Leather Furniture: Characteristics, Classification, Applications and Maintenance

Leather furniture is furniture that is upholstered or made entirely from leather. Leather has a natural, luxurious beauty and is flexible to use in many interior design styles. The material is highly appreciated for its softness and durability. At the same time, cleaning leather is also very easy, so it is favored by many people.

According to Market Research Reports, the global leather furniture market is forecast to reach $45,6 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4,9%.

Leather furniture today is mainly made from genuine or imitation leather with many applications such as sofas, chairs, beds...To keep leather furniture beautiful and durable, you should clean it daily and remove stains properly; at the same time, avoid direct sunlight and moisturize regularly to limit peeling.

For more information about leather furniture, please see the following article!

Leather Interior Features

Leather furniture has a natural, luxurious and sophisticated beauty, is flexible, and is suitable for many interior styles. Moreover, this material is quite soft, durable, and easy to clean, so it is applied to many living spaces.

However, leather is expensive, sensitive to temperature, humidity and easily scratched so it needs to be carefully preserved.

What are the advantages of leather furniture?

Beautiful, diverse in design, soft, comfortable, durable and easy to clean are the outstanding advantages of leather furniture.

• High aesthetics: Leather furniture brings luxury and sophistication to the living space. The smooth, glossy leather surface with natural grain creates elegance, attracting all eyes. Not only that, leather furniture is also very easy to combine with many different design styles, from classic, neoclassical to modern, minimalist.
• Flexibility and diversity in design: Leather furniture is highly applicable, suitable for many different spaces and functions. They are also very diverse in style and color, from neutral colors such as black, brown, beige to bright colors such as red, blue, white...
• Feel comfortable: The leather surface is soft, creating a smooth and relaxing feeling when in contact. Genuine leather has good breathability, helping the user feel comfortable, not hot. Genuine leather has a structure of tiny holes, allowing air to circulate easily, creating a cool and pleasant feeling.
• Durable: Genuine leather, especially cowhide, is one of the most durable materials, resistant to wear and tear and environmental impacts. According to statistics, a genuine leather sofa can last an average of 10 to 15 years, or even longer if properly maintained, while a fabric sofa can fade, pill and tear after 5 years of use.
• Easy to clean: The smooth leather surface is easy to wipe and clean, suitable for busy families. Genuine leather is water and grease resistant, making cleaning easier.

What are the disadvantages of leather furniture?

The downside of leather interiors is that they are expensive, weather sensitive and easily scratched.

• High price: Due to the complex manufacturing process and high-quality materials, leather furniture is often quite expensive.
• Sensitive to temperature and humidity: Leather can stretch or crack if exposed to excessive heat or low humidity.
• Easily scratched:Although durable, leather can still be scratched if not properly cared for.

Types of Leather Commonly Used in Interior Design

There are two main types of leather used in furniture manufacturing: genuine leather and synthetic leather.

Real skin

Genuine leather is divided into many types such as cowhide, goatskin, crocodile skin, each type has its own characteristics in terms of durability, color, and grain.

• Cowhide: The most popular type of leather in furniture production, highly durable, resistant to abrasion and environmental impacts. Cowhide has natural grain, diverse colors, creating uniqueness and attraction for the interior.
• Goatskin: Soft, light, durable, often used to make coats, handbags, and some small interior products.
• Crocodile leather: Has unique, luxurious leather grain, often used to make high-end products such as leather wallets, handbags, and some special interior products.
• ...

Artificial leather

Artificial leather is made from synthetic materials, is cheaper than real leather, but is less durable and breathable.

• PU (Polyurethane) leather: PU leather is the most popular type of artificial leather, has relatively good durability, low price, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) leather: PVC leather is less durable than PU leather, but is cheaper, and is often used to make cheap furniture products.
• Leatherette: Simili leather is the lowest quality artificial leather, has poor durability, is easy to peel, and is often used to make cheap furniture products.

Applications of Leather in Interior Design

Leather has long been considered one of the most premium materials for the production of sofas, chairs, beds, etc. in the furniture industry. With its natural beauty, high durability and luxurious feel, leather has been and is being used to create unique and classy furniture products.

Applications of leather in interior:

• Sofa: Leather sofas are one of the most popular choices, bringing luxury and class to the living room.
• Chair: Leather chairs are widely used in dining rooms, offices, bedrooms, etc., creating an elegant and professional space.
• Bed: Leather beds bring warmth and luxury to the bedroom, helping you have a good night's sleep.
• Head: Leather headboard creates a highlight for the sleeping space, increasing the aesthetics of the room.
• Cushioned chair: Leather cushion chairs are used in living rooms, offices... creating a feeling of comfort and relaxation.
• Other accessories: Leather is also used to create other interior accessories such as: seat cushions, carpets, storage bags, storage boxes...

How to Preserve Leather Furniture

To keep leather furniture durable and beautiful, you need to clean the product daily and treat stains properly. At the same time, limit direct exposure of leather to sunlight and periodically moisturize the interior.

• Daily cleaning: Use a soft cloth soaked in neutral soap water or a specialized cleaning solution to gently wipe the leather surface weekly. Do not use strong detergents, alcohol or bleach.
• Treating stains and marks: Pour cornstarch or salt on the wet stain, leave overnight, then vacuum it up. Use an eraser to gently rub the ink or paint stain. Do not rub too hard to avoid damaging the leather surface.
• Protect from sunlight and high temperatures: Avoid placing leather furniture in direct sunlight or near heat sources such as heaters or radiators. Use curtains or blinds to limit the effects of UV rays.
• Regular moisturizing: Use a specialized moisturizer every 3-6 months to keep your leather soft and shiny. Do not use common oils such as olive oil or sunflower oil as they can cause the leather to turn yellow and peel off quickly.

With the above preservation tips, you can keep your leather furniture durable and luxurious over time.

Questions About Leather Furniture

Does leather furniture smell bad?

Genuine leather furniture often has a characteristic leather smell when newly purchased. However, this smell will quickly evaporate after 1-2 weeks of use. For synthetic leather furniture, the chemical smell may be more persistent, but will also gradually decrease over time.

Does leather interior get hot and sticky when used in summer?

Thanks to its ability to absorb sweat and radiate heat well, leather interiors often feel cooler and more breathable than other materials. However, if leather interiors are left in direct sunlight for a long time, the leather surface can become hot and uncomfortable to the touch.

How to distinguish real leather and artificial leather?

There are many ways to distinguish between real leather and artificial leather, for example:

• Skin texture: Genuine leather has a natural, uneven grain, while faux leather has a regular, artificial grain.
• Feeling:Real leather feels soft and warm, while artificial leather feels hard and cold.
• Odor: Genuine leather has a characteristic animal skin smell, while artificial leather has no smell.

Does leather furniture fade and peel over time?

If properly maintained, genuine leather furniture can retain its beautiful color and shine for many years. However, if exposed to sunlight or high heat sources, the leather can dry out, crack and fade. For synthetic leather furniture, the PU or PVC coating can peel off if the quality is poor or if it is heavily scratched.

Should I buy used leather furniture (secondhand) to save money?

Buying used leather furniture can save you a significant amount of money. However, you need to carefully check the quality of the product before deciding to buy, especially details such as the frame, foam padding, leather surface and stitching.

If there are signs of severe damage or moldy smell, it is best to give up the purchase to avoid "losing money and getting sick".

Can tears and cuts on the surface of the leather be repaired?

Small tears and cuts on the leather surface can be repaired with specialized leather glue and leather powder. However, for larger damages, you should bring the product to professional warranty and repair centers for proper handling, to avoid reducing the quality and lifespan of the product.

Is leather furniture suitable for every space?

Leather furniture is suitable for many different spaces, from living room, bedroom to office, cafe, restaurant, hotel... However, you need to choose the color (see more interior color scheme principles), the design is suitable for the design style of the space.

What color should I choose for leather interior?

If you want to create a luxurious, classy space, you should choose dark colors such as black, brown, gray. If you want to create a youthful, dynamic space, you should choose bright colors such as white, cream, beige.

Which style should I choose for leather furniture?

The style of leather furniture depends on your taste and design style. Simple, sophisticated designs are suitable for modern interior style, while the elaborate, complex design is suitable for neoclassical interior style.

Should you choose leather furniture for a home with small children and pets?

For families with small children and pets, you should prioritize choosing furniture made of synthetic leather such as PU leather or Microfiber. These materials are scratch-resistant, waterproof and easier to clean than genuine leather. However, you should also pay attention to trimming your pet's nails and not letting them scratch the leather surface.

Where to buy leather furniture?

You can buy leather furniture at Smart Decor – One of the Address for design and production of prestigious and quality leather furnitureWe have a wide range of leather furniture in stock and can also custom design your own. Contact us for more information!