What Is Sofa Leather Made Of?

Full-Grain Leather

• Full-grain leather, typically known as genuine leather, is the thickest and most expensive type to use on your couch. This is the strongest leather because the animal hide is still basically intact and retains a musky scent. Genuine leather will have a grainy feel since it's retained its natural texture.

Top Grain

• Top-grain sofas cost less than genuine leather sofas. Top-grain leather is manufactured by removing the outermost layer from the hide and layering it with lower-quality split hides to mimic the feeling and thickness of genuine leather. The layering also increases the durability; otherwise, the top grain would easily tear. If you enjoy the smell and feel of leather, a top-grain couch is still a good investment over other upholstery fabrics.

Faux Leather

• Faux leather consists of synthetic materials that mimic the look and feel of leather but smell more like plastic. Faux leather couches cost less than genuine or top-grain leather sofas, but often look just as appealing. If you like the look of leather and aren't concerned with longevity, then faux leather may be a sensible choice. Synthetic materials such as PVC and woven fabrics, along with artificial moisturizers, are used in faux leather.

Maintenance

• Leather sofas are easy to maintain and stay clean and new looking for many years. You can vacuum a leather sofa and wipe it clean if something spills. Pet owners can easily remove fur from the couch from shedding pets. A leather sofa should be kept moist with leather-specific cleaning and moisturizing products to prevent it from drying out and prematurely cracking. Properly maintained leather gets softer over time and more comfortable.