Can You Re-dye a Leather Sofa?

Prepare Leather

• Removal of protective finishes is necessary before re-dying can take place. A process called deglazing, or color prep, removes these protective finishes and gets the leather ready for re-dying. Some deglazing products are not suitable for leather that is being re-dyed, so read the product description carefully. For example, if the label on the bottle reads “Dye Prep” instead of “Deglazer” it may only be suitable for leather that has not been previously dyed. To apply a deglazer, wipe it on and let dry.

Apply Dye

• The difference between dying a leather sofa for the first time versus re-dying is that re-dying is a two-step process. Neutralizing the original color is the first step, followed by dying to the new color. The intermediate color you choose will depend on both the current color and the final color choice. Practice and experimentation will determine the correct color combination to produce your results. For example, use the following intermediate colors to produce the indicated final color:

  For white leather you want to re-dye brown, first re-dye the sofa light green.
  For white leather you want to re-dye dark blue, first re-dye the sofa light black.
  For white leather you want to re-dye black, first re-dye the sofa green or blue.
  For red leather you want to re-dye black, first re-dye the sofa green.

  A regular-size sofa requires approximately 32 oz. of dye. Apply using a spray gun or airbrush on large areas, and a piece of wool cloth for smaller areas; let dry for 12 hours. Apply a second coat for better color results, if desired.

Finish

• Do not allow dyed surfaces to touch each other for a minimum of 12 hours. After this time, apply a leather protector using a soft cloth and then buff with a buffing cloth.