Types of Leather Furniture

Top Coat Protected Leather

• Top coat leather is identified by its smooth, durable texture and comes in a variety of colors. The natural grain of the leather is not visible. Protected leather will have either a matte or glossy finish and is easy to care for with a mild cleaning solution. This type of leather is the most family-friendly, making it appropriate for furniture in any room of the house.

Suede

• Suede leather is easily identified by its nap. The nap is found by running your hand over the leather. You will notice the leather turns dark when rubbed in one direction, and lighter when rubbed the other way. Although suede is used in upholstery, it is not that common. It is usually only found on high-end pieces. Suede should be cleaned with a dry foam or other specialty cleaner.

Nubuck and Pure Aniline

• Nubuck and pure aniline are similar enough to put into the same category. This type of leather is free of pigment from the animal, which makes it easy to dye into several colors. The natural grain of the leather is visible and is the appeal of this type of leather. The main difference between nubuck and aniline is that nubuck is treated to have a very short nap--not to be confused with leather that has a longer nap. Nubuck's nap is so short that it is often not noticed until lightly rubbed. Both nubuck and pure aniline are commonly used in leather furniture. Furniture retailers and manufacturers will often put a fabric protection treatment on nubuck and and pure aniline. These products help to protect the fabric from spills and water damage, but they should not be confused with protected leather as described previously.

Semi Aniline

• Semi aniline is made with a small amount of pigment that gives the leather a more even color than pure aniline while showcasing the leather's natural grain. Like nubuck and pure aniline, semi aniline may be treated with a fabric protector to guard against spills; however, it remains an absorbent leather prone to water stains. Professional cleaning is recommended.

Distressed Leather

• Part of the charm of owning leather furniture is watching it go through the aging process where it takes on an antique look. Distressed leather is aniline leather that has been put through a process to make it look much older than it is, which makes it the perfect complement to older furniture in any room. Since it is aniline, it is also prone to water marks from spills. Professional cleaning is recommended.