Helpful Tips on Buying the Right Sectional Sofa

Sectional leather sofas have become more and more popular over the years for several reasons. They’re extremely durable, they have a sharp modern look and they’re very easy to keep clean. A sectional sofa looks best placed in a large room and they usually provide more seats for your visitors than a traditional sofa. This guide will touch on some important details you should know before shopping for a new sectional leather sofa.

Purchasing the correct size sofa for your room is obviously a must! In order to ensure you’re looking at the right size, you must take measurements. Create a space where you plan to configure the new sofa and measure the maximum size as well as a minimum. A sofa that’s too small can appear to be a bit awkward in a large room.

Typically a sectional sofa’s pieces shouldn’t have a problem fitting through your doorways; at least a standard size door. However, not every doorway is standard as I’ve witnessed some extremely narrow doorways. Measure the doorways to make sure the pieces will fit.

Now that you’ve taken your measurements, you can begin shopping. There are going to be different choices of leather grains for you to choose from; top-grain leather or split-leather. Top-grain leather will cost more, but it will also last longer so it maybe worth the extra investment. It’s more durable and has a more natural appearance. Top-grain leather often has several color tones in the leather, while split-leather is very consistent and won’t show other colors or patterns.

The next step after choosing your grain of leather is choosing color. Black is obviously the most traditional, but if you’re looking for something even more contemporary I’ve seen some beautiful options in red or white leather. The most durable options will be leather that has been treated with pigments. Pigment treated leather does create a less natural look to the sofa and changes the feel as well. Semi-aniline, which is in the middle of the spectrum, has a lovely shine and natural patterns due to its treatment in a light wash. The most natural looking is aniline leather since this type does not go through any treatments.

For a softer option, suede and nubuck are available. When top-grain or split leather is buffed, this process creates a suede or nubuck material. In my opinion, these options are very comfortable and feel very soft. On the downside, they’re tough to keep clean and care for.

There are many different styles to choose from and once you know the style you like, be sure to check out the style of cushions. Some leather sectionals have removal back cushions which make life a lot easier when cleaning the sofa. However, most come with attached cushions.

These are some of the key points I’ve learned over the years working in the furniture industry. There are many options, so be sure to shop around before making your final decision

This writer is an interior designer living in NYC and is a big fan of contemporary furniture. Her favorite type of furniture is contemporary headboards and leather sleigh beds. Find more information at her blog, leatherheadboard.org