What is leather chair types and Why Do We Use Them?

17 Mar.,2025

 

The Different Types of Leather (And Which One Is Best for Me?)

As you're considering leather for your furniture, you may have realized that there are a lot of leather options available. And on top of that, there are also products out there that are a lot like leather, but sadly, fall short in quality.

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And have you noticed that some leather products seem to last longer than others? You'd be correct in thinking that not all leather is created equal.

At McElheran's Furniture + Design, we've been providing Edmonton and area with high-quality furniture since . And leather goes hand-in-hand with quality, doesn't it? There's a certain sophistication and luxury that comes with owning leather furniture, and you can find a wide selection of it here at McElheran's.

And we'd love for you to discover your next piece of leather furniture in our showroom, but if the most we can do for you is help you figure out which type of leather you need, hey, we'll take it. Leather tends to be one of the more expensive options for upholstery, so we understand the desire to make an informed and educated decision.

There's a lot of information on leather at your fingertips and, honestly, some of it's pretty convoluted. There are terms out there that are interchanged when they shouldn't be, and even some misleading terminology, too! So, in this article, one of our Design Guides, Teresa, will take the time to explain the different types of leather and which one will be the best fit for you.

Different types of leather

  • Full grain
  • Top grain
  • Split/genuine
  • Bonded
  • Faux/vegan

Full grain

Full grain is the best of the best when it comes to leather. It is the most natural, in terms of look and performance. Essentially, full grain leather is an animal's hide that goes immediately into the tanning process once the hair has been removed. The hide's natural charm is kept intact, so you may see scarring or uneven pigmentation throughout your piece.

This type of leather will develop a beautiful patina over time, too. Patina is a natural aging process where leather develops a unique sheen due to its exposure to elements and general wear and tear. This gives the leather a character that cannot be achieved through artificial means.

It is also among the more durable versions of leather and - barring any unforeseen instances - could last a very long time on your furniture.

Top grain

Top grain is a very close second in quality to full grain. The top layer of the hide is corrected by sanding down and buffing out imperfections. This thins out the hide slightly which makes it more pliable, but a little bit weaker than full grain leather.

After top grain leather has been corrected, other textures are sometimes stamped on to give the leather a different appearance, like alligator or snakeskin.

Split/genuine leather

Because a hide is usually pretty thick (6-10mm), it can be split into two or more pieces. The outermost layer is your full and top grains, while the remaining pieces are for split and genuine leather. Split leather is used to create suede and tends to be more prone to tears and damage than other types of leather.

Now, the term genuine leather can be quite deceiving. You are getting real leather, that's not a lie, but 'genuine' gives off the impression that it's top-tier quality. That's simply not the case. Genuine leather often has an artificial material, like bycast leather, applied to its surface to present a grainy, leather-like look. Bycast leather, by the way, is a faux leather, which is explained below. 

Both split and genuine leather (which are often interchangeable) are commonly seen on purses, belts, shoes, and other fashion accessories.

Bonded leather

Bonded leather is fairly new to the upholstery world, actually, and it's made by bonding together leather scraps, plastic, and other synthetic materials to make a leather-like fabric. Real leather is in bonded leather, but it's usually only in the 10 to 20% range. And rarely will you find high-quality (top or full grain) leather used in the scraps to form bonded leather.

Faux/vegan leather

This type of leather, well, it's not leather at all. No animal products or by-products are used in the making of faux and vegan leathers. Instead, you'll see leather-looking materials that have been manufactured from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU).

The dying of leather

The way leather is dyed and processed can further categorize it and determine its hand (feel), durability, performance, and quality.

Aniline

Aniline leather is coloured with soluble dyes without the use of additional pigments or protectants. The hide is placed in a vat and dyed until it is completely saturated leaving the leather feeling soft and porous. The natural characteristics and imperfections of the leather are still able to shine through after the aniline dying process.

Because aniline leathers do not have a protective coating of any sort, they are more susceptible to scratches and stains.

Semi-aniline

Semi-aniline is rather similar to aniline leathers, but there are a couple of differences.

First of all, with the semi-aniline process, the dye does not penetrate the leather as much as it does with aniline-dyed leather.

Then, a protective topcoat is applied to the leather's surface. This gives the leather a more uniform look and added protection, but it can also take away from the overall softness. Because of this dying method, semi-aniline leather sometimes feels more processed than other leathers.

Nubuck

Nubuck is created by buffing or sanding aniline leather to give it an almost suede-like look and feel. Nubuck is stronger than suede but is prone to fading and stains. A patina will develop over time, too, so be prepared to eventually see imperfections and inconsistencies in colour.

Protected vs. corrected leather

If you're hearing or seeing both these terms while you're looking at leather, they do mean two different things, so we'll help you out with a couple of definitions:

Protected leather

Protected leather has a coating on it that has been added during the manufacturing process. This protective barrier gives the leather more durability and creates a more uniform look to the overall colour. Semi-aniline leather is an example of protected leather.

Corrected leather

Teresa points out that most leather is corrected to some extent because very few hides are without blemishes. When a piece of leather has been sanded or buffed to remove imperfections, like scarring, that leather is being corrected.

And sometimes, grains are stamped into the leather to emphasize the natural textures or create a different look altogether.

Full grain leather is not corrected, while top grain most often is.

Grain vs. grade

Are these words interchangeable? No, they're not.

In fact, one is much more important and, quite frankly, measurable than the other ' and that is grain.

Grain refers to the texture of the leather and the properties that you can physically feel and see. Whereas grade is more of a classification system used by suppliers. It's not that leather grades don't mean anything, it's just that there are no universal standards, so leather grades aren't terribly accurate.

What kind of leather is going to work for me?

The main things to take into consideration as you mull over the best type of leather for you are:

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  • Your lifestyle
  • Your budget
  • The look you'd like to achieve

Your lifestyle

Leather, especially high-quality leather, can be extremely durable, which is why it's so popular on furniture. Having said that, though, no material is impermeable.

If you expect to use your leather furniture quite often, it's probably best to go for protected leather, like semi-aniline. And you can further protect your furniture, too, with a furniture protection plan. 

Your budget

Certain leathers are more expensive than others, like full and top grain. But you're getting quality, right? This usually means that you're able to enjoy your furniture longer, which could save you money in the long run.

It should be noted, though, that there are some very expensive leathers out there that are a little more on the delicate side, like nubuck. So, there are definitely instances where more money doesn't necessarily mean things will last longer.

And if you want leather now and you're on a tight budget, you may want to look at a cheaper option, like split, bonded, or even faux leather.

There's also furniture available that is not completely covered in leather. You may be able to find a sofa, for example, that is largely comprised of top grain leather, while sections like the back and side are bonded or faux leather. This brings down the overall quality of the piece, sure, but it could help you save some money.

The look you'd like to achieve

We've thrown around the word 'patina' a couple of times in this article. And you know what? Patina is not for everybody.

Some people find the natural aging process of full-grain leather very appealing. This gives your furniture a rustic, distressed, unique, and perfectly imperfect look. You can also get this look with an aniline-dyed top grain leather

If you'd prefer your leather to look a little more uniform, pretty much any corrected leather can get you there. You can also achieve that style - though the quality will suffer - with faux or bonded leather.

How do I look after leather furniture?

Leather furniture is sought after for its durability and low maintenance. It's generally pretty easy to clean, too. But there is a little bit of upkeep that goes along with owning a piece of leather furniture. To find out what you're in for (and it's not much), check out Leather Furniture Maintenance.

Types of Leather: Understanding Your Options - Karo Office Chairs

Because there are so many leather office chairs for sale in South Africa, it is important to consider the different types of leather available, and also the common misconception surrounding the term 'genuine leather'. For some customers, 'leather is leather', but this is not the case as there are huge differences between the different types of leather used for home and office furniture, and chairs in particular. Broadly speaking, office and casino chairs can be upholstered in leather, bonded leather or faux leather, and each variant is quite different from the next. 

Whether you're looking for a luxurious, high-end feel or a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain option, understanding the different types of leather can help you make an informed decision. In this guide, you'll learn about the various grades of natural leather, as well as artificial leather options like bonded leather and vinyl.

Genuine leather is a natural product that comes directly from an animal hide. 
Bonded leather and faux leather are synthetic, or artificial products that are made to look like genuine leather.

Leather has a unique and inherent smell that cannot be imitated. Think of the beautiful smell of a new car with leather upholstery!

The outer layer of leather is the strongest. As you go lower, leather loses its density. The lower layers are used to make the softer versions of leather such as suede.

Unfortunately, when it comes to leather, many people are not familiar with such terms as full, natural, top or corrected grain. Instead they simply look for the words genuine leather. 

a. Full or Natural Grain Leather

Full or natural grain leather is the highest quality of all types of leather and also the most expensive. It is the top layer of the hide and includes the full thickness of the natural grain. With full grain leather, you can see the pattern of the skin and marks and scars from the animal's life. It is not sanded or buffed to remove these marks or imperfections. As the natural grain contains the strongest fibers in the hide, full grain leather is the strongest and most durable of all leathers. It also retains its original breathability and is weatherproof and damage-resistant.

b. Top Grain Corrected Leather

Top grain corrected leather is the second-highest quality and is the type most commonly used in high-end genuine leather products and leather office chairs. With top grain leather, the top of the hide is sanded or split off which removes the imperfections and marks on the surface. By removing the top portion of the hide, top grain leather loses some of its strongest fibers and as a result, it is not as strong and durable as full grain leather. It is however, more affordable.

After sanding away the marks and imperfections, top grain leather is imprinted or embossed with a fake grain to give it a uniform look. The leather is then pigmented and finished off with a clear protective layer. This protective layer prevents corrected leather from developing a natural patina like full grain leather, instead it will just get scuffed. The finishing coat reduces the breathability of the leather, but it provides protection against stains that would otherwise sink into full grain leather. Corrected leather is therefore much easier to clean.

Corrected leather is highly suitable for those applications where 'uniformity, durability and stain resistance is important'. As a result, it is often used for home and office furniture, as well as casino chairs in South Africa.

c. Split Grain Leather

Split grain leather is the third split or segment of the animal hide. It is the weakest portion of the hide and requires chemical treatment to improve it's strength and durability. It is more altered or corrected than top grain leather, and the chemical treatment ensures that it is not as soft and supple.

Although split leather is better than artificial or faux leather, it is certainly not the best leather you can get. It is also the least expensive. As a result, split grain leather is often used for less expensive furniture or on the parts of furniture that experience less heavy use, such as the sides and backs of sofas, or the outside backs of office chairs.

2. Bonded or Reconstituted Leather

DEFINITION:
Bonded leather is the chipboard or particle board of leathers. 

If you enjoy the appearance and feel of leather but not the price tag, then bonded or reconstituted leather is the way to go. Bonded leather is a synthetic leather manufactured from left over scraps of leather which are made into a pulp and mixed with bonding materials. It is then attached to a fibre cloth or paper backed sheet, dyed, embossed with leather like textures, and coated with polyurethane to give it a glossy look and feel of leather.

Durability, smell, and texture depend on the degree of organic leather in the chemical mix, which can vary anywhere from 10% to 90%. Bonded leather office chairs are available for sale in South Africa and can look very nice. However, they cannot be compared to grain leathers in terms of quality and durability.

a. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) or Vinyl Faux Leather

Vinyl (PVC) is made from two synthetic materials. The fibres of the upholstery are made from strong polyester fibres that are coated with polyvinylchloride (PVC) and plasticizers (phthalic acid). The PVC is melted onto the surface of the fibers, sealing them closed and making a virtually waterproof surface that is flexible and tough. Vinyl is harder and more durable than PU leather because it has additional layers underneath its coating. 

Vinyl upholstery is easy to clean and maintain, and is typically used where cleanliness is a top priority. Common examples are hospitals, restaurants, laboratories and factories. Vinyl can become uncomfortably hot if left in the sun and your skin can stick to its surface. Vinyl may also crack with extended use, especially if it is cleaned with alcohol-based solvents. Such cleaning agents destroy the plasticisers and make the vinyl hard and brittle.

b. Polyurethane (PU) Faux Leather

PU is made by coating a backing fabric such as cotton or polyester with a flexible polymer and then treating it to look more like an animal hide. PU upholstery looks and feels more like real leather. Because there are no plasticisers used in PU, it doesn't crack or peel like vinyl, and will remain soft and supple. PU is considered greener than Vinyl because it does not create dioxins. Because it is softer and more pliable than vinyl, PU is easier to work with.

PU is the most realistic imitation of leather as it can wrinkle like leather, and has a leather feel when used on office chairs and other furniture. Of the two types of faux leather, PU is more expensive to produce.

Conclusion

Not all leathers are created equal and there are a number of different types available for office and casino chairs. If you are looking for a 'genuine leather' office chair for sale in South Africa, it must be one that is upholstered with an animal hide. By understanding the differences between the types of leather as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each, you should be in a better position to make an informed decision as to which is best for your office furniture requirements.

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