Timeless elegance with mid century modern leather sofa and couch

What is a modern living room without a nice and comfortable sofa that you can relax in after a long day at work? Alongside lounge chairs, couches have been an indispensable part of any home not only because of their practical use, but also because of the significant stylistic and aesthetic impact they make on the space as a whole. And if you want to make that impact especially elegant and classy, with a luxurious touch, there is no better way to achieve that than with a stylish leather sofa.

Despite the fact that sofas might not be getting the attention they deserve in the context of mid century modern furniture design (which is more commonly associated with dining and lounge chairs, tables and lighting solutions of various kinds), the 1950s and 1960s left a lasting mark on our understanding of couches. By erasing the excessive ornamentation and extravagant yet uncomfortable form that often characterized the preceding chaise lounges in the decades before couches became the norm, mid century modern sofas offered a simple, yet undoubtedly stylish and modern seating solution that perfectly matched the needs and expectations of the emerging 20^th century society.

Mid century leather sofa in the 21^st century

Almost seven decades passed since the first truly mid century modern leather couches appeared on the market and in all that time, they haven’t lost any of its appeal or sleek elegance. Highly sought-after and marked by unwavering popularity, leather sofas in mid century style continue to function as accent pieces and quintessential elements of contemporary living rooms. Their sleek and elegant forms that rely on simplicity and functionality which are always in the service of comfort perfectly complements the luxurious look and feel of leather.

But aside from the timeless style and elegance, mid century modern leather sofas come with a variety of benefits. For starters, they are extremely durable and marked by outstanding quality. In most cases and with proper care they can last as much as four times longer than the faux leather or fabric alternatives. And even that care is much less time-consuming than most would initially suspect – an occasional wash and vacuum cleaning should do the trick. If you take care not to spill or scratch your leather couch in mid century style and top it off with a leather cream maybe twice per year, your favorite living room piece can easily last for a lifetime.

Types of mid century leather couches

Not all types of leather are the same. So, if you are planning to invest into a mid century modern leather sofa – which is a long-term, yet pricey investment – you should make sure that you are getting the upholstery type that suits your need. So, let’s take a quick look at most common types of leather used in couch upholstery.

Aniline leather is a type of leather that has little to no surface coating, so it is bound to ensure a perfectly natural look which flawlessly matches the mid century aesthetic. Rich in texture and character, this is a very common choice for a truly elegant mid century feel. However, at the same time, mid century aniline leather couches will be more prone to staining and damage by scratching for example.

Semi-aniline leather is a leather upholstery type that has a thicker protective coating, making it more durable and stain-resistant. Also, the coating will in this case contain pigment and leather dye which will ensure more uniform color across the whole sofa and a more luxurious and modern look. As such, semi-aniline leather is bound to look a bit too modern for mid century style, but unless you are a perfectionist who will continue noticing it, this should not be a problem.

Pigmented leather is marked by a polymer protective coating ensuring maximum durability and protection against stains and physical damage, but will at the same time lead to most artificial and contemporary look of all the variants. But, this is not always the case. Producing pigmented leather couches in mid century modern style offers a significant degree of variation. Some manufacturers will opt for a sleek modern look with smooth, uniform color across the sofa which obscures the natural texture, while others will go to great lengths to mimic the natural qualities of leather which are somewhat obscured by pigmentation. Some even choose to use special techniques to simulated antiqued and worn-out appeal.

Tan leather mid century sofas

When it comes to preferred color choices of mid century modern couches, it seems that tan shades rule supreme, just like they did back when they first appeared. Mid century brown leather sofas are probably the most authentic when it comes to spirit of the era that is perfectly preserved. So, it comes as no surprise that design enthusiasts who love the subtle elegance of the 1950s most commonly choose to get a mid century sofa in tan leather. By doing so, you will get a truly vintage expression in your living room that will look like a scene from Mad Men. At the same time, the gradual changes in texture and color as the years go by look absolutely stunning on brown leather couches in mid century style, as they will give your favorite furniture piece a beautiful antiqued look that will only further emphasize their vintage appeal.

Black mid century leather sofa

For a more modern and luxurious look, you might decide to get a black mid century leather sofa. This color choice can be an absolute hit for as long as it matches the overall color scheme of your living room. It is bound to ensure a truly elegant and stylish look that will speak volumes of your sophisticated taste and appreciation of finer things in life. It is also a perfect match for some equally luxurious accent chairs in mid century style. But, if this sounds too rigid for your aesthetical expression, don’t worry – you can easily find a black mid century leather couch that features a more playful or even extravagant form. And with some throws, cushions or other clever décor details you can easily tune down the seriousness and mix a bit of cheerful playfulness with undoubtedly elegant and classy look of black leather.

Mid century white leather sofa

Often a frightening choice for laymen, white leather sofa in mid century style can make or break your décor efforts. Highly elegant, exceptionally luxurious and attention grabbing, any couch in white leather is bound to become an accent piece in your home and catch some views. As such, it can be the defining element that will make your stylish living room just glow with style and elegance, but at the same time, it can end up looking out of place.

On top of that, any mid century white leather sofa will be significantly more prone to staining, any damage will be more obvious and worn-out look won’t come with the same vintage appeal of brown leather sofas in mid century style (meaning extra care and maintenance will be required). But if you are confident in your interior design skills and don’t mind going an extra step in terms of maintenance, this can be a very elegant and stylish option.