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A classic returns...
Leather sofas are having a bit of a moment. Not that they really went anywhere, but they couldn't quite compete with the iron grip that velvet sofas have had over us for the past few years. But leather sofas are a classic for a reason – they are elegant in most of their forms, they last forever, and can fit into most conceivable design schemes.
Leather sofas are having something of a renaissance, influenced by the resurgence of 1970s design references like brown and mustard colours, low-slung furniture and the stratospheric rise of vintage.
Leather sofas – especially oversized, wraparound U-shaped sofas – were a key part of 1970s design and formed the focal point of living spaces, and their current day manifestations are equally as large, if modernised with clever additions like storage ottomans, stain-resistant coatings and a lovely spectrum of colours.
There may be a misconception that leather sofas are old-fashioned and would therefore feel out of place in a contemporary home, but the reality couldn't be further from this. If you think of leather as simply the finish rather than the principal design feature of a sofa, it's easier to see where one might fit in your home. A leather sofa can indeed be classic – you really can't beat a handsome Chesterfield – but it could equally lean into mid-century with sloped arms and legs and a slim frame, or feel super modern in a sleek navy blue.
The choice between a real or faux leather sofa may well come down to your personal views on using animal hide, but from a practicality standpoint, there are pros and cons to each.
Real leather sofas tend to be far more expensive than synthetic leathers, but they do age better. Real leather has better resilience over time, where synthetic alternatives can crack and tear. Faux leather is easier to keep clean – more on cleaning real leather sofas below – and requires less upkeep. It can be a nicer fabric too in hot weather, where leather can become quite hot and sticky.
Black and brown are the most widely available colour options for leather sofas, with shades of brown from a light tan to a rich mahogany being the most popular.
Light browns are fairly easy to work with in the home because you can treat them like a neutral – so if you take a tan leather sofa for instance, you can put it with other soft colours like creams and whites, and then add accents like a mid blue, buttercup yellow, or go the other way entirely and introduce a moody burgundy or navy. The thing to remember is that light browns will very much sit in the background.
With mid browns like a caramel or tan, you can look to those 1970s references, and create something really warm by introducing mustards, terracotta, shades of pink and red and finish with some fresh greens.
Dark browns are a little trickier to manage because they can draw the eye so much. In this instance, you can consider a dark brown as your accent or statement colour and work backwards. Again, a soft base of creams and whites would work well, and you might want to lighten the tone with pastels or contrast a dark brown with a shock of bright pink or electric blue in a nice old-meets-new way.
A leather sofa is pretty hardy. Most stains can be wiped away and wrinkles and scratches only add to its patina. For general upkeep, a leather sofa should be vacuumed and dusted every few weeks, but you should only vacuum under the cushions and never on the leather itself without a soft brush attachment.
Leather sofas do benefit from a deep clean with specialist tools like this leather cleaning kit from Lakeland. Lighter colours should be deep cleaned twice a year, while dark brown or black leathers have a bit more natural resilience, and can be deep cleaned once a year.
Below, we look at the best leather sofas from the high street, from XL ottomans to vintage designs from the archives.
A great example of doing modern leather sofas really, really well. This is the House Beautiful Freya sofa from DFS that comes in 10 different colour options with discreet hidden storage, and ample space to put your feet up.
Green leather seems to be the most popular alternative to black and brown, and for good reason. These greens will invariably be very dark, and would do well paired with lots of natural materials. The pale wood here serves as a perfect foil to the richer green leather.
A leather Chesterfield is about as classic as it gets. This is a totally failsafe option, because not only will a Chesterfield never go out of style, but it will age beautifully too.
The Altamura sofa from Heal's is like the last word in lived-in luxury. This is where leather sofas can become pricey – this model is made in Italy with the finest leathers – but it will outlast any fabric sofa on the market.
The Penley sofa from Barker & Stonehouse really plays on the soft and squidgy aspects of leather, with its plump cushions and curved armrests that feel really inviting. There is a matching armchair too should you wish to sink in all by yourself.
There is something a bit 1960s about the slim frame, dark wood base and elegant cushions on this John Lewis sofa that wouldn't be out of place in a Mad Men-esque office. It would really come into its own in a living room full of vintage pieces.
A lesser-seen colourway on this Chesterfield-inspired Charme sofa from DFS, but one which mitigates some of its more traditional associations.
If you have the patience to scour vintage sites like Vinterior or Pamono, you will find a real gem. This fabulous example is an original Sven Skipper sofa in a seaweed green leather. Always consider the potential cost of having very old pieces restored by a professional.
Some serious retro influences in the Oban leather sofa from Barker & Stonehouse with its spindly legs and wide open frame. A sofa with such low arms is always really great for stretching out.
A totally contemporary take, and a great use of a petrol blue leather. There is a reclining option on this sofa too, to add to the comfort.
This design scheme is a perfect reference point for those who want to introduce a mid brown leather sofa into their living room. There is a real embrace of warm colours and a nice mix of old and new that is mirrored in that fabulous and eclectic gallery wall. Proof too that electric blue makes a great partner to brown leather.
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