Restore faded leather sofa

Leather Sofa Restoration - how to restore faded leather

By Jessica Barron 1 Mar 2019

Leather sofas can often become faded due to age, wear or excess sunlight. In this blog post we will explore the correct procedures in leather sofa restoration.

The way in which you will restore the colour of the leather will depend on the type of leather you’re working with.

Before you start! Pour a drop of water onto an undamaged area of the leather sofa and rub it in with your finger. If the leather darkens and the water soaks in, the leather is absorbent.

If the leather is not absorbent, please read our How to Restore Leather guide.

If it is absorbent, please keep on reading…

Leather Sofa Restoration - Watch the video

The below video shows you how to restore a leather sofa using our Leather Balm. The product is very easy-to-use, comes in a wide range of colours, and gives instant and impressive restoration results when restoring leather sofas.

Leather Sofa Restoration Process

Aniline and Pull Up leathers are both extremely absorbent as they have very little, to no lacquered finish applied after dying. This lacquered finish can often act as a protective barrier so these types of leather, commonly used on leather sofas and other furniture, tend to be more difficult to care for as they stain and fade easily (without the lacquer to protect them).

If the colour on your leather sofa has started to fade, we recommend you use our Leather Restoration Cream to restore it, known as our Leather Re-Colouring Balm. The Balm renovates the colour and aspect of all absorbent leather items both old and new. There are 16 colours formulated for use on leather from a dark to light shade.

It works great at restoring colour to leather sofas that have been exposed to sunlight or direct heat and is ideal for colouring cat scratches, dried out and faded areas.

The Leather Re-colouring Balm 100% absorbs into your leather so will not rub off onto any clothes. Just wipe it into the leather, leave it to soak in for a few minutes and then buff the suface with a clean cloth.

Only one application is necessary. With use, the leather will fade again but this can be reduced by using the Leather Protection Cream. The Leather Re-colouring Balm is generally re-applied once every three years.

Recommended by Real Homes magazine for Leather Sofa Restoration

Real Homes magazine recommends our Leather Re-Colouring Balm to help one of their customers use it for the restoration of a leather sofa. Priced at £21.95.

Customer Results restoring leather sofas

Our Leather Recolouring Balm has proved to be a customer favourite with many sharing their fantastic results on our social pages for the world to see. Here are some examples below of how it has been used to restore leather sofas.

"Oh my word! I ordered your furniture balm and it is absolutely amazing! I really didn't believe it would be as good as this. My leather furniture came up like new.It is so easy to use, I have never done anything like this before and I found it easy to do. A fantastic product." - Tina Ward

"Just spent an hour recolouring our 2 leather sofas due to our 2 labradors jumping all over them and scratching them. I have to say I am really impressed with leather re-colouring balm that I bought from Furniture Clinic. Very easy to apply, the balm covers really well and we have loads left in the pot. Quick buff with a clean cloth and they are as good as new! Before and after photos attached - thanks furniture clinic!!" - Anna Tuggey

Problems with your leather?

If your leather sofa is suffering from more than a little colour loss, you can find all of our leather repair and restoration products, including the Leather Recolouring balm on our online store, as well as a range of 'How-to' guides and video tutorials to help you every step of the way.

We also offer nationwide leather cleaning, repair and restoration services.

Posted in Leather Restoration

Related Posts

Restoring a Faded Leather Couch

Breathe new life into your old leather furniture using these easy-to-follow steps

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!

Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.

Normal wear and tear (think sweat, body oils, and even sunlight) can cause your once vibrant leather furniture to fade and crack over time. But you don’t need to toss it out and head to IKEA for a new couch—instead, you can repair slightly damaged leather with a few inexpensive materials from your local fabric store and a bit of elbow grease.

Note: If you feel like your leather sofa or chairs are more than just slightly damaged, or you’re more of a lay-on-the-couch than a fix-the-couch type, you can often hire a local upholstery professional who specializes in leather furniture refinishing and repair to do the job for you. This can cost between $195–$475, depending on the size, the amount of damage or fading there is, and the type of leather.

Difficulty: 2 out of 5

Time: about one day

Tools and Materials Needed:

Vacuum with upholstery attachments
Leather safe cleaning solution
Bucket for mixing
Three microfiber cloths
Leather conditioner
Leather recoloring kit (for significant color damage)
Tarp or blanket to put under your furniture

1. Determine the Type of Leather

Before you get started cleaning your furniture’s upholstery, determine what type of leather you’re working with.

Different varieties of leather will all have different care needs. Because leather sofas can cost between $1,500 and $4,000 make sure you’re not doing anything that could permanently damage your furniture in the process.

Here are some common types of leather:

Full-grain leather normally undergoes minimal processing and will retain both the look and feel of animal hide
Top-grain leather has a more polished look and feel than full-grain
Split-grain leather is similar to full grain in feel, but it can feel harder to the touch and requires more maintenance
Bonded leather is often made up of leftover pieces of scrap leather that have been rolled and pressed
Nubuck leather is harder to care for and is made from rawhide. It requires waterproofing in order to protect it from daily wear and tear.
Bi-cast leather is an inexpensive alternative to split-grain leather that is covered with a coat of polyurethane to give it the appearance of the more expensive top-grain leathers. Without regular maintenance, this type of leather is prone to cracking and peeling.
Faux leather isn’t leather at all, but a man-made alternative. It’s a great option for those worried about budgeting or leather’s environments and ethical impact.

2. Remove Loose Cushions and Vacuum

Edwin Tan / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Remove the cushions and throw away any large pieces of trash or debris that you find (and return the missing remote to the coffee table). Then run your vacuum’s upholstery attachment across the entirety of your sofa.

3. Remove Surface Debris

Clean your sofa using one of your three microfiber cloths and either a leather-safe cleaning solution (be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions) or a bucket with warm water. Get the microfiber cloth damp, but not soaking, and use it to wipe down your couch. This will remove any surface dirt that the vacuum missed and any dust that has settled back onto the surface.

4. Tackle Stubborn Stains and Messes

If your sofa has stains that aren’t wiping up easily, consider a more targeted approach. These are some common stains and the best ways to remove them from leather surfaces:

Ink stains can be removed with rubbing alcohol. Target small stains with a Q-tip or cotton swab. As you work, swap out your swab often so you don’t spread the stain around.
If you’re dealing with food or blood stains, you can use a mix of cornstarch and lemon juice. Use two parts cornstarch to one part lemon juice to create a paste and gently rub it onto the stained area.
If your sofa has grease or oil stains, try to remove them using an absorbent powder like baking soda. Apply some liberally to the affected area and let it sit for a few hours so it has a chance to absorb. Use a dry cloth to wipe it up when you’re through. If you can’t get the powder up with a dry cloth alone, try using step three.

As with any cleaner, you should test an inconspicuous area before applying it to a place where color loss or damage would be noticeable.

5. Buff the Surfaces Dry

Manuel-F-O / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Leaving damp areas on your couch can cause streaking or discoloration. So after you’ve cleaned, use a fresh microfiber cloth and go over small sections of your furniture in circular motions until dry.

6. Retouch Your Sofa Color

If your sofa’s color has faded significantly from the sun, retouch the color using a leather recoloring kit. These can be purchased directly from your sofa manufacturer in some cases. If they don’t carry them, try a fabric or specialty store that deals with leather upholstery. If you’ve never attempted retouching your sofa’s color you may want to ask a pro for help when it comes to color matching your couch to the kit.

These kits each come with their own sets of instructions, so follow the manufacturer's directions. Remember to use the tarp to cover any nearby furniture or flooring that could be in the splash zone while you’re dealing with the recoloring kit, as the dyes can get onto places you don’t want them.

7. Protect Your Couch With a Conditioner

If your sofa’s color hasn’t faded all that much and just needs a slight tone tune-up, you can often get amazing results by conditioning your leather couch. These are available wherever leather products are sold. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when it comes to application and dry time.

The tarp will come in handy here, as well, and prevent any of the conditioner from leaking or dripping onto your flooring or other surfaces.

8. Enjoy Your Restored Couch

Grace Cary / Moment via Getty Images

After spending a day (or a weekend) working on restoring your leather couch to its natural beauty, kicking back and relaxing on it will feel extra good. Although, after dedicating a weekend to getting your sofa looking its best again you might rethink the whole “feet on the couch” thing.

Do-it-yourself leather furniture restoration

Furniture search

Type of furnitureKitchensUpholstered furnitureLiving roomsBedroomsChildren's furnitureAnteroomsIndividual itemsOffice furnitureCountry furnitureSpecialized furnitureInterior item

September 8, 2017

throw her away. Restoration of leather furniture is a simple procedure, for this you need to get acquainted with some secrets for its restoration. Try it and your sofa, armchair or leather upholstery by the bed will shine like new! nine0003

Case repair

If the skin is very old, then major repairs will have to be carried out, which will consist of the following stages:

case dismantling;

removal of aged upholstery fabric with filler;

repair of wooden components;

preparation of new upholstery;

fixing filler, coating;

complete assembly.

If the furniture has legs and they are loose, fix them with self-tapping screws or glue. Broken wheels can be bought at the store and put in place of the previous ones. If cracks appear in other places, they can be glued together, covered with mastic. Remove the old shabby varnish with a “sandpaper”, clean the surface, remove the dirt with a damp cloth, paint again. nine0003

Replacing the upholstery

Proceed in stages:

Carefully disassemble the body - remove the armrests, backrest.

Remove the old upholstery using a staple remover, being careful not to tear it as it will serve as a pattern for the new upholstery.

Remove the aged filler, if it has turned into a powder, vacuum it up.

Buy new leather or leather substitutes and soft padding at a fabric store. As an option, you can take a dense fabric if the old look is completely tired and you want something radically new. nine0015

Use the removed cover as a pattern: cut out a new "cover" on it.

Using a construction stapler, fix the filler on the back, armrests, seat.

Lay upholstery on top of it, pull it tight, fasten it with a stapler by analogy with the old version.

If the leather covering looks good but has cuts, use liquid leather that matches the color of the original. Faded, worn material can be dyed with a special leather paint or the same liquid leather applied in a thin layer. Torn elements can be glued "moment", then painted over. nine0003

Where can I order new leather furniture?

Would you like to treat yourself to some new leather home furnishing items? Do you want to make the interior more expensive and representative? Check out our new collection of sofas and armchairs, hosted on the RosMebel.Com service. Here you will find comprehensive information on where to buy the best pieces of furniture, get recommendations for reliable sellers and read customer reviews.

"in section Article

Restoration of leather furniture with improvised means, necessary recommendations

Leather furniture gives the room a luxurious and rich look. Interior items made of leather require special care. Over time, the furniture loses its original appearance and requires repair. You can contact the salon, where the specialists will update it. Restoration of leather furniture is also possible at home. In order to update interior items with your own hands, different methods and means are used. Recommendations and advice will help to properly restore. nine0003

Content

Restoration of color
Cleaning from spots
Elimination of scuffs and scratches
Repair of holes and cracks
Domestic and folk remedies
Video

Color Recovery

Any objects scuffs appear, and the color becomes not as saturated as it was originally. You can restore the original beauty of interior items with the help of their full or partial painting. nine0150 For these purposes, manufacturers produce paint in the form of a liquid or spray. The latter are more convenient to use and allow you to restore the color of the furniture in a short period of time. Spray paints an upholstery, without soiling clothes and a human body. Liquid paint is cheaper, but the process takes longer.

In order to carry out the process correctly and update the color of the furniture, it is recommended to follow the instructions:

First clean the surface of dirt and dust. Dry the upholstery thoroughly; nine0015
In order not to stain decorative elements and furniture inserts, cover them with masking tape;

If there are other objects nearby, it is better to cover them with a cloth or film. This will prevent paint from getting in while updating the color of the furniture;

Take a can of paint and spray at a distance of 20 cm from the repair site;

After that, leave the product for a while until the paint dries;

To make the color brighter, the surface is painted again. nine0015

It is recommended that you first check that the color of the furniture and the paint match by shade. To do this, paint a small area in an inconspicuous place. Wait for the paint to dry, as the color may change by half a tone. If the shades match, you can start painting all the furniture.
Move the sofa outdoors Lay a floor protection cloth on the floor Remove dust and dirt from the covering Spray the upholstery with water Apply dye Remove paint residue
Cleaning stains

Sooner or later stains appear on the upholstery. To eliminate them, various means are used, which are selected for each type of pollution separately. For example, to get rid of greasy stains, talc, starch and salt are used. All ingredients are mixed, sprinkled on the contaminated area. Wipe the area to be cleaned with a damp cloth.

It is important to get rid of stains as soon as they form. Some of them will be difficult or even impossible to withdraw in the future. Do-it-yourself traces of fresh blood from leather furniture are cleaned with a rag soaked in cold water. If the spots are already old, use a different method. An aspirin tablet is dissolved in a glass of water. The contaminated area is wiped with a cloth soaked in this solution. Soap solution will perfectly cope with the problem. nine0003

For best results, it is recommended to use laundry soap. To prepare the product for 200 g of water, you need 1 tablespoon of soap shavings.

Stains from pens, markers and paints can be removed with ordinary citric acid. 1 tablespoon of the product is dissolved in a glass of water. After that, the stain is washed and wiped with a dry cloth. If drinks are spilled on the furniture upholstery, it doesn’t matter. A detergent will help to easily remove traces of tea, juice, coffee. In order not to spoil the upholstery, it is better to use a substance that does not contain chlorine. The liquid is foamed and applied with a cloth or sponge to the stain. nine0003 Wipe down with a soft clothRemove excess residueApply special cleanerLet the furniture dry
Remove scuffs and scratches

Leather sofas and armchairs scratch easily. If the upholstery is not cut through, it will not be difficult to basically get rid of the scratches. To restore leather furniture at home, you will need olive oil and cotton swabs. To get rid of scratches, do the following:

Pour oil on the scratch and the area around it; nine0015
Gently wipe the area with a cotton swab in a circular motion;

Leave for 1 hour to dry;

If the scratch remains, repeat the procedure 2-3 more times;

In some cases, damage may remain, then resort to another method. The scratch is again oiled, a cotton cloth is applied. Then, with a warm iron, iron the upholstery area directly on the fabric. The thermal effect leads to a better penetration of the oil into the fabric. If necessary, repeat the procedure. Apply only a warm iron to the damaged area. 10 seconds will be enough. nine0003
Another product that eliminates scratches is shoe polish. Apply the cream to the damaged area with a cotton swab. It will become invisible. This method does not remove scratches, but merely masks them. The best result will be obtained if the shades of the cream and the upholstery of the furniture are completely the same. Deeper scratches or abrasions can be repaired with a special leather filler as follows:

Clean the damaged area with rubbing alcohol; nine0015
Allow furniture to dry within 10 minutes;

Apply a special filler to the scratch;

Paint the damaged area.

Wipe the finish with alcohol Treat with sandpaper Rub down the finish Cover with paint
Repairing holes and cracks

Repairing holes in furniture will require a patch and crack filler. The restoration of a leather sofa in this case looks like this:

Clean the surface with medical alcohol;
nine0014 On the inside of the damaged area, use a toothpick to apply special leather glue or superglue;
Gently press down on the hold and straighten. Quickly wipe off excess glue with a cloth or napkin;

Sand the bonding area with sandpaper. It should become soft to the touch. This item is only needed if superglue is used;

If the color of the leather has changed, paint the area and apply a top coat.
nine0145
Repair cracks with Liquid Leather. It is a coloring and adhesive plastic substance. The set contains 7 liquid leather colors. To find the right shade, mix several colors.

Before use, the surface of the furniture is treated with alcohol to clean and degrease. The agent is applied to the damaged areas with a brush, leveled. When everything is dry, repeat the steps again.

Treat with alcohol Apply glue to the hole Press down the holds Paint the coating Treat with sandpaper
Household and folk remedies

Shops offer a wide range of leather care products. When using them, be sure to follow the instructions. Restoration of interior items from leather is possible using folk remedies. Restoration by folk methods is carried out at peril and risk, since the described examples are personal experience and the initiative of people, and the consequences can be unpredictable.
Learn more

Growing spinach in containers

Bohemian bedroom pictures

Grey bathroom tiles images

Modern kitchen curtains over sink

Home and garden christmas decoration ideas

Foxgloves after flowering

Restore faded leather sofa

Growing spinach in containers

Bohemian bedroom pictures

Grey bathroom tiles images

What gets ink off leather