Leather furniture has always been popular in interior design due to its rich feel, durability, and natural properties. It doesn’t collect pet hairs and dander, and will last for decades with proper care and conditioning. If you’re in the market for a new piece, here are a few ways to make sure it’s genuine and high-quality.

How to Spot Quality Leather Furniture

1. Smell It

Typically, true and fine leather will smell rich, slightly sweet, and earthy. It should be mild, not overbearing. These scents come from the tanning process, in which the fabric is soaked to stabilize the proteins in the raw hide.

By comparison, fake leather furniture could smell like plastics and chemicals.

2. Feel for Imperfections

This is one of the only times when imperfections point to quality. You can often tell if leather furniture is genuine by searching for scars and uneven textures or colors. Since leather is made from the hide of an animal, texture is natural and to be expected. While most leather is treated and polished to create a smooth surface, you might still see marks and wrinkles.

Faux leather, on the other hand, is often a solid color.

3. Think About Pricing

High-quality furniture will be more expensive than a couch or chair made from cheap fabrics or particleboard. However, high-end pieces will also stand up to daily wear and tear better than low-quality ones.

Research the piece you want to buy online to find out what price range to expect. Anything priced several hundreds of dollars below that range may not be authentic.

If you’re looking to purchase fine leather furniture, come to Furniture Classics in Anchorage, AK. For more than 25 years, this store has sold high-quality, American-made pieces, including couches, tables, and ottomans. They also offer 18-month, no-interest financing to help make your dream piece affordable. Visit their website to view some of their options, or call (907) 278-6844 to ask about their inventory.