How to Restore a Red Leather Ottoman

Assessment and Preparation

• 1

  Give your ottoman a once-over. Take note of any fading/color loss, dryness or cracking. This helps you to formulate a shopping list for items that can address your specific concerns about the ottoman.

• 2

  Determine what your ottoman is made from. Restoration is likely to involve some recoloring, and leather recoloring dyes come in two basic formulas: leather dye and aniline leather dye. Aniline leather dye works on aniline leather, as well as suede and nubuck. Knowing what type of leather was used to make your ottoman ensures that you purchase a compatible dye.

• 3

  Obtain a sample of the leather used to make the ottoman. You can clip a small sample from the underside of the piece, or order a swatch from the manufacturer if it is still in business. Use this sample to order custom-matched dye for recoloring leather.

• 4

  Clean the surface of the ottoman using a pH-balanced leather cleaner. This removes dirt and gives you a clean surface to attach bonder or leather dye to. Apply the cleaner with a dry cloth or a bristle brush to loosen the dirt.

Repair

• 5

  Apply leather bonder/filler to any torn or cracked areas by patting a small amount of the sticky bonder into place with a sponge or dry cloth.

• 6

  Apply heat to the area using a blowdryer. This sets the bonder, making it stiff.

• 7

  Wait two hours before adding colors to let the bonder solidify completely.

• 8

  Spray on leather-safe sealant to all bonded areas.

Recoloring and Conditioning

• 9

  Apply color evenly to the couch by using the spray bottle you purchased which contains the leather dye.

• 10

  Lightly drag a sponge across the surface to evenly distribute the dye.

• 11

  Repeat until the color is your desired shade and all faded and bonded areas have been covered. Let each successive layer of color dry for 10 to 15 minutes before adding more color, and allow the final layer of color to dry for one day.

• 12

  Complete the restoration process by applying leather conditioner to a sponge and smoothing the product over the surface of the ottoman.