If you are looking for stylish, comfortable furniture that actually improves with age, then consider investing in leather. Leather is extremely durable so this option is definitely worth the additional investment. Since leather is a natural product, aging actually brings out its natural patina, making it even more beautiful over time.
One of the biggest misconceptions about leather is that it gets too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. This may be true for the leather in your car since most of it is painted leather in order to meet federal safety rules, but because of this, it cannot breathe. So when you sit in a car in January, the seats are very cold and take a much longer time to adjust to the correct temperature than if the seats were porous. The same is true with heat in the middle of August. It is going to be very uncomfortable because the leather cannot breathe. With leather furniture, however, the leather actually takes the temperature of your body within a matter of just 12 seconds. In the winter your leather furniture will warm up to your body heat and in the summer it remains cool since it is natural and has the ability to breathe.
Leather comes in a variety of options from color to grade. It is very important to choose leather furniture that best suits your lifestyle. For instance, you will need a more durable grade of leather for kids and pets than if you are living on your own without extensive activity. Our leather experts will be able to let you know which type of leather is best for your home based on your specific needs.
There are several ways to maintain your leather’s premium condition over its lifetime. Always protect your leather furniture from fading by limiting its exposure to sun and direct light. Leave at least two feet between your leather furniture and any heat source within your home to prevent the leather from drying out or cracking.
Wipe your leather furniture down regularly with a soft leather cleaner and a soft cloth and vacuum dust and debris from your furniture’s crevices. It is also extremely important to apply a leather conditioner regularly, at least once every 6-12 months depending on how much you use it. Blot any spills immediately with a clean, absorbent cloth and allow it to air dry. Most general cleaning agents are too harsh for your leather furniture. Avoid using any oils that contain silicon or wax and anything with ammonia or alkaline and stay away from furniture polish, saddle soaps, leather wipes or any type of leather car seat cleaner. The process of how leather is made for saddles is different than the process used for leather furniture. Most leather wipes that people use to clean their car seats have been known to damage leather furniture because the cleaning agent used inside them is far too strong for leather furniture.
For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use a chamois, a microfiber cloth or you can even use clean fingers to gently buff out the affected area. Using a hairdryer on low heat will also help bring the leather’s natural oil and wax up to the surface. From here you are able to simply rub out most of the smaller marks with a nice soft cloth.
For all of your leather needs, visit Leather and More on Level 4 at the South Entrance, a dedicated leather gallery inside Hickory Furniture Mart, specializing in American-Made fine leather products for your home. You will also find leather furniture throughout additional showrooms located in Hickory Furniture Mart. Shop for leather products on our online catalogs here.