Suede Couches

If you’re looking for a complete sectional suede sofa, consider the Southern Motion Gabriella Living Room set. Recently, we had this set delivered and couldn’t be happier with how well it looks in our redesigned guest room.


To complete set includes a queen sized sofa that is comfortable enough for relaxation (and even makes a good guest bed), a full console sofa as well as a reclining love seat. The L-shaped set nicely framed out living room, and provides seating for up to 8 guests. Measuring 40 inches high and deep, it is just the right size to allow for comfortable seating, without taking up too much space. As this is our first set from Southern Motion (we selected them in part because their furniture is made in the USA, Mississippi to be exact) we were quite happy with the setup.

Not only does the Gabriella have a solid structure, but it’s quite comfortable as well. The cushions are made with high density foam and the springs in the couches were silent yet sturdy. We were a bit concerned about the frame, but it turned out great: the frame is made of a kiln-dry hardwood that is made to last. The Microsuede fabric is marvelous to the touch, and I even found myself taking naps on the sofa quite regularly. With a complete 5-Year Warranty, I’m confident that the unit will be a mainstay in our home for years to come.

Whether you have a large corporate office situated in a metropolitan high rise or just a small business home office in Middle America, it’s important to select the right couch to accent your work space. The waiting and meeting rooms you present to guests greatly affect the image you convey to your clients; making an investment in high-quality furniture will certainly help start your meetings off on the right foot.

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The standard sofa which seats two or more people, the settee, can either come as a sectional piece of furniture (often L-shaped connectors) or as a single unit. Differentiated from a love seat (which seats one or two), the settee works well in informal meeting rooms and offices.  These types of sofas tend to have a classic and elegant look.

Divan

Inspired by Persian design, the Divan is a long, narrow couch which is common in many European social lounges. They appear very contemporary.  While the style itself dates back to the 19th century, a Divan conveys a modern sensibility that makes for a professional appearance.

Today, suede is an omnipresent material, featured on a wide range of apparel and furniture. The term comes from the French Suède, which simply means ‘Sweden’, and originated from the types of imports into the country. In particular, gants de Suède, which means gloves of Sweden, were the most common form of luxury for many decades. Originally used for winter apparel, including gloves and jackets, today suede is used for that and more.  It is used to upholster furniture and can even be found as a liner on a number of accessory products or as a liner for other leather products.  As common as the fabric is today however, few people are aware of its exact composition.


The material itself is a finished type of leather which is composed of the under sides of animal skins.  It is primarily made from lamb but, other animals such as pig, calf, deer and goat are commonly used as well since the process requires a durable hide to get the texture that is associated with the material.

Frequently there are alternative fabrics produced and made available for non-animal product consumers.  They oftentimes have a napped finish as well, as to resemble suede as closely as possible.  In addition to having a similar textural feel and look as suede, this material also is more durable and has a higher level of resistance to stains and liquids.  Examples of these are sueded silk, alcantara and microsuede.

Leather couches are widely available as well.  The texture of something made out of leather is different from something made from suede.  Leather has more of a smooth feel to it while suede has a soft material feel to it.  The word leather means skin products that have been fully tanned.  The process of being tanned changes the animal skins into a long-lasting and versatile material for many different uses, just like suede.  These uses are similar to suede’s since leather is also used for furniture, apparel and accessories.  Leather is a bit more rugged than suede, however.  People like cowboys and bikers use chaps and heavy leather jackets to protect themselves against certain injuries.

Saturday Microsuede Sofas offer a high-quality, affordable alternative to more upscale models. The Saturday collection differentiates itself from other furniture companies by remaining true to its classic, simple style that delivers superior value relative to other suede couches I’ve tried.


The durable upholstery is made of genuine micro-suede, which is supplemented with high density foam and reinforced springs to ensure the couch is made to last. Many of the sofas I’ve had over the years inevitably wore down, starting with the seat cushions themselves (which are, most certainly, the most well worn part of any living room furniture set.) The Saturday collection resolves this issue by wrapping the removable cushions in a (surprisingly comfortable) polyester, which are also easy to clean. Since I have children in my household, it’s good to know that the entire collection is flame retardant and has no small, removable parts. Internally, the couch is also made of durable hardwood that is sure to last.

While the look of the tan Saturday sofa fit my living room best, the collection also comes in Ebony, Tangerine, Scarlet, Glacier and Chamois colors to accent your home perfectly. Creative names notwithstanding, the colors are pleasantly bright and make for attractive furniture sets.

When purchasing a new couch, you should also consider the layout of your living room and how well the new furniture integrates into the larger design of your home or office. Suede couches come in a variety of colors and sizes, so consider upgrading your accent furniture to give your home an entirely new look.

Ottomans work well as a footstool or a casual seat to accent your suede couch. Highly portable and light in construction, you can often find a suede upholstered ottoman that matches your couch exactly.

Coffee Table

No sofa collection is complete without a refined coffee table – by selecting the right coffee table, you can transform your living room into a social center, whether you are renovating your home or office. Glass tables often accent suede couches well, as they both have a modern, sleek design that appeals to modern sensibilities. Alternatively, more classical, antique tables can also work well with suede furniture if the colors coordinate well.

Love Seats

These single or dual-seat units make great stand alone units or can provide a corner seating arrangement for your couch set. Ensure you have enough seating for your larger gatherings by utilizing love seats as accent furniture.

Pillows

Pillows can be a great accent to your suede couch no matter what type.  Pillows come in all shapes, sizes, materials, colors and patterns.  It can really help to tie the room you are decorating together.

Despite its attractive texture and feel, many furniture buyers shy away from suede because they believe it is nearly impossible to clean. While it is true that the material requires special care procedures, suede can be as durable as cloth or vinyl if cared for properly.

It is important to take preventative measures when caring for suede.  This can be a key factor as to how long your couch will last you.  As a first step, you should always treat new suede couches with a protective coat. Many home care companies make specialized suede protectors, which can be applied to the material by rubbing it into the outer layer. This protective coating will help ensure that the couch is water and stain-proof, and should be applied on a regular basis to keep it fresh.  In addition to the protective solution being used, you should regularly brush your suede couch.  There are special suede brushes you can purchase to do this with or you can simply use a clean terry cloth.

If you happen to stain the material, fear not because you can use fine sand paper (or emery) to gently rub the exterior and remove the stain. If the stain is really small, you can use a pencil eraser.  Be careful not to rub the spot too hard, as a delicate application will more than suffice to clean the unit.  You should always remember to use circular motions when rubbing stains out.

If your couch gets water spots, in between treatments, then you should allow the spots to dry naturally and then use a specialized suede brush.  This should remove the spots in most cases.  For hard to remove stains, professional cleaners can treat and remove most spots, ranging from red wine to food, to get your couch looking like new again.

If these other solutions fail you, there are stain remover solutions available in stores.  If you decide to use any chemicals on your couch be sure to test it in an inconspicuous place first to see how the material reacts to it.  Hopefully using the methods mentioned above will get rid of the stains before you have to spend a lot of money purchasing any chemicals.  When all else fails have it professionally cleaned.

As the heart of your home, the living room represents the social center and gathering place for friends and family. The layout of the room is one of the most important decisions you can make in arranging your furniture, and should be carefully thought out. We consulted with some leading interior designer for their top tips on decorating a livable social area:

• Choose your Design Style and Keep it Consistent

Many home owners make the mistake of switching up designs from room-to-room or even with a given room. Avoid the temptation to mix and match modern with Victorian styles and pick a consistent theme that will give your room a friendly, well implemented appearance.

• Opt for Light, Earthy Colors for a Friendly Style

While bright colors might seem appealing in concept, they can often distract from a social setting; as a result, you should seek a balance between audacious, loud colors and muted monochrome to make your room most livable. Coordinate colors across your furniture, wall paper and carpet, and consider using earthy tones to accent a dominant color.

• Stick with What Works, not a Design Philosophy

Some designers and home owners swear by Feng Shui or minimalist layout concepts – you can certainly consider these ideas, but go with a design structure that you feel comfortable with; after all, it’s your home!

Suede is simply a textured form of leather, so when purchasing a suede couch it’s important to understand the ramifications of the material. In contrast to corrected leather, which has been dyed to be uniform in color, suede is much more subtle and lends well to natural and earthy rooms. As a result, suede couches offer the best of both worlds: the quality and comfort of leather with a fully natural look.

On the other hand, pull leather is generally the type of material you find in luxury cars and shiny couches; as a result, this type of leather can easily be damaged by scratches and its look can crack over time. Suede, by contrast, tends to hold up well if properly protected and can even out-last more expensive forms of leather.

Traditional leather sofas can range widely in price, depending on the type of leather hide used in the process. You can even save by purchasing match material, which is actually a synthetic vinyl, although it lacks many of the amenities from genuine leather. Microfiber couches are another solid alternative to genuine leather for the budget conscious and can make great, comfortable additions to any room. Always try out a couch before you make an investment, as the material and style can make a world of difference.