Leather Language – Furniture Terms You Should Know

Shopping for new furniture can be both very fun and very stressful if you don’t know what you’re doing or are unsure of what style, sizing, or features matter most to you. To top it off, if you are considering purchasing leather furniture – there are a lot of important considerations for you to make because of leather’s unique qualities. Most consumers are unaware of the differences in leather options and the different treatment applications that are utilized to finish, color or treat leather. Having some understanding of the basic terminology used to describe leather grades and products will help you make an educated purchase of your next leather furniture piece. That’s why today, we are here to explain some basic things you should know about leather, leather grades, and how it is used for furniture.

There is no “standard” furniture leather. Truthfully, there’s literally a spectrum of leather types used in crafting and producing leather furniture and they differ in the quality, manufacturing, tanning process, dyeing method and ultimately price ranges. Cowhide is undeniably the number one choice used to make leather furniture. Some of the most common leather furniture terms include top grain leather, full grain leather, bonded leather and genuine leather.

• Full grain leather is the most durable type of leather on the market and although it is tanned and finished, it retains its natural markings. It is the top layer of a cowhide that’s left unchanged except for the removal of hair.
• Top grain leather is the most often utilized type of leather for furniture and is the top cut of cowhide with the outermost layer either buffed, shaved or sanded off to remove blemishes but retaining much of the durability of full grain leather.
• Genuine leather, which is also referred to as split leather, is created from the part of the cowhide remaining after the top layer has been separated or split from the cowhide. It is less durable than full grain and top grain leather but still maintains a lovely leather appearance and is a great, more affordable option.
• Bonded leather contains only a small amount of genuine leather which is mixed with non-leather materials which are treated to look like actual leather but do not offer the same benefits of leather furniture. As with genuine or split leather, it is a viable option for people searching for more affordable but attractive furniture options. This is very similar to what is sometimes referred to as “leather match”, where all stress areas (areas of the furniture piece sat on and touched) are top grain leather and the frame and non stress areas of the piece are either polyurethane or vinyl match.

The finer quality leathers are typically warmer and softer to the skin and if cared for properly, have a long durable life expectancy than the lesser grade leather alternatives which are more vulnerable and will show ageing sooner. That’s why at the Florida Leather Gallery, we can help you find a perfect, high-quality leather piece that fits both your style and functionality needs. Visit one of our showrooms today!