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15 Terms Everyone Who Works In Real Leather Couch Industry Should Know
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux

Due to misleading price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to know whether you're buying an authentic leather couch. It is important to get close and personal with the couch - take a whiff, feel and flip over a couch to look at the backing.

For instance, one leather-upholstered couch CHOICE was tested with "contact" areas (such as seats and arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the non-contact areas were made up of cotton and polyester.

1. Smell

A genuine leather sofa will be fragrant and natural. False leather, however, often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch has a bad smell, it may be due to pet urine or stains. In most cases, a good cleaning will remove the smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather and make it soft and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to smells.

You can also use a natural odor eliminator like baking soda to eliminate unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to wipe the surface of your leather couch. If the cloth begins to collect dirt, you can wring it out or replace it with a new one. You can spray the solution onto your couch. Let the mixture dry before wiping it over again.

Another method to eliminate the smells of your leather is by airing it out. Place the sofa in a bright area to air out. This will help eliminate any unwanted smells and give the couch a fresh, natural scent.

If you want to avoid unpleasant odors, you can purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from soaking up odors and keep it smelling nice for longer.

The smell of leather can be appealing, but it is difficult to maintain. As time passes, leather will absorb odors, such as those from cooking, smoking and even body odor. These odors can be hard to eliminate especially if you have pets or children. Genuine leather couches do not absorb odors like 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 in puppy poop. You can use the tips mentioned above or a product like Leather Honey to fix the issue. Prevention is the best solution but be sure to teach your dog to not pee on the couch!

2. Feel

There are a few clues to look for when you are shopping for leather furniture, but the most reliable way to determine if it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Genuine leather has a distinct, natural scent that is recognizable. The smell can fade as you age however, it should be evident when the sofa is fresh.

A genuine leather couch should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded however, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to the touch. To test this, gently press your fingertips to the couch's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it is likely to be faux-leather or bonded.

If you notice vertical seams that are stitched on the back of a sofa, this is another indicator. This means that the leather is not one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.

The quality of the frame on leather couches can have a major impact on its longevity however it's often not obvious. Ask what type of wood was used in the making of the frame. This will help you choose a sofa with an extended lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames will be less sturdy. To ensure durability, wood frames should be dried kiln to prevent warping or mildew.

If you're shopping on a tight budget there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas that you can still fall in love with. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile option that is often available for sale and can be 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 a wide range of fade-resistant fabrics. However, this sofa requires assembly at home, and its back cushions tend to slide down.

3. Backing

Genuine leather couches have a distinct appeal that other types of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear better than fabric. They will last for many years. They also resist staining and spills, and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens and therefore don't require the same amount of regular care and cleaning. But, like everything else in life, there are a few issues to be aware of when buying a leather couch and it's important to be aware of what to look for before making your final decision.


If you're unsure if the sofa you bought is genuine leather, the first thing to do is examine the materials tag on the frame to determine what kind of leather or fabric it is made of. If you can't find any information regarding the sofa's material composition or the type of leather it is, you can utilize your senses to make an informed decision.

The most important indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and look at the texture, shading and patterns in depth. A real leather couch has natural imperfections and will not be perfectly uniform in its structure patterns, shading, or pattern. If the surface of a couch appears to be smooth and uniform, or has a mesh-like backing instead of coarse suede, it's an indication that it's fake or synthetic leather.

Check the back of the cushion casing. If there is an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, this is an indication that it's not authentic leather. This is due to the fact that animal hides are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain degree. 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 is genuine leather and not bonded or fake leather.

If you can try lifting up a corner of the sofa or cushion and examine the back of the padding. If the back of the padding is covered with a woven fabric or is covered with polyurethane, it is another indicator that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel solid and rough when the touch is made.

4. Patterns

A real leather couch is a classic, and with good reason. The warm, natural look and feel of the material can enhance any living space. Modern tanning methods give it added durability, so that it resists cracking or sagging. Each hide is distinctive, with its own imperfections, markings, and grain.

While labels and prices are great pointers but the best way to know whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and intimate with it. Check the texture of the surface, its structure and pattern for an in-depth view of its authenticity. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any obvious blemishes on the surface, then it's likely to be faux or bound.

Another sign of a dead sofa is a backing of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common characteristic of leather that is bonded. 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 see whether there are any vertical seams. This is a sign of a high-quality piece of leather that's been constructed with care to last. On the other the other hand, if you notice no seams and the back of the sofa looks like a single piece of cloth, it's most likely to be a low-quality faux or bonded leather sofa.

After you've determined that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with your other living room furniture. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and add pillows that match the colors of your room. You can also opt for a more fluid, acoustic layout by placing your couch in a row with other furniture pieces, and an occasional table.

Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit area to ensure it doesn't deteriorate or show scuff marks due to direct sunlight. And if you want to safeguard your investment by extending its lifespan, think about applying a leather protector every once or twice per year.

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