Are you shopping for new living room seating? If you’re shopping for a new lounge suite, you may already be comparing styles, materials, and colours to find the most durable and comfortable option.
With so many different lounge suites and recliner options on the market, you may find it challenging to find just one favourite! If you’ve already decided that you want a leather lounge suite, then it’s essential to know what to look for to ensure that you get value for money.
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Quality and Comfort Are Key
Leather lounge suites have a stellar reputation that has stood the test of time. They’re not only remarkably durable, but also represent a sense of luxury, sophistication, and style. Quality leather lounge suites are usually slightly pricier than their fabric counterparts, but shoppers don’t seem to mind this, since they’re so durable.
That said, it’s essential to note that not all leather is the same. How then, do you assess the type of leather you’re looking at? Are there tell-tale signs that help you choose the most durable leather option? This post takes a look at the top factors to consider when choosing your next leather lounge suite.
Look for Imperfections
When you’re looking for a leather lounge suite it’s essential to know the golden rule: Real leather will never be smooth. This means that the natural gain will always contain a significant amount of unevenness which also looks like grooves or small dents.
The reason that genuine leather looks like this is quite simple. Leather is essentially animal hide that’s been treated. So, if you’re looking for a genuine product, it will resemble the hide as it truly is.
So, be sure to check for these small imperfections that will highlight the authenticity of the suite. Run your hand over the leather to feel for these little imperfections as they may not always be visible.
Check the Side and Back Panels
You should also be aware that some retailers or suppliers may try to pass faux (fake) leather off as genuine. If you’re buying a leather item for the first time, you may not instantly know the difference. The problem with faux leather is that it doesn’t last. It fades and cracks within a few years.
Check for this by looking at the back and side panels of a couch. How large are the panel you’re looking at? Keep in mind that real grain leather doesn’t come in huge sheets of fabric. Once again, it’s an animal’s hide, and since this is likely not to be big enough to cover an entire lounge suite, you may notice a few small grain variations.
The back and side panels should also be made of smaller patches. One long, consistent patch of the same grain is likely to be fake. Some lounge suites are advertised as part faux. This means that the sides and panels may be faux, but the seating is genuine.
Some manufacturers add faux sections to the areas that are less likely to get a lot of sun and exposure. Remember that this must be disclosed upfront as it will affect the price, durability and maintenance routines.
Look for Tightly Woven Mesh Material
Leather material needs to be able to breathe to remain durable. To achieve this, manufacturers will make the underside of the cushions out of quality mesh material. This should be tightly woven to facilitate breathability and ensure longevity.
Ask for a Sample Swatch
It’s always recommended to visit a showroom and physically look at the lounge suite you are interested in. Ordering online may be convenient, but you may end up with a suite that you’re not happy with.
While in-store, ask for a sample swatch. This is a little booklet that shows the colours and textures available for each suite. This will not only help you choose the best colour for your space but will also help you determine if you’re looking at a genuine lounge suite. The colour on the swatch should match the side and back panels of the couch. Remember that the pattern or grain may differ, but the colour should match.
Check for Durability and Flexibility When Stretching
You should also check the sample swatch to see if it stretches. A tight piece of material that doesn’t stretch means the leather is likely to crack and won’t be as durable as you think. Ideally, there should be some stretch and flexibility when you give the leather a slight tug as this means it won’t tear over time.
This is especially important if you’re going to place your lounge suite in a sunny room. Exposure to the sun will harden the leather, and if it’s already too tight, it will most likely crack and tear.
Final Thoughts
With the many benefits associated with leather as a primary fabric choice, you certainly won’t go wrong with this choice. By using our tips and guidelines, you’ll be able to choose a quality product that will not only be durable, but also comfortable and easy to maintain. Make the buying process even simpler by only shopping at a reputable retailer!