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Original poster

Anyone got any advice on leather settees / couches??

18 replies

andyrobo237 · 13/10/2007 20:32

We are thinking of getting a new sofa - leather. Our current fabric oneis 4 years old and looks a mess - hence the choice of a leather one.

Are the cheap ones (by cheap I mean those offered on tv for 400 - 700), or is it better to splash out a couple of grand for a better quality of leather - or does it not matter with small children!

My logic is that spending £1000 on a sofa and chair that may last 5 years is the same as spending £3000 and it lasting 15 years.

Any horror stories / great places to go???

OP posts:

Furball · 14/10/2007 07:34

We bought a fabric sofa when I was pregnant 7 years ago. Great until baby came along with milk, sick, dribbles, snot etc.

After 18 months there was an ad in the paper for Courts a 3 and a 2 seat leather sofa for £500. We went and bought it. It was what you'd expect for £500 but been great any spills just wipe up easy peasy, no plumping cushions.

It is probably on it's last legs, still looks ok but the seats are a getting a bit soggy but we are demoting it to the play room and buying new for the lounge but this time will probably go for more expensive.

JackieNo · 14/10/2007 08:35

We've bought one from Ikea, and it's only a year or so in, but doing well so far. Much easier than a fabric one, and looks much better. Shop around, and go for it, I'd say (but try to avoid the ones that look like an elephant's scrotum - all baggy and pouffy).

JackieNo · 14/10/2007 08:38

I think ours is Lervik - we've got the dark brown sofa and the reclining armchair (bliss, when I can beat DH to it).

covenhope · 14/10/2007 10:42

We've got a DFS one- can't remember how much it was, but despite pre-treating with the cleaner they flog you it is filthy!! We seem to be forever cleaning it but it doesn't look like it. I would recommend you don't get a pale colour (ours is a sort of camel/ apricot).

Our previous fabric sofas didn't show the dirt at all. I think leather is over-rated (was DH's choice)

anchovies · 14/10/2007 10:50

Depends on the type of leather. My mum bought the one I wanted (a halo one) and it is really nice but is analine dyed with no pigment so it really marks with use/spills etc which is great with just my mum and dad (actually looks better with age) but a bit stressfull with children involved! So we went for a corrected grain leather which has been fantastic, doesn't mark at all, very hardwearing and can be wiped clean with a baby wipe or whatever.

anchovies · 14/10/2007 10:55

Oh and we got ours from CSL after accepting that we couldn't have the expensive halo one and they were great. Got a 3 and a 2 for about 1000 with 3 years interest free credit and they are still looking as they did when we got them.

OMGhelp · 14/10/2007 11:04

I was told by an bloke who re-upholsters leather sofa's and car upholstery (also motorbike seats) that the best cleaner/treatment for leather is the Johnsons oil impegnated baby wipes. Or secondly the moisturiser/lotion ones. I use them on a fortnightly basis for the cream car upholstery, its so quick to use, no rubbing in and buffing off and the seats stay clean and soft.

MyTwopenceworth · 14/10/2007 11:07

Get a good one. Good leather sofas are FAB, but cheap ones are nasty, look nasty and ruin quickly.

RubyShivers · 14/10/2007 11:11

we got our leather sofas from Joysleep link here
they are well crafted and hard wearing
they are easy to keep clean

nappyaddict · 14/10/2007 11:11

full aniline is the best but harder to maintain and repair. corrected leather won't feel as good but it is more damage resistant.

whichever you compromise on don't have anything less than top grain leather (the top 18% of leather i think)

also i think we were told hind leather was the best.

nappyaddict · 14/10/2007 11:15

also the best leather comes from european bull skins. bull skin is tougher and will last longer and european cattle skins are larger so you get less seams.

Original poster

andyrobo237 · 14/10/2007 13:06

thanks all - just off to have a look at SCS (as it is very local) and see what they say! Definately want a dark colour though!

OP posts:

nutcracker · 14/10/2007 13:32

I had the argos, bogof ones and 3 years later they still lookd and feel as fab as they did when i had them.

RustyBear · 14/10/2007 13:33

I got a corner group & 2-seater from SCS about 3 months ago - very pleased with them so far. They seem to have been discontinued, but they looked very similar to this & a similar price, though the 2-seater was an ex-showroom & we got it for £200 - it has a very slight scrape on the back corner.

RustyBear · 14/10/2007 13:33

oops

CarGirl · 14/10/2007 13:35

we bought cheap light blue leather sofa 5.5 years ago another 3 children later and 2 cats they are still okay they have a few scratches on them off the new cat. I would recommend getting a dark colour. My SIL has lemon leather and they were twice the price and they have fared about the same.

MrsBadger · 14/10/2007 14:05

we have an old-school chesterfield from these people - they do more contemporary styles as well

three years in it still looks pretty much like it did when it came home, but when it does wear it'll weather well.

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