How to Know If Your Leather Furniture Is Genuine or Fake
Perhaps the most exciting part of purchasing a new home is decorating it and buying your dream furniture. Buying new furniture can bring new life into an old house and refresh the look of your home. If this is not your first time upgrading your home, you must be familiar with the struggle of determining its genuineness before buying it.
The furniture made of genuine leather has a distinct feel and appeal that differs abundantly from a fake one. Therefore, it is integral to ensure its authenticity before putting your money into it. In this article, we have compiled a list of ways that can help you determine the authenticity of your leather furniture.
Ways to Check If the Leather Furniture is Genuine or Fake
Price
Genuine leather is expensive. As such, any furniture made with it will also be expensive. Generally, these furnishings are always sold at a fixed price. If you feel the price is almost dreamlike, it might be one. There are more chances that it is made from a synthetic material instead of a natural one. Compare its prices with other furnishings and fixtures to get a better understanding.
Label
The label of the products can tell a lot about their authenticity. If the label has words, such as ‘real’, ‘genuine’, or ‘full-grain’ leather, then it is the real deal. Any other words written on the label indicate the material is synthetic. Even when the product says faux or man-made material, it means it consists of synthetic materials.
Appearance
How does the furniture look? The look of the product can be another way of determining its authenticity. Real leather consists of natural marks, pores, and scratches all over it. It also does not have a regular pattern or structure. The more imperfections, the more the chances of the furnishings being genuine.
Feel
Try feeling the furniture. A piece of furnishing made of the genuine animal hide will be bumpy and have wrinkles. Move your hand on the surface and see if you feel little pebbles or bumps on the surface. You can also try sitting on it if it is a sofa. The sofa gets warm when someone sits on them.
Another way of testing the genuineness is by sniffing it. Genuine leather has a natural and appealing odor. A fake product will have a plastic-like odor. If you are still unsure, go to a store with genuine products and smell them. This way you will know the smell you have to look for when you go furniture shopping.
Edges
Checking the edges can also tell you about genuineness. The smooth edges indicate the use of synthetic fibers. Real leather usually leaves rough and frayed edges. A water test can also help you determine the authenticity of the product. Put a small amount of water on the thing you want to buy. As it is a naturally occurring material, it tends to absorb all moisture. In case the water is not absorbed, you are looking at a fake product.
Types
It is essential to know the different types of leather. When you can differentiate between different varieties, you can also identify high-quality leather furniture from a fake ones. Visit this site for more information about different leather products.
Full-Grain
Full-Grain Leather is the most expensive type. It is also the best type one can buy as it contains almost all the unique parts of the animal hide. Furnishings made from this type are more durable and appealing than all others.
To identify this type, feel the furniture to see if it is smooth. If the surface is smooth, the material used is artificial. Put slight pressure on the surface using your fingers. If it wrinkles, it is genuine full-grain leather.
Top Grain
Top Grain, as the name suggests, is made of the top layer of the animal hide. The furniture is more comfortable and is more aesthetically pleasing than any other type.
This type also has bumps on its surface, making it easy to identify. Feel the surface or look closely to check for the bumpy surface.
Split
While this type is technically real leather, it doesn’t have the true appeal. The lowest layer of animal hide is used to make it, making its quality much lower than the top grain. Split leather is often painted to make it look like a top-quality one. However, it is naturally rougher than any other type, making it easily identifiable.
Bonded
Bonded leather is another way of saying pieces of animal hide mixed with multiple synthetic fibers. It boasts itself as the least expensive genuine product, primarily because it is made of leftover pieces. In terms of durability and quality, this type is significantly behind genuine leather. You can identify it by smelling and looking at the furniture. It should smell like chemicals and will have a uniform pattern.
Faux
Faux leather is another name for an artificial or vegan version of leather. The furniture made from this type is neither reliable nor do they have the beauty and smell of real things. You can identify it by smelling the furniture.
Things You Should Know Before Purchasing Leather Furniture
Since this furniture is more expensive than other furniture, it is essential to consider the following factors before making your purchase:
- Learn about different types and determine which one will fit your budget.
- This furniture requires regular care to maintain. Apply the protection cream on the furniture every six months to keep it in perfect condition.
- Cleaning this furniture is comparatively easier. All you need to do is wipe them with a soft cloth.
- Buy from a reputable store that is known for selling genuine furniture.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight to increase its durability.
Final Words
Leather furniture is a huge and beautiful investment for your home. To get your money’s worth, it is essential to understand the difference between various types. By following the above steps, you can easily identify genuine leather from fake ones.
