A sofa is often the central furniture piece in a living room, serving as a comfortable perch for everything from lively conversations with guests to family movie nights that keep you on the edge of your seat. But when it comes time to choose the perfect sofa for your home, you might be overwhelmed by your options.
A leather sofa might be the perfect fit for your home if you want something durable, easy to clean, and long-lasting. These sofas offer impressive durability, longevity, and stunning looks, making them an excellent choice for many Canadian homes.
This article dives into a few of the best leather sofas in Canada for 2023, exploring why they made the list and providing helpful tips to aid you in choosing the ideal option for your home. So, if you’re considering the perks of a leather sofa for your home, you’re in the right place.
Best Leather Sofa for Canadians in 2023
- Best Overall: Noa Kennedy Leather Sectional
- Best Sectional: The Nook Living Sofa
Why Did We Choose These Leather Sofas in Canada?
As we searched for the best leather sofas available in Canada in 2023, we found that some models performed exceptionally well in specific areas. These factors can help determine the best option for your home, so to make your decision easier, we marked a superlative for each option.
Here’s a quick overview of why each model made the cut.
The Noa Kennedy Leather Sofa is our top overall pick, as it offers a well-rounded array of features ideal for all sorts of situations. It comes in a few colour options and is made with high-quality top-grain leather and a durable kiln-dried hardwood frame. If you’re looking for a well-rounded option, this model is a perfect choice.
The Nook Living Sofa offers customizable features that can accommodate nearly any home or family size. From a modular design and durable frame to customizable colours and arm designs, this option is ideal for Canadians who want to tailor their sofas to their individual needs.
Best Overall
Noa Kennedy Leather Sectional
- Leather: 100% Top-Grain, Full-Aniline Leather
- Colour Options: Light Brown, Dark Brown
- Sofa Type: Sectional with Chaise
- Seats: 3
- Customizable: No
It's Great For:
- Canadians who prefer soft, luxurious leather
- Small Canadian families of up to 3 people
- Those who want a chaise lounge
- Modern design aesthetics
The Noa Kennedy Leather sofa is a perfect option for Canadians in 2023 who want a well-rounded pick. This model features soft, luxurious top-grain full-aniline South American leather. The surface of the leather is smooth to the touch, even as a brand-new sofa.
As you break in the leather and use it more frequently, it becomes softer and more supple. Over time, you will have an even softer and more comfortable lounging experience. The leather is stretched over a kiln-dried hardwood frame that is built to last, ensuring you’ll get the most out of your sofa.
The blocky design and sleek metal legs create a beautifully modern appearance that blends seamlessly with varying aesthetics. The leather comes in natural colours, including a rich, deep brown a more natural, lighter brown.
The cushions are made with 100% polyester hollow fibre filling in a heavy-weight sheeting, creating a softer, more comfortable cushion. They provide a soft enough surface for you to sink slightly into the sofa without being so well-cushioned that you can’t get up again. The back and seat cushions are loose, allowing you to move them around for easier cleaning or to create various arrangements.
An included chaise lounge provides the perfect place to kick back and relax. You can choose whether to position the chaise on the left or right side of the sofa to create a left or right-facing sectional. This sofa comfortably seats three users and features medium-height back cushions, so most Canadians will feel perfectly supported.
Key Features
- Soft, Supple Leather. The high-quality leather is soft and comfortable but only gets better with age. Unlike some leather sofas, the 100% top-grain aniline leather covers don’t start too firm or stiff to be comfortable.
- Soft Cushions. A softer polyester hollow filling and heavyweight sheeting provide a plush, comfortable perch. The arms and back of the sofa feature extra cushion, along with an eco-conscious construction.
- Durable. A kiln-dried hardwood frame, reinforced arms and backing, and leather fabric creates a highly durable sofa that can last for decades. This leather won’t wear down with time, even though it gets softer with each use.
- Flexible. A built-in chaise lounge can go on the left or the right to adapt to your unique space and seating preferences. This customization option allows you to fit the sofa to your space.
Our Expert’s Take
“The ultra-soft leather was a winner among our testers. The combination of beautiful, high-quality leather fabric, durable materials, and soft cushions creates a stunning piece that can fit in nearly any living room.”
Best Sectional
The Nook Living Sofa
- Leather: 100% Authentic Italian Leather
- Colour Options: Steel Grey, Grizzly Brown, and Obsidian Black
- Sofa Type: Sofa or Sectional
- Seats: 1-9+
- Customizable: Yes
It's Great For:
- Canadians who want a customizable option
- Spaces of all shapes and sizes
- Larger Canadian families
- Those who want different colour options
The Nook Living sofa is perfect for Canadians that want a customizable sectional sofa. It offers an elevated level of customization, making it an ideal choice for homes and families of all sizes. Like most customizable sofas, you can change the colour and configuration. You can choose a single seat, multiple seats, and even options such as an ottoman to completely customize your experience.
There are a few options available when it comes to size and configuration. You can create a sofa that is as large as you need, with some options suitable for 9 or more people. You can choose a standard sofa size as well, depending entirely on your space and preferences. You can choose between two types of covers, including four fabric colours and two leather colours. You will find the standard fabric in graphite, blue, grey, and dark brown. The leather comes in white, light grey, and tan.
The arm thickness, leg materials, leg finish, and cushions are customizable, allowing you to create a sofa that accurately reflects your needs. You can also add a chaise or ottoman, but both pieces are optional. The depth of customization allows for greater flexibility in your sofa, allowing it to better suit the look fof your living room. You can choose bolster cushions or matching back cushions, and the legs come in three options (dark oak wood, brushed nickel, or matte black metal).
The frame features a mixture of hardwood and Baltic birch, creating a durable base that can last for decades. High-quality components, including premium hardened steel anti-sag springs and Teflon-coating clips, further lend to the longevity of these sofas.
The modular setup provides an elevated level of customizable layouts, allowing you to tweak the setup to match your unique space and seating requirements. The modules are light enough for easy maneuverability, ensuring you can quickly adjust the layout from your standard furniture setup to a massive sofa for family movie night.
Key Features
- Multiple Colours. Three colour options, including grey, natural brown, and black, can accommodate nearly any aesthetic. There are additional options in the standard sofa fabric, including a beautiful light blue.
- Flexible Configurations. The modular design of this sofa allows you to tweak the layout to accommodate your specific seating requirements or space constraints. From a standard sofa to a massive sectional, this sofa has you covered.
- Customizable. Choose from different arm options, leg materials, leg finishes, and other ergonomic features to create a sofa that looks and feels exactly how you want it.
- High-Quality. Luxurious 100% authentic, high-grade Italian leather and a durable frame create a high-quality product that can last for years. No matter which additions you choose, the sofa is extremely durable.
Our Expert’s Take
“Between the soft leather, customizable features, and durable frame, this sofa is an outstanding option. Our testers loved the customizability, as it allows everyone to create a sofa that matches unique needs.”
Video Demonstration of the Nook Sofa
Why Trust Us?
We do extensive research to help you improve your life. We’ve looked at hundreds of different categories to bring you the products to enrich your life, from mattresses to small kitchen appliances, bedding, and beyond. We have spent hundreds of hours researching, testing, and observing how these products work to help you out!
When it came to leather sofas, we put each of the contenders we found through a set of exclusive, rigorous tests in our test lab. We developed scores based on how they performed. Then, we sent each couch off to our testers, who used them in their homes for a few weeks during the testing phase. Their detailed feedback, combined with our evaluations, determined which recommendations we would pass on to you.
When evaluating the best leather sofas in Canada, we looked at the following factors:
- Type of Leather. The type of leather used on the sofa can make all the difference, especially when it comes to feeling and durability. We chose options that used the highest-quality top-grain leather to ensure that your sofa lasts.
- Sofa Type. A sofa is great for three or four people, but what if you want a bigger couch? When choosing the options for our list, we were mindful of larger seating configurations. That’s why we have standard sofa options as well as sectionals on our list.
- Seats. How many people can sit on the sofa at once? This is important for larger families, and especially for those who want to make sure everyone is comfortable. We tried to choose full-size sofas, sectionals, and options with multiple seat configurations for this reason.
- Customizable Options. We looked for sofas that had some level of customization, allowing you to make each of the sofas on our list suit you better.
How to Choose a Leather Sofa for Canadians
Choosing a leather sofa isn’t as simple as picking out a particular colour. There are many factors to consider, including leather grain and leather type. Like any sofa, you must also consider the space, dimensions, and colour options of each sofa. Here’s a handy guide to help you choose the best leather sofa for your space, your family, and your lifestyle.
Type of Leather
Of course, the quality of your leather sofa depends on the leather itself. All real leather is made from cattle hide, but the part of the hide used can determine how the couch looks and feels. Top-grain leather is the most common option for sofas. Top-grain leather is usually processed, dyed with an aniline vegetable dye, and made soft and comfortable.
Top-grain leather ages with time, meaning that your couch will look different as it ages. That’s exactly what most people want when they purchase a leather sofa. Top-grain leather sofas stain more easily due to the lack of a protective coating, however.
Essentially, all leather is processed to some degree. Top-grain leather is processed for comfort and softness, while other options can be embossed, dyed, or corrected to develop a unique look and feel. While the cushions on your couch might be top-grain aniline leather, the material on the parts of the couch you don’t usually touch might be split hides or another type of leather.
We recommend either top-grain leather or pigmented leather for your leather couch. Pigmented leather corrects the grain pattern on the leather and uses a polymer surface to add pigments. Pigmented leather is durable, resistant to stains, and much easier to clean than other types.
Sofa Frame and Construction
Most Canadians don’t consider how their sofa is constructed. However, the frame and construction of your sofa can tell you a lot about how it’s made and whether it will stand the test of time.
The frame is one of the most important components of your couch. You need to choose a couch with a kiln-dried hardwood frame. Woods like birch and larch are sturdy but lightweight, making it easy to move the couch around. A sturdy frame is essential if you want your couch to last for many years.
You should also consider the construction of the back and arms of the couch. You want materials that are reinforced, use firmer webbing, and will keep you supported without breaking or creaking.
While these are sometimes secondary concerns, it’s important to keep the construction of the couch in mind as you shop. If you want a durable, high-quality couch, you should always consider the construction of the frame inside.
Cushions
The construction of the couch cushions can make a difference, particularly in the way they feel. If you can’t test out the sofa in person, it’s always a good idea to check out how the cushions are made. Some sofa retailers will even list how soft or firm their cushions are, which will give you a pretty good idea of how they feel.
Consider the sofas you’ve enjoyed sitting on in the past. Have the cushions felt soft and comforting, or firm and supple? Do you enjoy sinking into your sofa? Do you need more support from the cushions across the back of your sofa? Keep these things in mind as you shop. Your preferences are extremely important, especially with a leather sofa. Since they are more durable and meant to last longer, you want to find a sofa that feels comfortable to you.
The inserts for the cushions may be made of memory foam or fill. Memory foam moulds to your body, delivering a more comfortable feel. Fill can sink in, but most cushions that use fill are reinforced with additional layers of firm materials. This way, the fill won’t slide around and create low spots on the couch.
You should choose the option that works best for you. While memory foam cushions are the most popular right now, you may prefer something different!
Sofa Type
There are two main types of sofas you will encounter as you shop for the best leather couch in Canada. Before you can decide which sofa is best for you, you must consider which type of sofa you prefer.
- Standard sofas. A standard sofa includes three or four seats in fixed positions. The seats and armrests can’t be moved around. A standard sofa can be a less expensive option, but they aren’t modular and offer fewer customization features. If you don’t want a large sectional or have a smaller space, a standard sofa can still be a great option.
- Sectional sofas. Sectional sofas are longer, L-shaped pieces that may be fixed or modular. Fixed sectionals come in pieces that go together in one configuration. Sectionals require more space, but larger families can all gather in the living room at the same time. Modular sectionals allow you to purchase different sections and seats, whether those are standard options or chaise pieces. You can arrange them however you want, including in nontraditional configurations. If you want a sectional for a larger room or a bigger family, consider a modular option that you can tailor to your needs.
Dimensions and Space
Whether you’re looking at a modular sectional or a standard sofa, size is a concern. Of course, every living room may not be large enough to house the largest sectionals on the market. You should be careful about the dimensions of the sofa and the size of your space to ensure that the option you choose fits well.
The page for each sofa should give you information about the basic dimensions as you shop. Before you start looking at sofas, make sure to measure your space. Keep these dimensions in mind and write them down for reference. You want to make sure that the sofa you get will fit well. You don’t want to purchase a sofa that’s too small for your dimensions or too large.
If you choose a modular sectional for your space, make sure to consider the dimensions of each piece. These should be available via the website. This way, you can add up the width, height, and length of the sofa to ensure it still fits in your given space.
Other options include sectional sofas, which can take up more room but also seat more people. Consider how many people you need to seat if your entire household gathers in your living room. Use that number to choose a sofa size that works for you and your space.
Colour Options
There are dozens of different colour options for leather sofas, but some sofas only offer two or three choices. Purchasing a sofa in the right colour is essential to match your décor, so it’s important to choose one that matches.
The best leather sofas in Canada offer a range of colours, from natural leather colours to pigmented options. Natural colours are instant classics, so choose one of the natural brown shades if you want a sofa you can use for multiple different décor selections. However, pigmented leather can help if you want something suited to a specific look.
The colours you choose for your sofa are entirely up to you, but you should consider a sofa with more options if you want to choose the exact colour for your space.
Customization
Many of the sofas we found (both leather and otherwise) offer some level of customization. Some, like the sofa we looked at in our list, are completely modular. This means that you can arrange them however you like, as all the pieces can fit together in various configurations. However, even some non-modular sofas have a range of customization, from simple colour options to a more complex list of special features.
Some sofas allow you to customize the shape and material used in the leg pieces, while others allowed you to add a chaise on one side or the other. Some could be ordered with ottomans or matching pillows. Other options may include the shape or size of the arms.
If you want to make a sofa entirely yours, it might be worth looking into an option that offers many different levels of customization. With some options, you can order additional pieces later so your sofa always fits your needs.
Additional Considerations for Leather Sofas
Now that you know how to choose the perfect leather couch for you, it might be worth it to consider a few extra things you may not know about leather sofas. Leather requires special care and attention. Other sofa types, particularly those with fabric covers, may be easier to care for. If you are truly interested in a leather sofa, you should consider the following things.
Care and Maintenance
Genuine leather sofas require some degree of care and maintenance. You should make sure to condition your leather and keep it clean with a leather cleaner. It’s important to choose the right types of cleaners for the leather your sofa is made of. If you fail to maintain your leather, it can crack, split, or dry out. If you want your sofa to last as long as possible, you should do your best to perform standard leather care on a schedule that you can maintain.
There are plenty of resources where you can learn how to keep your leather looking great. Asking a local leather furniture retailer can help, and they might have the items you need for your sofa. Otherwise, check online to learn exactly how to keep up with your leather.
Pets and Kids
Leather furniture is beautiful, but there are a few reasons you should avoid it if you have pets or kids. If you allow your pets on the furniture, cats and dogs can easily scratch even the highest-quality leather. While properly maintaining the leather, some deeper scratches from their claws can permanently damage the leather.
Kids can also give your leather furniture some rough treatment. Even leather that uses protective treatments can be damaged if your kids are too rowdy or your pets get excited. If you are a parent (or pet parent), consider what this might mean for the look and feel of your sofa over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leather can be an outstanding alternative to fabric for upholstering sofas, as it’s incredibly durable and long-lasting. However, it might not be the best fit for every home, as it has its merits. For example, leather is cool to the touch, which might not be a preference for every Canadian.
A good-quality leather sofa can last several decades, sometimes holding up for nearly thirty years with proper care and maintenance. However, low-quality leather sofas rarely last a decade, usually tapping out and showing signs of extreme wear after just a few years.
The cost of a leather sofa is highly dependent on factors specific to the model you choose. On average, they cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the quality, brand, and type.
