Leather sofas are often a long-term investment. When the leather becomes worn or scuffed, but the frame is fine, it can be tempting to just replace the entire unit. But you can save the environment and your wallet by getting creative about repairing and upcycling your leather sofas.
Assessing the Damage – before you call the upholsterers or head to the recycling centre, take some time to assess the level of damage to your sofa.
- Minor Scratches and Scuffs: if your leather sofas are just looking a bit sad, this can often be fixed with leather conditioners or repair kits. There are plenty available online or consult a professional upholsterer for their advice on what will work best for you.
- Tears and Holes: these will need more extensive repairs or possibly patching. You can do this yourself with repair kits that are easy to source online, but if you want a longer lasting result, it may be wise to contact your local upholsterer or find a leather repair specialist.
Clean the Leather – a good clean will help you to get a good idea of what you are dealing with, and it will also give you a good head start in the cleaning and repairing process.
- Use a leather cleaner or a mixture of mild soap and water to remove dirt and oils.
- Once you have given it a good clean, let the leather dry completely before attempting any repairs. Don’t be tempted to use heat to dry the leather more quickly as this can dehydrate it, making it more vulnerable to damage in the future.
For smaller repairs, use a leather repair kit
- Choose a repair kit that matches the colour of your sofa. There may be some trial and error involved here; if you are in doubt pick a discreet spot to test colours.
- If you are fixing a tear, apply the adhesive from the kit under the edges of the tear and press them together.
- If your repair kit isn’t a perfect match, apply the leather stain that came with your repair kit to blend the repair with the rest of the sofa.
- Once the repair is dry, apply a leather sealant to protect the repair.
For larger tears, try using a leather patch
- Patching can allow you to fix larger tears and holes. They also help to strengthen the area around the tears, which may have thinned as the result of excessive wear and tear. You can patch your leather sofa using a matching piece of leather, or by buying specialist leather sofa patches. Try repairing from the inside for a less visible finish.
- If your patch is not adhesive, start by applying leather adhesive to the underside of the patch.
- Press the patch firmly over the damaged area and let it dry completely.
- If needed, use the colourant provided to blend the patch with the surrounding leather.
If you are unsure as to whether you have the skills or equipment to fix your leather upholstery, get in touch with a local specialist. For more tips and advice, follow Trust A Trader on X or Facebook.