Buying leather fabric furniture is a decision that cannot be made lightly. It is a commitment to invest substantially big in a piece of furniture that will last for decades. There was a time when leather furniture was considered a luxury, and its high prices made them suitable for the uber-rich. However, the industry has matured a lot since then.
Today, commercial furniture manufacturers like Afra use modernized tools to create affordable leather fabric furniture. If you are in the market looking at leather furniture sofa, or any other piece of leather furniture, you need thoughtful planning. To help you choose, we created this complete guide on buying leather furniture.
Are you aware of the type of leather?
It is surprising how many people choose leather fabric furniture without considering the variety. The leather used in furniture manufacturing is of different kinds or grades. When you enter a leather and fabric sofa store, you will hardly find furniture with varying types of leather set side-by-side. This is why you proactively learn about the different types of leather because the quality factor can differ between different types of leather.
Graining
It is the presence of patterns or marks on the leather surface. If your furniture has full-grain leather, it is of the best quality. Such leather is taken from the top layer of the hide, which is tight, durable, and moisture-resistant. Top-grain leather is similar to full-grain leather, but its top layer is carefully sanded to eliminate any markings or imperfections.
Full-grain leather has more texture, while top-grain is uniform in appearance. However, full-grain leather furniture is priced higher for its durability and natural characteristics.
Bonded leather
As the name suggests, bonded leather comprises pieces of hide blended under high pressure to create a seamless bonded leather. Most commercial furniture manufacturers use bonded leather to offset the high cost of pure leather. It is often used for furniture made for high-traffic areas like restaurants, lounges, and waiting rooms.
Aniline
Aniline leather is treated with transparent dyes to add different characteristics. Full-aniline-dyed leather is incredibly soft but has no protective coating. While it is soft, it doesn’t naturally feel like leather. Semi-aniline dying adds a thin protective layer to the leather to protect against staining and wear, but it doesn’t make the hide soft.
Patina
A popular kind of leather fabric furniture, patina adds richness, smoothness, and depth to the leather. It gives it a feel of naturally aged leather. If you are shopping for outdoor furniture, you should avoid patina because direct sunlight also ages the leather.
Kind of frame
While the quality of the leather is decisive for the outside of the furniture, the durability depends on the framing. Most leather fabric sofa furniture has wooden frames. It would help if you made a choice depending on the purpose of the furniture.
Mainly, kiln-dried hardwoods are used for high-quality furniture frames. It is suitable for furniture that will handle high traffic. If you want durability with centuries of stability, go for expensive frames made of oak, walnut, ash, or maple. More affordable and sustainable leather and fabric sofa have frames made from high-quality plywood. Plywood is an engineered wood that is made by blending layers of lumber.
How to choose the right leather fabric furniture?
Educating yourself about leather furniture sofas is the primary step in choosing the right product. You must balance your wants with your need and match the outcome with the budget.
As mentioned earlier, leather and fabric sofa costs can vary greatly. This is why your primary focus must be on determining what you can afford over anything else. Keep in mind that almost 60% cost of any high-quality leather fabric furniture will be the cost of the hide itself. However, the type of frame used and the suspension will also add to the cost. If you do not set your priorities straight before you begin shopping, it is highly likely that you will be tempted to buy a leather furniture sofa that you don’t need or one that is out of your budget.
Next is to decide how much traffic will the leather furniture handle. If it is used often, you must choose frames made from hardwood. Also, full-grain or top-grain leather is best for high traffic as its highly durable. And, if you care more about style and looks, then your focus should be on leather pattern and texture rather than durability.
Conclusion
With leather fabric furniture, you can add an exquisite touch to the whole décor. However, the choice must always be made after thoughtful consideration.
Afra is one of the largest commercial furniture manufacturers that offers a complete range of leather and fabric sofa. Our furniture is quality tested for durability and is known to withstand even rough use.