Upholstered furniture care guide

An upholstered piece of furniture, like a sofa or armchair or even a bed, is one of the biggest purchases you make for your home. Take good care of it and it will keep looking like the day it was delivered.

In this guide you’ll find lots of good advice and handy tips for caring for your fabric and leather upholstered furniture, protecting it from harm, and keeping it clean.


Here are our recommendations for keeping our 100% leather sofas, chairs and beds in top condition.
If you ever have to deal with a spill on your leather upholstery, remember to always use the recommended cleaning products and services.

Leather upholstery

At Furniture Village we offer four different types of 100% leather upholstery for our sofas, chairs and even beds. Consider the look and style you’re going for and the needs of your family, and choose the one that’s right for you.

Family leather

A protective coating gives our family leather a smooth and uniform look, making it a great value, practical choice for families.

Connoisseur leather

With luxurious natural grain markings, our beautiful connoisseur leather is crafted from only the finest premium hides.

Romance leather

Full of unique character, our romance leather can have a distressed or antiqued finish for that gorgeous lived-in look.

Club leather

Thick, durable and strong and with a heavier grain definition, our club leather is tough enough to withstand the rigours of busy modern life.

The truth about leather

Whatever type of leather you choose, remember that:

Leather has natural characteristics such as scars and blemishes – that’s what makes it beautiful and unique.

Leather colour, texture and finish may vary, even between sofas and chairs in the same range.

Leather will soften and relax with wear, and creases may appear.

Initially leather will stretch and wrinkle (known as “puddling”). The degree of stretching will then slow down significantly, and the appearance of puddling can be minimised by carefully smoothing the leather back.

Cleaning your leather furniture

Here are our recommendations for cleaning your leather-upholstered furniture. Remember to use only recommended cleaning products and services

1. Emergency cleaning

Liquid spills can be blotted with a dry cloth or kitchen paper. Be careful not to rub the area as this could damage the finish and cause discolouration.

2. Regular cleaning

Remove dust with a clean, soft white cloth, slightly dampened with pre-boiled water cooled to room temperature. Avoid soaking any areas. Family leather should be dusted with a dry cloth only. (Always keep a cloth specifically for leather furniture and keep it away from soaps and detergents as these may damage the leather.

Vacuum weekly at a low setting to remove dust and dirt, especially from under the cushions.

Do not use spray polish or any detergents as these may damage the finish.

Additional instructions for leather-upholstered furniture

For maximum comfort and to keep your upholstery looking great, plump and straighten back and seat cushions daily and rotate where possible to ensure even wear. You’ll find more about this in the Seat and Back Cushions section of this guide.

Add accidental damage cover

While everything at Furniture Village comes with a 20 year quality guarantee, It's worth asking about our Care+ Protect policy for your bed or mattress. This worthwhile insurance plan will cover your new bed and mattress against any accidental damage.

The Furniture Village 20-year structural guarantee

At Furniture Village, every single item we sell is built to last and fit to withstand everyday life. That’s why all our sofas and beds, and all dining and bedroom furniture comes with our free 20-year structural guarantee. So you can buy with confidence – and enjoy your furniture for years to come.
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