(From top) Sofas in neutral shades like white and cream can be easily co-ordinated with colourful accessories; The leather furniture from @Home is sourced from Malaysia and China; Recliners in single and three-seater versions are not just comfortable but über-stylish

Are you looking out for flooring that’s more opulent than Italian marble? Try the rich tones of leather as it spreads out beneath your feet as dark-hued flooring. Teak dining tables can exit and make way for ones in leather and you can now turn in at night on a bed that’s crafted from top-rated Italian leather. Leather furniture look-books are brimming with dressers, chests of drawers, lamps, trunks, and even bar counters. And yes, obviously there are sofas too — by the multiples — designed in the material of the moment.

Confined, once upon a time, to the corner of a musty study or a large parlour, leather furniture was oh-so-boring. But that was then. Leather furniture is back — and how. And it’s brought with it cutting-edge designs in sleek modern lines, which are finding a perfect fit in contemporary homes.

With the sales of leather furniture up nearly three times of what they were five years ago, brands are working double speed to fill their stores with latest designs crafted in the material. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that over 70 per cent of the sales of furniture brands Durian, Stanley and Natuzzi come from their leather furniture collections.

Akshay Gupta, of Auburn Scale, a leather furniture and accessories boutique, says: “There’s a huge demand today for niche products in leather. Besides, the Indian consumer has been exposed to global trends in interiors and doesn’t balk at spending a good amount on lifestyle products. So, we decided to open our first retail store last year.”

The brands are giving a huge push to designs that are modern and contemporary. Expect straight lines and angular designs, even for the bigger pieces. They’ve also upped the comfort quotient: ever heard of the ‘no sag, no disturb’ element? Well, what it means is that when one of the occupants of the sofa gets up, it doesn’t sag and the others sitting on it don’t get disturbed.

Raseel Ansal, who along with her husband, Naveen Ansal, founded Casa Paradox, a premier design and lifestyle store says: “Leather now offers multiple variations in colours and finishes as well as designs, which are comparable with options available in fabrics. To top it off, leather has a timeless appeal and its look and feel improves with age.” Casa Paradox stocks two Italian brands — Cavalli and Baxter — as well as its own signature lines in a mix of Indian and European leather.

Leather patterns in bright pink, green and yellow come together in the Balli Maran coffee table from Portside Café

So pick your way through embossed and de-bossed (heat-pressed to create an impression) leather, which could look like crocodile/iguana or some other exotic skin. Or if you like, go for the very fancy, furry, ‘hairon’ finish that looks and feels like a zebra, leopard or giraffe. Then there’s leather that’s embellished with traditional Indian embroidery and you can think along the lines of dabka, zardosi, kasab-work, usually done on fabric, which is adapted to the tougher leather.

IN VOGUE

(From top) The Elizabeth Sofa from Stanley brings together elements of the classic Chesterfield sofa with contemporary touches; Urban Scale’s leather bar with a crocodile skin finish not just provides storage but also screams style

So, what led to this resounding comeback? Nitin Bahl, country manager, Natuzzi, the Italian luxury furniture brand, which has seven stores across the country, says: “Today, leather is a top option when one considers premium upholstery for furniture.” For Natuzzi’s furniture, the leather is sourced from northern Europe and South America and processed at its tanneries in Italy. It’s then fashioned into furniture near Milan and shipped to India.

Leather has the added advantage of looking as good as new for several years. Murtaza Mangalorewala, senior manager, buying and merchandising, @Home, says: “It’s one of the most durable and long-lasting materials for upholstery. And it’s low-maintenance.” All it needs is a regular wipe with a clean damp cloth. Unlike fabric, leather doesn’t absorb any spillages of water/food and rarely gets stained.

Designer Manjeet Bullar, who customises leather furniture for his clients, says: “It can also be embellished with traditional Indian embroidery.’’ His made to order pieces in tough Irish leather cost upwards of Rs 1 lakh.

Shilpi Dokania, director, Durian Industries, an imported furniture brand with 40 stores across the country, says: “For the very hot Indian summers, leather sofas are a good option as leather has pores and breathes, thus regulating its temperature.”

Leather works perfectly with contemporary designs where straight lines dominate. Akshay Badrinath, director, Stanley, an Italian leather and accessory store, says: “Leather, with its monotoned look, lends itself to angular furniture that’s now in vogue.” Leather for Stanley’s furniture comes from Europe and is processed at its Bangalore factory.

FLOORS TO FURNITURE

The current head-turners in leather are floors. These have found favour with commercial buyers especially some of the top-notch hotels. Says Sameer Hora, director, Idus, a furniture store: “The leather used for the flooring is one of the strongest in the market. On the other hand, it is used to create the softest flooring in terms of feel.”

For about Rs 650 per sq feet, walk on flooring which feels like the supple, textured skin of the buffalo, alligator or the Boa. Colours for the flooring vary from warm yellow to subdued black and brown. Moreover, the flooring can be treated like any other and just requires regular cleaning or vacuuming. Waxing it thoroughly once or twice a year helps maintain its sheen.

Stanley has tables and @Home even offers the head rests of beds in leather. Urban Scale has full-fledged bars, trunks, mirrors, chests and lamps as well. @Home’s leather furniture is sourced from Malaysia, Indonesia and China. But if you want to move away from the living room, check out the suede-upholstered beds at Savoir, which start upwards of Rs 4 lakh. Meanwhile, Bobby Aggarwal of Portside Café in Delhi not only has quirky beds, dressers, tables, consoles but also chest of drawers and trunks in colours as varied as pink and green.

Says Bahl: “Contemporary leather sofas can be modified according to the space.”

But it is not as if the classic designs are completely on their way out. Naveen says: “Leather furniture from Cavalli is reminiscent of the furniture that was found on ships in the past and in vintage cars. So, these are essentially large, old fashioned pieces.” Prices are on request.

Bring together the modern with a hint of the past in the Elizabeth sofa from Stanley with its Chesterfield back and arm rests. This is topped up with leather cushions embossed with silver work adding just that bit of bling to the room.

Abhay Gupta, executive director, Blues Clothing Company, which brought the House of Versace to India and has in addition launched Haute Monde, a leather furniture and accessories store, says: “For the living room you can have a fusion of modern and vintage designs in leather furniture. One can style the living room by using straight line leather furniture and add a classical wing chair in leather to create drama.”

Leather recliners, in both single and three-seater avatars are another popular design. Prices start at Rs 60,000. Also the bigger sofas — the two- and three-seaters are more popular than the single-seaters. “The L-shaped sofa with a lounger, which utilises space, as it can be placed in a corner, sells a lot,” says Avijit Mitra CEO, Ebony Gautier.

Move beyond the sofas to pick up the über-cool bar from Auburn Scale with a crocodile skin finish. This is priced upwards of Rs 1.10 lakh depending on the level of customisation. Portside Café and Bullar too have bars in leather on offer.

Move away from the usual for the Balli Maran coffee table from Portside Café, priced at Rs 1.18 lakh. Done up in kitschy pink, green, brown and yellow leather this is certainly an interesting addition to your drawing room.

Colour scheme

Designer Manjeet Bullar customises his leather products with traditional Indian embroidery

Leather is also not just about darker tones of brown, black or maroon any more. These shades have now been replaced by cream, white and other pastel shades. Says Badrinath: “Leather furniture is easy to clean and maintaining a lighter shade is not too difficult.” The added advantage is that lighter colours add to a sense of space. Moreover, sofas in these tones make it possible to play around with different shades in curtains, cushions and rugs.

But if neutral colours are too paleface for you, then seek standalone pieces like chaise lounges and chairs upholstered in shocking yellow or drop-dead red. Ideally the accompanying furniture in the room should be built around these statement pieces.

“Colours like orange and plum, which were unimaginable in leather earlier, are now available and picking up in popularity,’’ says Raseel.

Aggarwal’s two new collections — the Dak Bangla uses dark brown tan and antiques and the other Balli Maran collection is in bright colours.

The trend forecast for leather this season, according to Gupta of Haute Mondem, includes tones of beige, brown and orange. Naveen adds that the very Indian colours do well — including blue, green and yellow. Cavalli, meanwhile is rooting for ochres, blacks and browns this season.

Enough reasons to chuck your fabric sofa for the one in oh-so-trendy leather?

LUXE LEATHER IN FURNITURE

• The thicker the leather — the better.

• If it feels soft and supple it means that it is good quality — bypass the stiffer varieties.

• Leather which does not have marks or minimal marks, is better.

• Down feathers, goose feathers and poly-fibres make it more comfortable.

• Use beech or other hard wood for the frame.