Can I Dye My Leather Couch a Different Color?

Limitations

• Dyeing your leather couch a different color can be done with a DIY kit. However, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to dye a leather couch a color lighter than its current shade. Just like with dyeing hair, it is easiest to go from a light color to a dark color. All told, you will need about 32 oz. of dye to recolor a sofa or love seat, as well as 8 to 16 oz. of additional dye to adequately cover a matching leather chair or recliner, if you have one.

DIY Kit

• To pick the correct DIY leather recoloring kit for your couch, you need to determine if your leather sofa is Leather or Aniline Leather. Leather recoloring kits can be used to repair top-coated leather, as well as semi-aniline leather. Aniline leather repair kits can be used on aniline leather, suede or NuBuck. Check the labels on your couch or your receipt to determine what material was used to make your leather couch, if you don't already know for certain.

Dyeing Process

• To dye a leather couch, you must first clean the surface with a buffing pad, which should be included in your couch-recoloring kit. You will then apply the dye according to the directions in the kit, usually in two to three layers. Let each layer dry completely before applying the next coat. Apply a leather protectant/conditioner and let it dry for 24 hours before touching the surface of the couch.

Color-Match

• Depending on which retailer you purchase your couch dye from, you will have two options for color matching. You can try to color-match by eye, or you can send a sample of your couch's leather (trimmed from the back or from a manufacturer's swatch) and provide that to the leather-dye company to have them find the best match for you. You can also send paint samples or fabric swatches from your living room decor and have the couch dye matched to those samples.