What Makes The Perfect Leather Sofa?
The not-so-humble leather sofa: your sacred space to rest, relax and enjoy time with family, friends or just some much needed ‘me’ time, alone with a good book. On average we spend 17 years sitting, slouching – sometimes even sleeping – on sofas over the course of our lives. They can be everything from a playground for our children to a hospital bed when we are ill.
But what makes the perfect leather sofa? Of course, the answer to that may vary depending on your own tastes and lifestyle but there are certain critical elements which you need to be on the lookout for. A great sofa is a long term investment in comfort – so it makes sense to ensure that you choose wisely. To help you find the best in high quality furniture we are delighted to offer some expert advice on what to look out for (and what to avoid) when deciding on the leather sofa which is perfect for you.
Construction: Made To Last
As the saying goes: Never judge a book by its cover. The first thing to look out for when choosing a leather sofa is not what you can see, but what you can’t. Hidden under all that beautiful leather and sumptuous upholstery the interior framework is just as important as the exterior appearance. The use of cheap softwoods, or even inferior quality chipboard, will result in a leather sofa that is highly likely to become uncomfortable – even unusable – very quickly. Likewise, poor craftsmanship will result in a leather sofa which, at best, squeaks and creaks with every movement or, at worst, has worrying tendency to fall apart faster than a clown car at the circus.
Instead ensure that your perfect leather sofa is constructed from high quality hardwoods – traditional and still the best for guaranteeing just the right balance between durability and flexibility. Likewise, pay attention to warning signs which indicate substandard joinery – even the best materials can be poorly put together.
High quality craftsmanship should be apparent in every aspect of your perfect leather sofa – as it is with The Leather Sofa Shop. Visibly loose threads and buttons are a red flag that can indicate more fundamental problems where you can’t see them. Your best choice for choosing the perfect leather sofa is a manufacturer who is confident enough in the superior quality of their build to offer a 10 year structural guarantee against problems.
High Quality Leather, Naturally!
In so far as answering the question ‘What makes the perfect leather sofa?’ goes, it’s no surprise that the quality of the leather used is a major factor. Whilst it might be easy enough to rule out artificial ‘faux leather’ products there can be a huge difference in the appearance, durability and comfort of materials legitimately called ‘genuine leather’.
Picture your idea of the perfect leather sofa. Imagine sinking into its comfortable embrace and running your hand over the soft, warm, supple leather… Feels great, right? It’s this unique flexibility and yielding nature that makes high quality leathers the perfect choice for the very best sofas.
Whilst still able to claim the title of ‘leather’ cheaper sofas are often made from either Bicast or pigmented leather. The former, being an artificial mix of low-grade leather pulp and manmade materials, attempts to mimic the suppleness of quality leather but is nowhere near as hardwearing as the real deal – ripping and tearing far more frequently. The Leather Sofa Shop do not use bicast leather on any part of our furniture. Being produced from lower quality hides – often sourced from China or South America – cheap pigmented leather is more durable but at the price of losing most of the natural characteristics of the original hide.
For those seeking the perfect leather sofa your first choice should always be Aniline Leather. Used for centuries in producing beautiful upholstery this exceptionally attractive premium leather represents the very best in both comfort and durability. Produced using only the highest quality hides both full Aniline and Semi-Aniline leathers retain a unique organic grain and with it the distinctive individuality that makes any sofa exclusive to its owner.
Soft, yielding and matchless in their tactile sense of luxurious relaxation Aniline leather sofas can take the worst that life can throw at them and only end up looking better for it.
Style vs. Fashion
Legendary designer Coco Chanel once very famously remarked “Fashion fades; only style remains the same”. We couldn’t agree more. The perfect leather sofa is one which stands the test of time – both in terms of durability and looking great.
While we all have our own opinions as to what looks great and what doesn’t an Aniline leather sofa successfully manages to walk the line between contemporary and traditional by organically growing its own unique look over the years. There’s not many materials which actually look and feel better with the passing of time but high quality leather is just such a beast – with a velvety soft texture Aniline leather (whether full or the more colour consistent semi-Aniline) develops a unique patina with continued use – giving the furniture a real sense of personality. Truly, the perfect sofa can feel like an old friend: valued, trusted and with a style all of its own which you couldn’t imagine being without.
Most Importantly: Soothing, Calming Comfort
The key element in what makes the perfect leather sofa has to be comfort. A sofa which looks great and lasts forever but which doesn’t feel as natural to sink into as reassuring hug is no sofa at all: it’s become an upholstered ornament.
Long lasting, luxurious comfort is the hallmark of quality – and it is what we pride ourselves on at The Leather Sofa Shop. Quality is something which is worth investing in, “Cheap and cheerful” is usually anything but a happy experience. So, if you’re looking for what makes the perfect leather sofa make sure that you choose a respected British manufacturer who prides themselves on quality: in construction, in the choice of styles available and the premium leathers they use.
Keep that in mind and you’ll be sitting pretty (and comfortably) for years to come.