Differences In Leather Furntiure May Not Be Obvious But They Are There

Many people have questions about leather furniture. Is it comfortable? Is it as durable as promoted? What is the difference between expensive leather and a not-so-expensive one? Are the better grades really worth the higher price? Does leather as opposed to fabric actually merit the steeper price tag?

To answer the first question, leather "breathes" and therefore assumes body temperature and room temperature, rapidly making it comfortable against your skin. Beyond the skin-deep, the furniture needs to be made well for it to be comfortable.

As far as durability is concerned, virtually nothing is longer-lasting than leather. Protected leathers resist heat and sun damage, ages well and will not wear like other fabrics. Unprotected leathers should not be exposed to direct sunlight, they are very sensitive to the sun, but the softness to the touch is irresistible. Actually, leather gets better with age, similar to fine wine.

Leather will not tear, is stronger than other upholstery materials, and the better leathers will not crack or peel. Leather retains its shape, for even when it stretches it does not sag. If comfort wrinkles do appear, use a hair dryer about 10" away with a side to side motion, the leather will tighten up from the heat.

The biggest confusion seems to be in the sometimes-extreme difference in prices. The type of hide used and the inside construction determines the quality of the piece. So much of the comfort is determined by the frame, cushioning, and type of seat decking. Premium upholstery uses hard wood frames, 3 to 4 rows of seat coils, a true 8 way hand tied seat construction, the highest quality of galvanized nails, corner blocks for stability in the frame and only one upholsterer working on the piece. Why buy leather and put it on an inferior inside? The inside breaks down and the benefit of buying leather is gone. Although all leather comes from animal hides, the variety in the quality and the way in which the hides are processed determine the difference in caliber and price.

For leather to go from its raw state to finished upholstery requires many steps, including preserving, softening, coloring, beautifying and adding protecting agents. Each step costs money, but beyond that, the different parts of the leather make the real difference.

The top layer, or top grain, is just what it says: the top layer of the skin. Below that is the split leather. Both types are used for upholstery, the top leather being the better quality.

Full-grain leather has fewer imperfections. Corrected-grain leather might be the top-layer but with several imperfections that have been painted so as to camouflage the faults. The best quality, therefore, would be a top layer that is full grain.

Coated, split hides are less expensive than top grains. Split and corrected hides, however, can be worked into a finish that is at first sight comparable to top grain. However, the real quality will be obvious after a period of use.

When buying leather furniture, remember that it is a natural product with all of the natural imperfections and is not manmade. A sofa will take multiple hides to cover the frame, therefore, color variances due occur. Its beauty is in its uniqueness. Perfect uniformity in color and consistency of grain are available in vinyl not leather. Think of each piece of leather furniture as an original painting. There will be only one of its kind!