When shopping for leather furniture, buying the most expensive piece in the store is not a guarantee of quality. Nor do high prices mean that what you are buying is necessarily going to last very long. Becoming a knowledgeable shopper will make you able to choose the best piece for your dollar that looks good, feels comfortable, and lasts almost forever. Many furniture stores, like all stores, hire salesmen that do not really know the furniture they are selling. A few months ago I was shopping for a dishwasher and I had a salesman tell me that the washer I was looking at got the water really clean!
In addition, the jargon surrounding leather furniture can be confusing for the first-timer. Salesman can use that confusion to persuade you to buy their product. Here’s a rundown of terms and what they mean.
Top Grain: During the tanning process, the hide of the animal is actually split in two, and the part an observer would consider the skin is called top grain leather. Top grain is a very confusing term, because the phrase “top grain” does not mean the leather is the best of all types. Top grain leather is leather than has had the natural grain, or full grain, sanded out and imiation grain stamped in during the tanning process. Top grain is the second-best kind of leather, not the best.
Full Grain: The best leather can offer in terms of quality. Full grain leather displays the natural markings and grain characteristics of the animal whose hide the leather was made from. The best leathers for upholstery and clean, clear and supple. The better quality the skin is, the less is has to be treated. Full grain leather is top drawer.
Split: The bottom of the split hide is sold as a separate product. Split leather is less durable and stiffer than top grain leather. Also split is dyed more heavily than top grain, so take a look at it if you are interested in more colorful furniture.
Aniline Finish: This is a minimalist finish applied to full grain leather to alter the natural shine as little as possible. Since full grain has the higher quality natural sheen of leather types, this is the style you want if you want real natural-looking furniture in your home.
Semi-Aniline Finish: This means that the leather has undergone a series of dyeing and surface treatments. The benefits to this are that the leather is more resistant to stains and is better for the homeowner with young children or pets. The downside is the leather is rougher and doesn’t develop the patina that aniline finishes develop over time.
Nubuck: A top grain leather that has had the surface sanded to create a smooth, velvety nap. Do not confuse nubuck with suede, nubuck is the surface of the hide and suede is the inside. Nubuck is the most durable type of leather.
Pull-up: Pull-up leather is coated with heavy oil or wax that gives the leather a distressed look over a length of time. It’s generally very attractive, though it is more susceptible to scratches and sitting marks as well as possessing a slippery texture.
Match: Be careful with the word match. It means that some parts of the leather are genuine but other parts are just vinyl that has been dyed to match the color of the genuine leather. This is good for those with a limited budget who do not expect hanging on to the piece forever. Match leather will eventually fray and fade, so switch to a more permanent style when that happens.
