20 Trailblazers Setting The Standard In Real Leather Couch How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to know whether you're buying a real leather sofa . You should get close to the couch and look at it carefully. Touch, smell and turn the cushion to examine the back.

For example, one leather-upholstered couch CHOICE test had 'contact' areas (such as seats and arm rests) covered in genuine leather but the non-contact areas were made up of cotton and polyester.

1. Smell

A real leather couch should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. The faux leather, on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to stains or urine from your pet. In most cases, a thorough clean will eliminate any smell. If you're not pleased with the results, you can try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather, making it softer and less brittle, as well as more resistant to odors.

Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor-removing agent that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather sofa. If the cloth starts to collect dirt, you can wring it out or swap for an alternative. Alternately, you can pour the solution in the spray bottle and spray it onto your couch. Leave the mixture to dry before wiping it over again.

Airing your leather out is another way to eliminate smells. If you are able, place the couch outside in a sun-lit area to let it air out. This will remove any unwanted odors, and also give the couch a natural, fresh scent.

If you'd like to avoid unpleasant smells altogether then you should consider buying a leather conditioner that is made up of healthy oils. This will stop your leather from absorbing odors and keep it smelling good for longer.

While the scent of natural leather is appealing but it isn't always easy to keep clean. As time passes, leather will absorb odors, such as those from cooking, smoking and even body smell. These odors can be hard to get rid of, especially if you have pets or children. Fortunately, real leather couches don't hold the odors as fabric upholstery can and are a good choice for families with active families.

If your couch smells like a pee-soaked puppy, it's important to address the issue immediately. Try some of the tips above, or try using a dedicated product like Leather Honey to address the issue. The best option is to stop the problem from occurring therefore, make sure to teach your dog not to pee on your couch.

2. Feel

There are a few indicators to look for when buying a leather sofa, but the most reliable way to tell whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is recognizable. The scent can fade as you age however, it should be evident when the sofa is brand new.

A genuine leather sofa should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded, on the other hand, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this try pressing your fingertips onto the surface of the couch and feel for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.


Another indicator is if you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This means that the leather is not one piece. Genuine leather couches are identified by this.

The quality of a sofa's frame can have a significant impact on its longevity, but this isn't always immediately apparent. Find out what genuine leather couches of wood was used in the making of the frame. This will help you select a sofa with longevity for a long time. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and costly alternative, whereas engineered or particle board frames aren't as robust. To increase durability, hardwood frames should be kiln dried to stop the growth of mildew and warping.

If you're on a budget, you can still find a genuine leather sofa that you are awestruck with. For instance, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's frequently on sale and can be easily customized to match your home.

The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It has a classic style and is available in a broad variety of fabrics that are stain-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 are a class apart from other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear better than fabric. They will last for a long time. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. Leather couches aren't any different. As with any other purchase, it's essential to be aware of dangers before making a final choice.

If you're unsure if your new couch is genuine leather the first thing you need to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to determine the exact type of leather or fabric it's made of. But, you should utilize your own senses to assist you in making a decision if you can't find any information on the composition of the material used in the sofa.

A good way to tell is to take a closer look at the couch's surface and examine the texture, shading and patterns in greater detail. Real leather couches 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 if it has a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, this is an obvious sign that it's fake or synthetic leather.

Another good test is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If there is stitched vertical seams on the back of the cushion, it's a sign that it's not authentic leather. The reason for this is that animal hides are limited in their size, and they are only cut to a certain big. To ensure the highest quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew across the entire back of the couch to ensure it is genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.

Finally, if you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or cushion and inspect the back of the cushion. If the back of the cushion is covered in a woven fabric or covered in polyurethane, this is another sign that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a coarse and rough coating that feels sturdy 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 room. A modern tanning procedure gives it added durability, so that it resists cracking or sliding. Each hide is unique and has its own distinctive marks, grain and blemishes.

While prices and labels are great pointers however, the best way to tell if you're buying genuine leather is to get close and close to it. Inspect the surface texture, structure, and pattern for a more detailed view of its authenticity. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any obvious blemishes on it, then it is likely to be fake or bonded.

Another sign of a dead sofa is a backing of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural look and will be backed with materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture.

Take a look at the back of your couch to determine whether there are any vertical seams. This is a sign that the leather has been constructed with care to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back looks like a continuous cloth, then it is likely to be a fake or bonded-leather sofa.

Once you've established that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to match it with your other furniture in your living room. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture and add pillows that match the color of your room. Or, you can opt for a comfortable, lively layout by placing your couch against other furniture pieces and placing a coffee table in between.

Make sure your leather sofa is kept away from direct sunlight to avoid it fading or forming scratches. And if you want to protect your investment by prolonging its lifespan, think about applying a leather protection agent once or twice a year.