I love using leather when styling my home because it adds so much warmth, and a luxurious look to any space. I also find that leather upholstery is a great way to pull a room together, balancing a masculine and feminine feel. However, people are often afraid of using leather products in their homes. I’m here to tell you that with the proper care and a good leather cleaner, it’s possible to have your beloved leather pieces looking great for a long time.

Why Leather I Love Leather

Firstly, leather is like a chameleon – it can be country, midcentury modern, contemporary, traditional – anything you want! Adding it to a room almost always compliments any interior design style.

The trade-off is that buying real leather is typically a financial investment and you’ll be spending more for a leather ottoman or bench than you would another fabric. However, unlike fabric upholstery, your leather is going to keep getting better over time!

With regular use, a natural patina will develop. This is that luxurious “lived in” look you see on leather couches or other leather products. It comes from natural oils left behind, as well as regular use. So, the good news is that with time and regular maintenance, your furniture will get will age like fine wine and cheese (that’s what we all want, right?!).

Also, it’s important to note the durability that leather has. Leather products get treated in a way that makes them somewhat liquid resistant. This means if you catch it quickly, it should be pretty easy to clean spills on your furniture. This almost “wipeable” feature means that leather couches are a great way to bring elevated style to a home with kids and pets, too!

Your Weekly Leather Furniture Care

I like to make it my goal to keep up with regular dusting around the house, and this includes our leather pieces. Using a microfiber cloth, I go over my leather bench and chair to keep the surfaces looking shiny and dust-free. If I come across crumbs or loose dirt, I grab my vacuum, remove the cushions and get those right up, too! If you do have a soft brush attachment for your vacuum, this would be best!

As I’m doing my weekly wipe down, I check for any stains. Now don’t forget, accidents are inevitable and your leather will recover! If I do come across a stain, all I do is get a damp cloth with warm water, and dab the area lightly. Remember, never use a harsh cleaning products! Then, I use a dry cloth to buff the area out with a circular motion.

Your Monthly Leather Furniture Care

I highly recommend that each month, you condition your leather furniture. This prevents it from getting too dry, or cracking! Otter Wax was recommended when I bought my leather chair and bench. So, that’s what I use and I have not had any complaints!

When it’s time to condition, the first step is to shake the bottle well and put some on a clean microfiber cloth. Then choose a small, inconspicuous area on your furniture to test it out.

When I first tried it out, I was super nervous because it did make the leather a bit darker. However, this is totally normal and it will dry a-okay! 

Here’s the difference in coloring right when I applied it. Just apply a light coat all over your piece of leather furniture, let it dry, and then buff with another clean cloth. The result will be shiny and well-moisturized leather!

The Leather Furniture We Have and Love

This chair was such a great buy! When Finn and I are just lounging around and talking, he’ll snag a spot on our couch and I cozy up in the chair. I’m really happy we added a chair here because it makes the layout more conversational.

We do get a lot of direct sunlight in our condo so I was initially worried about this piece fading. Luckily, the color is still that gorgeous cognac, and I’m not worried about keeping my blinds open all day long.

The other leather piece we have is the bench that sits at the end of our bed. While it doesn’t get the regular use that my chair does (I mostly use it when I’m putting on my shoes), it certainly looks great! I like the contrast of fabric and color next to my bed. With the sheepskin throw on top, it just looks so inviting!

The Leather Pieces I’m Loving Right Now

Unfortunately, my leather chair and bench have been retired. But, not to worry because there are SO many other stunning pieces of leather furniture out there! I especially like the idea of upgrading the beanbags in a kids space to a more modern leather beanbag!

From top to bottom, left to right: Italian Tanned Leather Couch // Woven Leather Ottoman // Hadler Leather Lounge Chair // Leather Bench // Teak and Leather Accent Chair // A Modern Beanbag Chair //

The beautiful thing about leather is that each piece is different. It’s already perfectly imperfect and any additional scratch or ding will just add to the beautiful, natural patina that comes with use and age (just like humans!). So, don’t be afraid to live your life and do your thing with your leather upholstery. Treat your leather with care, and it will return the favor for a long time!

These are the care and cleaning methods that I’ve been using on a regular basis; but I’d love to hear what works for you!

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