dirt, you can wring it out or switch to an alternative. Alternatively, you can put the solution in a spray bottle and spritz it onto your couch. Let the solution dry before wiping it over again.
Airing out your leather is another natural way to remove odors. If you are able, place the sofa outside in a sunny area to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted odors, and also give the couch an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you'd like to keep away from unpleasant odors, you can buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher for longer, preventing it from taking in smells.
The smell of leather can be appealing, but it is difficult to keep. As time passes, it will absorb the odors of smoking, cooking, and even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate especially when you have pets or children. Leather couches don't trap these odors as fabrics can. This makes them a great choice for families with active children.
It's crucial to act immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy urine. You can try a few of the suggestions above, or you can try a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. The best solution is to avoid the issue, so make sure you teach your dog not to pee on your couch.
2. Feel
There are a few indicators to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, but the most reliable method to tell whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Real leather has an unmistakable, distinct natural scent. The smell fades with age but it should remain evident when the sofa is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Faux and bonded leathers, on the other hand are typically more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this, gently press your fingertips on the couch's surface and check for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps, the leather is probably bonded or faux leather.
Another dead giveaway is if you see stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather is not one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.
The quality of a leather sofa's frame can have a significant impact on its durability, but this isn't always evident. To ensure you're getting a sofa that will last, inquire about the kind of wood is used to construct the frame. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and expensive choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames are less robust. To ensure durability, wood frames must be kiln dried to avoid mildew or warping.
If you're for a price that isn't too expensive There are plenty of affordable genuine leather sofas that you can nevertheless fall in love with. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and versatile option that is often available for sale and can be customized to suit your home.
The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is a different budget-friendly option. It has a classic look and is available in a wide range of fabrics that are fade-resistant. This modular sofa is quite difficult to set up at home and the cushions on the back tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas offer a unique appeal that other types of upholstery can't match. Leather sofas are incredibly durable and can withstand wear and tear much better than fabrics, which makes them last for many years to be. They also tend to resist staining and spills, and are less likely to attract allergens and dust which means they don't require the same amount of regular care and cleaning. However, just like anything else in life, there are a few dangers when purchasing a leather couch - and it pays to know what to look out for before making your final decision.
If you're unsure if your new couch is made of fabric or leather then you must first verify the materials tag that is attached to the frame. This will tell you exactly what kind of material it is. However, you should also utilize your own senses to assist you in making the right choice if you don't find any information on the materials used to make the sofa.
The surface of the sofa must be carefully examined and pay attention to the texture, shading and patterns. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern, or shading will not be uniform. If the surface is uniform and smooth, or if a mesh-like backing appears instead of the coarse leather, it's a dead indication of fake or synthetic leather.
Another test to take is to examine the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on its back, it isn't real leather. This is because animal hides are restricted in size and can only be cut to a certain degree. Top-rated manufacturers always stitch and sew the entire back of the couch to ensure that it is genuine leather, not bonded or faux leather.
If you are able to, try to lift up a corner of the sofa or cushion and examine the back of the padding. If the back of the cushion is covered with an woven fabric or covered in polyurethane this is another sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to be rough and coarse in surface that feels solid when you touch it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a classic, and with good reason. The natural, warm design and feel can add a touch of class to any living space. In addition, a modern tanning process provides it with the added strength to withstand cracks and sagging. Since each hide comes with its own unique marks, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is unique.
While labels and prices are great pointers, the best way to determine if you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. Examine the texture, structure and pattern for an even more precise look at its authenticity. If the structure is uniform and there are no obvious flaws, it's probably fake or the leather is bonded.
Another sign of a dead sofa is a polyurethane backing on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be supported 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 made with attention to last. If there aren't soft leather couch and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it's likely to be a faux or bonded-leather sofa.
If you've concluded that the couch is authentic leather, the next step is to match it with the rest of the furniture in your living space. To create a clean, coordinated style, match your sofa to other wooden furniture and line it up with pillows that reflect the color scheme of your space. You can also go for more relaxed, energetic arrangement by putting the couch between two pieces of furniture with a table between.
Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to prevent it fading or forming scratches. If you're looking to prolong the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment, apply a leather protector agent every other year.