Sofa Buying.

Sofa buying guide:

Sofa swatches

Before you decide on a colour and fabric, Look through as many types and styles of fabrics as you can. Most people will keep new sofas for more than 10 years,

Look and try your fabrics in natural and artificial light, to see how they'll look at different times of day. Remember to take in the following considerations with fabric choice. i.e. Pets, Lifestyle, etc all can have major considerations with regards to fabric durability and choice of colour light, dark fabric weight and style of weave etc.

Whether you go for soft leather or a relaxed-look linen, Good-quality leather is also a durable choice.

Popular sofa fabrics choices in UK

Leather (29%)

Cotton blend (21%)

Wool blend (11%)

Cotton/linen (9%)

Synthetic (7%)

A natural leather will stretch and crease with age use, softening the shape and feel. As well as being soft, leather is durable and strong; a real leather sofa will hold up well to everyday use. To clean leather, just use a slightly damp cloth.

A real leather sofa usually costs double the price of a faux leather one, but it can last up to four times as long. In general, there are four types of leather. These include.

Full Grain Leather, Full grain is leather from the upper part of the hide, and the outer surface has NOT been polished or corrected. If you look very closely at the leather, you can actually see the hair follicles. Full grain leather is also top grain leather.

Top Grain Leather, Top grain is leather that comes from the upper area of the hide. Top grain leather can be full grain or corrected grain.

Corrected Grain Leather, Corrected grain is leather from the upper part of the hide where there the surface HAS been polished or buffed. Corrected grain is also top grain leather. Nubuck is an example of corrected grain.

Bonded Leather. Splits and bonded come from the lower layer of the skin. They can be corrected and refinished to mimic grain. Bonded leather is actually a mix of both real and fake leather. It is made from the leftover scraps and fibers made from processing genuine leather mixed with a polyurethane binder. These fibers are then rolled together using adhesives to bond them onto a paper backing.

The quality generally runs in the order listed above.

Cotton blend

Cotton is extremely versatile, whether pure or blended. Cotton blend sofas are comfy and easy to care for,

Wool blend

Wool brings texture and warmth, and is naturally soft. When it's brushed, a wool blend sofa will have a felted look and feel. Any wool blend will naturally develop piling and bobbling, so will need a little upkeep.

Linen sofas tend to look casual and relaxed. They have natural creases that will soften over time. Like wool, the surface can start to fuzz

Velvet fabrics

Velvet is having a resurgence at the moment. It's soft to the touch and gives depth to flat colour.

However velvets can develop natural lines, bruises and shading over time. Plus, velvet is uncompromising when it comes to spills. You'll need to treat it with care to keep it looking its best.

Cotton blend

Wool blend

Linen

Velvet

Home

Additional Leather information

Types of leather. & Faux Leathers

A genuine leather made from the hides or skins of animals, typically cows.

Full grain leather. Full grain leather is the highest grade
Top grain leather. The second-highest graded leather,
Genuine leather. ...
Split grain leather. ...
Bonded leather.

PU leather is made with a material known as polyurethane leather, also known as faux or synthetic leather. PU leather is a synthetic material that is made by bonding a layer of polyurethane to a backing material. It is the most affordable option of the four . PU leather is also easy to clean and maintain, but it is not as durable as genuine leather and the rest. it is important to note that the quality of PU leather can vary widely,

Types of leather. & Faux Leathers.

Air leather sofa is a synthetic material similar in texture to leather with the breathability of normal fabric. It’s more durable than other synthetic leathers as it’s less prone to cracking, peeling, It has better breathability than other imitation leathers which tends to stick on your body.

Leather gel is made using a blend of materials, typically leather and a gel-like substance. The gel is usually made from polyurethane, which is a type of plastic material. The result is a material that has the look and feel of genuine leather but with a softer and more pliable texture. They are less prone to staining and easier to clean. Overall, a leather gel sofa can be a good choice for those who want the look and feel of leather without the high cost and maintenance requirements.