Do you know how to buy leather furniture? Thinking about buying leather furniture for your home? Then, you’ve come to the right place to get the answers you need to make the right choice for you and your family. This site explains the differences in the leather quality grades you’ll find as you shop and how to buy leather furniture that suits your taste, your needs, and your budget.

Know Your Leathers: Leather Quality Grades

Leather comes in many quality grades. Manufacturers put cowhides through a process known as tanning to turn the skins into the product we know as leather. There are several levels of processing that create different grades of leather. In general, higher grade leather tends to be softer but less resistant to stains. Lower grade, or more processed, leathers tend to have a more uniform look but a less soft or inviting feel. Here’s a brief description of the different types.

Full-Grain Leather

Full-grain leather looks and feels the most like natural cowhide. It’s often described in leather furniture advertisements as “buttery soft.” Full-grain leather retains the nicks, scratches, wounds, scars, and even brands from the cow’s skin. It is the highest quality of leather, but, because it’s least stain-resistant, it’s not necessarily the best buy for your household.

Top-Grain Leather

“Top grain” refers to the layer of the cow skin that was used to make the leather. Cowhides are thick, and so they can be separated into two to three layers. The top layer, which is the best quality, goes to create  top-grain leather. The other layers are known as “splits,” because they have been split from the main layer. Leather made from split layers is not as soft or strong as the top-grain layer. Split layers are used to make suede and more processed leathers.

Top Grain Park Lane Loveseat in Tucson Bordeaux

Because they are the top layer of the cow’s skin, top-grain leathers retain the natural marks or blemishes the cow had. Still, top-grain leather may be what you want to look for when making your furniture purchase, because it will last the longest. Leather can be both full grain, which refers to the unprocessed texture and traits the cowhide possesses, and top grain, which refers to the layer that was cut and used.

Manufacturers will sometimes skimp on areas they consider less noticeable, such as backs of chairs and sofas or cushions, using split leather or vinyl in these areas. This is one of the things you’ll want to check, and avoid, when making your purchase.

Aniline

Aniline means the leather was dyed all the way through. This conditions the cowhide, giving it a finish that makes it less absorbent and easier to clean. But this does not make it fade- or stain-resistant. True aniline hides are natural, complete with the skin’s blemishes. Each hide is unique, so no two pieces of aniline leather will look alike.

Leather can be both full grain, which refers to the unprocessed texture and traits of the cowhide, and aniline. Full-grain, or pure, aniline leather is soft, durable, and top-of-the-line quality. It’s a good choice if the furniture will be placed into a room designed for fine living. This is not the best furniture for a room in which you do your casual living. If you have children or pets, and they’ll be free to romp in the room, consider something more likely to absorb the beating they can give furniture.

Nubuck

Nubuck leather results from buffing the outside of the cowhide to create a soft, fine nap. Top-grain, full-grain aniline hide is used to create nubuck. Sanding the hide produces a soft, velvet-like feel, similar to suede. It’s a strong and durable leather. In contrast, suede results when the inside of the cowhide is sanded or buffed. Like suede, nubuck stains easily. Also, like suede, it has a tendency to become shiny in areas after much use. This is generally the result of your body oils staining the leather. If you buy nubuck leather, expect to clean it more regularly to preserve the leather.

Finished Leather

Painted, or pigmented, leather furniture is the type we’re most likely to encounter in stores. It’s often referred to as “finished leather.” As the name implies, it is a more highly processed form of leather. It is less expensive, but also less durable, than aniline leathers. The processing removes many of the blemishes seen in more natural leathers. Many believe it also removes much of the character of natural leather. The finish makes the leather less breathable and so more resistant to stains and scratches. However, it also makes the leather less soft and, for many, less comfortable.

Still, if you have an active young family or pets, this may be the best leather furniture for you. Finished leather not only resists stains, but it’s easier to clean when accidents happen. Watch the video to learn more about the differences in leather grades.

Now that you know more, why not take a look at a wide selection of leather furniture?

 

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