What to Look for When Buying a Leather Couch

High Quality Leather

• Aniline leather is also known as raw leather. Aniline leather is dyed, but the surface is not coated with a pigment or a protective coating, making it more vulnerable to color variations and stains. Nubuck leather is a form of aniline leather that has been buffed on one side for a smooth, soft finish similar to suede. Nubuck may be dyed, but it is also vulnerable to stains. Semi-aniline leathers are dyed and the surface is covered with a protective pigment, making them extremely durable and easy to clean and repair.

Lower Quality Leather

• Less expensive leather couches are often constructed using lower quality materials or composites. When shopping for your couch, be aware of bycast (sometimes called bicast) leather couches covered in a material made from low-quality leather and polyurethane, or a mixture of rubber with leather and polyurethane. Bycast pieces are generally very poor quality. Other inexpensive leather couches are constructed with both leather and vinyl pieces. Manufacturers use vinyl on the parts of the couch that aren't seen, such as the back of the couch and the sides of the cushions. While vinyl and leather mixes cost significantly less than couches made entirely of leather, the vinyl can crack and tear if it gets dry.

Cushions and Springs

• Cushion quality is an important consideration when buying any type of couch. To make it easier to clean or repair a damaged couch, purchase one with loose cushions. If the cushions are attached to the couch, it may be difficult or impossible to repair a torn cushion. Look for cushion filled with high-resiliency foam that retains its shape and doesn't sag over time. When it comes to gauging a couch's springs, look for springs that attach to the frame in an "S" pattern. For a leather couch, a webbing system may be the best option, as the leather cushions aren't likely to be damaged by rubbing on the springs.

Construction

• Take into account frame construction when you're shopping for a new leather couch. Look for a couch with a frame constructed from solid kiln-dried, hardwoods; soft woods, like pine, can reduce the price of the couch but also make it more vulnerable to damage or wear and tear over the years, and kiln-drying wood helps prevent it from warping over time. Check the construction of the couch. According to furniture expert Amy Archer, from Rowe Furniture, the back legs should be integrated into the frame to support the couch, and only the front legs should be removable. Look for couches that have double-dowel or corner-blocked construction holding the frame pieces together.