Leather For Everyone!

No matter what your needs—you’ll find leather seating to suit your lifestyle.

If a new sofa, loveseat, sectional or chair is on your wish list for 2006, don’t overlook leather. Today’s sumptuous leather upholstery is one of the best bargains in all of home furnishings. Leather is still a bit more expensive than fabric upholstery, but its durability makes it an excellent investment for your home.

No matter what your needs—tough stuff for the family room, a showpiece sofa for the living room or a reclining sectional for TV viewing in the den—you’ll find leather seating to suit your lifestyle.

Shopping for leather furniture can be a bit confusing at first. Leather has its own language, so it pays to do a little homework. Here are some leather types and terms you’ll find helpful.

Full-aniline leathers: This is leather in its natural glory. Incredibly supple and comfortable, full anilines are dyed all the way through, retaining the natural grain without embossing (imprinting with a pattern) or pigmentation (additional surface coloring). Only the best hides are used, so these leathers are the most expensive and the least resistant to staining, fading and wear.

Full-aniline leather is probably not a good choice for a high-activity family room, but this luxurious material is ideal for a personal hideaway, such as a cozy armchair reserved for curling up with your favorite book.

Semi-aniline leathers: These leathers are a good choice for use anywhere in the house. Modern tanning techniques make semi-aniline leathers almost as supple as full anilines, but a pigmented finish applied to the top layer provides enhanced durability and more consistent color. The natural grain is still visible, but the pigmented finish makes the leather tough enough to withstand the wear of family life.

Waxed leathers: These provide a unique look that may be the perfect choice for a library or reading nook. A surface wax treatment is given to these leathers creating a beautiful antiqued look that is enhanced with time and use. Subtle changes in color over time are expected and are part of the allure of waxed leathers.

Protected leathers: These are “split” leathers in which the top layer is removed, usually because of surface defects. They are then pigmented and embossed with a grain. These are usually far less expensive than anilines or semi-anilines. Splits are not as durable as the top-grain leathers mentioned above, but they will still outlive any fabric upholstery.

Bi-cast leathers: Here’s another option that is easier on the budget. Bi-cast leathers are also splits but with a polyurethane top coat applied. These covers are often priced within the same range as quality fabric upholstery, yet durability can be similar to protected leathers.

Whether you’re purchasing fabric or leather upholstery, you should look at the construction techniques beneath the surface. Ask your A-Z Home Furnishings sales associate about frame and coil construction and why eight-way hand-tied coils remain the gold standard in upholstery comfort.

As you can see, there are many choices out there when you shop for leather. Whatever you choose, be sure to check out our line of leather-cleaning products. With proper care, your new leather upholstery will add comfort and beauty to your home for many years to come.