Thinking of buying a leather sofa for your home? Here are some things you should note before investing your time and money if you choose a leather sofa.
The Ethics of (Non)Leather
First thing to note is ethics. The biggest concerns homeowners may have when they choose to buy a leather sofa are environmental degradation and the abuse of animal rights. Although manufacturers have responded by launching alternatives in the market, these may not necessarily be worth the investment.
Take polyurethane (PE) for example. Basically faux leather, PE has all the looks and feels of genuine leather. For homeowners who want a rustic or tough looking furniture piece, PE sofas offer a viable option. It’s very much cheaper and doesn’t require any maintenance. However, the benefits of PE furniture stop here.
Leather alternatives unfortunately still contribute to environmental degradation. Thus its not a much better option than leather. One might argue that faux leather avoids the pollution of water bodies in the process of manufacturing, making it a better alternative. However when taking its post-consumption into account, PE loses its appeal. As a plastic, PE isn’t biodegradable. Genuine hide takes only 50 years to degrade, unlike the synthetic version which takes up to 10 times to disintegrate.
Old is Gold
A middle ground solution, consider sourcing for vintage leather (a.k.a a second hand leather sofa). Give the sofa a new home and care for it. Here are 5 reasons why!
- Genuine leather if properly treated, can outlast even upholstered furniture. It’s a strong and flexible material.
- For this reason, leather ages well. Over time, the material deepens in colour and softens.
- Puncturing leather isn’t easy, unlike its PE alternative.
- Leather is actually pretty easy to care for, with the right tools and a little bit of patience (We discuss this below).
- It exudes a feel and look of elegance.
However, if you still prefer a spanking new set, be warned! Quality leather pieces usually come at top notch prices.
Care and Maintenance
Part of affording leather includes having the time and dedication to care and maintain it. Cleaning leather sofas on the regular is a must. If you can’t see yourself expending the energy, choose another type of sofa instead. Failure to dust or vacuum regularly will lead to dust and dirt build-up, reducing the sofa’s lifespan.
If you’re game for a leather sofa, here’s what you need to do. Every four to six months, use a mild cleanser and protective cream. Specially manufactured for leather, these products keep the material clean and supple. Leather is just like skin. It needs moisture to avoid cracks.
Buy good quality leather, provide it with care, and it will look elegant for a long time.
