by Fausto Hernandez Photography

What are Leather Beds – Is Genuine Leather Better than Faux Leather Beds?

When people go out to by beds, they put a lot of thought into it. This is because the bed is a large investment and will probably be with you for many years. Leather is once again becoming a fashionable item with more and more people opting to buy leather beds. They are generally more expensive than other types of beds, and so an increasing number of people, which would have potentially bought a leather bed, are now turning to faux leather as a cheaper option.

In deciding between real leather beds and a faux leather beds, we often choose the cheaper choice to match our budgets. However we also need to look at the long-term implications of our choices.

Before we explore the difference between real leather versus faux leather, let me explain the principle of leather beds.

Leather beds are full bed frames that usually include headboards and footboards. The executive ranges may also include drawers, either at the bottom of the mattress, or in a separate chest. These frames are upholstered in a leather material. The actual frame is usually constructed using metal, wood or other composite materials. The type of leather used in the upholstery of leather beds can either be genuine raw hide leather, or faux leather made from plant material, plastic, or a combination of the two.

While there are noticeable differences between genuine leather and faux leather, in recent years, the quality of faux leather has dramatically increased. At the end of the day, genuine leather will always trump faux leather where quality is concerned. In addition, always keep in mind that the overall quality of leather beds also depends on other materials that the bed is manufactured from. In other words, just because a leather bed is made from genuine leather, if the overall frame of the bed is not of good quality, then the leather means nothing.

Here are the main differences between the two and what you the buyer will need to consider before making a choice:

Genuine leather beds are made from animals, most commonly from cattle rawhide. The advantage of this is that there are no extra cattle that have been killed for this purpose, as the rawhide is extracted from an animal that has already been slaughtered for meat. The leather is specially treated to ensure that it remains tough and able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. At the same time, it also remains incredibly soft.

Faux leather beds are generally made of plastics and other artificial fibers. Although in many cases the feel and texture of faux leather is comparable to real leather, in time the condition of faux leather beds will deteriorate and tearing will occur.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t purchase faux leather beds. If a faux leather bed is your choice, either due to budgetary or personal reasons, it is always best to go for the highest quality faux leather. After investing in something like that, you would really want your new bed to last a long time. A poorly made faux leather bed is likely to fade, crack, peel, and generally looks terrible.

So, before going out to shop for leather beds, know how much you are planning to spend. Choose carefully and know what you are buying, because it is a decision that could be with you for a very long time.

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