Leather furniture is often misunderstood, and there are a lot of myths surrounding it. This blog is here to clear up any misconceptions you might have about leather.

Myth #1: Leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. This is not true. Leather is porous and it breathes. It adapts to the temperature of its environment. In the winter if your room is cool, then your sofa will feel cool. When you turn on the heat, the sofa will warm up to room temperature. Likewise, if the AC is off, the sofa will be warm like the rest of the room.

Myth #2: Children and pets will ruin a leather sofa.

This has been proven to be a myth. Leather is the best upholstery for children and pets. It stretches and give and returns to its normal state just like your skin will. Fabric has less elasticity and just stretches over time. Also, As it age’s, fabric is prone to breakage and thinning. It is easier to care for leather than most people realize. It does not retain odors like fabric, and it’s much easier to repair damaged leather.

Myth #3: Leather is sensitive to sunlight

This is actually a true proven fact, not a myth. At all costs, avoid placing leather furniture in direct sunlight. Nothing is safe from prolonged exposure to the light and heat of our sun. Avoid extreme temperatures that would cause leather to dry and crack. Don’t place leather next to air conditioners or radiators.

Myth #4: Leather is hard to clean

This is a myth. Leather is much easier to clean then fabric. Blot spills quickly using clean a terry cloth, towels or paper towels. If you spill grease or oil, use talcum powder or baking powder to help absorb it. Don’t use soap or detergent no matter how mild it is. It will remove the dirt, and also remove the color of the leather. Avoid seemingly harmless cleaners such as oil soap. Use a conditioner every six to twelve months and wipe up spills as they occur. Refer to the recommended care for your product by the manufacturer for further information. Myth #5: The more expensive the leather is, the longer it will last.

This is a myth. In fact, the lower the grade, the longer it will last – due to being treated. The higher grade will not last as long due to the leather being untreated and having open pores. There are three types of leather used for upholstery. The first type is Aniline leather. It’s highly prized for the way it looks, as it is the most natural looking type of leather, and retains unique characteristics like pores and scars. Aniline leather is coloured by immersing the hide in transparent dye and preserves its look because it’s not coated with additional polymers or pigments. Only the best hides are used for aniline leather. The advantages of aniline leather is that it’s soft and unique. The disadvantages are that since the leather is not protected, it can be stained easily – This type is not recommended for young families or high traffic use. The second type is Semi-Aniline Leather. It is a bit more hardy than aniline because it’s treated with a light coat that contains some pigment, which makes it more soil and stain resistant. Some advantages of semi-aniline leather is that it retains the uniqueness of the aniline, while having more consistent colour as well as being more resistant to stains. The disadvantage is that semi-aniline does not look as natural. The third, and most durable type, is protected or pigmented leather. Protected leather has a polymer surface containing pigments, making it the hardiest leather. Advantages of protected leather are that it is easy to maintain and stands up to a variety of conditions and uses. Disadvantages of protected leather are that it’s not unique and is usually embossed giving it less of a natural. I hope this clears up any misconceptions about leather you may have. Happy Shopping!

Written By: Tara Bennett

Design Consultant at Decorium, on Yonge

tbennett@decorium.ca