The best leather sofas to invest in

The history of leather use in the home is well documented and perhaps longer than one might first assume. Whilst the earliest known leather artefact dates to 40,000 B.C., the first leather furniture pops up in Egypt's early dynastic period, where dining chairs and armchairs were constructed from ebony frames or gilded wood with leather upholstery. Over in Greece, the first known leather couch–called a kline–dates back to the 7th century. The furnishing has come a long way since then, but the demand for stylish leather sofas has remained high, standing steadfast through trends and fashions.

But how do you choose the best leather sofa? The House & Garden team has found the pick of the bunch to ensure that you buy the right sofa for you.

What is the best leather sofa?

Before we can say with any conclusive evidence which leather sofa reigns supreme, you need to consider what purpose your sofa will be fulfilling. First, think about the room you will be putting your new leather sofa in. If it's a living room where you might entertain guests, consider something with a higher back and a more upright feel. Something not too low to the ground will be preferable too. If the sofa's primary function will be lounging, opt for something with plush back cushions and squishy seat cushions. You could even switch out the upholstery on the seat cushions for something a little more cosy, like linen or velvet. Deep seats will also feel more inviting than shallow ones, so pick those for the most comfortable sofa possible. In open plan spaces, you'll need a sofa with a lot of presence if you want to denote a new area; a corner sofa or sectional leather sofa will do the trick nicely. However, anything with chunkier arms and a solid frame will work too.

Why buy a leather sofa?

Unlike fabric sofas, a leather sofa is a more durable option, making it a strong choice for busy family homes and lives. Accidents happen, so it's wonderful to have the peace of mind that your sofa is wipe clean and stain resistant. But if that's not enough to convince you of their longevity and prowess over other fabric sofas, then perhaps the fact that it is unbound by trends will. Anything that's been around since Ancient Egypt is here to stay, so you needn't worry about it looking dated in a few years time.

You can peruse our other guides to living room shopping here, where you'll find our edits of the best corner sofas, stylish sofas and find out what the best sofa bed to buy is. If you're after something smaller, we also have round ups of the best loveseats, armchairs and stylish mid century wooden armchairs to buy.

The best leather sofa to buy 2022