Leather Sofa Buyers Guide

Underestimate the importance of choosing the right sofa at your peril. The decision on which sofa to buy is not one that should be made without careful consideration of a number of factors, with size, style and material amongst the most important aspects to mull over before you buy.

For many people the purchase of a sofa will represent one of the single most expensive outgoings that they are ever likely to invest in for their home, so it is important to get the right one. If you are on the lookout for a leather sofa, then take a quick look at the following guide which should help you find the right leather sofa for your needs. 

Size

Before you begin to decide on what colour, style or material you would like, the very first thing you should be deciding on is the size of your sofa. In terms of size there are two main aspects to consider.

Firstly – who will be using the sofa? If you have a family of four, but only a two-seater sofa and an armchair, it is not hard to work out that this does not add up.

Secondly – How much space do you have? This is possibly the most important question to ask and as such will dictate which sofas you can consider buying. A good tip is to make a template out of newspaper the same size as any sofas you are looking at; this will  give you a better idea of how it fits into your living room.

Style

Whereas deciding on the size of your sofa should be based more on practical considerations of space available and normal usage, the style of your sofa is down to personal preference. In the same way as you would pick dining chairs that match your dining table, it is important to consider how the sofa you choose will match the existing furnishings in your room.

Whether you opt for a more traditional style, such as the classic Chesterfield design, or alternatively decide upon a more modern style of sofa, be sure that it matches the general style and tone of the room it is intended for.

Type of Leather

It is easy to think that all leather is the same, when in fact there are significant differences from type to type. The two most commonly used types of leather used to upholster sofas are full-aniline and semi-aniline leather.

Full-aniline leather is the more expensive of the two, the most natural feeling and as a result the softest leather. Semi-aniline leather is covered by a fine layer of top coating, which gives a slightly less luxurious feel but at the same time makes the leather easier to clean and therefore more practical for a family home.

You may also wish to consider to faux-leather as a cheaper alternative, which still retains the look and to some extent the feel of real leather, but may be more susceptible to damage as it is made of a thinner fabric.