How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

Due to misleading price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying a genuine leather couch. It is important to get close and personal with the couch - smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the fabric.

For instance, one leather-upholstered couch CHOICE test had 'contact' areas (such as arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the non-contact areas were made up of coated polyester and cotton.

1. Smell

A genuine leather sofa should be a natural and rich scent. The faux leather, on the other hand typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad, it could be due to urine from pets. In most cases, a good cleaning will remove the smell. If you're not pleased with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather, making it soft and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to smells.

Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor eliminator that can be used to eliminate 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 gather dirt, you can wring it out or replace it with a fresh one. You can also put the solution in spray bottles and spray it over your couch. Allow the solution to dry before wiping it off again.

Another method to eliminate the smells of your leather is by airing it out. Place the sofa in a sunny area to let it air. This will eliminate any unpleasant smells and also give the couch an aroma that is fresh and natural.

If you'd like to stay clear of unpleasant smells altogether then you should consider buying an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from taking in smells and will keep it smelling good for longer.

The smell of leather can be appealing, but it can be difficult to keep. Over time, it can absorb odors from smoking, cooking, and even body smell. These odors can be difficult to get rid of especially when you have children or pets. Fortunately, genuine leather couches don't trap these odors in the same way that fabric upholstery can and are a good choice for households with active families.

It's crucial to act immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked with puppy pee. You can try some of the suggestions above, or try using a dedicated product like Leather Honey to treat the issue. Prevention is the best solution however, so make sure to train your dog to not pee on the couch!

2. Feel

There are a few clues to look out for when shopping for leather furniture, but the most reliable way to tell whether it's authentic is to touch it and smell it. Real leather has a distinct, natural scent that is unmistakable. The smell fades with age but it should remain evident when the sofa is new.

A genuine leather sofa should be soft to the touch and warm to the. Leathers that are faux or bonded however tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test it, gentle press your fingers on the surface of a couch and look for bumps. If you can't feel any bumps, the material is likely to be fake or bonded leather.

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

The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a significant impact on its durability however, this isn't always evident. Find out what kind of wood was used to construct the frame. This will help you choose a sofa with an extended lifespan. A solid oak frame will be the most durable and expensive option, while engineered or particle board frames are less robust. To improve durability, hardwood frames should 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. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile option that is often available for sale and can be easily customized to fit your home.

The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another budget-friendly option. It is a classic design and is available in a wide range of fabrics that are resistant to fade. This sofa is somewhat difficult to put together at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down.

3. Backing

Real leather couches are an exception to other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear much more than fabric, making them last for a long time to be. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. However, as with anything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather sofa - and it's important to know what to look out for before you make your final decision.

If you're not sure whether your new couch is made of fabric or leather it is best to first look at the tag that identifies the material that is attached to the frame. This will reveal exactly what kind of material it is. If you can't find any information about the sofa's material composition, you can use your senses to make the decision.

A good way to tell is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and examine 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 surface is uniform and smooth or if a mesh backing appears in place of coarse leather, it's a clear giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.

Check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching on its back, it's not genuine leather. The reason is because animal hides have a limit on their size, and they can only be cut so large. To ensure the highest quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of the couch to ensure it's genuinely leather and not bonded or faux leather.

If you are able to try lifting up a corner of the sofa or cushion and inspect the back of the padding. If the back of the padding is covered by a woven material or polyurethane it is an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine light leather couch should feel firm and rough when the touch is made.

4. Patterns

A real pure leather Sofa couch is a classic, and with good reason. The soft, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. Modern tanning methods give it added durability, so that it resists cracking or sliding. And because each hide has distinct patterns, grain, and blemishes Every leather sofa is truly one-of-a-kind.

While labels and prices are excellent indicators however, the best way to tell if you're buying authentic leather is to get up close and intimate with it. Inspect the texture of the surface, its structure, and pattern for a more detailed view of its authenticity. If the structure is uniform and there are no obvious flaws, it's probably fake or bond leather.

A polyurethane back on the sofa is another dead giveaway. This is a common feature of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and is backed by materials that closely like the fabric used to make the furniture.

Check the back of your sofa to see if there are any vertical seams. This is a sign of a high-quality piece of leather that's been carefully constructed to last. If there are no seams, and the rear looks like a continuous cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded leather couch.

Once you've determined that a couch is genuine leather The next step is to pair it up with the rest of your living room furniture. Combine your sofa with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that complement the colors of your living space. You can also go for an energizing, relaxing layout by putting the sofa in between two pieces of furniture with a coffeetable between.

Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright space to ensure that it doesn't fade or leave scuff marks from direct sunlight. And if you want to protect your investment by extending its lifespan, consider applying a leather protector every two or three times a year.