Furniture Store Swansea - John Long Furniture Centre
Furniture Shop Swansea - John Long Furniture Centre

Furniture leather explained

At John Long Furniture Centre we sell various furniture that is made of leather or is partly mad from leather. But what exactly is leather? Leather can be used for many products, including furniture. But did you know that there are many types of leather? And that every type of leather has different properties and therefore also needs a certain maintenance? In this blog we would like to explain a bit more about leather used in furniture.

Leather is a very versatile product

Leather is an incredibly versatile product with many possibilities. Also there is a great diversity in leather types and the properties of each leather type are different. Leather is not actually made, but has grown. It is a natural product and is processed into the final product using various methods.

Leather from different skin types

Cow leather is the most common type of leather but there are many more types of leather. Besides pig or cow hides, there are also animal skins that are a bit more ‘luxurious’. These hides are processed into, for example, lambskin, calfskin and deerskin. Even the skins of crocodiles, snakes, foxes, rabbits and fish can be processed into leather.

Furniture leather explainedThe different layers of animal skin

An animal skin consists of three different layers. First, the epidermis, which is the skin we see during the animal’s life. Then underneath is the leather skin, which is ultimately used for leather. The third layer is the subcutaneous connective tissue. By removing the top and bottom layers, you can then treat the leather skin in different ways to create a stunning end product.

Treatment of leather for a top finish

As we have also mentioned, there are many different animal skin finishes and treatments. Here we list five well-known finishes.

  • Full aniline leather: the leather is dyed thoroughly without further processing.
  • Semi-aniline leather: the leather is first coloured in a barrel. Then a thin layer of lacquer is applied for extra protection. The leather feels smooth and supple.
  • Nubuck leather: this is sanded full aniline leather. This gives a luxurious velvet effect.
  • Microfibre leather: A layer of microfibre with adhesive is placed over the skin.
  • Old Saddle leather: the leather is waxed by hand.

Furniture leather explainedMaintaining leather

Different types of leather also require different maintenance. For example, do you have a leather sofa or chair? Keep an eye on our web site. Next month we will write a blog how to maintain your leather furniture.

John Long Furniture leather products

At John Long Furniture Centre we have a wide range of quality leather furniture for sale. Have a look at our great collection of leather sofas for sale. We also have a variety of stylish leather chairs dining room furniture for sale.

Make sure to also have a look at our new online furniture store. Simply add your furniture to your basket and use the secure online payment system to pay. We offer delivery for £25 to Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cardiff and most of the South West Wales area up to Milford Haven. When paying for your furniture and adding your postcode you can check if your location is eligible for delivery.

Alternatively come and visit our newly refurbished furniture store in Swansea or contact us today if you have any questions.


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