At a Glance:
How to Care for Leather Furniture
Why Trust Bob Mills Furniture?
Leather furniture is a timeless classic. From the distinguished den to the boisterous family room, leather furniture can be used throughout your home. Since the middle ages studded or nailhead leather furniture has been a sign of taste and refinement.
Even though leather is still considered high-end upholstery, low-end and faux leather have made it more affordable for the 30% of consumers that prefer the look and feel of leather. Many consumers switch from faux leather to real leather furniture as their financial situation improves. The shift in type of consumer expected to purchase leather furniture has changed unexpectedly.
Just five years ago Furniture Today, an industry publication, conducted a study that showed Generation X and the wealthy were the most likely to buy quality leather furniture. Then, late last year the publication reported that leather manufacturers are specifically targeting a market segment of millennials referred to as HENRYs: high-earners not rich yet.
The benefits of leather furnishings make it easy to see why this upholstery is so popular. Leather is hypoallergenic and easy to clean because it isn’t porous. This also makes it somewhat spill-resistant. Leather furniture sets also wear beautifully and consistently, fit into almost any style, and hold up to daily use for decades with proper care.
Types of Leather for Furniture Upholstery
There are many ways that you can define different types of leather used for furniture, but knowing the different types of leather upholstery is the most important in this case. There are 8 types of leather upholstery, each processed and priced differently. Each type has a unique aesthetic and ages differently.
The types of leather upholstery are:
- Full grain leather upholstery: Full grain leather upholstery is tanned with traditional methods. It is tough at first but softens with use. This is the highest-quality leather furniture, the most durable, and the most expensive.
- Top grain leather upholstery: Top grain leather is made by stripping the top layer of tanned leather and using it to cover furniture. It is real leather, but it is both thinner and less durable than full grain leather. Top grain leather upholstery makes real leather furniture more affordable.
- Split grain: This type of leather isn’t used in upholstery often, but it is important to understand what it is. Split grain leather is the bottom layer remaining after the top grain has been removed.
- Bi-cast leather upholstery: Bi-cast leather is a hybrid made of real leather and a polyurethane coating. The split grain leather is coated with polyurethane to make it look like real leather. It is the least durable, but it is also the cheapest.
- Faux leather upholstery: Faux leather isn’t true leather, but it belongs on this list nonetheless. This is an affordable option for consumers who love the look and feel of leather but can’t afford the real deal.
There are also several grades of leather used for furniture. The range of quality and expense for leather furniture is based on tanning and processing methods. The least expensive is chromium-tanned leather, which is less durable. Higher-end leather upholstery is made from full grain leather resulting from traditional veg tanning.
Popular Leather Furniture Products
When most people hear the term leather furniture they think of big bulky leather chairs and overstuffed leather sectionals. But there are many other types of less commanding leather furniture that can work in any home. Here are some of the leather furniture products that might work for your home.
Leather Dining Chairs
Beautiful, durable, easy to clean dining room seating doesn’t get much easier than leather upholstery. Leather dining chairs, leather seated dining benches, and dining or bar stools are just some of your options. Our best leather dining room chairs are from the brands Elements International and Classic Home, although we do carry other popular brands.
The easy to clean nature of leather makes it the perfect solution for quality seating in the dining room where chair upholstery typically has a short life. Leather dining chairs, leather dining benches, and leather stools are great additions to any dining room interior design.
This counter-height leather dining chair from Classic Home is a great addition to any kitchen passthrough window, breakfast counter, or kitchen island. We offer additional dining chairs, benches, and stools for any dining room, including leather armchairs for the stately or traditional dining room. There are options for every budget, with prices ranging from $100 to $250 per chair.
Leather Chairs
Every man loves his leather chair. Since the first leather armchair was made popular in the 70s, men love to put leather chairs in their study, office, or in front of the television. A brown leather chair is perfect for any room. We carry leather chairs from trusted brands like Parker House, Classic Home, and others in a variety of styles and prices.
The Pilot Pebble Leather Chair is a modern form of leather chair that fits in any contemporary setting. The soft, supple leather and overstuffed design make this leather chair comfortable for all. Pilot offers many other leather chair designs and styles. Leather chairs range in price from $1000 to $1500.
Leather Recliners
There’s nothing like a masculine leather recliner to make you feel like you’re in control of the television. Of the recliners perfect for tv-watching, leather recliners are by far the most luxurious, comfortable, and longest lasting. We offer leather recliners with manual or power features from brands like Almeda, Gentry, and Parker House.
This leather power recliner from Poppy is a technologically advanced regeneration of the traditional brown leather chair. The recliner moves with a power lift for smooth and easy raising and lowering of the leg support. It is also in the average but affordable range of $1100 to $1500 for quality leather recliners.
Leather Sofas and Loveseats
There is a wide variety of leather sofas and loveseats that are perfect for the living room, family room, den, or study. With respected brands like Pilot, Living Room Gentry, Alameda, Silverado, Paxton, and Parker House, there are leather sofas and loveseats for every budget.
A leather couch is a good choice for families because it is highly durable and remains beautiful with weekly buffing. You have a lot of options, from traditional leather sofas to large and accommodating leather sectionals. The right leather couch can make your home inviting and welcoming to your guests or it can dominate the room with an intimidating air.
This leather couch from Pilot is a beautiful, durable, and comfortable addition to your home. The soft and supple leather provides amazing support while being strong enough to stand up against daily use in a living room or family room, even by rambunctious children. The tufted nail head design fits well with farmhouse, rustic, traditional, or contemporary interior design.
Leather sofas and loveseats are an average of $2000 with higher-end models that have power recliners and other tech features costing much more. Leather sectionals like this one from Blackberry run about $4000.
How to Care for Leather Furniture
Proper care is vital for making your leather furniture last and keep it looking beautiful. Here are our best tips for maintaining and cleaning your leather furniture.
- Set aside one day per week to maintain and clean your leather furniture. Dusting day is a good option, since you need to start by dusting the leather with a soft dry cloth.
- After dusting, use a cloth dampened with distilled water to remove any remaining residue.
- Only use distilled water or specialized leather cleaning and conditioning products.
- Use a specialized leather conditioner once or twice a month to keep the leather supple.
- Buff your leather after cleaning to remove signs of scratches and ensure it is wearing evenly.
- Don’t place your leather furniture sets in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
When you buy leather furniture from Bob Mills, we make sure you understand how to care for it when you purchase.
Why Trust Bob Mills Furniture?
At Bob Mills Furniture, we believe that everyone is family. Since 1971, we have delivered beautiful furniture for 50 years (and counting), with ten sprawling locations in the U.S. — from our flagship store in Oklahoma City to San Antonio in Texas to Wichita in Kansas. Our friendly staff aims to offer the greatest comfort and value, with elegant styles to match your taste, décor, and design. In addition to coziness and style, we also stock furniture and mattress brands with strong reputations and track records of durability so that you can enjoy your investment for years to come.
Shop Leather Furniture at Bob Mills
Start reveling in endless comfort and shop leather furniture online for unbeatable prices at Bob Mills. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find leather furniture— whether you call the Bob Mills Furniture store nearest you or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one our showrooms throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas to discover why we are everyone’s favorite local furniture store. Visit us today!
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