Real Leather Buying Guide: What You Need To Know!

Top Tip: Aniline Leather, often cited as the most premium type of leather, actually has little to no treatment to protect it. So whilst it is a premium material, it may not be the most practical for your modern furniture. This type of leather is used when people want to build a worn look, or patina, but it doesn’t give a clean, uniform appearance.

Matching Finishes

Now you’ve chosen your leather, you need to know what to style it with. The beauty of real leather is that it works alongside wide variety of materials, but here’s a pick of our favourite and most luxurious combinations:

Real leather & Marble

The combination of Real Leather and Marble is so pleasing to the eye due to the soft, blurred texture of these materials. The leather is smooth and warm, whereas marble is hard and cold. However, pair these two natural materials and they will ooze a soft, luxurious feel and offer a really inviting touch to any interior.

Real Leather & Walnut  

By pairing up a walnut dining table with real leather dining chairs you create a pleasing juxtaposition of textures. The soft real leather balances out the rough texture of real wood. As our Walnut veneers are sanded back, they have a soft, reflective sheen, opposed to the real leather which gives a cool, matte finish.

Real Leather & Brushed

If you’re after a modern, luxurious style, think about pairing your real leather furniture with a stainless steel finish. Again, the contrast between matt and slightly reflective finishes will bring a stylish vibe while remaining contemporary and versatile for any interior style.

Full Grain vs. Corrected Grain Leather

Full Grain – Full grain leather typically comes from a higher quality of hide or skin. This is the most natural, most durable, and most expensive leather used for high-end upholstery as it keeps all of the characteristics of the natural hide.

Corrected Grain Leather – Corrected grain leather is created by splitting a piece of full grain leather, removing the imperfections and embossing fake grain patterns on to it (quite the opposite to full grain leather!). Corrected grain leather is more readily available and at a much lower price point than full grain leather.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Real leather

Leather furniture is very simple to care for.  Marks and spills from food and drink are easy to remove compared to marks on a fabric surface. However, stick to our do’s and don’ts of cleaning to make sure you keep your real leather looking its best: 

DO use an absorbent cloth or sponge to wipe the affected areas as soon as the spill occurs. Lukewarm water or diluted mild detergent should do the trick!

DO invest in a leather maintenance kit. Find one which will look after the leather before, during and after cleaning to make sure your leather furniture lasts for years to come.  

DON’T go ahead and use a cleaning product on leather without checking the label first, as you’ll want to make sure it’s not too drying on leather. If you’re not sure, spot test an inconspicuous area first!

DON’T leave your leather furniture to air dry. Instead,  dry your leather after cleaning with a clean, soft cloth.

BE AWARE that keeping your real leather sofa in direct sunlight can cause some fading and deterioration over time. Sunlight will have the same effect on fabrics, so just give it some thought when you consider the placement of your leather pieces.

BE AWARE that brand new clothes, especially jeans, can mark lighter leather upholstery. To clean marks left by clothing, use something such as a magic sponge immediately for the best results.

Give Your Real Leather Furniture Some TLC

Real leather is strong and very durable. However, you still need to give it some TLC to keep it looking its best for longer! With this in mind…

• Don’t drag your leather sofa when putting it in position, but rather lift it to manoeuvre it in your space.
• As tempting as it may be, try not to sit on the arms of your sofa or occasional chair. This will not only weaken the structure over time, but it will also pull on the leather upholstery.
• When cleaning, don’t forget to get in-between all the small nooks and crannies of the seat cushions. Vacuum regularly to keep your leather furniture spick and span. (Just make sure to use a soft brush attachment to avoid any unwanted marks or scratches!)
• Do not use chemical-based cleaners on real leather. Spot clean with warm, soapy water, and invest in a high-quality Leather care kit.
• If the cushions on your sofa or chair can be moved, it’s a good idea to rotate them regularly, giving them a good shake and plump up.
• Give your leather furniture a quick but regular clean to stop marks from building up over time. Just be sure to wring out your cloth thoroughly and dry as soon as you’ve finished.
• Everyone has their favourite spot on the sofa or at the dining table, but it’s best to use your furniture evenly. This will stop some parts becoming more used and worn than others.

If you love the look of our stylish leathers, then make sure you take a look at our Premium Leather Collection on our website. If more styling tips and advice is what you’re after, then take a look at our living room and sofa buying guides.

Show Us Your Style!

Already have some Danetti real leather in your home? Whether it’s a bar stool, dining chair or sofa, we’d love to see! Post a picture on social with #mydanetti for your chance to be featured on our page.