How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

It is often difficult to tell if you are buying a genuine leather couch due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. You must get up close and personal - smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the back.

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

1. Smell

A real leather sofa should be fragrant and natural. The faux leather on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your sofa has a unpleasant smell, it could be caused by stains or pet urine. In most cases, a good cleaning will remove the smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it softer, less brittle, and more resistant to smells.

Baking soda is an excellent natural odor remover that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to absorb dirt, you can wring it out or switch to another. You can also spray the solution on your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it off again.

Airing your leather out is another method to get rid of odors. Place the sofa in a sunny area to air out. This will help eliminate any unwanted odors, and give the sofa a fresh, natural scent.

If you'd like to keep away from unpleasant odors, buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This will stop your leather from taking in unpleasant odors and keep it looking nice for longer.

The scent of leather can be attractive, but it's difficult to maintain. Over time, leather may absorb odors like those from cooking, smoking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate, especially if you have pets or children. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabrics can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children.

It's important to take action immediately when your couch smells as if it was soaked with puppy pee. You can try some of the tips above, or you can try a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best way to go but be sure to teach your dog not to pee on the couch!

2. Feel

There are a few indicators to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, but the most reliable way to tell whether it's genuine is to touch it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct, distinct natural scent. The scent can fade as you age however there shouldn't be any doubt about it when the sofa is new.

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

Another indicator is if you can see vertical seams stitched on the back of the sofa. This means the l shaped leather couch isn't a single piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.

The quality of the frame of a leather couch can have a significant impact on its life span, but it's often not obvious. Ask what type of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you select an item that has a long lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but they're also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames will be less sturdy. For extra durability, a hardwood frame should also be kiln-dried to avoid mildew and warping.

If you're shopping on a budget there are plenty of affordable genuine leather modular lounge sofas you can nevertheless enjoy. For example, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile choice that's frequently offered for sale and is easily personalized to fit your home.

The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It has a classic look and is available in a broad selection 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

Real leather couches have a certain appeal that other kinds of upholstery can't match. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear far better than fabrics, which makes them last for many years to be. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. However, just like anything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather sofa - and it pays to be aware of what to look for before you make your final choice.

If you're unsure whether your new couch is made of fabric or leather then you must first verify the materials tag attached to the frame. This will reveal the exact type of material it is. But, you should utilize your own senses to help make an informed decision if you are unable to find any information about the composition of the material used in the sofa.

A good way to tell is to take a closer look at the surface of the couch and look at the texture, shading, and patterns in detail. Genuine leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the surface of a couch appears smooth and uniform, or if it shows a mesh-like backing instead of rough suede, that's an indication that it's fake or synthetic leather.

Check the back of the cushion casing. If it has stitched vertical seams on the back of the cushion, that's an indication that it isn't authentic leather. This is due to the fact that animal hides are restricted in size and can be cut only to a certain extent. To ensure the highest quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of a couch to ensure that it's genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather.

If you are able to attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or cushion and inspect the back of the cushion. If the back of the padding is covered by an unwoven material or polyurethane then it's an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine vegan leather sofa should feel solid and coarse when the touch is made.

4. Patterns

A leather couch is a timeless classic for reasons. The natural, warm look and feel can elevate any living room. Plus modern tanning techniques adds a bit of durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Each hide is distinct with its own unique markings, grain and blemishes.

The best way to tell whether the leather you're buying is genuine is to look at it up close. For a better understanding of the authenticity, look at the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure is uniform and there aren't obvious flaws, it's probably faux or bond leather.

Another obvious sign is a backing made of polyurethane on the sofa's back. This is a typical feature of bonded leather. Genuine vintage leather couch will appear more natural and will be backed by materials that closely resemble the fabric used to make the furniture.

Look at the back of your couch to see if there are any vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been constructed with care 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 couch.

After you've determined that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to match it with your other living room furniture. Match your couch with wooden furniture, and add pillows that match the color of your living space. You can also opt for a more fluid, acoustic layout by placing your couch against other furniture pieces and placing the addition of a coffee table.

Remember to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't fade or leave scratches due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by extending its lifespan, think about applying a leather protection product every once or twice per year.