Artificial leather for furniture, the pros and cons of materials, rules of care

Furniture upholstered in genuine leather always looks exquisite. However, the cost of such products sometimes exceeds reasonable limits. That is why artificial leather for furniture has become a worthy alternative to expensive materials. It has long ceased to resemble an ordinary oilcloth and even a specialist can sometimes find it difficult to distinguish it from a natural coating.

What is made of

Modern artificial material has a multilayer structure. The production process is simple: a special composition - polyvinyl chloride - is uniformly applied to the fibrous base (fabric, knitwear, paper). During the finish, sanding, varnishing or embossing is used. The canvas is painted in various shades, it is possible to apply a pattern or pattern. Furniture leatherette is elastic and soft to the touch, presented in a variety of colors and textures.

The key to a long service life is the use of a solid foundation. Initially, poor-quality fabric can cause rapid cracking of the fabric or tears under severe loads. In some cases, the textile base is additionally impregnated with special compositions that increase the strength and density of the final product.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

Any artificial leather for furniture passes a series of tests that check the canvas for various mechanical influences, temperature and humidity. The positive qualities of the material include:

high level of wear - thanks to the use of special materials, the upholstery can last a very long time without losing its original appearance. Therefore, for furnishing public places (restaurants, cafes, etc.), leather furniture is chosen;
the fabric is hypoallergenic, does not emit unpleasant odors;
does not fade in the sun, is easy to clean, does not require much effort when servicing;
wide color palette, the ability to simulate the texture of different natural surfaces;
reasonable prices, which is essential when choosing large furniture (upholstered furniture, sofas);
excellent decorative qualities - a wooden table with legs covered in leather substitute looks very elegant and creative.

The disadvantages of artificial materials include the following features:

weak ventilating qualities - sometimes it is uncomfortable to sit on a sofa upholstered with such material for several hours;
the canvas of light shades may become colored when touched with materials of dark colors;
at very low temperatures, the skin may crack, and at high temperatures, it may deform.

Any material has pros and cons. The development of modern technologies makes leather substitute more and more high-quality and similar to natural materials.

Over time, faux leather may wipe and crack.

Color spectrum

As a rule, each manufacturer forms its own palette of artificial leather shades. In this case, the texture of the canvas is necessarily taken into account.

The material imitating genuine leather has natural shades of brown, red color. Such tones are suitable for classic style furniture.

Artificial leather can have an unusual embossing (small geometric pattern), and the application of an additional glossy coating gives the paintings a colorful, elegant look. The color scheme for such materials is usually chosen in soft, pastel shades. Such upholstery gives the furniture a modern look.

Often in the manufacture of items combined materials with different colors. Therefore, initially, manufacturers form collections of leather in shades and textures, so that it is easier to select harmonious combinations.

Care Rules

If you adhere to certain rules of furniture maintenance, then the products will retain their original appearance for a long time:

continuous dry cleaning is carried out using a vacuum cleaner;
To remove stains, use a damp cloth (soft sponge) and soap foam. After elimination of pollution the surface is wiped dry;
to remove traces of a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pens, lipstick, the area is treated with a 10% alcohol solution. Then use a cloth soaked in water and wipe dry;
artificial leather upholstery is placed away from open flames, heating devices. The canvas is flammable, and from constant elevated temperature can crack.

The undoubted advantage of artificial leather for furniture is practicality and versatility in operation.

To clean the furniture, you can use a soap solution

The nuances of choice

The desire to have furniture that looks great after several years of operation is quite natural. When purchasing items from a skin substitute, you need to take into account some subtleties:

The texture of the skin surface can be smooth or embossed. Therefore, if such furniture is installed in the office or in a family with young children, it is better to choose a smooth canvas. Such material is easier to care for. The embossed materials definitely look more interesting and fit perfectly into the atmosphere of the apartment;
special attention is paid to the characteristics of the substrate (thickness and density). Furniture upholstered in thick leather substitute looks rude. When choosing a material, the shapes of objects must be taken into account. For products of even shapes with right angles, webs on fabric bases are selected. And smooth lines and rounded shapes are exquisitely emphasized by leather on the basis of knitwear, due to its elasticity;
the structure of the material is perforated, porous or monolithic. These characteristics determine the ability of the web to pass air or liquids. Perforated or porous leather is more similar to natural materials, unlike a monolithic material;
when choosing a shade and texture, the paintings are repelled from the color scheme of the interior. Designers recommend paying attention to the tone of the textile or the color of the decorative wall covering. Shades do not have to be the same. It looks exquisitely if the skin and curtains, the wallpaper has similar tones of the same color. If the family has small children, it is better to choose furniture with upholstery in dark shades;
the best option is the choice of products with a combined finish. The most popular are the models of upholstered furniture, in which the seats, backs are covered with textile, and the armrests, the side and bottom of the seat are faux leather;
it is not recommended to choose sofas upholstered in artificial leather as a permanent sleeping place, because bedclothes do not hold well on smooth surfaces and quickly slip off. An acceptable solution to the problem is the use of a mattress cover made of natural material (then rest will become more comfortable).

Thanks to the upholstery made of artificial leather, objects acquire an expensive and luxurious look. High-quality furniture becomes a real decoration of the interior, creates comfortable conditions for relaxation.