Are leather Chesterfield sofas comfortable?
A leather Chesterfield sofa has the potential to be luxuriously comfortable, particularly if it is made using sturdy frames for support and cushioning that you can just sink in to. You only have to look at the presence of leather Chesterfields in the offices of therapists and psychologists, where they are chosen for their supreme cosiness when patients need to feel safe and secure. Our guide to choosing a comfortable sofa can give you further advice on this topic.
Are leather Chesterfield sofas durable?
A Chesterfield made with real, premium leather should offer years of durability. Furthermore, if they are cared for in the right way, they can last a lifetime of regular use.
Thanks to its natural qualities, real leather has an inherent water resistance which can come in handy if you were to spill something. Also, leather does not really accumulate dust, so the sofa won’t have to be vacuumed as much as other furniture. Simply put, compared to a fabric sofa, leather sofas are much simpler and easier to clean.
Leather is also tough, and can resist wear and tear more effectively than other materials. It will stand up to everyday use without much of a problem, while any scuffs or scratches they do pick up adding to their character.
Please be aware that dye from none colour fast clothing and garments can transfer onto leather/fabric and is usually more noticeable on light leather/fabric colours such as whites, creams and ivory. We also recommend to always check your labels on your clothing and garments for further information.
What is leather grain?
The leather grain is the topmost layer of the hide that makes up the surface. The term is also used when describing the embossed lines that can be seen on the surface of many finished leathers. There are three main types of grain in leather — let’s take a closer look.
Full-grain leather
+ Fully natural appearance
– Visible natural blemishes aren’t to everyone’s taste
Full-grain leather has its upper layer left completely intact, free from any buffing. This allows the natural smoothness to shine through, and any scars or blemishes from the hide’s origin are preserved. It is commonplace for aniline leathers to use full-grain hides, though semi-aniline leathers can use either full or corrected grain.
Corrected grain leather
+ Any blemishes are concealed by buffing
– Completely natural appearance lost
Corrected-grain leather has had its topmost layer buffed very lightly to flatten out any raised scarring. Chesterfield sofa The appearance of imperfections is often concealed further with the addition of an embossed effect across the surface. It is usually the case that pigmented leathers use corrected grain hides.What is split leather?
Split leather is made when the original hide is sliced into two sections — the upper grain, which is used for upholstery; and the lower section, which has no hard-wearing surface. This undersection is known as split leather.
As this type of leather has no natural grain, it has a fuzzy, napped texture on both sides and is used to make suede items. There are some low-budget leather producers who will coat one side of the split leather heavily with a pigmented layer so that they can create an artificial grain on its surface. Though this type of material can appear to be acceptable, once used it will quickly suffer wear and tear. It’s best to avoid this type of split leather if you want a quality Chesterfield sofa.
At Timeless Chesterfields, we don’t use any split leather on any of our furniture. It’s also worth noting that some manufacturers might list their upholstery as being made with ‘genuine leather’. This usually means that the material is of the lowest quality and should be avoided if you are looking for quality.
It’s important to know that when you order your Chesterfield furniture with us, we will use only the finest leathers available. You can choose to have your Chesterfield sofa, chair, sofa bed, corner sofa, or footstool upholstered in any of the premium leathers in our collection.
Our expert team have developed a keen eye for premium leathers, which are sourced from the most prestigious tanneries around the world. Each shipment that we receive is meticulously inspected to ensure it reaches our quality standards.
Take the time to explore our expansive leather chesterfield sofas collection for yourself — we feel they represent the very best and most on-trend leathers on the market. There are a wide range of colours and textures to choose from, and each one will look spectacular on your bespoke Chesterfield furniture. Make use of our sample service to order some swatches if you want to see and feel the leather before you order.
You can also get some great tips on keeping your leather in top condition with our guide to leather care, which contains a lot of maintenance advice.