Leather finishes are the protective coats added to leather to improve or alter its aesthetic, texture, residue, and stability.
These finishes vary from glossy patent finishes to matte and natural textures, all with different qualities to complement your work.
Some finishes try to guard the leather from everyday wear and tear, while others serve to highlight the leather’s natural grain.
Understanding the different types is the first step in selecting the appropriate leather finish for furniture, footwear or leather fashion.
This article walks you through the most common finishes and their real-world applications.
Types of Leather Finishes
1. Aniline Finish
Aniline finishing is a treatment process specifically developed for exquisite Napa hides, preserving the character and beauty of the leather. This multi-step process prevents against fading and wear, while allowing the beauty of the natural grain to show through.
The bottom line? A shallow sheen, even surface appearance or perhaps a deep, satin finish with a lovely contrast between lighter and darker portions that looks luxuriously tasteful and classic.
Because aniline leather is untreated natural Napa leather, it thrives with tenderness and care. For routine care, Chamberlain’s Leather Milk makes an effective all-around cleaner/conditioner that deep cleans and nourishes the leather to defend its natural glamor.
Proper maintenance will keep your leather soft, beautiful, and lasting for decades.
2. Semi-Aniline Finish
Additionally, semi-aniline leather has a beautiful natural finish, which doesn’t compromise on durability. Produced with full or top grain leather, it is dyed using semi-aniline dyes that contain a touch of pigment.
This semi-aniline process adds a light layer, providing the leather protection from daily wear while offering a consistent tone across the leather. Though a little pricier, it’s far more robust than full-aniline leather and stands the test of time even through years of daily wear.
In fact, it’s four times as durable as vinyl, so it’s as practical as it is beautiful for any furniture. Even with pigment, the natural look is still there.
3. Pigmented Finish
Pigmented finishes are a safe bet, especially when durability is non-negotiable. This finish stands up to a working life wear and tear, making it most suitable for work boots and luggage. Its durability gives it great versatility from pigments to pharmaceuticals.
The supple texture makes it a great option for petite statements, such as belts, shoes, and wallets. You’ll appreciate how easy it is to care for and clean!
Pigmented full-grain leather has overlapping strengths and versatility. It is perfect for high-end uses involving heavy wearing quality. Its predictable performance under extensive and consistent use, while maintaining beauty and function, is the reason it is by far the most commonly used.
4. Nubuck Finish
Then, Nubuck is a leather finish made from calfskin, famous for its robustness and buttery, velvety feel. Utilizing the hides outer-shield makes it much more durable than suede, whilst retaining breathability superior to most synthetic alternatives.
It just takes the daily wear and tear like a pro and doesn’t even seem flustered by it. Its fibers increase its susceptibility to staining—with 80% of users reporting experiencing this issue.
Care simply requires wiping it down with a damp cloth, allowing it to dry, and then brushing with a soft-bristled brush. A little delicate use outside will help it keep its beauty years later.
5. Suede Finish
Suede finish enthralls with its rich, soft and supple hand. As a result, it has become a premier material for smaller accessories like belts, shoes, and wallets. Its smooth surface feels incredibly luxurious, and is a bit easier to maintain when used on things that don’t receive heavy use.
Suede possesses a rich, velvety softness that surpasses most other leather finishes, including Nappa. This elusive character brings a level of sophistication to any space. Though not suited for the heaviest applications, it’s a great choice for applications that require adaptability and all-day comfort.
6. Glossy Finish
Additionally, the glossy finish is notable for its smooth and shiny look. This type is made of 52% leather, 48% vinyl. It’s a great way to provide a tough surface that can go from flat to satin to high-gloss to match whatever your design calls for.
Alternatively, nappa-finished leather and suede, common materials in this category, just feel smooth and soft. When compared to Semi-Aniline leathers, glossy finishes are more resistant to staining, allowing for less upkeep over time.
Whether for buildings, bridges, furniture or accessories, they provide all the aesthetic beauty of wood while being undeniably functional with performance that endures.
Related Read: bifold wallets for men
7. Matte Finish
Matte leather finishes are ideal for a polished, matte, non-shiny appearance. Providing a range from matte to semi-gloss, this finish provides a sleek, subtle look.
If your leather is too shiny or matte, you can finish with either a matte or semi-matte finish. This magical technique will help you dial it back without losing its graceful charm.
Available in clear matte, satin, or gloss finishes, this range provides the option of getting as much or as little shine as you want. Then go for a soft, subtle matte look or some shimmer.
This versatile finish appeals to multiple styles and applications.
8. Textured Finish
Texture leather features a unique rough surface, which is created by compressing raw animal hide to break its fibers. Popular varieties are Latigo, valued for its strength and usability in high-wear products such as belts, boots, and coats.
Both nubuck and suede have the soft, textured finish, but their underlying layers are different. Nubuck is created from the outer split of the hide, while suede is made from the inner layer.
Matt leather, a coarse-grained choice, stains and wears quicker than glossy leather. Curiously enough, shiny leather is much preferred, with almost seven out of ten Americans and Brits preferring it to more muted finishes.
9. Burnished Finish
With a distinctive, textured finish, Burnished leather dazzles from every angle. Over time it acquires a natural patina, which further enhances its unique character. Renowned for its quality and smooth, luxurious feel, it’s made a name as a go-to leather for designer shoes, bags and belts.
In Mexico, it’s the material of choice for making custom cowboy boots and other Western wear. Regardless of its classic beauty and inherent longevity, just 1% of all leather products are produced with this exclusive finish. Collectors and enthusiasts appreciate its one-of-a-kind character and durability.
Its capacity to last for generations with some tender loving care is just icing on the cake.
10. Embossed Finish
In addition, an embossed finish adds a unique texture and character to leather. Created by pressing patterns into the surface using heat and pressure, it can mimic exotic materials like crocodile or snake skin or feature unique, custom designs.
This textured finish is perfect for wallets, handbags and upholstery, combining beautiful aesthetics with maximum wearability. Aside from aesthetics, embossed leather is more durable and can disguise any scratches and wear, making it functional for everyday use.
From loud statement patterns to quiet organic textures, this finish can provide a dynamic range of options to meet your needs.
11. Distressed Finish
What makes distressed leather so unique is its tough, old-world appearance. It is usually done with a purposefully worn appearance, so that scratches, creases or other aged details give the product character.
Called patina, you’ll usually encounter this look on furniture, leather jackets, and handbags. It instantly creates that warm, broken-in, lived-in look/form feel we all so love. You’ll be surprised at how well it works.
Look at the last picture above, you see that it has a rustic look to it. Though it has a rough and tumble appearance, distressed leather is incredibly sturdy and some would say it gets better with age, becoming even more dapper with wear.
Many love the distressed finish for its magical ability to obscure little nicks and dings, making it the perfect combination of fashionable and functional.
12. Coated Finish
Okay, but what about coated finishes. These leathers feature a protective finish that has been factory applied to the leather’s surface, typically made from synthetic materials such as polyurethane or acrylic.
This coating treatment not only gives a more robust durability, but helps protect the leather from stains and scratches. It has potential in high-traffic applications such as transit and daily use products such as handbags and home décor items.
The coating gives you the freedom to choose from any texture or color you can dream up—maximum design flexibility without compromising form for function. Though it lacks the lived-in look and feel of aniline leather, it’s perfect for a life in constant motion.
13. Metallic Finish
Metallic finish leathers really sparkle with their high shine and reflective aspects. It’s a perfect way to add a bold, edgy, contemporary look to any design. This new kind of leather has an ultra-glossy metallic finish.
Its metallic finish and highly reflective surface mean that it’s most widely used for apparel, accessories and even furniture. You can easily spot it in every color, from silvers and golds to attention-grabbing bold hues.
The metallic finish leather doesn’t mess around with its blind-inspiringly beautiful aesthetic. Plus, it’s durable and easy to maintain, so it’s an equally smart decision when it comes to making more practical choices.
Conclusion
Secondly to help you customize your leather, there will be different types of leather finishes. Get the deep, organic aesthetic of aniline. Or, revel in the confident sparkle of metallic finishes, with each offering an individual look and atmosphere. Or go for a soft, luxurious texture with a suede finish. For those who love that classic high shine, smooth leather finish, glossy leather is the ideal choice. These options allow you to select something that fits your lifestyle, for an article of clothing, a piece of furniture or an accessory.
Read on for a primer on knowing the types of leather finishes, and how to choose wisely so you can choose what’s right for you. Research, consider the advantages and disadvantages, and discover the ideal leather finish for you!