# Is leather furniture still considered tacky? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174 "2006-12-07T04:04:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/21 "2006-12-08T14:06:51Z")
I bought [this](http://www.jordans.com/room_facts.asp?item=240-18550-5&room=livingroom&style=all&type=sofaslth&size=&index=21) in August, and I’ve been happy with it so far. [QUOTE=picunurse] Shoe polish. It hides kitty oopses pretty well. [/QUOTE] Before using that, consider looking into leather care products, such as [Pecard](http://www.pecard.com/shop/). They have a range of products for all types of leathers, and may be able to recommend something appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/22 "2006-12-08T14:58:21Z")
Well! I happen to think our leather furniture looks terrific! ::leaves in a huff - or maybe a minute and a huff:: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/23 "2006-12-08T15:09:44Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Well! I happen to think our leather furniture looks terrific! ::leaves in a huff - or maybe a minute and a huff:: [/QUOTE] You’re leaving in a Huff? Ah, the Huff! A _fine_ automobile! It had leather seats. _And_ it had a leather engine! It wasn’t very good to get around in, but it _was_ a fine automobile. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/24 "2006-12-08T17:11:19Z")
We have this: [http://www.mckinleyleatherfurniture.com/Detail.bok?no=52](http://www.mckinleyleatherfurniture.com/Detail.bok?no=52) though without the _chaise_ longue part, and in a deep navy. The leather isn’t the shiny stick-to-it stuff. It actually warms to body temp when you sit on it. Nice and squishy and oh-so-comfy. I think the leather finish makes a big diff. A higher-gloss finish is more stain-resistent but won’t feel as nice and I imagine would tend to the “sauna/hefty-bag” phenomenon. I actually fell in love with a different shade of blue, but it was only available in a suedelike finish and with kids, that was NOT going to work 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/25 "2006-12-08T19:24:03Z")
I love leather, but I also understand how it has become associated with certain designs that seems to be forever linked to swingin’ 70s bachelor pads. I haven’t noticed any problem with our [leather couch](http://pics.livejournal.com/delphica/pic/00007at7) in terms of temperature in any season, it seems fine to me. On the other hand, that fake green leather couch sounds fantastic, I wouldn’t surrender it either. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/26 "2006-12-08T19:43:22Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Ditch the couch, keep the GF. My ex had the world’s most horrible green fake leather jacket, which he had bought in a garage sale for $2. One day it just totally disappeared, and I convinced him that he must have left it somewhere. 😉 [/QUOTE] I think msmith’s girlfriend will have a hard time convincing him he left the couch somewhere. “Well, where did you leave it, honey?” “It was right here.” “No, you must have taken it to the bar last night and left it behind.” Might be worth a try though, its a green fake leather couch. Someone who bought that might buy anything. (this is good natured kidding and is not meant to insult msmith or his taste in tacky furniture) ---
**Author:** ![justpassingthrough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@justpassingthrough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justpassingthrough)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/27 "2006-12-08T19:53:14Z")
**Mama Zappa** got it right, IMO; the finish of the leather is everything. We have a couple of leather couches and chairs (not matched sets), and the key (after style) is buying the “soft as butter” leather rather than the hard and shiny leather. Another case where the extra expense is worth it. **Capa84** , that lounge makes me want to go furniture shopping. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/28 "2006-12-08T20:58:58Z")
My wife and I are of the opposite tack, that leather furniture is more comfortable to use, and regular upholstered stuff is just cheap. As others have noted, though, you need to get the good leather furniture, and not just pick up something that’s showing skin… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/29 "2006-12-09T02:39:16Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] You’re leaving in a Huff? Ah, the Huff! A _fine_ automobile! It had leather seats. _And_ it had a leather engine! It wasn’t very good to get around in, but it _was_ a fine automobile. [/QUOTE] Not as nice as the 1937 Henway, but it was okay. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174/30 "2006-12-09T12:09:39Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Not as nice as the 1937 Henway, but it was okay. [/QUOTE] Yes, but the Henway’s engine was made of cheese, which proved unpopular in the warm Summer months. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-leather-furniture-still-considered-tacky/383174.md?page=1)