Leather furniture is a significant investment, and you want it to last. However, not all leathers are created equal and nor they wear out as gracefully as expected. Therefore it makes sense to know beforehand whether your purchase is going to be meaningful or unapologetically jacked up.
If you are planning to buy a leather couch and somehow stumbled upon this article while shopping around, thank your stars that you did, because this piece of information will help you make a wise buying decision.
The leather industry is vast and can be perplexing at times. It caters to everyone from the filthy rich and elites to conservative middle class. A leather couch, for instance, is sold at different price points, and it’s essential to understand which one is the best fit for you. Are you buying what you need? Are you getting what you are paying for? Well, you might want to keep asking yourself questions like these when looking around for options.
Leather products can be deceptive unless you pay close attention. Most companies sell leather couches with a fancy name and even a fancier price tag. If the label says ‘Faux Leather‘ or ‘Bonded Leather’, then it’s not genuine. Customers who are tricked into buying bonded leather instead of real leather end up cursing the seller, sooner, because they don’t last long enough.
To avoid buyers remorse, understand the following types of leather available on the market.
What is faux leather?
As the name indicates, faux leather is not real leather. It is synthesized from fabric which is then chemically treated to achieve the leather-like tan and texture. Faux leather is cheap, durable and stain-resistant but lacks the luxurious appeal of genuine leather. It’s easy to tell apart faux leather from a genuine one by merely touching or looking at it. The gist of the matter is that buying a faux leather couch won’t pinch your pocket, but its tawdry appeal might hurt your image.
What is bonded leather?
Also known as reconstituted leather, bonded leather is made from the leftovers of animal hide blended, polished and textured to look like real deal. A bonded leather couch is nearly identical to genuine leather, and it’s hard to tell the difference. But as the couch grows older, the bonded leather starts to peel off of the fabric base. A bonded leather couch contains a small amount of real leather, and that’s what accounts for its low price. Nonetheless, a bonded leather couch is an excellent fit for rooms which are visited less frequently.
Before we move on to discuss genuine leather, it’s worth mentioning that faux leather and bonded leather are costly to repair. So when you buy a leather couch of these sorts, don’t forget to factor in their maintenance cost for the long haul.
What is genuine leather?
The price of a genuine leather couch speaks (read screams) volumes about it. The upholstery will be entirely made of animal hide, with reinforced raw stitch details that will pull it together to withstand regular abuse. A genuine leather couch can serve you for decades while retaining the same elegance and charm as when you bought it.
Before you bounce off this article, here’s a quick tip.
The key to prolong the life of your leather couch is to use manufacturer-recommended cleaning products and techniques and protect it from water-damage.
