Differences between PU leather, Bonded leather, Mircofiber leather and Real leather
When choosing a fabric for your home design ideas, there are many things to think about such as durability, maintenance, color, and environmental concerns. All those factors can play role when deciding what kind of material to use for upholstery for the living room. What are the differences between real leather, bonded leather, and (PU) faux leather for chairs and sofas? In this topic, we will discuss it.
Let’s start with the Real Leather, Real Leather can also be known as full-grain leather, which is going to be the highest grade of leather you can find. Full-grain leather is the top layer of the animal hide that has natural imperfections. Because of its thickness, real leather can be hard for manufacturers to work with but will be the most durable. In what way can we know if it's real leather? Simple by using your nose because it smells incredible its usually use in some couch design.
Microfiber leather, could be a durable, high-quality faux leather. It isn’t just more durable than the opposite synthetics, it does the simplest among them at providing leather’s feel and appearance. It starts with its construction of tightly-woven fibers. The opposite synthetics don’t have this. It finishes with a polyurethane coating to fill within the gaps and provides it its almost-real look. With the right treatments, it can be nearly waterproof. It's also animal friendly. It has reputation for durability and a sensible feel for your Sofa sets.
While, Bonded Leather is made by shredding leather straps and leather fiber, then mixing it with bonding materials. The mixture is next extruded onto a cloth or paper backing, and also the surface is typically embossed with a leather-like texture or grain. Color and patterning, if any, are a surface treatment that doesn't sort of a dyeing process would. The natural leather fiber content of bonded leather varies.
And last is PU Leather, which is simply artificial leather, It had been created to appear and feel like leather but without having to use real animal skin. It's safe to mention that after you see a sofa and chair that says it’s made with PU leather, it’s not authentic leather. There are a variety of ways to form PU leather but the most common one is to use split leather and mix it with polyurethane then paste it onto a surface. Although PU leather is different from genuine leather, there are still several similarities with the real thing. After all, PU leather was created to fool your sense of sight and touch.
With the many styles of leather on the market, it may be challenging to see the difference between them when buying leather products. Looking at the kind of leather you're trying to find for your Furniture, or what qualities you seek in your Interior Design Couch, you'll have to know their differences. When comparing these three different types of leather, it comes down to personal preference. Real leather is going to be the simplest option, as long as you aren’t searching for a Microfiber product. If you’re trying to find a Microfiber leather option, PU/faux leather is that the most suitable choice because it'll last longer than bonded leather. PU leather is cheaper than real leather, but it's going to not last long-term. Bonded leather is the cheapest of the three options and should be something you want to avoid if your main concern is durability for your Sofas Design and any furniture design.
If you're buying an item of leather furniture, make sure that you will consider the multiple differences between this kind of leather. Know which qualities of leather are the most important to you.
Differences Between Real, Bonded, Micorfiber and PU Leather
REAL LEATHER★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
MICROFIBER LEATHER★ ★ ★ ★ |
PU LEATHER★ ★ ★ |
BONDED LEATHER★ ★ |
Cost |
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· most expensive |
· expensive |
· cheaper |
· cheapest |
Durability |
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· great durability over time because it won’t crack or peel |
· more durable than are traditional synthetic layers because it is built to mimic animal skin. |
· isn’t breathable and it can easily puncture and crack over time, can be resistant to stains and is fade resistant |
· has a short lifespan and the color can fade in the sunlight |
Appearances & Texture |
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· most natural · smooth and soft texture |
· it does the simplest among them at providing leather’s feel and appearance · stronger and less prone to damage and is closer to the appearance and feel of real leather |
· it can sometimes look fake and synthetic · closest in appearance to real leather |
· easiest to spot because it will look the most synthetic and is thinner than most faux and real leathers |
Sustainability |
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· tends to be difficult to manufacture and costs more to make |
· has the strength of real leather · Excellent hydrolysis resistance, aging resistance
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· use fewer resources to produce, but the plastics do not decompose and aren’t eco-friendly |
· could be considered sustainable because it uses the scraps and fibers leftover from making real leather |
Care & Cleaning |
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· can easily absorb liquid · can make it susceptible to staining and difficult to clean · need to be treated twice a year to keep it soft and prevent it from drying out. |
· With the right treatments, it can be nearly waterproof. · It is also animal friendly. · Washable |
· the easiest to clean because it doesn’t absorb liquids
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· difficult to clean · cannot be cleaned with any abrasive cleaners or cloths |
Smell |
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· have a natural smell that will not smell artificial. |
· The smell of the microfiber is less. But if it is low-end microfiber, there may be a stronger plastic smell. |
· have a distinct smell of either plastic or chemicals. |
· an also have an artificial smell, may smell more like real leather |
I have been wondering what type of leather should i choose for my sofa, thanks for sharing this information!