There’s nothing like the look and feel (and smell!) of real leather to bring warmth and texture to the home, whether you’re furnishing your open-plan kitchen with a classic Chesterfield, or kitting out your living room with a clean-cut, contemporary settee.
Leather sofas are rarely cheap but if you’re after the real thing, there are a few workarounds. Consider a two-seater as an accent piece, or look for products with a mix of materials: a buttery soft tan leather flanked with rustic wood can work beautifully. We’ve even found a few sofas that cleverly mix real and faux skins – a shrewd way to keep prices down.
As an upholstery fabric, leather typically falls into two camps: aniline and top grain. Look for aniline, which is made from high quality skins and coloured using soluble dyes if you’re after that soft and supple feel.
Top grain is generally considered inferior due its production processes, which include sanding down the top layer of the material, hence its loss of durability.
We put our best purse-friendly leather sofas to the test, looking for style and comfort as well as affordability. Some of these are surprisingly affordable without skimping on style.
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