DIY: How to Redye a Leather Couch

Clean the leather couch thoroughly with warm, soapy water and a sponge. Remove the cushions from the couch, and clean them as well. All traces of oil, grease, dirt and other debris must be cleaned from the leather, or the dye will not adhere properly.

Apply a layer of leather prep solution with a soft cloth, scrubbing the surface of the leather couch firmly to open the pores of the material. Make sure you cover the entire couch; areas that aren't prepped will likely abort the leather dye. Allow the leather to dry completely, a process that usually takes approximately 15 minutes to an hour.

Sand the leather lightly, using a very gentle pressure. Applying too much pressure on the sandpaper will result in unsightly deep scratches and abraded areas of the leather, which you want to avoid. Skip areas close to the seams of the couch, as the sanding may cause the threads to fray and break prematurely. Wipe the sanding dust off of the leather couch with a dampened cloth and allow the leather to dry.

Apply a light coat of leather color with a brush applicator, using long, steady strokes. Rather than trying to cover the entire area with one thick coat of color, apply several thin coats for better coverage. Allow the leather to dry completely between coats of color, so you can gauge the darkness of the color and determine whether another layer needs to be applied.