The Different Types of Leather You Should Know

Most people don’t know there are so many different types of leather and what their options are. A better comprehension of the different types of leather you should know will give you a better understanding of your product options. You’ll need to account for many factors before you make a decision, such as the age and size of your family, the product’s quality, your budget, and how long you plan to keep the piece.

Types

Various types of leather provide different style and feel options and meet different needs, depending on your preferences. These differences result from the volume and layers that are still present from the original hide. Many factors can influence leather’s quality, such as the type of animal, the climate they lived in, the kind of food they consumed, and how much exercise they got. Since hides are a natural material, the lives these animals led impact the finished product. Additionally, meatpacking, tanning, and finishing procedures can affect the leather and its quality.

Full Grain

Full grain leather refers to leather that contains the outer hide layout. The leatherworker hasn’t used sanding or buffing to remove imperfections; it’s simply the hide with only the fur or hair removed. Generally, this grain contains densely packed fibers that are very durable and fine. Imperfections that occurred where the animal may have rubbed a spot repeatedly are typically visible. The most prized full grain hides are those without blemishes, as they are both visually appealing and comparatively rare. The strength of this leather type comes from the untouched surface fibers. It is the most water-resistant leather choice as well. Full grain is the most authentic type of leather furniture one can buy.

Top Grain

Top grain leather shares many similarities with full grain. However, in this case, a craftsperson has sanded or buffed the top layer to remove the imperfections present with full grain. This process leaves the leather softer and more flexible. One can apply different colors and finishes to this type as well. Though the sanding process does create a more visually appealing finish, it removes some of the strength, even as it provides more softness. This grain is a popular choice for leather accessories, such as shoes, handbags, and wallets.

Genuine Leather

Genuine leather can derive from any hide layer. To provide a uniform surface appearance, it undergoes special treatment. Once they’ve removed its imperfections, a leatherworker can spray-paint, dye, or even stamp the leather to give it its final appearance. This leather is a common choice for belts and similar items, as the process can alter some of the leather’s qualities.

Split Leather

Split leather comes from the lower levels of top grain hide, just above the flesh. Split leather’s surface lacks density and tightness. One can find this type most often in product finishes, wherein a craftsman has given the material the appearance of higher-quality leather using dyes and embossing. Therefore, even though it’s of a lower quality than top grain, it still maintains some of the same characteristics and provides a nice surface appearance.

Bonded Leather

Bonded leather, also known as reconstituted leather, comes from finely shredded leather scraps bonded to a fiber mesh or sheet using a latex or polyurethane. The amount of leather in a bonded leather product can range from 10–90 percent leather. Depending on the amount of leather in a bonded leather product, the functionality and aesthetics of a finished product will vary. Any texture is the result of embossing, and paint provides the desired color.

Faux Leather

Faux leather goes by several names, but, simply put, it’s artificial or synthetic leather. It is not genuine leather, just designed to look like it. This imitation product is common in sofas, chairs, headboards, and other pieces to give the appearance of leather at a discounted price. However, it’s also lower in quality than genuine leather.

PU Faux Leather

PU leather fabric’s possible base materials are polyester, cotton, nylon, and rayon. One of these options has a 100-percent polyurethane finish laminated to them. Manufacturers typically use a roller to apply a uniform and artificial grain to imitate the look of genuine leather.

PVC Faux Leather

Like PU leather fabric, PVC faux fabric combines polyvinylchloride with stabilizers to protect the fabric, plasticizers to help soften it, and lubricants to lend it flexibility. From there, one of the base materials (polyester, cotton, nylon, or rayon) is applied. No polyurethane is present in PVC leather fabric.

Leather Matching

Leather matching refers to how much leather a manufacturer uses on a living room set. Typically, they will apply genuine leather to the areas of a couch or chair that the consumer will touch, such as pillow cushions and headrests. However, they will cover the back, sides, and bottom—portions that only really need to look good—with a cloth material that looks like leather. Faux leather is a lower-cost alternative to genuine leather. Real leather’s quality tends to improve with age; however, some opt to spend less and go for “leatherette,” which is faux leather for the unnoticed parts. The matching is undetectable to most but offers quality where it counts.

Desired Amounts of Leather

You can decide how much genuine leather you want in your pieces—100 percent leather, leather matching, or faux leather (no leather at all). Factors that will help you determine your optimal ratio are the piece’s desired longevity, quality, and your price budget. Additionally, the thickness of the leather can vary, which will impact the feel, durability, and price of the product. Different portions of a hide will yield different levels of leather quality and thickness.

Care and Maintenance

To help care for and maintain real leather products, regularly vacuum or dust them with a dry, clean cloth. If the leather becomes sullied, you can clean it using a damp cloth and mild soap lather with lukewarm distilled water. If this occurs, clean the entire surface. Don’t spot-clean real leather, and be sure to wipe clean it with a damp cloth afterward. Then use a dry, soft cloth to dry the entire surface.

In addition to keeping it dust-free, you should regularly condition and buff the leather and keep it out of direct sunlight or heat. For leather furniture, periodically plump the cushions. It’s best to apply a good leather conditioner every 6–12 months to maintain the natural oils and keep the leather soft.

There are many options for leather or leather-like products when thinking about furniture, so you have a variety of choices, depending on budget and desired quality. The higher the quality, the longer the material should last. Supernova Furniture offers a vast selection of leather furniture that can meet any budget and needs. We employ experts in our seven furniture stores in the Houston area to ensure that you have the information necessary to make an educated decision about the best type of furniture for your home and family.

Understanding the different types of leather you should know will allow you to budget for the perfect pieces. Whether you prefer the real thing or find a synthetic imitation suitable—or if you only want genuine leather on the parts of the furniture that’s visible while the unseen parts use a faux option—we have options for you. The possibilities are endless, and understanding each product’s capabilities and limitations will aid in the decision-making process.

Stop by and see us, or contact us for more information!