Did you know there are different types of Leather?
The question you should ask yourself is “What type of Leather Sofa (look) is what fits best for me?” Here are some good questions to answer before your start your buying journey.
1. How much am I willing to spend on a sofa, loveseat, chair, etc.?
2. How long would I like to get use out of this item? 2-3 years, 5-7 years, longer than 7 years.
3. Do I want more cleanability or more durability?
Vinyl Upholstery ($400-$800 average retail price for sofas)
This is the most basic of “Leather” type of products available on the market. This is the most affordable of all of the options, but does not contain any actual leather in the material. Many consumers often see a vinyl sofa and mistakenly buy it, thinking they are getting a leather sofa. Vinyl is a synthetic material that is over a fabric backing. One of the benefits to vinyl is that it is easy to clean, and of course it has an exceptional price as most of these sofas are the most affordable in the leather look.
Bonded Leather Upholstery ($500-$800 average retail price for sofas)
One of the most popular materials used in today’s upholstery is Bonded Leather. This is because it has an exceptional price, but still contains actual leather into the material. Bonded Leather is actually repurposing many of the leather remnants left over from genuine leather. The leather is ground down, then is then blended with fabric materials to form a material that posseses actual leather material. The amount of actual leather content may vary, however 60% leather content is usually necessary to be considered “Bonded” leather. Bonded leather can actually be embossed to give a “leather type” grain, even some decorative embossings are available such as faux alligator or other faux embossings. When you are looking online or in stores for a leather sofa, many retailers do not specify that a sofa is bonded. Most often if you are looking at “leather type” sofas under $1,000 they are either bonded or vinyl. Bonded Leather items have great cleanability and do possess leather content. If price is a big factor in your decision, bonded leather may be the best option for you between the two lower priced option items.
Leather Match Upholstery ($1000-$1400 average retail price for sofas)
If you have a little more budget in your purchase, then Leather Match may be a great option for you to look at. Leather Match blends the best of both quality and value. This process uses genuine leather on the parts of the sofa/chair where your body touches. For example, the inside back, the top of the seat cushion(s), and the arm panels all are made with genuine leather, while the outside back, the outside arm, and the front rails of the item are made with faux leather that is dyed to match the other leather.
What Leather Match does is that it gives the consumer that is willing to pay a little more for leather the opportunity to pay for the benefits of leather where it is most important to them. The areas that touch the body are the areas where the item will take wear and tear, and also the areas where people will get to enjoy the “feel” that only genuine leather provides.
Genuine Leather ($2000 and up for sofas)
If you are a lover of premium quality and want to keep an item for years and years, there is no beating a genuine leather sofa/chair. Genuine Leather will tend to age with a soft crackle over time, rather than peel, like a bonded leather or a vinyl. If you see an item in a store and it is peeling, then more than likely it is not genuine leather. When shopping don’t be afraid to unzip one of the cushions and feel the backing of the material to see if it is leather on the back. Also, do the smell test. In most, occasions you can smell actual leather on a genuine leather sofa.
Depending on the type of leather the price on a sofa can vary from $2000 to $4000 on average for a good quality leather sofa. While it is not impossible to buy a leather sofa for less than these prices, it is not probable. One of your best options to find a genuine leather sofa at a good value is when we get them in our gently used donated inventory. Often, we price these sofas less than $1,000 depending on the style and other factors. These don’t last long as people know a good value when it comes to genuine leather upholstery.
Source: Article written by David Reyna, GM to Furniture For A Cause
