Time-honored for its durability, comfort warmth, and exquisite luxury, leather furniture is a smart and stylish natural material that can last for more than a lifetime with proper care. Choosing a leather sofa to meet your style and performance expectations may seem a little overwhelming when you consider today's vast selection of popular leather sofa styles and leather furniture color options; but, once you understand the basics, you'll be ready to select the ideal living solution for your home. We've compiled a few tips on selecting the perfect leather furniture, including leather sofas, leather sectionals and leather recliners. Keep reading for more information on selecting what is sure to be your next favorite piece of furniture.

Types of Leather

In addition to considering the style and size of your sofa or other furniture, one of the most important considerations is the type of leather. Leather is a natural, durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhides, the most common of which comes from cattle. The part of the hide used in manufacturing drastically affects the appearance, texture and durability.

Understanding Top Grain Leather Furniture

The top cut (epidermis) layer, depending on how it is processed, can become full grain leather or corrected grain leather, which is commonly referred to as top grain.

Full-grain leather sofas, chairs and sectionals have the full, complete grain of the hide intact and will show natural markings. Since the leather has not undergone any sanding, buffing or processes to remove the hide’s visual imperfections, it remains naturally soft and supple. It is the most durable and resistant to wear because the outer grain remains intact with all of its natural cross grain fiber strength. Because of the hide’s porous nature, it is the most susceptible to liquid penetrations. Full grain leather is the most expensive form of leather even though it has been processed the least. It will develop a rich patina over time and will become more beautiful with age.

Top grain leather is similar to full grain leather, but it is sanded, buffed and refinished to remove natural markings and give it a uniform, smooth and soft surface. In the furniture industry today, top grain leather is the most commonly used verses full grain. It offers advantages such as flexibility, durability and lower cost.

Understanding Leather Splits

The bottom cut (dermis) layer is what is left over and is commonly referred to as split leather. Depending on the original hide’s thickness and how thick the top cut is, this layer can in some instances be split again.

Split-grain leather does not have any of the hide’s original grain or the wear and tear strength of full grain and top grain leathers. However, it offers cost advantages and many stylish looks. Split leather that is used in sofas and other furniture can have an artificial top coat applied to seal the surface in order to give an appearance resembling that of top grain leather.

Understanding Aniline Dyed Leather

Only the finest hides in the world fall into the category of pure aniline leather; while full aniline leather includes leather where a slight protective finish is applied in the tanning process to give it some extra serviceability.

Aniline plus or semi-aniline leathers are processed more. Spray pigments of color are applied to the tops of the hides to even out the finish and camouflage naturally occurring imperfections. These leathers are fade resistant and scratch resistant and are easily cleaned.

Leather Sofas, Leather Sectionals and Leather Chairs

Phew! With all that behind us, now you'll want to consider the functionality and form of the leather sofa, sectional, or chair. While real leather furniture tends to fall more on the side of high-end furniture, you'll find that the level of quality can vary from sofa to sofa. One thing to consider is what you'll be using your sofa or sectional for to help you determine the optimal option for your living needs.

If your first thought was using your sectional sofa for as long as possible, then you should look for hardwood frames and full-grain or top-grain aniline leather to better ensure that your option lasts a lifetime. If your first thought was the desire for a warm and supple place to rest, then comfort is your top priority. If that's so, you should look for high-quality suspension with thick cushions, and maybe even consider a reclining mechanism for extra relief. Leather furniture is available with many power recline options, helping you find ideal comfort from foot rest to lumbar support to just the right recline for your head.

If your priority is how your leather furniture would look next to the rest of your furniture, then consider the many style options. While many think of leather furniture suiting traditional designs, there are many sleek and modern options that fit right in with today’s contemporary styles.

Finally, if your first thought was your pets and children running around, maintainability is your concern. Generally, leather furniture is a robust option that requires relatively low maintenance and naturally resists stains. Better yet, a few scratches and some wear can actually enhance the natural beauty of leather furniture that develops over time.

With all that, you have everything you'll need to ensure that you can go out with confidence and select the best leather furniture for your living space.

Learn more about leather furniture with our blog post: Love for Leather.