A leather sectional sofa is one of the more chic and contemporary options available if you’re looking for a new piece of furniture for your home. They’ve become more and more popular for their fine looks as well as the durability and simple caring process. If you have a large room, then a sectional leather sofa is perfect! This guide will share some of the important tips that you will need to know before purchasing a new sectional sofa!

Purchasing the correct size sofa for your room is obviously a must! In order to ensure you’re looking at the right size, you must take measurements. Create a space where you plan to configure the new sofa and measure the maximum size as well as a minimum. A sofa that’s too small can appear to be a bit awkward in a large room.

Typically a sectional sofa’s pieces shouldn’t have a problem fitting through your doorways; at least a standard size door. However, not every doorway is standard as I’ve witnessed some extremely narrow doorways. Measure the doorways to make sure the pieces will fit.

Now that you have noted the measurements, let’s start the fun part and shop! The first part in shopping is obviously your budget, but the biggest factor in price is determined by the grain of leather. There’s top-grain leather and split leather, top-grain being on the higher-end side. It has a very natural look and is actually more durable, which means it will also last longer. Usually split-leather is a very consistent color and patterns don’t appear in this type of leather, while top-grain leather can show more than one tone of color.

The next step after choosing your grain of leather is choosing color. Black is obviously the most traditional, but if you’re looking for something even more contemporary I’ve seen some beautiful options in red or white leather. The most durable options will be leather that has been treated with pigments. Pigment treated leather does create a less natural look to the sofa and changes the feel as well. Semi-aniline, which is in the middle of the spectrum, has a lovely shine and natural patterns due to its treatment in a light wash. The most natural looking is aniline leather since this type does not go through any treatments.

For a softer option, suede and nubuck are available. When top-grain or split leather is buffed, this process creates a suede or nubuck material. In my opinion, these options are very comfortable and feel very soft. On the downside, they’re tough to keep clean and care for.

The last tip to keep in mind is take note of the cushions. Of course check out the comfort level, but notice if the cushions can be removed. If they’re removable, it will be easier for cleaning purposes, although most cushions are attached.

These are some important tips to keep in mind when shopping for a new sectional leather sofa. Make sure you take your time shopping around as this is an investment that can last for many years!

This writer is an design expert living in NYC and is a big fan of modern furniture. Her favorite type of furniture is contemporary headboards and sleigh beds. Find more information at her blog, leatherheadboard.org