Luxury sofas are like a statement of intent for any space, providing unparalleled comfort and quality seating. They speak volumes about the style and design choices that have been made and demonstrate the care you have for anyone you invite into your space.
Leather sofas take this a step further as they are synonymous with the practical and stylistic value of luxury sofas. Well-made leather furniture ages well and can last a long time while being adaptable to changes in tastes and trends.
Leather is an adaptable material that is used to make clothing, shoes, furniture and many other products. Its adaptability also applies to style as leather sofas and couches have taken many appealing shapes over the years, from the L-shaped corner sofas and other modular configurations to the more classical styles like the Chesterfield or Cabriole.
Home interior styles have changed over the years, yet the appeal of the leather couch has been consistent through the ages as a full leather scheme or as an accent to other furniture. We all know that a two-seater leather sofa or a leather armchair can find a home in almost any setup.
Leather furniture owes much of its timelessness to its neutrality. While coloured leather can become dated and niche, leather in neutral colours pairs well with different colour schemes and designs. Although this may seem limiting at first glance, delving deeper into the types of leather you can use for upholstery makes it clear that leather is not only versatile, it is also varied.
Leather is a natural upholstery material with a timeless appeal, durability and versatility. It is an ideal choice for luxury sofas because it lasts longer than most other materials with very little put into care and maintenance.
Well-crafted leather sofas make an elegant statement piece either as a set or as an accent piece among other lounge furniture. In fact, leather sofas have become iconic in modern lounge designs, because they suit a wide variety of stylistic settings, stay on trend, and are remarkably durable.
There are many types of leather and animal hides that can be used for furniture and decor items around the house. However, when it comes to making quality, luxury sofas, only the softest and most durable leather will do.
What to consider when you choose the type of leather you want for your sofas:
There are different types of leather each with its advantages and disadvantages. Some types handle frequent use better than others, choose more durable leather for couches in your living room, your favourite recliner or couches in a busy waiting area.
Full-grain leather is processed to keep the hard outer part of the leather. Processing leather this way gives you upholstery that is slightly more durable and likely to develop in colour and texture as your sofas age, this layer also has blemishes and variations in colour. Because of this, only the best quality leather is used this way.
During the tanning process, only the hair is removed from the animal skin to leave full-grain leather, leaving it in its most natural form and state. This leather will also have all the natural benefits of an animal hide like reasonable water resistance and longevity, depending on how it is finished.
Full-grain leather is a great option for a rustic and natural look and only gets better with time in these decor styles.
Aniline leather is stained using water-soluble dyes with a variation in the depth of colour, depending on the porosity and fibres on the different parts of the leather. This colouring process can be done on full-grain leather (that has not been sanded to remove the top layer of leather) and on split-grain leather or suede where the top layer of the leather has been sanded down.
Aniline leather does not have a protective coating and can easily stain or become permanently damaged with use and spills which is why it is not used in luxury furniture, at least not without further processing.
Semi-aniline leather on the other hand offers a layer of protection along with light colouring that allows the natural creases and the pores to show through. This can be done on both full-grain and split-grain, however, the protective layer over semi-aniline leather will make the surface of your furniture harder and smoother, taking away the natural soft finish of split-grain, in exchange for added durability.
The quality of leather is determined by how much work goes into processing it. The better the quality of the leather, the less processing needs to be done to it before it is used.
Full-grain leather is made of the best quality because it needs to be presentable with very little interference. Leather of lower quality may need to be sanded down to remove markings and blemishes on the top layer. This process produces split-grain leather which is lower quality but has its own benefits.
Bonded leather is made up of leather particles and off-cuts bound together with synthetic materials to produce a leather-like material. Although it technically does contain leather, bound leather does not hold many of the benefits like durability, ageing well or being a natural material.
Different types of leather do better under a specific care and maintenance routine. Full-grain leather sofas with a protective semi-aniline finish are considerably the best quality leather sofas because they are durable, age well and get cleaned with minimal effort even from small spills.
This makes it the ideal material for frequently used sofas, long-term investment pieces and even a leather sofa bed because it generally doesn’t hold dust or other allergens that might be more of a problem when you sleep on a couch than when you just sit on it.
Suede or split-grain leather has more demanding care instructions because it has soft fibres that can hold dirt. Shampooing with even the best leather shampoos and vacuuming well can still affect the quality of your sofas over time, it is best to avoid needing to clean your couches altogether.
It is important to understand the type of leather your sofas are made of and follow care instructions from the manufacturer carefully to maintain your sofas in the best possible condition.
It’s hard to guarantee the quality of your leather sofas just by touching and seeing them on display. Speaking to an interior designer who has experience using different types of leather to create a variety of looks gives you an advantage that will serve you long term.
FCI London is the largest furniture and interior design showroom in London, staffed with experienced, award-winning interior designers who are happy to give you the advice you need to make a quality purchase that suits your home and your style.
Choose from an assortment of shapes, colours and leather types on display or get a free consultation with our in-house designers and build your own bespoke designer luxury leather sofa.
Most of our leather sofas are made in Italy or other parts of Europe, from the finest quality materials. These sofas are also completely customisable as you can browse through our huge sample library to choose the best leather finishes and colours. Some of the most popular types of leather amongst our clients are corrected grain leather, full grain, aniline, sanded and embossed leather.
We work with many brands, such as Gamma & Dandy, who are internationally recognised for their finest quality leathers. These brands use premium leather skins for all their sofas, armchairs and even accessories.
The large hides used in their manufacturing processes can be up to 4.5mm thick and they’re obtained from European bulls.
Our suppliers have been working with carefully selected and reliable tanneries for decades to ensure quality. They also utilise cutting-edge methods to provide our customers with original premium hides that will look as good as new, even after decades of use.
Here are some of our interior designers’ most recommended leather sofas.
Sunset Corner sofa in leather
by Gamma & Dandy
Absolute two-seater leather sofa
by Giorgio Collectiom
Kanaha 2.0 Sofa Bed
by Ditre Italia
Square leather recliner
by Naustro Nexus Collection
Tulip leather armchair and sofa set
by Gamma & Dandy
Stewart Leather Sofa
by Laskasas
Leather is one of the top upholstery materials for luxury sofas because it is durable, versatile, easy to clean and maintain and brings timeless elegance to any space.
It is important to understand the type of leather your sofas are made of because there are a variety of leather types, processed differently to give the leather a different texture and appearance. This changes how it should be cared for and how durable it is.
It isn’t always obvious what kind of leather your sofa is made of or if the label of the sofas is correct so it’s best to have an expert's opinion on your choice.
From picking out functional modular units to layouts and customisation options, the FCI team is on hand to give you the best advice. Schedule an appointment to visit our spectacular 30,000 sq. ft showroom and we’ll gift you a free one-time sofa design consultation.
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