When it comes to couches, leather continues to be one of the most popular choices for consumers. Aside from adding that luxury and panache to your living room, it tends to be easy to clean — a real bonus for anyone with pets, small children or teenagers at home.
However, even if you are pet/childfree or break the bank on a top-of-the-line model, your expensive leather couch is still prone to rips, scratches and tears over the years.
If there's just the odd rip here and there, you can easily repair it yourself and have it looking as good as new.
Here are 10 supplies that will help you repair a rip in your leather sofa:
1. Purchase a Leather Restoration Kit
If you're the proud and responsible owner of a new leather couch, a leather restoration kit is sure to come in handy. Consider this kit as your little leather lifesaver. Most come equipped with multiple leather colour selections, leather prep, finishing sprays and a spray unit tweezers and a canvas cloth— you can find these kits online or at most furniture stores. Simply follow the straightforward instructions inside the kit to fix the rip or tear. You'll find you won't have to be a handyman or handywoman to get the job done.
2. Wear Gloves
Leather repair can get pretty messy, which is why we recommend wearing a pair of thin plastic gloves to avoid staining your skin with the leather colourant.
3. Clean your surface
Take a fresh leather furniture wipe or warm cloth and wipe down the surface area that's in need of a little TLC.
4. Snip frayed edges
When the surface is dry, cut off any tattered or uneven edges from the torn furniture with a pair of sharp scissors. Note: Be careful you don't cut more than you need to or you'll have a bigger problem on your hands.
5. Prep your surface
Grab the leather prep from your leather restoration kit and apply with a soft cloth to the area.
6. Patch the hole
Insert a patch behind the leather using the tweezers and canvas cloth supplied in your leather repair kit.
7. Glue patch in place
After you have placed the patch behind the leather, use a small spatula or butter knife to apply the leather glue onto the patch. Press tightly in place and wait for glue to dry before taking the next step.
8. Apply filler
The filler solution will ensure the gap in the leather is smooth and bump-free. Apply the filler in several thin layers — one at a time, until it is level with the rest of the leather.
9. Add the Colourant
Once your filler is completely dry, it's time to apply the colourant. Using a sponge, dab the liquid in small amounts and blend into the surrounding leather — or, if it comes in a spray bottle, spray the solution onto the leather at a comfortable distance. Apply in several coats, allowing each layer to dry before starting the next round. Note: it usually takes between 3-5 coats to complete this process.
10.The Finishing Touch
It's time for the grand finale —applying the leather finish! If the leather colourant is 100 per cent dry (we recommend waiting around 30 minutes or longer), it's time to spray the leather —thin layers are your best bet. We advise doing two layers for a strong coating that will last you for several more years.
With that unsightly rip or tear taken care of, your trusty leather sofa will look as good as new. In fact, if you followed the steps carefully, nobody will ever be able to tell that there was ever a mishap in the first place. For those with a leather couch that looks like it belongs to Edward Scissor Hands, perhaps it's time to hit the furniture stores.