How to Fix a Tear in a Leather Ottoman

Dab a soft, clean cloth in a small amount of alcohol. Rub the area around the tear clean to remove any dust or dirt.

Cut off all rough edges of the leather tear with a sharp pair of cuticle scissors. This will leave the tear with smooth, flat edges that will help the repair blend in naturally.

Grasp a piece of canvas cloth that is a half-inch bigger than the tear on all sides with a pair of tweezers. Slide the canvas cloth into the tear so it lies flat behind the leather.

Dip a small artist's paintbrush into leather glue, and apply a thin layer between the leather and the canvas cloth. For maximum coverage, grasp the sides of the tear edges with tweezers in one hand, and pull them back a bit to expose more of the canvas to the glue.

Apply firm pressure over the tear so the glue will form a strong bond. Apply pressure for up to five minutes. Allow the leather glue to dry according to package instructions, generally as long as three hours.

Spread a layer of heavy leather filler into the tear, and dry it, using a hair dryer, for up to three minutes. Apply another thin layer of filler, drying with the hair dryer again. Repeat until the tear is almost full with filler.

Apply the last layer of heavy filler and use a palette knife to smooth the filled tear evenly with the surrounding leather. Use a grain pad to produce a pattern that matches the texture of the ottoman's leather. Dry the last layer of filler with the hair dryer.

Sponge a matching colorant over the filled tear area. Allow this first layer of colorant to dry up to one hour. Repeat another two or three times or until the filled tear area matches the surrounding leather.

Sponge the last coat of colorant on the filled area and around the tear to blend.

Spray a sealer coat of leather finish on the repaired area to maximize the life and durability of the repair.