What Is Leather Match Upholstery?

Construction

• Leather match upholstery typically has real leather where your body touches the piece during normal use. Matching vinyl covers the rest. For sofas, loveseats and chairs, real leather covers the seat, the backrest and the tops of arms. Leather match ottomans have leather only on the top. Reclining furniture varies by manufacturer. Some put real leather on the footrests. Others use vinyl.

Benefits

• The chief benefit of leather match upholstery is the low price. Leather match costs from 30 to 90 percent less than pieces fully upholstered with real leather, reports Wayne Shielly of Samuels Furniture & Interiors in Memphis, Tennessee.

  Compared to other leather-look upholstery--such as pieces fully upholstered in vinyl and other imitation leathers--leather match feels the best because of the real leather areas. Real leather is porous and breathable, wicks away moisture and adjusts to your body's temperature.

Drawbacks

• Leather and vinyl age differently. Real leather softens over time, and the creases deepen. It absorbs body oils, which deepens and mottles the color. Vinyl does none of these. Despite looking identical when new, the leather and vinyl portions of leather match upholstery may not match at all within a few years of purchase.

  Leather match upholstery sometimes splits and cracks at the seams, according to Advanced Leather Solutions, a leather repair and restoration company. When seamed together, leather absorbs oil from vinyl. The vinyl becomes brittle. Normal use stresses the damaged seams at the thread holes, usually resulting in irreparable tears.

Warning

• Retailers often display leather match with the real leather furniture, but some don't include identifying information on signage and tags. Some stores advertise leather match furniture as leather in sale circulars and newspaper advertisements.

  In 2008, the state of Arizona charged Ashley Homestore with deceptive advertising practices. Among other directives, the settlement agreement prohibits the retailer from using the unmodified term leather if the piece isn't 100 percent leather. As long as it discloses the meaning, it can use modified terms like leather match, according to the office of the Arizona Attorney General.

Identification

• Sophisticated stamping and dying techniques make it hard to identify leather match upholstery just by looking. Look for brochure-type manufacturer's tags hanging from the piece, and content labels on the bottoms of ottomans and under the seat cushions of chairs and sofas. Ask your salesperson if the item is all leather, and ask to see the product listing in the manufacturer's catalog. In addition to leather match, look for terms like half leather, leatherette, faux leather and leather-like.

Care

• Condition the real leather parts regularly, advises Advanced Leather Solutions, to keep the leather from wicking oil from the vinyl. Clean according to the manufacturer's instructions, so you don't void your warranty.