Leather upholstery is now more affordable
than ever. Now most people can afford
leather whether it is in a high-style contemporary
design or an elegant, Old World form. This guide
will help you figure out what you want in your
leather sofa.
Underneath it all
Let's face it, the main difference between leather
upholstery and regular upholstery is that it is
covered in leather, not fabric. Therefore, the
foundations of a well-built frame and a sturdy
seating support system still apply. See our Sofa
Buying Guide for a complete checklist of what to
look for underneath it all.
Cushions
Like the frame, when it comes to the
cushions of leather upholstery, many of the options
that are available in fabric upholstery apply.
(See our Sofa Buying Guide for a complete checklist
of what to look for in cushions.) The best-selling
leather upholstery features high density foam cushions,
but blendown and spring-down are also available
and are becoming more prevalent in the market.
Hides
The advantages of leather upholstery
are that it is strong, yet soft. It doesn't tear,
burn or puncture easily. Leather upholstery breaths,
therefore it doesn't get cold and moist in the
winter or hot and sticky in the summer. When you
shop for leather upholstery, expect to find a wide
array of styles and colors. No matter the styling,
the leather should be soft, supple and comfortable
to sit on.
The hides used in construction are
what distinguish leather upholstery. Many different
terms are used to describe the leather preparation
processes. Definitions of some of the options available
in leather upholstery appear below.
| Aniline leather |
A translucent dye
applied to leather in vats. The translucent quality
allows the grain to show through, but it can
also show imperfections, therefore only the best
quality hides are used for this process. May
also be referred to as true aniline, naked aniline,
pure aniline, naked leather, unprotected leather,
or natural leather. |
| Bi-cast |
Split leather with a polyurethane coating
that gives it a high sheen
and increases durability.
|
| Corrected grain leather |
Leather that has been buffed and coated
with pigments or other finishes to hide imperfections.
Also known as protected leather. |
| Full grain leather |
Leather that has not been altered beyond
hair removal. Leather match furniture upholstered
with a combination of leather and vinyl. The
vinyl is died to match the leather and is typically
used on the sides and back. Leather is reserved
for the cushions or "everywhere the body
touches." |
| Leather match |
Furniture upholstered
with a combination of leather and vinyl. The
vinyl is died to match the leather and is typically
used on the sides and back. Leather is reserved
for the cushions or "everywhere the body
touches." |
| Pull-Up |
Full grain leather that is treated with
oil or wax so that it develops an aged patina
over time. More common on traditional styles,
it is also know as oiled or waxed leather.
|
| Leather match |
Furniture upholstered
with a combination of leather and vinyl. The
vinyl is died to match the leather and is typically
used on the sides and back. Leather is reserved
for the cushions or "everywhere the body
touches." |
| Pull-Up |
Full grain leather that is treated with
oil or wax so that it develops an aged patina
over time. More common on traditional styles,
it is also know as oiled or waxed leather.
|
| Pigmented leather |
Leather with coloration applied to the
top surface, as opposed to dyed. This process
hides imperfections and adds durability. |
| Semi-aniline leather |
Aniline dyed leather with a layer of matching
pigment added to improve color consistency and
add protection. |
| Split leather |
The lower layers of a hide that are removed
to create a uniform thickness on a top grain
hide. These lower layers are also processed
and treated with a protective sealant for use
in upholstery. |
| Top grain |
Leather with the outermost layers of the hide
left in tact. Generally considered high quality. |
| Vegetable tanning |
The process of making leather using tannins
obtained from bark, wood, or other plants and
trees. |
Scale
Before you even start looking at a
new sofa you should take the time to measure the
room where it will be placed. You should also take
the time to measure any hallways, doorways or stairs
that the sofa will have to travel through to be
placed in the room, especially if there are odd
turns and angles along the way. The best advice
is to create a floor plan to get an idea of how
the sofa will work with the rest of the furnishings
in the room. Take the floor plan with you when
you go furniture shopping to give sales associates
an idea of what you are looking for.
You should also consider how a sofa
fits your body frame and those of your guests.
A low-to-the-ground frame might be difficult for
some individuals to stand up from. A sofa with
a deep seat may leave a petite person with their
feet dangling several inches above the floor. Consider
the overall atmosphere of the room that the sofa
will be in, and the room's function. If you'll
sit on the sofa to watch movie marathons, then
you might choose a deeply cushioned sofa that encourages
lounging. If the sofa will be placed in a more
formal room that is used primarily for entertaining,
then a sofa that sits more upright would be the
right choice.
Styling
There is a wide variety of choices
available in leather upholstery. Traditional to
modern styles, and everything in between are available
in all price ranges. If you don't find exactly
what you are looking for, ask about custom order.
Quality furniture retailers can help you select
the right combination of styling, construction
and leather quality for your budget and décor.
See our sofa buying guide for a list of different
sofa style elements that can help you name what
you want in a sofa.
Leather and Fabric - the Best of Both Worlds
Several home furnishings trend setters
are taking a new direction in upholstery
by combining leather and fabric on the same piece.
This combination is happening in both contemporary
and traditional styles. On traditional styles you
may see rich brocades and velvets combined with
leather and finished with a nail head trim. In
contemporary styles the sheen of bi-cast leather
contrasts with soft microfiber fabrics that look
and feel like suede.
Leather Protection
When you buy something you love, you
want to protect it. We buy upholstery to live with
and sometimes life gets messy and sometimes accidents
happen. That's where a protection plan like Protection
1st comes into the picture. Think of it as insurance
against life's little mishaps, spots and spills
or other mishaps.