How do you make a leather sofa more comfortable?

Leather sofas can be a little unforgiving when you first purchase them, as the sofa hasn’t had enough time to wear into shape. Over years of owning a sofa you will find that the filling inside the sofa will change shape according to the daily usage that it has, which can make it more comfortable.

Fabric sofas tend to be much more comfortable right away as the material is generally softer and gives little resistance to weight. Don’t worry though, there’s plenty of things you can do to make a leather sofa more comfortable apart from owning one for a few years!

Join us as we take a look at a few tips and tricks you can use to make your leather sofa more comfortable.

Use cushions to your advantage

A small sofa with 3 cushions on it in a room

The first and probably most obvious suggestion is to make use of cushions. There are a variety of different cushions available on the market today, including those which serve a more decorative purpose and those that are there for pure luxury and comfort.

You might think its simple to choose the right cushion for a leather sofa, but there are many types of cushion that will slide right off a leather sofa due to the slippery nature of the material.

We recommend choosing cushions filled with down which will make the cushion heavier and therefore less likely to slip off the sofa. You need to avoid smooth cushions as well, such as those made of silk, as they will also be more likely to slip. You need to look out for cushions that have a textured surface to add friction between the cushion itself and the sofa.

It’s definitely worth it to have a few more decorative cushions arranged on the sofa to make it more aesthetically pleasing, but heavier more-textured cushions will do more work for you to make a leather sofa more comfortable.

Don’t be afraid to add a throw

A mug on a table with a sofa and throw in the background

A sofa throw is essentially a thin blanket that is added to a sofa to make it more aesthetically pleasing and to give it a more cosy feeling. Throws also work wonders for protecting your beloved sofa and can also be used to help you keep warm on those dark cold winter evenings.

It is important to remember that the same principles apply to cushions as they do to throws when it comes to leather sofas. A softer throw may seem like the best option but this will come at the cost of it being much more likely to slip off the sofa. We recommend buying a textured throw to avoid this issue, which shouldn’t come as an issue as there are a wide variety available on the market.

Use Leather Conditioner

As we’ve mentioned in our article about the best leather cleaning products, it is important to condition and clean your leather sofa on a regular basis. Using a leather conditioner has the added benefit that it works to soften the leather, which can make your sofa more comfortable especially if your leather has become hard.

When applying your conditioner make sure to let it sink in fully to allow the conditioner to soften the leather from the inside. Also, its best to condition your sofa on a regular basis to maintain the quality of the leather.

There are many other alternatives that you can try to soften your leather, such as using olive oil or even water, but you will struggle to replicate the same outcome as using a dedicated leather conditioning product.

Revitalise Worn Cushions

Adding new cushions, as we’ve mentioned before, can immediately make your sofa more comfortable. But what about if you’ve already got existing cushions that have started to sag and lose their plumpness?

There are many cushion inserts available today on the market, such as these ones by Hollowfibre. Adding a new cushion insert will make any old cushion like brand new and can be a much cheaper alternative than simply replacing an old cushion.

We especially like this option because it means you can keep your favourite cushions for as long as you desire.

Consider Other Sofa Accessories

If you thought that you are limited to just cushions and throws to compliment your leather sofa, think again.

There are loads of accessories on the market that can make your sofa experience much more comfortable. Our top picks include a drink holder by CouchCoaster that attaches to the arm of your sofa, meaning you don’t have to move an inch to get your brew.

Don’t be afraid to use sofa accessories

Final Thoughts

It’s always worth putting in the effort to make your leather sofa even more comfortable, and with these simple tips you will be well on your way to achieving this. Please let us know if there are any other tips you would like to see added to this article by contacting us here.