Leather is one of the most popular coverings for furniture and offers countless grains, textures, colors, and finishes. A couch is typically the first piece of furniture bought when you move into a house, and a leather couch is always a smart choice for the best durability and looks. A leather couch is one piece that offers pros and cons, comfort and style, and is a timeless piece for your home. Let’s look at both pros and cons and figure out whether you need a leather sofa or not.
Pros Of Leather Sofas
When fabric-covered furniture age, they often fade and lose its shape. This creates a worn look. However, with its unique qualities, leather doesn’t fade, it gets softer with age and becomes suppler.
When the leather is dyed, the color is absorbed into the hide and will not fade. Even scratches and wear don’t show. Aged leather looks even more luxurious.
Unlike many synthetic, faux leather materials, leather breathes. It distributes warmth or cold quickly and easily, making it very enjoyable to sit or lay down. Leather also absorbs moisture and then releases it to keep you from feeling sticky or chilly.
Furniture covered with leather material is commonly sold in neutral colors native to the hide. Neutral colors will typically match changes you make in your décor, such as going from lightly colored walls to darker, richer colors. Read more about living room colors schemes with brown leather furniture here.
Leather furniture usually will not have to be replaced. Pillow accents and lap blankets can be used to tie in new colors.
Leather does not hold dust and allergens and does not have fibers where tiny mites or bugs can hide. It doesn’t hold odors or absorb most spills, making it easy to keep clean. Leather is hypoallergenic repelling pet dander and hair.
Leather furniture makes cleaning up spills easy. There’s no need for a bulky upholstery cleaner. Spills can be cleaned by using a damp rag to sop up the liquid. Messier and stickier stains can be cleaned up by adding some mild soap to the rag and then wiping with a dry rag when clean.
a beautiful living room with a glazed wall, a low leather sofa, a low coffee table, rattan chairs and potted plants
a boho living room with an amber leather sofa, a gallery wall, a black table, a printed rug and some decor
a boho living room with an amber leather sofa, a large coffee table, layered rugs, potted greenery and a big scale artwork
a bold refined living room with a white leather and orange fabric sofa and a statement gallery wall that creates a mood
a bright boho living room with an amber leather sofa, a low coffee table, creamy chairs, jute poufs and potted plants
a brown leather corner sofa used as a space divider for an open layout of a kitchen and a living room
a brown leather Stockholm sofa by IKEA is a stylish statement for a modern living room
a comfy amber leather sofa styled with knit and crochet pillows and blankets is very cozy and inviting
a contemporary living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, a powder blue one and a matching table, lots of books and lamps
a dark and moody home office with graphite grey walls and built-in bookshelves, a brown leather sofa, a navy ottoman and potted plants
a dramatic living room with dark walls, a bold red leather sofa and a statement artwork that rocks
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a gorgeous contemporary living room with a black leather sofa, stacks of books, potted plants and a chic gallery wall
a graphite grey leather sofa cover with white cushions is a perfect match for a Scandinavian interior
a grey living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, wooden stools and a metal one, candles and a lamp
a light-filled mid-century modern living room with an amber leather sofa, neutral chairs and a simple coffee table, a pendant lamp
a mid-century modern living room with a brown leather sectional, a round coffee table, black chairs, a boho printed rug
a mid-century modern living room with a large brown leather sofa, a round coffee table and some decor
a mid-century modern neutral living room with a brown leather corner sofa and matching Moroccan poufs
a modern home office with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, black chairs, a chest table and a faux animal skin rug
a modern neutral living room with a fireplace, a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, matching ottomans, a black chandelier and a glazed wall
a modern Scandinavian living room with a black leather sofa, a white leather ottoman and other black and white decor for a cohesive look
a moody grey and dark green living room with potted plants, rust pillows, a blanket and a chair and a vintage lamp
a moody home office with dark green walls, a black leather sofa, a faux fur rug and stained wooden shelves
a moody living room with black walls and light and warm colored furniture, an amber leather striped sofa
a neutral boho space with a tan leather sofa and a rust-colored ottoman, striped textiles, pampas grass and a wooden table
Cons Of Leather Sofas
Leather is costly, but many customers feel it’s worth the price. Lower quality genuine leather may easily scratch or scuff, but high-quality leather fabric for couches is more durable and resistant to damage.
Light scratches may blend in with the natural patina of the aged leather, but larger, deeper scratches can be easier to see. These more visible scratches can be hidden with color-matched leather polish or conditioner.
Although leather breathes and provides a way to absorb moisture, the first contact with your bare skin can be shocking if the couch is in a cold room or near a fireplace giving off high heat.
Once you’ve been sitting on leather furniture, bare skin will become comfortable. However, sitting on leather for a long time can absorb body heat and cause you to feel hot.
Fake leather will feel more like plastic or vinyl and be cold, but real leather will have a slight grainy feel and be warm to the touch. Smell the leather for the distinct oaky smell of real leather and look for pores on the surface. Now you know everything you need about leather sofas, would you buy one?
a refined living room with two mustard leather tufted sofas as the main pieces for a conversation space
a refined rustic living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, a vintage apothecary cabinet and white chairs
a relaxed living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, a woven chair, a fur stool and some plants
a Scandinavian living room with a black leather sofa, a wooden table on casters and a metal wire chair
a sophisticated living room with a yellow leather Chesterfield sofa, taxidermy, plexiglass items and refined lamps
a stylish and refined living room with a black leather sofa, a red velvet ottoman and a wicker lounger
a stylish contemporary and industrial living room accented with red bricks and an amber leather couch
a stylish corner brown leather sofa with various pillows will become a staple of your living room
a stylish living room done with a green leather Chesterfield sofa, a vintage map, a bold boho rug, some plants and a floor lamp
a stylish living room with a black Chesterfield sofa, a matching metal table, woven shades and a gallery wall is very chic
a stylish modern and boho living room with a navy leather couch accessorized with various pillows
a stylish monochromatic living room in contemporary style, with a yellow leather sofa as a colorful statement
a timeless black and white space with a black leather Stockholm sofa on wooden legs looks cool
a vintage and shabby chic living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, a matching white ottoman and a refined gilded chandelier
a welcoming living room with blue walls, a gallery wall, wooden tables and a sectional brown leather sofa
a welcoming neutral living room with a brown leather sofa, a leather stool and a grey chair is cool and stylish
a whimsical industrial living room with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa, a bold and quirky gallery wall and a metal table
an elegant mid-century modern living room with a black leather sofa, black chairs, curved plywood furniture and a potted plant
an elegant moody home office with a brown leather Chesterfield sofa that is a centerpiece here
an industrial space with a brown leather Stockholm sofa that brings style and a touch of chic and cool color
an ultra-modern and contrasting living room with two amber leather sofas, a printed rug, a coffee table, black curtains