The Complete Care Guide for Ashbourne Leather, Signature Fabric and Signature Velvet

The Complete Care Guide for Luxury Furniture Collection Upholstery

Furniture that is well made to begin with rewards consistent, straightforward care. The aim of maintenance is not to restore what has been lost — it is to manage what the material encounters day to day so that nothing deteriorates unnecessarily.

At Luxury Furniture Collection, our sofas and armchairs are available in three upholstery types: Ashbourne Leather, Signature Fabric and Signature Velvet. Each has different properties, different vulnerabilities and different care requirements. This guide covers all three, so you can maintain whichever upholstery you have chosen to the standard it deserves.

Before You Begin: Read the Care Instructions Supplied With Your Furniture

This is not a formality. The care instructions supplied with your furniture are specific to the finish and materials used in your piece. They take precedence over general guidance — including the guidance in this article.

If you are unsure whether a cleaning or conditioning product is compatible with your upholstery, do not apply it until you have confirmed compatibility. With Ashbourne Leather in particular, the specialist wax finish requires products suited to wax-finished semi-aniline leather. Applying an incompatible conditioner can alter the finish permanently.

When in doubt, contact us before treating the upholstery.

Caring for Ashbourne Leather

Our Ashbourne Leather Collection is half-grain, semi-aniline leather finished to 1.1–1.3 mm, with a specialist wax finish. It has a refined matt appearance and natural tonal variation between hides. Over time, the surface develops a patina — a gradual deepening of character that is a natural quality of the material.

The specialist wax finish provides initial protection against soiling and light surface marks. It is not stain-proof or scratch-proof.

Day-to-day care

Dust the surface regularly with a soft, dry cloth. Work gently across the grain rather than pressing hard. This removes surface dust before it can settle into the texture of the leather.

For pet hair, a soft brush attachment on a vacuum at a low setting is effective. Avoid hard attachments or high suction settings directly on the leather surface.

Dealing with spills

Act immediately. Blot the spill with a clean, dry cloth — do not rub, as rubbing spreads the liquid further into the surface and can work it past the wax finish into the leather beneath.

For moisture spills, a dry cloth is usually sufficient if applied promptly. For anything oily or pigmented, blot as much as possible with a dry cloth, then seek advice before applying any cleaning product. Applying an incompatible cleaner to a semi-aniline leather can cause more visible damage than the original spill.

Conditioning

Ashbourne Leather's specialist wax finish changes the conditioning requirement compared to a standard aniline or pigmented leather. Many general leather conditioners are formulated for a different finish type and are not compatible with wax-finished leather.

Before applying any conditioner, confirm that it is specifically compatible with wax-finished semi-aniline leather. Test it on a small, hidden area and allow it to dry fully before assessing the result. If the finish changes colour, sheen or texture, do not proceed.

Do not aim to buff the surface to a shine. Ashbourne Leather has a matt finish; a conditioner or cloth action that produces a sheen has altered the finish in a way that cannot easily be reversed.

Avoiding damage

Keep the sofa or armchair away from prolonged direct sunlight and strong heat sources — radiators, underfloor heating vents and open fires included. These affect the wax finish and the leather itself over time.

Check that cushion covers, throws and textiles placed on or against the upholstery are colourfast. Check also that they are free from abrasive trims, metal zips or exposed fastenings that could mark the surface.

Keep pets' claws trimmed. Ashbourne Leather's wax finish reduces the risk of immediate surface penetration from light contact, but repeated claw contact will mark the surface over time.

Scratches and surface marks

Light surface marks on the wax finish can sometimes be reduced by gently warming the area with clean, dry hands and working the wax back into the surface with a soft cloth. This is not always effective, and the result depends on the nature and depth of the mark.

For deeper scratches or more significant surface damage, do not attempt repair with a generic leather repair kit without first confirming it is compatible with a wax-finished, semi-aniline leather. Incompatible products can produce a more visible result than the original damage. Seek professional advice before treating anything beyond a superficial mark.

Caring for Signature Fabric

Our Signature Fabric has a soft brushed finish and an EasyClean treatment. It is available across our four collections in a range of contemporary matt shades.

The EasyClean treatment simplifies day-to-day maintenance. It does not make the fabric stain-proof.

Day-to-day care

Vacuum the fabric regularly with a soft brush attachment on a low to medium setting. Work in the direction of the weave rather than against it. This lifts surface dust and prevents it from settling into the fibres over time.

Give particular attention to the seat cushions, the back and the crevices between sections, where dust and debris accumulate.

Dealing with spills

Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Do not rub. For water-based spills, blotting promptly is usually sufficient to prevent a lasting mark. For anything pigmented or oily, blot as much as possible with a dry cloth and then follow the care instructions supplied.

Before applying any fabric cleaner, test it on a small hidden area and allow it to dry completely. Some fabric cleaning products can leave their own marks or alter the surface of a brushed finish if applied too heavily or not blotted away properly.

Avoiding damage

Keep the fabric away from prolonged direct sunlight, which can affect colour over time. Avoid placing damp items directly on the fabric for extended periods.

Check that textiles placed on the sofa — particularly throws with embellishments or cushions with exposed zip fastenings — do not snag the brushed surface.

Caring for Signature Velvet

Our Signature Velvet has a tactile pile and rich tonal depth, with a 100,000+ Martindale rating and an EasyClean finish. The pile's appearance shifts with the viewing angle and the direction of light — this is a natural property of velvet rather than a fault.

Day-to-day care

Vacuum the velvet regularly using a soft brush attachment on a low setting, working in the direction of the pile. This lifts surface dust and maintains the pile's direction and appearance.

Light brushing with a soft fabric brush, again in the direction of the pile, can help restore an even appearance if the pile has been disturbed by sustained pressure in one area.

Velvet responds to how it is sat on. Areas that receive repeated pressure in the same direction may develop a directional appearance over time. This can usually be managed with regular light brushing.

Dealing with spills

Blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Do not rub. Allow the area to dry naturally, then brush gently with a soft fabric brush in the direction of the pile once completely dry.

The EasyClean finish handles light spills well when addressed promptly. For anything that has dried or penetrated the pile, follow the care instructions supplied and confirm compatibility before applying any cleaning product.

Avoiding damage

Keep velvet upholstery away from direct sunlight. Pile fabrics are more susceptible to directional fading than flat-weave fabrics, and prolonged exposure can alter the colour unevenly.

Check that cushions, throws and any items placed on the sofa are free from abrasive surfaces, metal fastenings or embellishments that can flatten or snag the pile.

Pets' claws can pull velvet pile. If pets use the sofa, keep claws trimmed and monitor the pile condition regularly.

General Positioning and Environmental Advice

These points apply across all three upholstery types.

Sunlight and heat: Position your furniture away from prolonged direct sunlight and strong heat sources. Heat from radiators, underfloor heating and open fires can affect leather, fabric and velvet differently but adversely in every case. A consistent, moderate environment is better for upholstery than one that fluctuates significantly.

Humidity: Extremes of humidity — very dry or very damp environments — affect upholstery over time. In a very dry environment, leather may benefit from periodic appropriate conditioning (subject to the compatibility guidance above). In a very damp environment, ensure adequate ventilation and avoid trapping moisture behind or beneath the furniture.

Sharp objects: Avoid placing bags with exposed metal fastenings, keys or other sharp objects directly on upholstered surfaces. This applies equally to leather, fabric and velvet.

Frame and Structural Care

The upholstery is the visible surface of the furniture. The hardwood frame and hand-tied springs beneath are what maintain its shape and structure over time.

Keep the area beneath and around the furniture clear so that air can circulate. Avoid placing heavy items on the arms or back of the sofa — these areas are upholstered but not designed to bear the kind of load the seat absorbs.

If the sofa or armchair develops any movement, squeaking or structural change, contact us. Attempting to tighten or repair joints yourself risks causing further damage.

We provide a 10-year frame guarantee, which applies to the frame specifically. Follow the care instructions for upholstery to ensure that the surface finish remains consistent with what the guarantee relates to.

When to Seek Professional Help

Some situations are better handled by a specialist than by home treatment.

• Any stain that has not been removed by prompt blotting and the recommended cleaning approach.
• Scratches or marks on Ashbourne Leather that go beyond the wax surface finish.
• Velvet pile that has been significantly flattened or damaged rather than directionally disturbed.
• Any repair involving colour matching, re-finishing or structural work.

If you are unsure whether to treat something yourself, contact us before attempting it. A few minutes of advice can prevent a repair from becoming a replacement.

Explore our full upholstery range and care guidance at Luxury Furniture Collection, or request free swatches to compare leather, fabric and velvet at home before ordering.