When you own leather furniture, you have something in common with early man, whose furniture employed animal skins. Our ancestors used hides as a by-product of using the meat and other parts of the animal since the hide was available and it had kept the animal warm and comfortable. But, those who buy leather furniture today think of themselves as sophisticated man. Leather furniture is expensive, and it sends this message: “Yeah, I have money.” Because of the expense and because such furniture has a unique look, feel, and character, folks who buy it tend to keep it – forever.
If you buy it, and keep it, you will want to understand and know how to maintain it. Owning leather furniture and placing it in a room of your home means that all who visit your home will put their eyes on it. Wherever you put it, it becomes the centerpiece of the room. Its appearance will haunt the viewer’s opinion of you and how you keep your house. If someone who knows leather sees your furniture, they will discern the quality of what you have identified as the show piece in a room. The finest leather sends a fragrance to the nose, is soft to the touch, and if it is new, it does not sag or have cracks in it.
Tanning processes have improved to make modern leather furniture more resilient. But, if you own older, good quality leather furniture, the appearance of cracks in it is expected and acceptable, because they are like weathered creases and scars on the face of a person who has lived a long and interesting life. Hint: Don’t try to convince someone who knows leather that your new furniture with cracks is like a weathered interesting old person.
Visitors want to sit on your leather furniture. They may ask for permission. They might wait until you are out of the room, then do it in secret. They might do it because it is an available place to sit in the room when folks have taken the other seats. The wise leather furniture owner sizes up his or her visitor as soon as he or she enters the room. Does the visitor have anything sharp on their clothing that might cut the leather? Is the visitor’s clothing stained? Does the visitor have food or a drink in hand? If the answer to those questions is “No,” many owners will invite their visitor to sit so they can observe them. It is best to have club soda or some recommended cleaning solution handy to get at any staining material (like wine) as soon as possible, if needed.
If you are new at owning leather furniture, educate yourself about the three principal types of tanned leather that is used so that you will select the one that best fits your room and sends the statement about you that you want to be received by your visitors. #TAG1writer.