How to choose a leather sofa

To date, leather sofas, the price of which varies from acceptable to prohibitively high, can be seen not only in apartments, but also in offices. However, the acquisition of such a piece of furniture involves a lot of subtleties, ignorance of which leads to the choice of a poor-quality product.

Types of sofas

A diverse assortment of leather sofas is presented:

• folding;

• is not a folding model.

Based on this, the choice of the sofa should start from this point.

Folding leather sofas differ significantly between each other by the mechanism of transformation.

1. The models that expand on the principle of an open book include:

• sofa-book;

• sofas with a "click-clack" system.

2. The withdrawable models are presented in the following versions:

• eurobook;

• dolphin;

• accordion.

3. Among the "walking" models are:

• pantograph;

• cougar.

4. To the sofa, which has a combined folding mechanism is a French clamshell.

Despite a wide range of models with a different mechanism of transformation, leather sofas from the manufacturer of a well-known brand will last a long time, whether it's a regular sofa or sofa couch. Proceeding from this, when choosing a sofa should be guided by the most convenient system of unfolding.

Forms of sofas

Demand for leather interior items is constantly increasing, contributing to the expansion of the model range, so the leather sofas are manufactured:

• rectangular;

• modular;

• semicircular;

• angular shape.

The biggest spread, from the great variety, is the use of corner leather sofas, the installation of which occupies minimum space in the room, with a large seating area and a wide berth.

Criteria for choosing a leather sofa

Buying a leather sofa for many seems like an unattainable dream. However, when there is an opportunity for the buyer to stand up quite an objective question, how to choose a leather sofa, so that financial resources are not wasted.

Size

In most cases, the size and shape of the sofa are selected relative to the space intended for its installation. However, it is necessary to take into account the size of the door opening in the room, so that you can easily make the purchased sofa, especially the overall dimensions.

Functionality

All variety of sofas differs presence or absence:

• of a box for linen;

• built in the side back of the mini-bar;

• pocket for newspapers and other stuff;

• adjusting the angle of the headboard, at the feet.

However, additional elements significantly increase the cost of the sofa, so any model is suitable for the house, but for the office most of the functions are simply not needed.

The color of the

The choice of the shade solution is not only characterized by a harmonious combination with surrounding interior objects, but also by the location of its future location, since it is difficult to remove even light spots from the leather upholstery, not to mention the stain from spilled coffee or grease. In addition, in bright colors, the areas that are scraped out over time are more distinctly distinguished.

Frame

How long will the selected model of the sofa last, to a large extent depends on the type and quality of the frame. To date, leather sofas have:

• Wooden frame - made of coniferous trees, characterized by short-lived and relatively low cost. The optimal relationship between price and quality is provided by skeletons of oak, beech, mahogany, ash. At the same time, the golden mean belongs to the "birch" skeletons.

However, to produce the ideal frame, it is necessary to use well-dried wood without knots, to avoid the appearance of creaks in the operation of the sofa and the formation of mold spots on the skin. In addition, the reliability of the carcass makes the connection of the constituent elements by means of bolts, and not screws and glue.

• The metal frame used in making sofas is a fairly new trend of fashion. However, the metal provides not only the reliability of the finished structure, but also adds some shock.

The durability of the metal frame is due to the fact that the seams in high-quality models are welded, and not bolted.

• The combination of wood with chipboard - belongs to the level of economy class, not distinguished by a long period of use, because for the production of bars, as a rule, varieties of coniferous trees are used, and the connection of components is carried out by means of glue, self-tapping screws. In addition, the sheets of chipboard must be treated with a special solution that prevents the release of formaldehyde used in the production of this material.

Filler

The operating life of the sofa also depends on the material used as a filler, because it is designed to ensure that the appearance of the sofa remains unchanged for a long time, regardless of the activity of its use. At present, the following types of fillers are most widely used:

1. Natural latex is created by foaming the juice extracted from a hevea plant, so the material is hypoallergenic, very soft but elastic and elastic, combining orthopedic properties. In addition, latex has bactericidal quality, biological resistance and absolute fire safety, along with durability. However, due to the high cost, natural latex is more often used as a filler for the elite class sofas.

2. Polyurethane foam is produced by foaming polyurethane pellets. At the same time, the polyurethane foam used in furniture production is hypoallergenic, highly biologically resistant, and is divided into:

• rigid foam( foam rubber) - characterized by good elasticity, however both the cost and its service life are relatively low;

• Medium hardness PPA - is distinguished by good elasticity and excellent orthopedic properties, because the viscosity of the structure makes it possible to clearly repeat the contour of the human body, and in the absence of pressure take the original form. At the same time, the service life and the cost of flexible PU foam significantly exceeds the usual foam;

• highly elastic polyurethane foam is represented mainly by artificial latex, superior to natural in terms of hardness. However, the price of artificial material is several times less than natural, with full preservation of positive properties.

3. Periosteque - combines artificial and natural components, while the production is based on polyester fiber. The filler of this type contributes to the rapid restoration of the deformed area to the original species, the preservation of positive qualities over a long operational period. In addition, the cost of the filler is just above the middle class of consumption.

4. Hollofayber - a hollow fiber of synthetic origin, processed by silicone composition, resulting in the fibers take the form of spirals. Hollofayber has anti-allergic effect, high elasticity, which helps to quickly eliminate the place of deformation, as well as a fairly acceptable cost.

5. The spring unit includes springs made of steel and fixed either in separate vertical cells or interlocked with each other. At the same time, the quantity and quality of springs significantly affect the comfortable properties of the object, the service life and the final cost of the sofa. In addition, the use of low-quality springs in the production of a sofa, which can only be judged by the price factor, will lead to their rapid failure, which will entail the inevitability of repair.

6. To save money and purchase a sofa with a good "filling" it is worth considering a multi-layered variation, when combined:

• all varieties of PPU;
• rigid polyurethane foam, springs, periothic or holofiber;
• hard, or medium hardness PPU with a peri-latex, latex, holofayberom. Of course, these are the most common combinations of different fillers used by individual manufacturers in the most diverse configurations, which expands the range of choice, corresponding to the cost, preferences and expected duration of the new sofa application.

  Upholstery

  It would seem that choosing a leather upholstery for a sofa means it's enough to decide on its color. However, a significant role in the quality and cost of leather upholstery is played by the way it is made and dyed.

  Tanning of the skin is made:

  1. Chemical substances( in particular, chrome), due to which the skin acquires high strength, light resistance and wear resistance. However, the utilization of the skin that has undergone chemical treatment causes considerable difficulties in its utilization, so this method is gradually becoming obsolete.
  2. Vegetable extracts extracted from valuable wood species. The skin treated with tannins differs from the previous type of tanning with absolute ecological compatibility and slightly less lightfastness.

  After dressing, the skin is dyed with dyes penetrating the depth of the entire structure of the skin, while the pores remain open, which contributes to the preservation of texture and pattern. There are 3 types of skin:

  • aniline leather is obtained as a result of applying to the front side of the leather material of transparent compositions, including natural components, which under the influence of ultraviolet gradually burn out, forming wrinkles inherent in the leather product. Such a process allows you to save the picture of the marks that were acquired during the life of the animal, which the layman easily mistakes for defects. Aniline leather is characterized by low wear resistance, very soft surface and high price;

  

  • semi-aniline skin undergoes a more complex processing process than aniline. First, a special putty is put on the skin, after drying, the surface is carefully ground and the dye is applied. Once all the layers are completely dry, the skin again undergoes a grinding process and undergoes a polymer coating, creating a barrier to moisture penetration and contamination into the structure of the material. The final step is drawing a drawing. As a result, semi-aniline leather is very hard, very durable and easy to care for. In addition, semi-aniline leather costs slightly less than aniline;

  

  • lacquered leather is formed as a result of impregnation of the structure with dyes followed by application of the lacquer layer, preventing the formation of any kind of impurities. This species is distinguished by a variety of patterns imitating crocodile, snake skin, etc., which are applied by means of stamping, laser processing, perforation. Decorability, relative durability and acceptable cost of patent leather proves to be indispensable for the design of the sofa as all kinds of inserts.

  

  Inspecting the upholstery, it is worth paying special attention to the accuracy and smoothness of the seams, regardless of the type of skin used. In addition, the back of the high-quality sofa is also covered with leather.

  Leather sofas in the interior

  A wide choice, among various shades of leather, allows you to choose a sofa that harmoniously combines with the style and color solution of the interior.

  White leather sofas will perfectly fit into the modern design of a spacious living room filled with different shades. If there is an overabundance of white in the room, then the sofa simply merges with the general background, having lost all its attractiveness.

  

  Black leather sofa is suitable for both office and bedroom, living room, decorated in quiet muted tones.

  

  The leather sofa of gray, brown shades looks good in any interior, giving sophistication and nobility to surrounding objects.

  

  Luxury rooms will add leather sofas of a golden hue.

  

  The sofa of a red shade will bring brightness and heat to the room, decorated in monochrome colors.

  

  Modular sofas, if necessary, harmoniously fill the space with protruding elements.

  

  Leather corner sofas, photos of which can be presented in quite a large volume, are used in any room, from a small kitchen to a large living room, since they save a lot of useful space.

  

  Thus, leather sofas, the photos of which are contained in the article, will help to choose a sofa with respect to any preferences that satisfy not only the design of the room, but also all quality parameters, ensuring a long life for a new acquisition. In addition, the leather sofas in Italy, do not necessarily meet all high-quality standards, but the sofas of domestic production - it is quite possible.