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LEATHER FURNITURE CARE GUIDE

Caring for your leather upholstery

Helping you choose your leather furniture

It’s important to understand the features and benefits of different materials when choosing your leather sofa or chairs, as they can affect the look and durability. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together some basic information on the different types of materials and interiors we offer.

Leather is a warm, breathable, and unique natural product known for its resilience and durability. With time, it develops a charming patina. You’ll find traces of its origin like brandings, scars, and creases, adding character without affecting its quality. These marks confirm the use of genuine leather in your furniture.

Each hide is unique, with dyes and finishes penetrating to varying degrees, creating an attractive variable finish with some level of uniformity. Natural marks, scars, grain variation, and wrinkles are typically found in specific areas based on the degree of marking, with heavier marks on less visible areas like backs and sides. Subtle markings may also appear in more prominent areas, but this isn’t guaranteed. Feel free to ask for further advice if needed.

The feel of leather upholstery furniture depends on suspension units like elastic webbing, springs (zig zag or coil), and interior fillings (feather, polyester, foam). Foam provides maximum resistance to settling, while feather and fiber require more maintenance. The chosen leather affects both the appearance and durability of the furniture.

Types of leather

  • Aniline & Sauvage Leather - This is leather which has been dyed using aniline dyes and has little or no protective coating applied. It is the most expensive type of leather available and is subject to scars, bites, differences in grain and shade variation. The leather has a soft, luxurious feel and will quickly mould itself to your body shape when sat upon.

  • Semi Aniline - This leather is designed to bring the natural feel and appearance of Aniline leather but with greater protection. Hides are selected and dye is impregnated, a light protective coating is then applied to offer some degree of resistance to staining but makes the leather a little harder to the touch than Aniline.

  • Nubuck - This is Aniline leather, which has been buffed and offers a plush velvety feel. Stain resistance is very low and great care is required with this product.

  • Pigmented Leather -This is dyed leather which has had a pigment applied to the surface offering good protection. This surface coating gives a solid colour and can disguise some of the shade variances present in Aniline leather. A grain pattern can be embossed into the skin; this generally makes the natural characteristics of leather less visible than Aniline and Semi Aniline leathers. This leather does not feel as soft as the above leathers but the protective properties of the pigment make it easier to care for, which is ideal for leather chairs in homes with children or pets. 

  • Antique Leather - This has a two-part surface pigment process. After the furniture has been upholstered, part of the topcoat is rubbed off by hand to expose the contrast colour underneath, creating an accelerated ageing effect. The top colour is designed to wear away during the life of the furniture to create an attractive antique appearance.

  • Waxed/Oiled Leather - This has been buffed slightly to raise the fibres on the surface. Dye and wax/oil are applied which sticks the fibres down, giving a smooth waxy finish. If scratched, the fibres raise leaving pale areas. This can be revitalised with a damp cloth and occasional re-waxing/oiling.

  • Bi Cast - This has two component layers, a natural one and a heavily protective coating. These are bonded together to give a high resistance to soiling and very good wear performance. This level of durability makes it a good option for leather dining chairs
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  • Split Leather - Split leather is created from the fibrous part of the hide once the top grain has been removed. Split grain then has an artificial layer applied to the surface, and is embossed with a grain imprint. Split grain is not as high quality as top grain leather, and therefore less expensive.

    • Seat cushion fillings

    Our seat cushion interiors are produced to offer maximum comfort for the style of your chosen furniture. It is common that interiors will lose at least 10% of their density in the first 3 months, increasing to 20- 30% over time. To prolong the life span of interiors where possible, cushions should be rotated or seating positions changed regularly.

    Where fixed seat models are chosen, particular care is needed to avoid ‘side sitting’ (lying or sitting on the edge of interiors) as this can cause dipping of the interior in excess of the tolerances already detailed. Daily maintaining is required by vigorously plumping cushions to offer maximum performance, particularly fibre and feather fillings.

    Leather upholstery care

    To get the most out of your investment, you should follow the general guidelines below:

    The dos and don'ts of leather furniture

  • Always protect your suite from direct sunlight, as exposure will accelerate the natural ongoing discolouration process.

  • On pigmented leather, dust should be removed regularly by vacuuming and wiping with a slightly damp cloth or recommended leather cleaner. Always use approved leather cleaning products rather than house hold cleaning products, as these may damage the treated surface of the leather.

  • Suede, nubuck and aniline leathers require particular care, as they lack a protective coating. Use products specifically designed for these types of finish and follow instructions carefully. Always test any cleaning process on an unseen area.

  • Never place leather furniture against any heating source, such as a radiator.

  • Do not rub spillages into the leather as this will cause staining

  • Liquids should be quickly removed from the leather by using the edge of absorbent paper towels and then dabbing the area lightly with clean towels.

  • Sweat or perspiration may cause harm to leather (it can also be accentuated by certain medications). In particular it can cause colour loss and cracking of leather. To minimise the risk of this happening in heavily used areas such as the arm rest and head rest, we advise that the cleaning instructions are regularly adhered to.

  • Motion furniture has many different designs and functions, and it is very important that the manufacturer’s operating and care instructions are correctly followed.

  • Sharp objects may scratch the surface.

  • Seat, arm and back cushions should, where possible, be regularly plumped up to maintain the shape of your suite.

  • Try to avoid sitting on the edges of cushions or arms, as this may cause uneven wear and distortion of the padding and leather.

  • Certain non-colourfast clothing, such as denim, can stain light coloured leather if it comes into regular contact.

  • Castor cups are useful to reduce indentations on carpets and wood flooring.

  • Strong sunlight can cause leather to fade and crack.

  • Discourage lively children from using your new suite as a climbing frame if you want to prolong its life span

  • Reversible seat and back cushions should be turned regularly and plumped up to maintain their shape. As a guide these cushions should be attended to at least on a weekly basis, but may require daily attention dependent upon the type of filling and usage.

  • Plump the cushions at the end of every day of use, particularly those filled with feather or fibre, and also smooth out the surface to prevent permanent creases being formed. Where you can, turn the cushions regularly to equalise wear.