Leather Furniture Buyer’s Guide

Thinking About Leather?

If you are considering making the investment in leather furniture, you have almost certainly found an overwhelming amount of information. When it comes to shopping for leather furniture, there are no easy answers. With so many styles, brands, and prices, it can be overwhelming and frustrating at times.

At LeatherFurniture.com, our objective is to take some of the stress out of your furniture shopping experience. We have created a complete buyer’s guide for the leather furniture buyer—the first and most comprehensive of its kind.

Why Buy Leather Furniture?

Why leather furniture? Simply put, leather offers superior quality, durability, comfort, and design.

Being a natural product, leather is stain resistant, easy to clean, and can be repaired if damaged or torn.

Quality

The quality of your leather furniture depends entirely on the grade of leather used and the craftsmanship of its construction.

As a rule, high quality leather will outlast traditional upholstered furniture four to one. New fabric furniture starts to show wear after only a few months, whereas many leather furniture buyers report that their five-year-old sofas are still looking like new.

Leather will stretch and move slightly over the years, but it won’t become faded or threadbare the way fabric does. Leather is resistant to spotting, stains, and wear.

There is a purpose behind motorcyclists, ranchers, and rock stars wearing leather: it’s strong, resistant, supple, and lasts for years.

Comfort

As with quality, the comfort of your leather furniture will be tied to the price.

You can be certain if a manufacturer is investing in costly full-grain hide to cover its furniture, they are certainly not going to skimp on flimsy filling and cheap springs.

Contrary to popular belief, good leather will not feel sticky or hot. Vinyl and lower grade leathers can have these issues, but a quality leather piece will warm to your body temperature without causing heat build-up.

Leather is also a superior choice for those concerned with dangerous off-gases. Unlike synthetics, natural or lightly treated leather has no strong odor or unpleasant fumes.

People who suffer from allergies also benefit from leather. The smooth surface doesn’t build up dust, dander, and allergens the way fabric does. A simple damp cloth takes care of cleaning.

Leather is an excellent choice for pet owners, as dirt and hair stay at the surface instead of working into fabric fibers. Cats are much less likely to sharpen their claws on leather than fabric.

And most importantly, a well-made leather sofa or chair is the ultimate in comfort. Satisfied owners report that sitting on one is like falling into a cloud.

Design

Just like fabric furniture, leather furniture comes in a wide variety of designs. From simple, sleek lines, to an ornate, overstuffed classical look, you can find what you’re looking for. Leather also comes in a wide variety of colors and textures.

The style of furniture you purchase will depend largely on your own personal tastes. If you are concerned about your investment lasting through fads and flights of fancy, look towards a piece with a simple shape and quality construction. You can update your look with the latest designer fabrics in pillows and throws and always stay ahead of the design curve.

Cost

Let’s cut to the chase. The cost of leather furniture is prohibitive for most people. But you get what you pay for.

Consider this: for an initial outlay of around twice the cost of a conventional upholstered piece, you can have leather furniture that will last upwards of a dozen years. Some exceptionally well-made leather pieces will actually outlive you, and you can plan to pass these on to your grand-kids.

Just like upholstered furniture, leather furniture has lower and higher end models. Pieces made with extra durable construction and full grain leather are more expensive, but also last longer than more cheaply made furniture.

The key here is value, not cost. You can find a $5000 sofa that is so well made it will last almost forever, but you might be able to find the same quality in a different brand that sells for $3000.

However, the reverse is also true. You might like the looks of a trendy discounted model that sells for a mere $800, but for a few hundred more, you could get better quality leather and more durable design.

No matter what you decide on, when you consider all the factors, leather is actually a much better value than conventional upholstered furniture.

What Do All These Terms Mean?

If you are going to make the investment in leather furniture, it pays to know what you’re getting. And before you can talk cost, you need to know what you are talking about.

There is an abundance of leather terminology out there, so before you start shopping, you need to know what it all means.

It is important to realize there is no industry standard for describing leather furniture, and manufacturers and retailers aren’t required to label their furniture accurately.

Though descriptions vary among companies and salesmen, the most accurate and widely used terms can be found here Leather Glossary.

How Much Does it Cost?

Now that you know what all those words mean, you can start looking for what you want.

No doubt you are going to be more satisfied with a very expensive, very well-made piece of leather furniture, but the fact is everyone has a budget.

A new leather sofa is a big investment, and even low-end models can be pricey. Like so much in life, though, you get what you pay for.

Leather furniture costs are cut in one of two ways: by using a lower grade of leather, and/or using genuine leather only on the main areas of the piece, such as seat and back rest, with the rest of the furniture being covered in a matching color of upholstery fabric.

As you will see, cheap prices often mean a cheap product. Remember: it’s not about cost, it’s about value.

Look for trusted manufacturers and check out the innards of the furniture as much as you can. You may not be able to afford all the features of the best leather furniture, but it pays to know what they are and decide what you are willing to compromise on, and what you just can’t do without.

What Should I Get?

Now that you know the facts, which kind of leather furniture is right for you?

Maybe full grain aniline leather sounds great, or maybe you’re leaning towards a cheaper alternative. Refer to our Leather Features Chart below to help you decide what’s right for you.

Where Should I Buy?

If you’re the type of person who has to see, touch, and even smell what you’re going to buy, by all means check out your local furniture store. Then buy online. Websites like LeatherFurniture.com simply offer the best prices anywhere.

When shopping online, be sure to double check prices. A sofa that displays for $1900 suddenly becomes $2300 when you get to the website and they have tacked on shipping charges.

That’s why Leather Furniture.com is so great. We offer free shipping and curbside delivery on most items, so you know up front what you can expect to pay.

How Do I Take Care of It?

Now that you’ve decided to buy it, how do you take care of it?

Your leather furniture investment will last longer with just a few minor care and attention details.

With all leather furniture, avoid direct sunlight and high heat sources. Also avoid extremely cold areas such as directly in front of an air conditioner.

Use a good quality leather cleaner or conditioner. For all your leather goods, always test the cleaner or conditioner in an inconspicuous area first. Only when you are sure the treatment won’t alter the leather, go ahead with an overall cleaning.

For specific maintenance and cleaning, see our Leather Care Guide.

Leather Features Chart