As one of the most common additions to modern living rooms, leather sofas are a great option for those looking to give their homes a little face lift. Yet, whilst we may recognize their importance in the world of interior design – just what do we need to know about leather sofas when looking to make a purchase?
Why Leather?
Leather is a fantastic material for furniture for a number of reasons. Whether you’re thinking of buying new large black leather sofa or small armchairs, you’ll find the material versatile, durable and surprisingly supple. Resistant to cracks, tears and other forms of damage, a leather sofa can remain a part of your home for years and years without having to be replaced.
Types of Leather
When thinking about exactly what leather you would prefer, it’s important that you understand exactly what is on offer. Full-grain leather gives you a genuine leather feel and finish; full of character and incredibly unique.
On the other hand, corrected grain leather has a more flawless finish with imperfections removed by buffing and a slight gloss given in the final stages. Split leather is lower quality leather that is incredibly hard-wearing but slightly less attractive. This makes it ideal for areas that see a lot wear and tear.
Finally, faux leather is usually far cheaper than other types but still provides a fantastic finish. Being just as durable as real leather but without the need for as much maintenance, this is a great economical choice but may lack some of the superior comfort of other types.
Work With the Room
When choosing a leather sofa, you need to think carefully about how it will work with the rest of your room. This means taking careful measurements, thinking about placement and ensuring the area around the sofas is not cluttered. It may also involve looking at differently shaped leather sofa, corner leather sofas for instance, or reorganising the existing furniture to make room.
Colour
Though colour will largely come down to personal preference, it’s important to remember a few things. Firstly, the sofa will need to work with any existing colour scheme in the room. Sofas are largely seen as functional pieces of furniture and, though they should look aesthetically pleasing, are not usually considered the focal point of a room.
out like a sore thumb or, even worse, clash with existing paint schemes. If you have young children, it may also be good to think about buying a darker colour in order to prevent marks and stains showing up too much.
Caring for Leather
Finally, it’s incredibly important to continue to care for your leather sofa throughout its life. This includes regular dusting, wiping down with a damp cloth and, once every six months or so, using a specialist leather cleaning kit to treat the leather. A well-cared for leather sofa will last you a great number of years – making it a worthwhile investment for any home.
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