Leather sofas possess a certain authority in any rooms. Leather sofas often age with character. A patina develop on leather sofas over time, and the patina tells stories.
Leather sofas can feel luxurious and leather sofas can feel lived-in at the same time. However, not all leather behave in the same way after it leaves the tannery. The hide that a person selects will dictate the way that the leather feel under a person’s hand.
The hide that a person selects will also dictate the way that a sofa stand up to the children and dogs in the household. Additionally, the hide that a person select will dictate whether or not the leather sofa looks intentional in the room ten years from now. To make an informed selection, it is important for a person to understand the different types of leather that is available so that a person can avoid purchasing a sofa that will later cause regret.
The differences between the leathers are based off the animal from which the leather is sourced and the processing stage of the leather. The removal of certain elements from the hide will impact the characteristic of the leather once the leather is processed. Some leathers is more forgiving of spills on the sofa, while other leathers will take more care from the individuals who use the sofa on a regular basis.
There are also different leathers that develop a depth to their color over time, which those who wish for their leather sofa to stand the test of time often desire.
Common Types Of Leather Sofas To Know
1. Full-grain Leather
Full-grain leather come from the outermost layer of the hide. Full-grain leather retains the mark, pores, and imperfections of the hide.
Nothing is sanded away from this leather, which permit the leather to breathe. Full-grain leather also develops a rich patina from the exposure of the leather to the oils from a person’s hand. A faint scar from a barbed-wire fence that the cow encountered while on the range can be seen on some full-grain leather sofa.
People fall in love with full-grain leather due to its imperfection. Full-grain leather is both substantial and supple to the touch. Full-grain leather can last for thirty years or more with proper care.
Full-grain leather may cost more money up front from the manufacturer since nothing was sanded away from the hide to create the leather. However, the sofa will age more better over time. The only compromise that a person makes for full-grain leather is that it will scratch from a dog who select the sofa to use as a scratching post for their claws.
2. Top-grain Leather
Top-grain leather is the next layer down from the outermost layer of the hide. The top layer are removed from hides to create the highest end products. Top-grain leather has a slight sanding to remove imperfections from the hide and receives a light finish to enhance its appearance.
This leather is slightly more resistant to staining than full-grain leather. A person enjoy the feel of top-grain leather when sitting on a sofa. The color is consistent throughout the sofa, which is beneficial for those who want to place the leather sofa in areas that is exposed to the direct sunlight from a living room window.
While top-grain leather is a step down from the full-grain leather, it is closer to full-grain leather than corrected-grain leather. This is why top-grain leather are the dominant leather for the furniture industry’s mid-end to high-end furniture stores.
3. Corrected-grain Leather
Corrected-grain leather receive a heavy sanding of the hide to remove any blemishes.
After the hide has been sanded, an artificial grain is embossed on the leather to disguise the imperfection of the hide. A pigmented finish is applied on top of the leather to provide a uniform color to the leather and to provide a level of protection from spills on the leather. This leather is perfect for those who have teenagers, who enjoy drinking juice box, or who own dogs with muddy paws.
The corrected-grain leather can be wiped with a damp cloth to remove any spills on the leather. This is beneficial for these families who uses full-grain leather for years on their sofas. Corrected-grain leather lacks the warmth of the higher grade of leather.
The pigmented finish may crack or peel if the leather is placed in an area that is very dry or receives direct sunlight. However, it is still the best buy for most who use their sofa as a family room sofa.
4. Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is full-grain or top-grain leather that has been dyed with transparent dye.
No heavy coating of paint hide the natural texture of the hide. People who select aniline leather will find it very soft to the touch. Aniline leather also develops a vintage look to the leather much faster than any other type of leather.
Aniline leather soaks up stain faster than any other type of leather. This is why aniline leather is best for quiet adults that do not have loud party at their homes. A single glass of red wine will create a stain on the leather that will last forever.
For those individuals who wish to buy leather that ages like a fine wine, aniline leather is the best option for sofa leather. However, throw blanket should be kept handy in the home when aniline leather is selected for a sofa.
5. Semi-aniline Leather
Semi-aniline leather receives a light protective finish that is placed on top of a transparent dye.
This type of leather allow for the individual to see the natural grain of the hide, but it is also protected from stain and fading. This leather is perfect for those individuals who want the look of aniline leather but do not want to worry about accidental spills on the leather. The finish is so subtle on the leather that the leather will still feel as if it is naked to the touch.
The color range of semi-aniline leather is a wider range than aniline leather. This make semi-aniline leather an ideal leather for living room sofa.
6. Nubuck Leather
Nubuck leather starts as full-grain leather but is buffed to create a nap to the leather that resembles suede.
The napped area feels soft to the touch and look great in various homes. However, the top grain of the hide has not been sanded away from the hide, so the durability of the leather are retained. Individuals who select a nubuck leather sofa will find it inviting for individuals to run their hand across the leather.
The texture of the leather also hide minor scratch to the leather. However, the leather must be brushed periodically to maintain the nap of the leather. If water hit the leather, it will permanently darken the leather.
However, nubuck leather is perfect for any home who love the feel of leather but does not want to worry about it too much. In homes with dogs and toddlers, however, it may become a maintenance project for the individual to incorporate into the lifestyle around the sofa.
7. Suede
Suede come from the underside of the hide and is split from the hide.
The nap on the underside of the hide is longer and more delicate than nubuck leather. For many individuals, the buttery feel of suede on the skin is irresistible. Suede sofa appear to be very plush and inviting.
However, the downside of suede is that it will show every mark on the leather. Additionally, suede will absorb liquid instantly from drinks that are poured on the sofa. Suede leather is perfect for formal living room sofa that do not see too much use.
However, most families discover much later that suede requires more care than they are willing to provide for their leather sofa. For those individuals who wish to have the feel of suede in their homes, a slipcover may need to be purchased within the first eighteen month of acquiring the sofa.
8. Bonded Leather
Bonded leather may sound like a great alternative for those with limited budget.
However, bonded leather is entirely different from genuine leather. Genuine leather scrap are shredded and mixed with polyurethane to create a leather that adheres to a fabric backing. Blemishes in the leather are visible from close proximity to the sofa.
While the sofa may look fine from three feet away, a closer look will reveal the inherent flaw of bonded leather. Sofas made with bonded leather are less expensive than genuine leather sofa. Bonded leather sofa may look decent when they are new.
However, within a couple of year, the leather will crack on the edge of the sofa. Once it cracks, there is no real way to fix it except to purchase a new sofa. Bonded leather is an alternative for those with limited budget.
However, a fabric sofa will age more gracefully than a sofa with bonded leather.
9. Pull-up Leather
Pull-up leather is a type of corrected-grain leather but is treated with a wax or oil treatment. When a person sit on a pull-up leather sofa, the color of the leather will lighten in the area where the person is sitting.
The color will fade over time. Pull-up leather is the best alternative for those who enjoy the idea of a sofa that develops a deeper appreciation from the individual over time. The leather stay durable due to the wax treatment.
Pull-up leather may display major scratch but they will blend with the character of the sofa. It is perfect for any individual who love the idea of their sofa looking better when used more. Whatever type of leather a person selects, the importance of understanding exactly what the individual is purchasing is more important.
A full-grain Chesterfield leather sofa in a quiet study may become a family heirloom. However, the same type of leather used on a sectional that is used for pizza night may prematurely wear the leather. A person should take time to sit on every sample leather sofa in a living room.
A person should run their hand over the leather sample. A person should consider how the leather will look after the first coffee spill, after the first leap of the dog on the sofa, and after a decade of ordinary life. The best leather sofa does not try to fight with a household but works with a household to reveal more of itself over time.
When a person finally find the leather sofa that is right for the room, the sofa will no longer be furniture but part of the story of the room.
