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How to repair worn leather sofa


How to repair a leather couch – and restore it to its best

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(Image credit: DFS)

Knowing how to repair a leather couch is essential if you own one and have a busy family home – and especially pets who might sneak on it occasionally. 

Due to its durability and longevity, leather is a firm favorite when it comes to upholstery. Leather also ages beautifully making it the perfect investment piece. A leather couch is always on trend and picking a neutral shade ensures it will always go with your scheme.

However, leather can be prone to damage – including scratches. We've asked the experts and collated their advice to ensure that you know how to keep your couch looking its absolute best. 

See: How to clean a leather sofa – so that it looks as good as new

How do you repair a damaged leather couch?

'Although leather is pretty tough, it can of course be cut, torn or punctured. This can obviously be upsetting as leather is a fairly expensive fabric, and replacing damaged covers might be a significant expense. Fortunately, that is very rarely necessary as cuts and tears can usually be repaired at home with a little care and the right tools.' says John Darling, founder of luxury upholsterers Darlings of Chelsea .

However, before you embark on repair projects, it's important to establish the condition of the leather and the age of the couch. 'Just like tire wear on a vehicle, leather furniture can get worn down and sometimes degraded beyond the point of repair.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew

So can leather upholstery be repaired? Yes, leather upholstery can be repaired. Read on to find out how.

How can I restore my faded leather couch to color?

(Image credit: Darlings of Chelsea)

You can restore your faded leather couch by spot-touching specialist dyes and finishes, that are simply applied with a sponge and allowed to dry – it is very easy to do yourself, plus it's a lot more cost-effective than purchasing a new leather sofa.

Lesandre Holiday, CEO of Rub 'n' Restore says most touch-up projects 'only require a 2 to 8oz color  (US$16 to $48) and 2 to 4oz clear finish (US$8 to $14). All genuine leathers are candidates, even lesser quality corrected grain. The exceptions are nubuck and suede.'

However, when it comes to spot-touching, the main challenge is matching the color. Lesandre advises picking a company with a color matching service, and while this does add to the cost, it ensures that your touch-ups will be hardly noticeable. 

'We offer a service that requires sending a sample and may cost up to US$60 with an 8oz color minimum.'

How to soften old leather?

You can soften old leather by investing in a specialist conditioner – ideally one that contains lanolin – to keep the material supple. 

'To protect your leather, using a specialist conditioner from a quality care kit will help to clean and condition your product, reviving the sheen of the leather and preserving its soft suppleness. To prevent the leather losing its rich color or from becoming dry, apply this conditioner twice a year,' says Suzy McMahon, buying director Sofology .

There are several DIY methods that include using petroleum jelly or coconut oil, but these have been shown to have mixed results and may stain your couch. It is worth selecting a specific leather conditioner to ensure that the product is compatible with leather couches and will achieve your desired effect.

Can you fix a leather couch that is peeling?

(Image credit: Philip Lauterbach)

You can fix a peeling leather couch quite easily. However, genuine leather does not peel or flaking off. This is instead a clear indication that your couch is made of bonded or blended leather which is also known as faux leather. You can temporarily improve the look of your faux leather sofa with a filler and color but this will be a short term fix. It is worth considering replacing it with a genuine leather sofa which, while more expensive, will last a lot longer.

Genuine leather will crack rather than peel. 'This happens due to the desiccation of the fiber, as its natural oils evaporate,' says Lesandre Holiday. 'This causes the leather to shrink and stiffen and then become damaged with stress and use.' You can prevent this by using a conditioner which should be applied once or twice a year at most.

If it's already too late to prevent cracking, thankfully you can fix a cracked leather couch by using a filler. Rub 'n' Restore's water-based leather filler kit costs from $23 and is simply applied to cracks, then treated with a color to conceal them. 

How do you repair a rip in a leather sofa?

(Image credit: Future)

You can repair a rip in a leather couch with super glue, a canvas or leather sub patch, some sandpaper and a sharp knife. You may also need some filler and a leather dye that matches your sofa. All of these items are available online or from DIY or home stores

'The basic process is to clean up the tear by carefully trimming it with a sharp blade, then place the patch underneath the tear and super glue both sides of the torn material to it, placing the edges of the tear together if possible so there is no gap,' says John Darling founder of luxury sofa manufacturer Darlings of Chelsea.  

'In many cases, this is sufficient and, with a high-quality patch and good super glue, will hold firmly for the lifetime of the sofa and be almost invisible.'

If the patch or join is still visible, then push heavy leather filler into the gap, building it up into thin layers. You can then color the filler and the patched area to make sure it blends in. 'As always, it is best to test any dye you use on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it matches,' advises John.

If the damage is severe then DIY repair may not be possible and you should consult a professional. 'An expert upholster can remove the ripped panel and replace it with one cut from matched leather,' advises Greg Miller, leather technician from Blenkinsop Leathers Ltd .

'How cost effective using a professional would be is doubtful, especially with a lower budget sofa. The most economic option might be to simply replace it, though of course not the most environmentally-friendly.'

How do you repair a split seam on a leather couch?

When it comes to repairing a split seam on a leather couch, in most cases it is best to leave this to the professionals.  

'Leather is thick and can be tough to stitch by hand. It requires special needles, threads, tools, and know-how in order to do it properly, have it match the rest of the couch, and ensure it holds up over time.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew 'Professionals will be able to match the seam to the same pattern as the rest of the couch and make sure that it will hold together.'

How much does it cost to repair a leather couch?

The cost of repairing a leather sofa will depend on the extent of the damage. If you are looking to repair a small area of cracking or a single scratch on a DIY basis then it can cost as little as $20 for a patch repair kit. 

Be sure to fully research a product before committing as there are lots of budget options that can cause more damage than good. Magic Mender or Rub 'n' Restore both have lots of advice about finding the best DIY kit as well as offering personalized advice to help you with your specific problem. 

See: How to restore wood furniture – an expert guide

For larger repairs, it is worth consulting a professional but this does come at a price. Larger professional repairs can cost between $500 and $1,200 – and in some cases it will cost less to replace the piece rather than repair so be sure to get a selection of quotes before you decide on whether to repair or replace. 

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

What To Do To Restore Old, Torn, Or Worn-out Leather Furniture

Leather seats are a stylish trend and give a unique, classy look to your home interior. As much as leather seats are intended to be durable, they are prone to cracking, tearing at the seams, or puncturing. A lot of factors may be involved contributing to your leather seats losing their original quality. If you have kids, you may find pen punctures on your couch, pets may scratch the seats, and on most occasions, wear and tear may result from time.

When you notice that your leather couch is beginning to tear, it should be an issue of concern but not big enough to make you want to get rid of your furniture. You can repair leather, and the best part is that you can do it yourself if you have the right tools for the job or seek the help of a professional in leather repair. The type and approach method to repair your leather couch will depend on the leather’s degree of damage and the type of leather involved.

You can use a leather conditioner to repair minor scratches on your leather furniture. These scratches can be due to sharp objects like scissors, pets, or cutlery. You can obtain a leather conditioning product from an auto parts store or hardware then apply it to the couch using a soft clean cloth. Massage the conditioner to the damaged furniture area and wipe off the excess using the soft fabric. You will have to reach out to a leather expert if the tears and scratches are too deep.

A leather repair kit will come in handy if you deal with holes and punctures on your leather furniture; it can be purchased from local hardware or an auto spare shop. A typical leather repair kit contains a colorant, cleaner, and conditioner. Leather repair kits come in different makes and designs. Contact an expert in leather repair if you are afraid repairing the damage yourself might make things worse.

Leather furniture is bound to develop split seams over time. Divided seams can be easily repaired with a needle and thread by stitching. If you are good with the needle and thread, you can stitch the leather furniture yourself as soon as the split seams appear so that you don’t risk exposing the backing and foam. You will require a leather needle, thread, and glue if you decide to take on the task of stitching the furniture by yourself.

Tears and rips are also common phenomena that occurs in leather furniture. When you notice your leather couch deteriorating due to tears and rips, you should consider getting leather glue to fix this problem. Apply leather glue on small tears on your couch using a thin applicator and pinch the two sides of the tear together so that the adhesive may stick. You can use replacement leather for bigger holes by cutting a patch and replacing it on the torn part. Note that the patch you cut from the replacement leather should have the same color and pattern as the existing leather.

Contact Experts For Flawless Finishing Of Bigger Repair Jobs Of Your Leather Furniture

It is possible to do the small repair jobs on your leather furniture by yourself, but the bigger ones will require expertise and experience. A leather expert will know the right tools and type of repair your leather furniture will need depending on the extent of damage and type of leather used. Leather Medic® can help and provide expert advice if you require repair for your leather furniture.

Do-it-yourself leather furniture repair

Do-it-yourself leather furniture repair is a rather interesting topic for conversation. Such knowledge will be useful not only for owners of a leather sofa, but also for those who have leather seats in a car. It just so happened that leather products, whether it be a jacket, boots, an armchair or a leather interior in your favorite car, are a sign of status and luxury. No matter how animal advocates fight these fashion trends, they are still relevant. It is unlikely that there will be many people who would not dream of upholstered furniture covered with leather. If you are the happy owner of this “dream”, then sooner or later you will be worried about the question of how to restore this skin on a sofa, armchair, stool and other items.

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A little about the material

Genuine leather is a more practical material than fabric. It is durable, elastic, not easily soiled, pleasant to the body, has a long service life. But, like everything in this world, it is not eternal. Even if you were careful, sooner or later the skin will take on a worn and dull look, especially on the armrests.

Quite often, owners of leather furniture face small scratches, cuts, burnt holes and other defects on the surface of the leather. Drag a sofa or chair, of course, is an ideal way out, but still it is worth trying to save the budget by doing minor repairs with your own hands or with the help of specialists.

Below you will find information on how to restore the artificial leather on the sofa and natural, what to do so that the surface of your favorite furniture again acquires a presentable look.

So, how can you bring your leather furniture back to its original beauty?

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Shabby appearance, small cracks, stains

How to restore leather furniture? Can you restore yourself? If, over time, the leather upholstery swept through, it can be easily sewn up or glued. First of all, the surface of the furniture must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and stains. They are what give it a ugly look.

Procedure:

  1. Before restoring, be sure to first wipe the surface of the furniture with soapy water, and after drying with medical alcohol (70%). It will remove not only the remnants of dirt, but also grease from the surface.

Important! Stains from grease, food, stationery and other things should be wiped off immediately. If you are not dealing with smooth leather, but with suede and nubuck, white wine vinegar should be used instead of alcohol. Although there are special cleaners for leather, they are not only more expensive, but also less effective, as practice shows.

  1. If your sofa has only scuffs and no holes, cuts or scratches, then the surface can be restored to an updated look with just painting. Skin paint will help mask small cracks and scratches, even out the color. Now on sale is a fairly large range of dyes for the skin. They can be in jars or in the form of a spray:
    • Spray application is faster and more convenient. You only need to choose the right tone of the substance. If there is no perfect match, it is better to take a little darker.

Important! It is necessary to spray the paint in the spray not randomly, but in smooth zigzag movements.

    • When purchased in jars, you have the option of mixing shades to achieve the desired result.

Important! Remember that you cannot mix the same color twice. Therefore, calculate the area of ​​the surface to be painted and dilute the required amount of paint according to the instructions.

    • Experts recommend using a foam sponge to apply paint from a can.

Important! The color will best lie down and shade if this sponge is slightly moistened with water. You can also use an airbrush or spray gun for painting.

    • If the color in the bottle suits you, and you take several of these containers, make sure that they are all from the same batch so that the shade does not differ.
    • Each type of leather has its own type of paint: for smooth, patent, suede and nubuck.

Important! Do not forget to protect yourself and the surfaces adjacent to the sofa from getting paint before painting. It is also advisable to wear a respirator.

  1. After painting, allow furniture surfaces to dry thoroughly. If necessary, you can apply a second layer or a finishing layer that gives shine to the skin.

Important! Periodically, you need to wipe the skin with special caring compositions. This, as advertised, will “keep your skin looking youthful” and will also prevent dirt from sinking deep into the surface of the upholstery.

Do-it-yourself repair of a leather sofa in case of small defects in the form of small cracks, stains or scuffs can be considered completed.

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Scratches

Scratches or hooks are injuries when only the top layer of the skin is touched, and it has separated from the bottom layer in a narrow strip. This strip just needs to be glued in place:

Important! When using superglue, keep in mind that the part of the skin that has been in contact with superglue will become hard, and if you do not wipe off the remaining glue from the front surface in time, it will also be covered with a white coating.

Restoration algorithm:

  1. To remove the hold, you need to degrease the damaged area with medical alcohol and wait for a while until the surface becomes dry.
  2. Now, with a toothpick or a very thin brush, apply glue to the back of the hold and gently press it into place, smoothing it with your finger from the base to the end of the hold.
  3. After all the manipulations with the glue, be sure to remove the remaining glue from the surface with a paper towel.
  4. Do not use the sofa until the adhesive is completely dry.

Important! The time it takes to dry the composition, see the label. It is also not advisable to use a hair dryer to speed up the drying of the glue. Let it dry at room temperature.

Usually this manipulation is enough to make the scratch invisible.

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Cuts

Cuts are not as easy as scratches, although it is possible to fix the situation. Here, all layers of the skin are affected, up to the foam rubber itself. In this case, not only glue, but also a patch is useful.

Important! The patch will be applied from the inside, so its color doesn't really matter. It can be either a piece of leather or any other dense elastic material.

Procedure:

  1. You need to carefully use tweezers and a stack (nail file or other handy tool) to fill the patch under the incision. The patch must be larger than the defect.
  2. If there are fibers protruding from the edges of the cut, carefully cut them off.
  3. Then, using a toothpick, apply an even layer of adhesive to the inside of the skin around the incision and gently press the skin against the patch, making sure the edges match up.

Important! In order not to press down with your hand for a long time, put a load on this place for an hour.

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Tears, holes

How to repair a hole in a leather sofa? If the furniture has suffered more seriously - a hole has been burned with a cigarette, a hole with jagged edges has broken through, and the like, the best restoration option would be to repair with the help of the so-called “liquid skin”.

Important! Usually this substance is included in the repair kit for leather furniture. But if you don't have it, "liquid skin" can be bought.

What is liquid skin?

Liquid Leather is an innovative polymer blend based on alcohol and water, also containing rubber resin and dye. Most often, this substance is sold in jars of small volume (up to 20 ml). Manufacturers produce a product of different colors individually (Saphir - 40 shades), or sets of 7 colors.

Important! In order to get the desired shade, the colors will have to be mixed.

Liquid Skin is originally a creamy mass that must be applied with a stack or a small spatula. After drying, this substance turns into a durable elastic film, which in its characteristics is similar to genuine leather. It is elastic, has water-repellent properties, does not form creases.

Important! With this tool, you can repair not only furniture and seats in the car, but also wallets, bags, shoes, jackets, gloves and other leather products.

“Liquid leather” is best combined with natural, although it can also be used to repair a leatherette sofa with your own hands.

Important! Leatherette, eco-leather and other types of leatherette are glued with “liquid skin”, but the grip will not be so reliable.

This patch will hold securely and last a long time. The patch can delaminate and fall off after a while, that is, it will have to be updated several times. Although, if this is a small area, and it is not subjected to friction and heavy loads, the patch will last a long time.

Algorithm for restoring the sofa cover with liquid leather:

Important! When applying this tool, keep in mind that after drying, it may lighten or darken a little. Therefore, before applying, test in an inconspicuous place and wait for it to dry.

As you can see, do-it-yourself leather furniture restoration is not as difficult as it might seem at first.

How to repair the leatherette on the sofa?

Liquid leather patch on natural material will hold up well and last a long time. But, as we wrote earlier, fixing leatherette on a sofa at home will not work perfectly, since there will be no high-quality hitch. On artificial leather, it is possible to repair holes with “liquid skin”, but only if they are small and not located in places with a constant load.

Important! If the hole in the leatherette is large and this area is constantly subjected to friction or stretching, then it will be more practical to replace the upholstery than to lubricate the defect with “liquid leather” every month and tint it.

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Sofa Upholstery

If you want to radically update a sofa or armchair because the upholstery is worn out or its shade does not match the color scheme of the room, then the best way out is to replace the upholstery. Ideally, this task should be entrusted to professionals. If you have the necessary skills and want to do it yourself, then you can try.

To do this, you need to have on the farm:

Procedure:

Important! For seams, use a strong reinforced thread to match the new upholstery. Simple threads will not work - they will not withstand the load.

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As you can see, you can repair a hole in a leather sofa by yourself, without the help of any clever means. With regard to artificial materials, the situation is somewhat more complicated, however, it is always possible and worth a try. In order for the updated sofa to stay like new longer, do not forget to remove dirt in time and use furniture care products regularly.

Posted on 01/19/2018 Updated on 07/03/2019 by

15 best ways to remove scratches

Leather is used to upholster a wide range of contemporary furniture. The material is durable, environmentally friendly, presentable appearance and aesthetics. During operation, the upholstery becomes dirty, loses its brightness, scratches. To maintain the proper appearance of furniture, it is necessary to repair and restore leather sofas.

Contents

Necessary materials and tools

When planning the repair of sofa , it is recommended to prepare tools and accessories in advance . In most situations, it is sufficient to use a standard set of tools.

Screwdriver set

Phillips and flathead screwdrivers are required for loosening and fixing fasteners. Part of the details of the leather sofa is screwed with brackets, screws and screws.

Wrenches

Wrenches are required if furniture parts are bolted. It is better to take a set of several keys, since the fasteners may vary in size.

Screwdriver

If you need to use a screwdriver, you should also choose a set of drills for it. Screwdrivers come with one, two or three speeds. As a rule, at the first speed they work with fasteners, and the rest are turned on when drilling holes.

Pliers

The tip of the pliers is straight and has no notches. With the help of pliers, you can conveniently grab and bend small metal parts. There are multifunctional pliers with multiple gripping zones.

Staple Remover

The purpose of the staple remover is to quickly remove staples of various sizes and shapes with a pliers-like grip. The universal staple remover has compact dimensions, is equipped with a rust-resistant working part and a comfortable handle.

Paint or liquid leather

Renovation of artificial and genuine leather furniture is rarely complete without paint and liquid leather. Materials are suitable for repairing tears, cuts and other defects. Distinctive features of liquid skin, in comparison with paint, are:

  1. Easy to apply. Liquid skin adheres well and can be easily removed in case of incorrect application or inappropriate shade.
  2. Fast curing. The curing time is 2-8 hours and varies according to the thickness of the applied material.
  3. Resistant to extreme temperatures. After hardening, liquid skin does not lose its original characteristics at temperatures from -35 to 70 degrees.
  4. Ductility and high strength. With any impact after drying, the skin restores its original shape.

Foam rubber

Foam rubber is a common filler for sofas. As a result of prolonged use of furniture, the filler loses its original characteristics. To replace the material, you can purchase foam rubber in the size corresponding to the sofa, or cut out individual pieces and place them in problem areas under the upholstery.

Needle and thread

Replacing the padding and other restoration work will require cutting the upholstery at the seams. Then you will need to sew the parts back with a needle and thread.

Upholstery material

To replace the upholstery itself, the material must be selected in advance. When choosing, it is important to consider the color of the upholstery, as this directly affects the visual perception and appearance of the sofa.

You also need to make sure that the material is of good quality, check the resistance to deformation and creasing.

Basic methods of DIY restoration

The process of restoring a leather sofa depends on the condition of the upholstery, the presence of certain defects and the requirements for the final result. When planning to restore and repair furniture, you need to take into account the nuances and select the appropriate materials.

How to remove scratches

Scratches on leather upholstery are a common problem. Defects arise from the claws of domestic animals and the impact of various objects. To eliminate scratches, you can use improvised means.

Olive oil

If a dog or cat has scratched the surface of the sofa, apply olive oil to a cotton pad and wipe the scratches. A minor defect will disappear after the skin has dried as a result of the initial treatment. Otherwise, you need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Wax application

Beeswax helps to effectively remove small and shallow scratches on leather furniture. The bee product is heated until soft and damaged areas are treated. When the wax hardens, it is carefully scraped off the upholstery.

Liquid Skin

The use of Liquid Leather can be used to repair large damage. The material is applied to scratches and left for several hours until completely solidified. When the liquid skin hardens, the furniture can continue to be freely used.

Nail polish and marker

Nail polish and marker are good for repairing sofa scratches. A transparent varnish is applied in a small amount to scratches and wait for drying. After restoration, a slightly visible transparent crust will remain on the surface of the upholstery.

When using a marker, just paint over scratched areas. It is important to choose a permanent marker that matches the color of the upholstery material.

Rubber adhesive

The adhesive is rubbed into the scratches and allowed to dry. When the damaged areas are covered with an adhesive crust, you need to additionally treat them with a special paint, chosen according to the color of the leather sofa.

Shoe cream

Shoe cream matching the shade is rubbed into the scratched areas. The cream does not eliminate defects, but only visually masks them.

Iron

The upholstery of the leather sofa can be treated with a warm iron. A cotton cloth is applied to the surface of the furniture and ironed over the damaged areas. The duration of each contact of the iron and furniture should not exceed 10 seconds.

Paint or varnish

Specially formulated leather sofa restoration materials are used to eliminate scuff marks and restore original color. It is enough to choose a paint or varnish that matches the color and apply it to the upholstery. After drying, you can use the furniture.

Upholstery

Upholstery is a complete reupholstering of the sofa. As a result of the upholstery, it is possible to completely change the appearance of the furniture. You can do the work yourself or contact a specialized workshop. For self-constriction, it is important to choose the material of a suitable color and in sufficient quantities.

Replacing fittings

Leather sofas use parts to connect individual parts, legs, transformation mechanism and other fittings.

If parts cannot be repaired, new parts must be purchased and replaced.

Patches

Sofa patches are pieces of leather that are fixed on worn pieces of furniture. When restoring a sofa without outside help, it is recommended to use self-adhesive patches, on the reverse side of which there is a special Velcro.

Pads

Sofa pads are most often made of wood and are mounted on armrests. The use of overlays allows you to visually hide holes and scuffs. In this case, it will not be necessary to repair each damaged area, since the overlay covers a large area at once. In addition, an additional advantage is the creation of a place where you can conveniently store various things.

Taping

Specialized products, including liquid leather and adhesive-based formulations, can be used to patch imperfections in the sofa's leather upholstery. The selected agent is applied to areas that require restoration, or the upholstery is completely processed. The second option is more preferable, because it avoids hue differences.

Peculiarities of leatherette repair

A sofa made of leatherette can be restored in a large number of ways. The material is more resistant to external influences than genuine leather. Special restoration and repair options include:

  1. Using orange peel to restore the original shine. Rubbing renews the material and provides protection against scratches.
  2. Remove grease stains on leather with normal dish detergent. The agent is applied to the sponge and gently wipe the surface.
  3. Treatment with petrol or turpentine to remove stubborn stains on upholstery. Substances penetrate the material and mask defects on the surface. After applying the substance, leave it for 15 minutes, and then rinse with water.

Safety Precautions

When using improvised products for restoring leather furniture, you must first test their effect so as not to damage the upholstery.

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