If you are thinking about purchasing a leather sofa then you’ll need to make sure that you understand the different types of leather that are out there. The leather that you choose will ultimately depend on your own lifestyle, where the sofa is going to go and even the style of the room as well.
Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather is one of the finest types of leather you can get. It is also referred to as being top-grain leather and it is actually used by taking the top of the hide rather than the lower layers which then go on to be split leather. If a leather is top-grain but isn’t full-grain as well then this means that the outer layers of the natural animal markings have been taken off. This isn’t a bad thing, but if you want to go for a full and natural appearance for your leather sofa then this is something that you could do with thinking about.
Full-Grain Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is when the leather has been treated with a soluble dye and this helps the hide to retain the natural surface that it once had. This means that you will be able to see the scars, the marks and even the pores. If you have full-grain aniline leather then this really is the best that you can get. A lot of furniture stores don’t actually stock it due to the price, but the best thing about it is that it is rustic and it even has a very textured look as well. This look will grow richer as time goes on so you really are making a brilliant investment with your interior design. So what are the downsides to full-grain aniline leather? The downside is that it is so natural that it is possible to scratch and stain it. When you do have stains on your aniline leather you will have to hire a specialist to maintain it for you.
Split Leather
Split leather comes from the bottom side of the hide. When the top-grain layer has been taken off, what’s left is the split hide. Split leathers can actually be embossed so that they look like top-grain leather and this means that you can get the luxurious look without having to pay the price. The problem with split leather is that it can be brittle and the life-expectancy of the leather is also much lower when compared to top-grain leather. The price of this leather is very affordable when compared and it is ideal for family homes and even for businesses, because if the sofa is being used a lot then top-grain may not be suitable and split leather is much more suited to this type of application.
There are plenty of different types of leather available, and by understanding what you’re actually paying for, you can be sure to make a quality purchase easier than ever before!
Pin this graphic?
Eve x
*This post may contain affiliate links
Leather sofas are beautiful and so elegant. I don’t know much about them so it was good reading your post; I don’t know if i’d ever get one. I would be too afraid to stain it! xx corinne
They are also really comfortable! I agree, I don’t think I’d get a white or cream one because I’m far too messy haha x
I had no idea how much there was to leather sofas!
I think my favourite leather sofa out of the ones you have mentioned is split leather but then I may be bias because we have one at home!
Tabitha x