What to do about a crumbling leather couch?

I am sorry to say the damage may be to far to repair,however read this post. homeguides.sfgate.com/repair-faux-leather-61559.html

That thing is an eyesore. Either cover it, or get rid of it. It looks broken down; I would opt to get rid of it.

Buy or make slip covers.

the cost of recovering it would probably be greater than a new one. It also appears that

it needs to be restuffed. I believe this is so called "bonded leather" which is really a thin skin of leather glued to a backing. It doesn't wear well.

It is actually in pretty good shape other than peeling and this particular recliner footrest needs fresh stuffing to plump it up.

Thank you all for feedback. You confirmed my unitial thought of having to get a new set.

I. Brought an old leather couch and chair and recovered they where leather and still are. Have had many offers on them

this looks like it would be more expensive to fix than to just replace it. you really need to just bite the bullet and buy another set.

Had the same problem . I will be sure that if I buy again I get it in writing that it is real leather not bonded . Gave mine to a young man who was going to cover it with a blanket.

I have the same problem with a chair. Unfortunately it is bonded leather and too costly to repair. Right now I have a throw over it but peelings stick to it and everything. It's on it's way out!

I had the same problem with a Best Furniture Chair... less than 3 yrs old. They do not stand behind their local retailer or customers. Lesson learned

what about spray painting it?

Duct tape! :)

I had a chair that peeled but found out it wasn't real leather.

Hi! Like you I also had this problem The only way to deal with it is to cover it.

Well, I believe that to recover it would be rather costly. Not sure how long you expected your furniture to last. It looks like it has gotten a lot of very heavy use. You would most likely be better off buying a new one. It would save you some money.

Even if it is bonded, you still need to treat it at least once a month with a leather moisturizer. If you have it sitting in direct sunlight, it will be sure to fade and wear out much quicker. I used to sell leather furniture and always advised my customers to use a leather moisturizer and keep it out of the sun.

I had a leather sofa and did use the cleaner and moisturizer on it. After 10 years it still looked new. Leather is a very durable fabric but, you do need to maintain it so it will give you long lasting use.

Same problem. Will duct tape and cover with a blanket, while I save for a new sofa.

I too was "tricked" into buying a bonded leather living room set. Good for a room nobody uses. I have had mine for 9 years but it started showing cracks the 3rd year. Now it is so bad, bits and pieces are coming off all the time. For a long time now I've been covering the bottom with a matching colour bed sheet. Almost can't tell from a distance, but once you sit on it it gets all messy and has to be "fixed" every time I leave the room. When winter is over and there are no snow banks to deal with, it will be going to the curb. There is no magic fix for bonded leather. Real leather does not do this. Mom has had a real leather set from Lazy Boy for 18 years, looks like new, and uses special leather cleaner and conditioner several times a year.

Was hoping for a save solution since they are structurally sound but will go with your plan.

Somewhere I saw chalk paint on a fabric chair that looked great. I wonder if it would work on leather?

Throw it out

Sadly the furniture stores are passing off leather looking material or a thin layer of leather bonded onto a fabric. Neither lasts long and for the price should last many years. This is why our landfills are filling up quicker. Nothing lasts like it should and often is made in such a way a reuse or fix isn't possible. Sorry, no ideas on fixing this.

Re do it. Have it done or do it you're self. I'm betting you can buy some leather and re do the thing. I seen A post where the person removed the leather bits and used it as a template to cut out the pattern and put it back together with the new stuff. Looked great. I'm thinking it would be cheaper then having it done if you did it you're self .

Heck of of a lot cheaper then buying a new one. Plus the satisfaction you did it.

Look you can toss a sheet on it and call it done for now. But really it would be better to just re do it up.

Sandra, Google how to make slip covers, or find someone in your city who makes them. It's cheaper than re-upholstering and you can take them off and wash them. Good luck!

Really looks like you've had that for quite a few years, considering the style it is and if it is bonded leather it is going to stay 'as is' and probably peel going forward. I wouldn't suggest slip covers because it looks to me that it is rather 'sunken' in spots. My daughter's sofa took on this kind of look I believe because the kids jumped on it--a lot. You will just end up with saggy cloth covers that will drive you crazy. Keep visiting consignment shops in your area. You might really pick up a bargain on another sofa!

The stretch slipcovers work great for me. Can get discounted ones at Big Lots, Walmart, and online sites such as overstock. I use Dollar Tree pool noodles for tucking them in and they work great. I put them on my furniture to protect from dog hair and just pull them off for company, but they look really good actually.

I have used them on pleather recliners and they work great with no slipping. The stretch fitted covers are what I use and not the ones that have ties -yes those are sloppy. My slipcovers are on cloth couches as I don't like sitting on leather-feels cold to me! To prevent movement, you could use some of that thin carpet pad that has a netted pattern by cutting a piece for the seat. It also comes in rolls about 3 inches wide with an adhesive backing. I had no problems with it on a big recliner. The reason was probably that it came in different sections-one for back, one for footrest, and one for arms which made it work great. For a leather couch, I would use the roll with adhesive and place it on leather where you tuck it in and it should stay perfect. These slipcovers can nicely transform a free or consignment sofa whose only problem is the fabric. I see those on Craigs List all the time.

I just seen the photo, the same thing happened to my sofa. Really bad peeling and discoloration on it. I had it inspected and repaired by All Furniture Services now it looks pretty much new! I didn't even think it was possible to repair it. Hopefully you still have your chair, you can visit http://www.furniturerepairpa.com/ they will definitely be able to make this sofa look new for you! Highly recommended!

I am enjoying some of the comments here, funny stuff. Seriously though the slip cover suggestion was a good one. Or, why not invest in a new piece from Habitat? They are reasonable and have 50% off sales now and then. Best of luck.

While the chair looks pretty beat up....if your determine, I saw this on pinterest and pretty interesting.

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=chalk%20paint%20chair%20fabric&eq=chalk%20paint%20chair&etslf=19499&term_meta[]=chalk%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=paint%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=chair%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=fabric%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined

If you have a husband with a SAND BLASTER try this. The Fabric material under the crappy bonded leather is VERY durable. You can see that as the fake leather continues to peel off. SAND BLAST IT ALL OFF! Take it outside and sandblast ALL the bonded leather. Then? ... I have no idea LOL! Anybody have any ideas? Can you paint the fabric? Stain it? The frame of my $3000 bonded piece of junk I just got through paying it off, is in great shape, so it the fabric UNDER the bonded leather. But I can't bring myself to toss it. But I also want this EYE SORE OUT! What I really want to do... (throw it through the window of the store I bought it from) but that would be the beginning of my criminal career, so I dont want to do that... week kinda.... I wonder if this massive sectional sofa hangin out the store window in the local newspapers and tv news would invoke a nation-wide revolt LOL! ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS??? I WONDER IF DOUSING A NEW ONE WITH SCOTCH GUARD WOULD HELP?