Does Ashley Furniture Use Real Leather?
When it comes to furnishing your home, leather furniture often stands out for its timeless elegance, durability, and comfort.
Ashley Furniture, as one of the most well-known furniture brands, offers a range of leather options, but many shoppers wonder if they’re investing in real leather or synthetic alternatives.
In this guide, we’ll explore Ashley Furniture’s leather options in-depth to help you understand what they offer, how they differentiate between real and synthetic leather, and how to choose the best material for your needs.
Ashley Furniture’s Approach to Leather Upholstery
Ashley Furniture has a broad product line that includes options for every room and style, from modern to traditional. When it comes to upholstery, they strive to offer a range of choices to meet both style preferences and budget requirements.
Ashley’s leather offerings include a variety of real and synthetic options, designed to provide an upscale look without compromising comfort or durability.
Whether you’re shopping for a leather sofa, recliner, or sectional, Ashley Furniture distinguishes between full-grain leather, leather match, and synthetic leather.
This selection allows them to cater to a diverse range of customer preferences. Understanding these options in detail will help you make the right choice.
Types of Leather Ashley Furniture Use
Ashley Furniture provides several types of leather and leather-like materials. The primary types are:
- Full-Grain Leather
- Top-Grain Leather
- Leather Match
- Faux Leather
Let’s look at each of these materials to understand what they’re made of, how they’re used, and where you’ll typically find them in Ashley’s furniture lineup.
Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather is the most natural and durable leather option available and is rarely found in lower-priced furniture. In Ashley’s lineup, full-grain leather is typically reserved for their most premium products.
This type of leather is made from the outermost layer of the hide, retaining its natural grain, markings, and imperfections, giving each piece a unique character.
Characteristics of Full-Grain Leather
- Durability: Full-grain leather is the strongest and most resilient type of leather, offering superior longevity compared to other materials.
- Natural Patina: Over time, full-grain leather develops a rich patina, which many people find desirable as it enhances the leather’s character.
- Luxurious Feel: This leather feels natural and soft to the touch, giving any furniture piece an upscale, premium feel.
However, because of its quality and cost, full-grain leather is primarily found in Ashley Furniture’s luxury collections and custom orders.
Top-Grain Leather
Top-grain leather is slightly different from full-grain leather in that the top layer of the hide is sanded to remove imperfections.
This creates a smoother, more uniform look that many people prefer, especially in modern interiors where a clean, consistent appearance is desired. Ashley Furniture uses top-grain leather in several of its higher-end models.
Characteristics of Top-Grain Leather
- Smooth Texture: The sanding process gives top-grain leather a smooth finish, which many find visually appealing and comfortable.
- Durability with Less Patina: While not as rugged as full-grain leather, top-grain leather is still very durable and resistant to wear.
- Cost-Efficiency: Top-grain leather is generally more affordable than full-grain leather while still offering a high-quality look and feel.
Top-grain leather is often used on the parts of furniture you come into contact with the most, like seat cushions and armrests, with synthetic materials used on less-visible areas to make pieces more affordable.
Leather Match
One of Ashley’s more popular options, especially for its affordability, is leather match. Leather match furniture combines real leather with a synthetic alternative, giving you the look and feel of leather without the full expense.
How Leather Match Works
Leather match typically means that the seating areas (where your body makes contact) are upholstered in genuine leather, while the sides and back use a high-quality faux leather.
This approach keeps costs down while still providing a genuine leather experience on the most important surfaces.
Pros of Leather Match
- Affordable Luxury: Leather match is more budget-friendly than full or top-grain leather pieces, making it accessible to more shoppers.
- Consistent Appearance: Faux leather used on the sides and back is designed to match the real leather closely, so the overall appearance is consistent.
- Easy Maintenance: Faux leather is easier to clean and maintain than real leather, which can make leather match furniture more family-friendly.
Leather match is a great option if you want the look of leather without the full price tag, and it’s one of Ashley Furniture’s most widely available choices.
Faux Leather
For those who want the aesthetic of leather but prefer a more affordable or animal-free option, Ashley Furniture offers faux leather, also known as leatherette or PU (polyurethane) leather.
Faux leather is synthetic, designed to mimic the look and feel of real leather while offering benefits like easier maintenance and lower costs.
Benefits of Faux Leather
- Lower Price: Faux leather is more economical, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
- Easy to Clean: Spills and stains can be quickly wiped away, which is ideal for busy households or pet owners.
- Animal-Friendly: Since it’s synthetic, faux leather is a great choice for those who prefer not to use animal products.
Drawbacks of Faux Leather
- Lifespan: Faux leather may not last as long as genuine leather and can sometimes crack or peel over time.
- Feel and Breathability: While faux leather looks similar to real leather, it can feel different to the touch and may not be as breathable.
You’ll find faux leather used across Ashley’s lower-priced models, and it’s also available in many colors and styles.
Type of Leather in Ashley Furniture
If you’re shopping at Ashley Furniture and want to confirm whether a piece is real leather, there are several ways to do so:
- Product Labeling: Look for product descriptions online or on the showroom tags. Ashley typically indicates whether the furniture is real leather, leather match, or faux leather.
- Feel and Appearance: Genuine leather has a soft, natural feel, while faux leather may feel more synthetic. Leather match often has a visible difference in texture between the real and faux leather portions.
- Price Consideration: Generally, if a leather piece is priced significantly lower, it may be faux leather or leather match.
Real Leather vs. Faux Leather at Ashley
Choosing between real leather and faux leather depends on your priorities, lifestyle, and budget. Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of each type to help you decide:
Genuine Leather (Full-Grain and Top-Grain)
- Pros: Durability, luxurious appearance, natural aging (patina), comfort.
- Cons: Higher price point, requires maintenance, sensitive to spills and sun exposure.
Leather Match
- Pros: Affordable, leather feel in key areas, consistent look.
- Cons: Less durable on synthetic parts, noticeable difference between materials over time.
Faux Leather
- Pros: Budget-friendly, easy to maintain, animal-friendly.
- Cons: Shorter lifespan, can crack or peel, may lack the authentic feel of real leather.
Caring for Your Ashley Leather Furniture
Proper care will keep your Ashley leather furniture looking great for years, regardless of whether it’s genuine leather, leather match, or faux leather.
Tips for Maintaining Real Leather
- Regular Cleaning: Use a leather cleaner or damp cloth to wipe away dirt and dust.
- Conditioning: Apply a leather conditioner every few months to keep the leather soft and prevent cracking.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause leather to fade or dry out.
Tips for Maintaining Faux Leather
- Wipe Down with a Damp Cloth: Faux leather is easy to clean, and a damp cloth can remove most spills.
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Use mild soap or specific faux leather cleaners to avoid damaging the material.
- Rotate Cushions: This can help reduce wear in high-use areas.
Is Ashley Furniture’s Leather Right for You?
Ashley Furniture offers a range of leather upholstery options to meet diverse needs. If you’re looking for timeless, high-quality materials and are willing to invest, their full-grain or top-grain leather options provide durability and luxury.
For budget-conscious shoppers who want the look of leather without the cost, leather match and faux leather offer attractive alternatives.
Ultimately, Ashley Furniture’s variety of upholstery materials allows you to find the right balance between appearance, durability, and cost, so you can furnish your home beautifully and practically.
Whether you choose real leather for its elegance or faux leather for its affordability and easy care, Ashley has options designed to fit every preference and budget.
