Leather is a long-wearing, durable fabric that will blend beautifully with just about any style of decor. At Furniture Central, we offer the best lines of leather furniture products. You can choose from sofa sets, sectionals, chairs, loveseats, and sofas. Before you begin, there are a few basics about leather that are helpful to know.

Leather is sold in three basic forms, the first being full grain leather. This type of leather is made from natural hides that are cleaned, but not sanded. The hair has been removed, but the grain is left in its natural condition. This is the most durable, breathable, and comfortable type of leather. It has a tendency to "age," which gives it a soft, natural beauty that lasts for years.

Corrected grain leather has one smooth side and one fuzzy side. The natural grain is sanded off and an artificial grain is applied. In order to obtain top grain leather, heavy painting is required to cover up the stamping and sanding. Leather can be dyed in a variety of colors. Likewise, it can be antiqued to add distinction to the pattern.

Suede is the most affordable type of leather. It is also less durable than full grain or corrected grain leather. Several pieces of suede can be obtained from one thickness of hide, instead of one piece of top-grain leather. Most leather used in making furniture today is made from cow hides. If you have any questions about the quality of leather our manufacturers use, give us a call at 1-866-483-7467 to speak with our product specialist.

Two new and very popular types of sofas are faux leather and microfiber. Faux leather is both easier to care for and less expensive than genuine leather (it's usually made of a vinyl composite). With the luxurious feel of real leather, faux leather is simple to clean--just wipe up any spills with a damp cloth. Similarly, microfiber is a more durable and less expensive alternative to suede. It is very stain resistant, and spills can be mopped up quickly. Microfiber has a very plush feel to the touch, and comes in a wide variety of colors that will blend in with any type of decor scheme.