Leather & suede sofas and chairs can add a distinguished appearance to any room, but some people are put off of buying them because of the fear that they are easily damaged or need an unreasonable amount of care. It is true that leather & suede require proper care to stay in 'like new' condition, but so does everything else in the living room. Don't let the idea of hypothetically cracked and dried leather or suede sofas dissuade you from picking up the sofa you want, just follow these tricks to make sure it is kept in great condition.
Protect the New Sofa Immediately
The most important thing to do when buying a new sofa, and the best way to keep leather and suede looking brand new, is to take action straight away. Professional leather protectors & suede protective coatings can be purchased at the same time as any sofa to work as a preventative measure to stains and premature aging. Follow the instructions and use the protective coating before using the couch, it may seem like an unnecessary step but it's one that will maintain the sofa's condition for as long as possible.
Proper Maintenance is Key
Many couches get a nice 'worn-in' look of distinction that homeowners love, and although the look does come with time, it never arrives unless the sofa is maintained. Leaving a leather or suede couch to collect dust will only damage the upholstery and result in a 'worn-down' sofa, not a 'worn-in' one. The easiest way to maintain these types of sofas is with regular dusting and vacuuming, two very easy steps that many people forget to do. A light dusting can keep grime off while vacuuming will hit every hard to reach crevice, an easy one-two punch for leather and suede maintenance.
Keep Leather Sofas out of Direct Sunlight
Because of its natural origin, leather can be kept looking its best for a long time as long as it is given proper placement in a room. Nothing looks its best when it is given direct sunlight for too long, and this applies to furniture as well as people, especially leather furniture. Placing a leather sofa by a large bay window with plenty of direct sunlight may seem like a good idea in the beginning, who doesn't like to sit and read in the sun? But as time goes by the leather can begin to crack and prematurely age in the heat of the sun. This goes for the cold as well, so keeping it a safe distance from any air conditioning vent or radiator is a must. A good rule of thumb is that if the temperature is too hot or too cold for a person, it's the same for the leather. Leather and suede are just like any other upholstery; they require care and maintenance to keep them looking new.
People who don't have the time to keep them clean and maintained may want to look for a different style of sofa, but anybody put off because they assume it requires more work should know that it's not hard to keep leather and suede sofas in 'like new' condition.