Leather Sofa Buyer’s Guide

Before you run out to buy a swanky leather sofa for your home, make sure you know some of the important criteria related to leather and leather sofas. Because there’s much more than meets the eye when it comes to most things, and leather is no different.
Usually, people are attracted to leather’s look and feel. It’s associated with luxury and real, quality leather will indeed cost more. Keep this point in mind when you see a leather sofa that is selling for a very low price- there’s probably a reason the price is so low, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the generosity of the store owner or the sofa manufacturers. This leather may be blended with synthetic materials- it happens all the time nowadays. PVC is often used to cut costs, and not only does this introduce a man-made element to an otherwise natural material, it is makes a health-friendly material toxic (PVC is a known carcinogen). Even with “real” leather, you may be getting an inferior grade of leather or pigskin/ goatskin as opposed to cowhide. It would be okay if looks were the only issue, as these other leathers can be virtually indistinguishable from cowhide, but the fact of the matter is pig and goat skins just don’t last as long as good cowhide and can wear out surprisingly quickly. Do what’s best and get something built to last- that means getting quality cowhide. Buying quality means your leather sofa should outlast a fabric one by a long shot. The leather will also look and feel great for a long time to come- one of the joys of owning leather furniture is breaking it in.
Once you’ve got the type of leather down, you will want to consider the type of sofa. Will it be a leather corner sofa, aka a leather sectional sofa? These feature connecting parts that form an L-shaped surround, which can be great for many living rooms. Because the corner becomes a seat as well, seating space is maximized and the sofa feels more intimate- great for family interaction and entertaining company.
You may also want to get a leather sofa bed. The ones that are wide enough to sleep on are the best, though models that feature a fold-down back are also good. These types of sleeper sofas are a vast improvement over the pull-out kinds on an uncomfortable metal frame, which are almost guaranteed to mess up your back.
The most popular choices for leather seating are the black leather sofa and the brown leather sofa. The majority of what you’ll see will come in these colors, although there are also leather sofas available in red, white, and other colors. Whatever your choice of color, remember that the type of leather used is going to be more important than the color. Good luck in finding a fine leather sofa for your home!