How to Repair, Restore and Recolour a Leather Couch: the DIY Guide for Australia
“Your leather couch doesn't have to show its battle scars. Leather repair and recolouring lets you maintain the coatings as many times as needed for the life of your couch.” Leanne, Founder & Senior Leather Technician
You can restore your leather couch
With the right products and a clear process, a cracked, faded or worn leather couch can be brought back to an even, factory-style finish at home. In your living room, you can save a couch worth thousands for the price of a kit, no experience required.
Before
After
First, what type of finish does your leather have?
For furnishings, manufacturers use different colourants and finishing techniques to create a variety of aesthetic effects. When it comes to repairing, restoring or recolouring your couch, the right products depend on your leather finish. Two types are widely popular:
This is the most common couch leather by far. It has a surface colour coating that is typically monochromatic. The leather feels smooth and it has some water resistance (especially when new). With age and years of use, the colour coating may craze, crack and flake (delaminate). This finish doesn't usually UV fade, but the colour can wear away from abrasion. Cleaning is easy although permanent stains can form in the colour coating with exposure to ink, dye or other penetrating staining agents. Pigmented furniture comes in a vast array of colours, from powder blue, to chocolate brown to bright red, black and white.
The paint-based Leather Repair & Recolour Kit is formulated for this leather, and most of this guide is about it. Leather Glue (No.16) and Filler can be used to repair surface imperfections and small tears.
Aniline leather is dyed right through and left largely uncoated, so it feels warm and natural. Semi-aniline leather is dyed and has light colour surface coatings. This leather marks and stains easily and has little or no water resistance. It is prone to fading in UV light. Oil, inks and dyes cause permanent stains. Some pure unfinished anilines form water-marks with just water.
To restore aniline leather, the go-to colourant is Aniline Dye Stain. For faded or worn semi-aniline leather, a hybrid system such as the Aniline Restoration Kit gives a dye-based colour boost and a sheer colour coating that seals, protects, evens out colour variations and subtly conceals blemishes whilst still respecting the natural aesthetics of aniline leather. The Repair & Recolour Kit is also an option for this leather type. It changes the aesthetic and results in a permanent opaque colour change.
Other types of leather couches
Waxed leather is the third most common leather finish used on furnishings. The leather is dyed then treated with a wax coating that cracks during the upholstery process creating the 'pull-up' effect. Crackle lines form in the wax resulting in a classic vintage aesthetic. With its antique appeal built in, waxed leather tends to age gracefully, often resisting stains, with the rustic features enhanced by the scuffs that develop over time. Waxed furniture leather is often soft caramel through to rich tan.
The same solutions that work on aniline and semi-aniline leathers tend to work well on many waxed leather couches.
Nubuck and suede are a rare find when it comes to couches. Suede is the velvety underside of leather and nubuck is the upper side buffed to render a doeskin look and feel. They are dyed and 'unfinished', which means that no coatings are applied to the surface. The lack of protective coatings makes them vulnerable to marks and stains.
When it comes to restoring nubuck and suede, the first step is a deep clean and a thorough brushing. This can remove grime and lift the nap, revealing a much-improved look and feel to older suedes. Aniline Dye Stain and Suede & Fabric Colour can be used for small touch ups.
These materials are used on couches and other furniture. Many budget couches are bonded leather or have vinyl or PU on the outer backs and sides with leather only on the seats. These are plastic-based. These materials come in all colours and tend to feel somewhat rubbery, slick, grippy or plastic. As they age, the glue holding the synthetic upper to the fabric backing fails, and the surface peels, cracks and crumbles. Repairs may prove short term as the material continues to break down, unable to hold the repair or undermining the new coatings.
Typical leather couch ageing
Years of use, body oils, perspiration, accidents, sunlight and pets leave their mark. Normal wear is inevitable, and the good news is that most of it is fixable. First consider what signs of ageing your couch has.
- Colour wear. Thinning or loss of the surface colour on the seats, arms and headrest, caused by abrasion, topcoat breakdown, and unsuitable cleaning products or methods.
- Cracking. Fine splits in the colour coatings and leather grain, caused by long-term flexing, sun exposure and a lack of regular care that lets body oils and perspiration cause dryness.
- Crumbling. The disintegration of the upper layer of man-made materials caused by the expiry of the plasticising agents.
- Peeling. The splitting and lifting of large sections of the upper layer of bonded or bi-cast materials caused by the expiry of the plasticising agents and glues within and between the layered construction.
- Delamination. The colour coating lifting and flaking away in tiny pieces, most often on the seats, caused by body oil and perspiration breaking the bond between the leather and its coating, a lack of regular care and the use of unsuitable products.
- Fading. A lightening or colour shift, caused by UV exposure. Most often occurring on dyed leather (aniline).
- Scratches. Shallow and deep gouges in the coatings caused by sharp, scraping objects.
- Cat and dog scratches. Surface scratches and lifted tags of coating and pulled leather fibres caused by claws.
- Tears, holes and cuts. A split or hole right through the leather, caused by sharp objects, or weakened leather giving way.
- Split seams. A gap where the stitching has let go, caused by broken threads from age, friction and the load a seat takes.
- Stains. A mark that resists normal cleaning, caused by an absorbed substance such as ink, food, body oil, or dye transferred from denim and dark clothing.
- Dryness and stiffness. Leather that has lost its moisture and feels hard or board-like, caused by heat and a lack of regular cleaning and conditioning.
Do you need a repair, a recolour, or both?
Two quick questions sort most couches.
If the colour has worn thin, gone patchy on the seats and arms, or faded near a window, that is a colour problem that is resolved with a colourant kit. If the couch is dirty and the colour underneath is sound, it does not need recolouring. It needs care: clean, condition and protect.
Cracks, flaking (delamination), scratches, pitting, gouges and small tears require repairing before any colour goes on.
What not to do
A few common shortcuts damage leather couches.
- Do not use household bleach, abrasive cleaners, strong solvents, hair spray, vinegar, wipes or kitchen sprays. They can strip colour, make the surface sticky and dry the leather out. Leather needs calibrated care formulated with the ongoing health of the leather and coatings in mind.
- Do not scrub with a magic eraser. It abrades the coating and takes the colour with it.
- Do not use wood furniture polish, dubbin or shoe polish on a coated couch. It sits on the surface, rubs off onto clothes, and stops proper coatings adhering later.
- Avoid cheap one pot wonders. They tend to give a result befitting the price.
- Always clean before conditioning. Applying conditioner to a dirty sofa locks in the damaging effects of perspiration, oils, dirt and abrasive particles. For most finishes, conditioning will not bring colour back.
- Do not rub hard at a mark. Focused rubbing is the fastest way to take colour off. Agitate the cleaner into the grain with a leather scrubbing brush, then wipe with a microfibre cloth.
- Do not ignore a crack or a small tear. Left untreated, small problems only grow.
Leather Repair & Recolour Kit
The Leather Repair & Recolour Kit is a complete leather paint-based system, the same kind of finish used to coat pigmented leather when it is made.
What the kit lets you do:
- Clean, prep, prime, colour and topcoat leather with the same or a new colour.
- Cover worn, scratched and stained leather with an even, factory-style finish.
- If needed, fill cracks, scratches, pet gouges and pitting with Leather Filler.
- If needed, rejoin small tears with Leather Glue (No.16).
In the kit:
"Leather dye" is often used as a catch-all for all types of leather colourants. True aniline dye is a penetrating stain made for unsealed leathers. Most couches, however, are pigmented, which means painted. The colour you see is paint. Restoring pigmented leather requires a leather paint-based system. Tannery-grade leather paint is highly refined. It looks and feels nothing like house paint, which is why many people are surprised to learn that most leather is painted.
The Repair & Recolour Kit system is flexible and self-sealing. Once cured it will not rub off onto clothing. It is ideal for any size job, from a small touch-up to a full recolour of a lounge suite.
Accessories. In terms of tools and equipment, leather restoration can be achieved with a simple set of accessories: a sisal scrubbing brush, white microfibre cloths, sandpaper, a palette knife, and applicator sponges. Using a hair dryer helps to speed the drying process, and if you have an airbrush or spray gun, the paint and topcoat can be sprayed for a perfect finish.
Aftercare. When all moisture has evaporated from the new coatings, apply leather conditioner and protector. This may take 7 to 14 days. Thereafter, give your sofa a three-monthly service: clean, condition and protect using the Leather Care & Protection Kit to keep your leather looking and feeling beautiful.
Why a repair kit, not just paint?
There are cheaper one-step products that promise a quick fix. When leather is finished at the tannery, a tried and tested methodology is used. The leather is primed for optimal adhesion, coloured in thin layers then sealed with a rub-resistant topcoat that enhances and protects the colour coats. The layers interlock into a finish that is more durable, softer to touch and produces a more pleasing aesthetic than leather paint alone.
Each product in a Repair & Recolour Kit does a job:
- A clean, well-prepared surface. New coatings only stick to clean, keyed (sanded) original coatings. This is the step people often skip, and the reason colour lifts later.
- Primer. The adhesion promoter that makes the colour grip. It is the foundation of durability.
- Colour. Several thin coats give a sleek, grain-hugging finish. Thin is deliberate, coverage builds coat by coat, and a few extra coats on the seats means a longer-wearing result.
- Topcoat. The finishing coat that delivers the rub resistance and sets the look and feel.
The full system mimics the one used in tanneries. If manufacturers could get away with just paint, they would. A quality finish comes from a proven, layered system that optimises adhesion and supports a long-wearing result as well as a finish that looks and feels beautiful.
See the difference
Before
After
The process
For the complete step-by-step, including repairs and troubleshooting, see How to Recolour Leather and the Directions for Use.
You will need: a Leather Repair & Recolour Kit (plus Leather Filler and Leather Glue (No.16) if repairs to scratches, pitting or tears are needed), 800 grit sandpaper, a leather scrubbing brush, white microfibre cloths, a palette knife, applicator sponges or a spray gun, and a hair dryer if you want to speed up drying.
Clean and prep
Vacuum into the creases and under the cushions, mask off any timber you do not want coloured, then clean with Spot & Prep and the scrubbing brush until the leather is free of dirt, surface body or hair oil and old conditioner. Lightly sand with 800 grit to key the surface. Adhesion comes from a clean, keyed surface, so do not skip this.
Repair if needed
Fill cracks, scratches and pet gouges with Leather Filler in thin layers, and glue any tears or loose tags with Leather Glue (No.16). For a larger tear, stitch it closed first, and/or back it with a sub-patch, then glue. Sand smooth when dry.
Prime
An even coat of primer promotes a strong bond between the new colour and the old surface. Work it into the grain by hand. On the hardest-working areas, the seats, the arms and the head area, give it two coats.
Colour
Apply several thin coats of leather paint, pressing the first into the grain then gliding or spraying the rest. The first two coats look patchy, which is normal. Let each coat dry, or speed drying with a hair dryer or gentle sunshine.
Topcoat and cure
Two coats of Leather Topcoat & Sealer to seal and protect the colour, three on the seats. Satin is the most common sheen on furniture, with gloss a close second. Then let it cure.
Application method. The products are ready to use. No dilution is required. Leather Paint and Topcoat & Sealer can be applied by:
- Applicator sponge by hand
- A foam roller
- Paintbrush
- Airbrush
- Spray gun
Give your job time. A full lounge can be recoloured in a day with one or two people and a heat source, but the process is more enjoyable when you do not rush it. Let the colour dry overnight part way through, and again before the topcoat.
Drying and curing times
Drying times depend on the prevailing humidity, the number of coats and whether drying is assisted or unassisted:
- 1 hour per coat (unassisted). The more coats, allow longer per coat.
- 2 to 10 minutes if treating a small area and using a hair dryer or sunshine to speed the curing process (assisted).
- When all work is finished, your furniture can be used after 2 days (1 if necessary).
- Unassisted drying can take up to 14 days for all moisture to fully expel from the coatings.
- Wait 7 to 14 days before applying leather conditioner and protector.
Avoid draping blankets or sheets over the new coatings while they are drying. They could stick and damage the new coatings.
Which products does your job need?
Match your couch problem to the products. This table is for pigmented leather, so you'll need a Leather Repair & Recolour Kit. Add repair products only if your couch needs repairs before recolouring.
| Problem | Repair | Colour or treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Colour wear on seats and arms | Not needed | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Cracking | Leather Filler | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Pitting, flaking and delamination | Leather Filler | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| UV fading (rare for pigmented) | Not needed | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Cat scratches | Leather Glue (No.16) & Leather Filler | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Tears and holes | Leather Glue (No.16), Leather Filler, a sub-patch, sewing kit if large | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Split seam, not load-bearing | Spot & Prep, then Leather Glue (No.16) | Not needed |
| Split seam, load-bearing | See an upholsterer | N/A |
| Stains, fresh | Not needed | Try Leather Cleaner or Spot & Prep |
| Stains, permanent | Not needed | Repair & Recolour Kit |
| Dye transfer from denim | Not needed | Transferred Dye Remover early, then Repair & Recolour Kit if it has set in |
| Dryness and stiffness | Not needed | Leather Softener, then Leather Care & Protection Kit ongoing |
| Bonded or faux, peeling | Leather Glue (No.16) to re-bond if minor | Repair & Recolour Kit, with reduced durability |
What about aniline leather?
Aniline leather is dyed, and semi-aniline leather is dyed and lightly coated with leather paints. The look is natural and the feel is usually soft and warm. As dyes look different to paints, it is not aesthetically compatible to use Leather Filler to fill scratches in aniline leather unless the full Repair & Recolour Kit is used to change the finish from aniline to pigmented.
| Problem | Repair | Colour or treatment |
|---|---|---|
| UV faded | Not needed | Aniline Restoration Kit, or Aniline Dye Stain and Topcoat |
| Colour wear or surface is rough to touch | Not needed | Aniline Restoration Kit |
| Tears, holes, deep scratches | Leather Filler & Leather Glue (No.16). This changes the finish to pigmented but lets you repair all surface problems. | Repair & Recolour Kit |
What it costs: doing it yourself versus a professional
You have three options when it comes to leather lounge repairs and colour work: have the leather replaced by an upholsterer, use a professional Leather Technician, or do it yourself.
Bars are scaled by typical price. Professional touch-up is shown at the midpoint of its $200 to $2,000 range.
Around $62 per seating position for a 3 seater lounge.
Depending on the size and complexity of the job.
Typical cost for a standard 3 seater in Australia.
DIY, a Repair & Recolour Kit lets you recolour a 3 seater lounge for around $187, or $62 per seating position. If the couch is fundamentally sound and the coatings need to be refreshed and updated, this option offers a viable solution for a fraction of the cost.
- The couch is genuine pigmented leather and the problem is worn colour, cracking, fading, scratches or small tears.
- The frame and cushions are sound and the couch has years left in it.
- You like the couch and would rather restore it than replace it.
- Something has happened. Recolour over a stain or fix a tear before it spreads.
- A load-bearing seam has split, or there's a large tear and the leather is significantly weakened.
For most worn couches, doing it yourself gives a great result.
How long will it last, and can it be done again?
These are professional-grade products, many of them used in tanneries, and they can give years of service on a couch. How long yours lasts comes down to the quality and condition of the leather underneath, how hard the couch is used, whether dogs use the couch, whether you used the full system or just paint, and whether you keep up the regular care afterwards.
And yes, it can be done again, as many times as the couch needs. Coatings maintenance is repeatable; you can touch up or recolour your leather when it wears, for the life of your couch. The frequency varies from job to job based on the leather, and the amount and type of usage the couch receives. Once you know how, topping up the colour now and then keeps the whole couch looking cared for.
What our customers say
Finally, a product that does what it claims. Restored my crazed leather couch to brand new. Follow the steps provided and it works perfectly. Highly recommended. Will definitely use again.
NicholasThese products are amazing and easy to apply. My second hand chesterfield lounges have a new lease on life. They came up perfectly, I am so pleased with the results, the before and after photos speak for themselves.
Lee-Anne BI purchased the repair kit and am pleasantly surprised how well the kit has worked on my leather lounge. I am no longer embarrassed by unsightly scratches and wear and tear.
KarenI'm a first time user of Leather Hero products and by no means an expert on refurbishing leather furniture. My leather lounge suite is 23 years old and has survived (barely) a multitude of pets and kids. It was cat scratched, faded and torn in a few places. I was sceptical about trying to restore it but figured I had nothing to lose. I researched other companies but couldn't find a good colour match. I settled for Leather Hero's Dark Chocolate colour, which ended up being pretty much exactly the same colour as my lounge originally was. The lounge looks near enough to new again. Easy to follow instructions and heaps of online information for using the products. So much cheaper than buying a new lounge suite. I would recommend Leather Hero for anyone wanting to try restoring leather furniture before spending a whole lot more on replacing it.
Tracey BI couldn't believe my eyes, a worn out Italian leather lounge ready for the dump was restored to near new condition. I purchased the complete kit from cleaner through to top coat. The process was easy and very satisfying to see it come along in the stages. I never thought the product would be as amazing as it was, and when I shared photos of the before and after to friends they thought I used filters and AI to make it look better.
Thomasina TI used the Leather Hero Repair & Recolour Kit on my parents' old leather sofa, and the transformation was incredible. My parents were genuinely delighted with how fresh and new it looked, and seeing how happy they were made me even happier. I was so impressed with the results that I've already purchased another kit to restore a second chair. It feels great knowing I'm renewing old furniture instead of sending it to landfill. Thank you so much, Leather Hero!
RitaLeather Hero is an amazing product. It transformed my 40 year old leather recliner. It looks almost new. The process was easy to follow with great directions. By the way, I'm an 82 year old grandma, and if I can do it anyone can!
MargaretSuper impressed with how easy the products were to use, the fill paste is silky smooth and flexible and repaired the tears beautifully. I used Aniline Cognac with Dark Chocolate antiquing topcoat, and the end result was superb. Highly recommend!
JulesA large patch of discolouration ruined an otherwise expensive and rather classy sofa. I wasn't expecting much to be honest but thought it worth a try. A superb result. You'd have to look very carefully indeed to see it. A very good product. Thanks.
JohnI ordered the 1 litre Repair and Recolour kit in white for a large 3 seater lounge. It looks like a brand new couch, spectacular after painting. I learnt a few things: prep is extremely important, make sure you buy the 800 sandpaper and sand all surfaces otherwise the paint "wipes off" and doesn't stick to the leather. A hairdryer is your best friend. When painting a chair or sofa, paint carefully in small sections, hold the freshly painted leather surfaces apart and use your hairdryer until the paint is dry before letting the painted surfaces touch. Will definitely be purchasing again, keep up the good work!
Kath KI have been fortunate enough to be given a green leather lounge from a neighbour, it is in great condition except the bottom seating parts needed some love. I bought the degreaser, green dye and sponge applicator, and everything arrived quickly, packaged well with clear instructions. This was my first go at dyeing leather so I was a bit nervous doing it, however it applies really well and you get the hang of it after the first 'oh my God I can't go back now' swipe lol. It looks sooo much better and I think even the leather is happier. I let it all dry and gave the whole lounge a good condition. I have to say I'm impressed and I'm glad I went with a local, thanks heaps, and now I want to look for something else to dye as that was fun lol.
Tina HHad obvious damage on ONE cushion of our 3 seater plus chaise (ie 6 seater) leather lounge, consisting of a 12cm scratch and multiple tiny marks and scratches through the top coloured layer of the leather. Decided to buy the Leather Hero DIY repair kit after being quoted $800+ to "clean 6 seats and put colour on 3 seats (without addressing the actual damage)". For a fraction of that quote we purchased the Leather Hero Repair & Recolour Kit. We used the filler on all the small marks, damage and the main scratch. That step alone made a huge difference!
Mrs HRelated guides
Ready to restore your couch?
If your couch is genuine pigmented leather with worn, faded, cracked or peeling colour, the Leather Repair & Recolour Kit has the pro-grade products you need to bring it back. Find your colour, follow the steps, and take your time.