Leather upholstery buying guide: Helpful hints for yourshopping trip

Leather upholstery is now more affordable than ever. Nowmost people can afford leather whether it is in a high-style contemporarydesign or an elegant, Old World form. This guide will help you figure out whatyou want in your leather sofa.

Underneath it all

Let’s face it, the main difference between leatherupholstery and regular upholstery is that it is covered in leather, not fabric.Therefore, the foundations of a well-built frame and a sturdy seating supportsystem still apply. See our Sofa Buying Guide for a complete checklist of whatto look for underneath it all.

Cushions

Like the frame, when it comes to the cushions of leatherupholstery, 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 incushions.) The best-selling leather upholstery features high density foamcushions, but blendown and spring-down are also available and are becoming moreprevalent 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 thesummer. When you shop for leather upholstery, expect to find a wide array ofstyles and colors. No matter the styling, the leather should be soft, suppleand 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 appearbelow.

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 dyed to match the leather and is typically used on the sides and back. Leather is reserved for the cushions or "everywhere the body touches."
pigmented leather	leather with coloration applied to the top surface, as opposed to dyed. This process hides imperfections and adds durability.
pull-up leather	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.
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 takethe time to measure the room where it will be placed. You should also take thetime to measure any hallways, doorways or stairs that the sofa will have totravel through to be placed in the room, especially if there are odd turns andangles along the way. The best advice is to createa floor plan to get an idea of how the sofa will work with the rest ofthe furnishings in the room. Take the floor plan with you when you go furnitureshopping to give sales associates an idea of what you are looking for.

You should also consider how a sofa fits your body frame andthose of your guests. Alow-to-the-ground frame might be difficult for some individuals to stand upfrom. A sofa with a deep seat may leave a petite person with their feetdangling 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 thesofa will be placed in a more formal room that is used primarily forentertaining, then a sofa that sits more upright would be the right choice.

Styling

There is a wide variety of choices available in leatherupholstery. Traditional to modern styles, and everything in between areavailable in all price ranges. If you don’t find exactly what you are lookingfor, ask about custom order. Quality furniture retailers can help you selectthe right combination of styling, construction and leather quality for yourbudget and décor. See our sofa buying guide for a list of different sofa styleelements 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 newdirection in upholstery by combining leather and fabric on the same piece. Thiscombination is happening in both contemporary and traditional styles. On traditional styles you may see richbrocades and velvets combined with leather and finished with a nail head trim.In contemporary styles the sheen of bi-cast leather contrasts with softmicrofiber fabrics that look and feel like suede.

Leather Protection

When you buy something you love, you want to protect it. Webuy upholstery to live with and sometimes life gets messy and sometimesaccidents happen. That’s where a protection plan like Protection First comesinto the picture. Think of it as insurance against life’s little mishaps, spotsand spills or other mishaps.