Real, faux or bonded leather for a sofa?

Real (top-grain or full-grain) for daily-use sofas; lasts 15 to 25 years and develops the patina people pay for. Faux leather (PU on fabric) for 3 to 5 years before the surface cracks at the seat front. Bonded leather looks identical day one but starts visible flaking by year 3. Read the spec sheet word for word: leather-look, leather match and bonded leather are not real leather.

What leather grade should I buy for a family sofa?

Aniline-dyed full-grain for the long-term option (£1,500-plus, develops character with use but stains visibly). Semi-aniline protected leather for daily family use (£900 to £2,500, balance of look and stain resistance). Pigmented leather for the highest-traffic households with kids and pets (£600 to £1,800, uniform colour, hardest-wearing finish).

How do you clean a leather sofa after spills?

Blot immediately with a dry microfibre cloth; never rub. For water-based spills (tea, wine, juice), follow up with a slightly damp cloth wrung nearly dry. For greasy marks (food, hand cream), use a cloth lightly dampened with leather cleaner (Furniture Clinic, Lord Sheraton, £8 to £20). Condition every 6 months to stop the leather drying out and cracking.

Can a leather sofa be repaired if scratched?

Surface scratches on full-grain leather often rub out with leather conditioner; deeper scratches accept colour-matched leather repair kits (£25 to £60). Tears at the seam need a professional reupholstery quote (typically £150 to £400 for a single cushion repair). Bonded and faux leather rarely repair successfully; the surface delaminates rather than splits cleanly.

How long does a leather sofa last compared to fabric?

Full-grain leather on a hardwood frame: 20 to 30 years with conditioning. Quality fabric (heavy-weave wool, linen) on the same frame: 10 to 15 years. Leather costs 40 to 80% more upfront than equivalent-spec fabric, but the cost per year of ownership comes out lower over the long run. Faux and bonded leather skew the comparison and should not be in the same conversation.