Suede or nubuck leather sofa | Aniline and semi-aniline leather

A leather sofa should it be, but which leather and which care?

A classic leather sofa is nowadays in almost every living room. The purchase prices as well as the different versions could not be more different. Therefore a leather sofa should be suitable for every taste and purse.
But questions arise as to which leather or type of leather and how best to care for a leather sofa.
First you should decide whether you want rough or smooth leather.
The advantages of rough leather lie in its design and feel-good factor, because leather sofas made of rough leather are usually made of suede, nubuck leather or suede. Less interesting is the family suitability of rough leather. Rough leather is very sensitive and should therefore be sealed with polyurethane to prevent water and moisture from penetrating into the leather.
Aniline leather or semi-aniline leather is usually used in the manufacture of leather sofas with smooth leather. It lies with the grain side outwards, which has the advantage that it is much less sensitive and therefore much easier to clean. However, smooth leather always feels a little cold at first, which is also due to the thickness of the leather. Especially when dyeing smooth leather has advantages again and so you can find a leather sofa with smooth leather in a large variety of colours.

Maybe you are confused about the leather types, because you have read about suede, nubuck leather, suede, aniline leather or semi-aniline leather and may not know the difference. In addition, there are the types of leather made of nappa, calfskin or cowhide, as well as sheep.

Description of the different types of leather:

suede

As the name suggests, suede is mostly deer, moose, roe deer, kangaroo or antelope skin. The leather comes from animals that are not native, domesticated, but wild. Because it is relatively rare, genuine suede is very expensive. In fact, it is also less used for the production of leather sofas, because it is not very strong and water-resistant due to its composition. Suede is usually confused with suede because the texture and velvety surface are very similar.

velour leather

Leather sofas are very often made with suede because it is cheap and because it comes very close to suede. Suede leather is not actually leather, but rather a collective term for a number of roughened leather types. It is soft and open-pored, therefore warm and breathable.

nubuck leather

You like it soft and velvety? then you are in good hands with Nubukleder. Nubuck leather is polished on the grain side, which helps the nubuck leather to breathe more and makes it feel soft and warm.

aniline leather

A smooth and expensive leather that is only used on very high-quality leather sofas. The typical leather grain is not destroyed even during dyeing, yet it is a very sensitive leather that cannot handle water and moisture well.

semianiline leather

Semianiline leather is a very robust leather, and although it belongs to the smooth leather types, it is not as easy to care for as polyurethane sealed leather.

nappa leather

The most frequently used leather is made of nappa. It is a smooth leather that has been tanned with chrome before. This makes it particularly soft and robust. It is usually made of cowhide, calfskin or sheepskin.

Care tips for your leather sofa

Finally, once you have decided on “your” leather and the leather sofa, you should familiarize yourself with the care of your leather sofa.
Simply dusting off is not enough, although you should do this weekly, because leather is a natural product that also absorbs dirt into the pores. That’s why coloured leather sofas no longer look new over time, but get the used look that is loved by many people. However, never use a stain remover or solvent-based products such as turpentine. Shoe polish should only be used to a limited extent and in areas that are not directly visible. Excessive rubbing at one point can ruin your leather sofa and make it look unattractive. One of the perfect objects to remove unattractive stains and a leather sofa is the eraser. However, the eraser should be colourless and yet only gently rubbed over the stain. Otherwise use a damp cloth on smooth leather – not wet, if necessary with a light vinegar essence and use a vacuum cleaner on suede or suede and nubuck.