Types of leather matter because these names describe very different materials, finishes and levels of maintenance. In simple terms: aniline is the most natural-looking and absorbent, top grain is smoother and more even, corrected grain is sanded and coated for uniformity, bonded leather is reconstituted fibre on a backing, and PU is a synthetic material with no hide in it.
On this page
- What do these leather terms actually mean?
- How should you choose between them?
- Types of leather: how do aniline, top grain, corrected grain, bonded and PU compare?
- Which materials does this shop actually use?
- What are the decisive criteria when you compare real leather and PU?
- What does it cost, and what does delivery involve?
- What mistakes do buyers make when reading leather descriptions?
- Frequently asked questions
In this shop, the distinction is clear: the lounge chair and ottoman range uses 100% aniline leather on every part, the leather office chairs use genuine leather on the seat and the front of the backrest with colour-matched matching leather on the underside and outer back, the cube armchair uses top-grain leather cushions, the dining-chair PU models are sold as PU leather, and no bonded leather or fabric upholstery is sold here. For background on leather terminology, see this neutral leather overview.
What do these leather terms actually mean?
Aniline leather is hide dyed right through with soluble dyes and no pigmented surface coating, so natural grain and marks remain visible and the surface absorbs liquids most readily. Top-grain leather is the grain layer of the hide with the surface lightly sanded or corrected for a more even look.
Corrected-grain leather is more heavily sanded and finished with pigment and an embossed grain pattern, giving the most uniform appearance and the easiest wipe-clean surface. Bonded leather is not a whole hide: it is shredded leather fibre bound together on a backing and coated. PU leather is faux leather, made from a polyurethane coating on a fabric backing, with no hide at all.
If you want a deeper explanation of the natural, uncoated end of the spectrum, this guide on aniline leather explained covers how it looks, ages and should be handled in day-to-day use.
How should you choose between them?
Choose by balancing appearance, touch, upkeep and where the chair will be used. Aniline suits buyers who want visible natural character and do not mind a surface that needs more care, while top-grain suits buyers who still want real leather but prefer a slightly more even finish.
Corrected-grain and pigmented leathers suit buyers who prioritise consistency and easier cleaning over the most natural look. Bonded leather and PU usually enter the conversation when the aim is to lower cost or get a wipe-clean faux-leather surface, but they are different materials and should not be treated as the same as a full hide.
Within this shop, your choice is practical rather than theoretical. If you want 100% aniline leather on every upholstered surface, look at the Eames Lounge Chairs category. If you need an office chair in leather, the Eames Office Chairs category uses genuine leather on the parts you use, with matching leather elsewhere. If you want a wipe-clean dining option, the Dining Chairs range includes PU-padded models.
Types of leather: how do aniline, top grain, corrected grain, bonded and PU compare?
The quickest way to understand the categories is to compare how each material is made, how it looks, how it wears and how it should be cleaned. The table below uses standard trade definitions and keeps the buying differences practical.
| Type | How it is made | How it looks | How it ages | How to clean it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aniline | Whole hide dyed through with soluble dyes and no pigmented topcoat | Natural grain, visible marks, less uniform colour | Develops character quickly and shows use more readily | Wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth; avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners |
| Top grain | Grain layer lightly sanded or corrected | More even than aniline, still real leather | Usually stays more consistent-looking than aniline | Follow the maker’s leather-care guidance; gentle wiping only |
| Corrected grain | Surface sanded, pigmented and embossed | Very uniform colour and grain pattern | Designed to resist visible variation better | Usually easiest to wipe clean because of the finished surface |
| Bonded leather | Leather fibres bonded to a backing and coated | Made to resemble leather but not a whole hide | Depends on the coating and backing rather than a full hide structure | Clean according to the coated surface; avoid harsh cleaners |
| PU leather | Polyurethane coating on a fabric backing, no hide | Uniform faux-leather look | Wears as a synthetic surface, not like hide | Wipes clean easily; see this guide to clean faux leather chairs without damage |
Which materials does this shop actually use?
This shop sells aniline leather, top-grain leather, genuine leather with matching leather on office-chair outer surfaces, PU leather and mesh. It does not sell bonded leather, and it does not sell fabric upholstery.
That matters because many furniture pages use “leather” loosely. Here, the published product descriptions separate 100% aniline lounge upholstery from office-chair upholstery, and they label PU models as PU. If you are comparing product lines, use the table below first, then check the exact product page.
| Range or model type | Material used | Published details |
|---|---|---|
| Leather lounge chair with ottoman | 100% aniline leather on every part | 26 listings, €799–€999, 87 × 85 × 84 cm, seat height 42 cm, ottoman 64 × 54 × 44 cm |
| Leather lounge chair only | 100% aniline leather on every part | 4 listings, €549–€569, 87 × 85 × 84 cm, seat height 42 cm |
| Matching ottoman sold alone | 100% aniline leather | 3 listings, €275, 64 × 54 × 44 cm |
| Tall leather lounge chair with ottoman | 100% aniline leather on every part | 6 listings, €949–€1199, 84 × 85 × 89 cm, seat height 42 cm, ottoman 66 × 55 × 43 cm |
| Leather office chairs | Genuine leather on the seat and front of backrest; colour-matched matching leather on underside and outer back | EA117 style €299–€344; EA217 style €329–€349; ES104 style €399–€409 |
| Cube armchair with chrome frame | Top-grain leather cushions | €649, 70 × 76 × 67 cm |
| D266 swivel chair | PU leather | €199, size not published, rated to 150 kg, weighs 12 kg |
| PU dining chairs, sets of 2 or 4 | PU leather pad on a moulded shell | Set of two black €90; set of four black €150; 47 × 53 × 83 cm, seat height 44 cm |
Examples help. The Classic Charles Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Black Leather – Ebony Ash Wood Black is €809 and 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H). The Classic Charles Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Tan Brown Leather – Walnut Wood Normal Base is €859 and 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H). The Premium Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Waxy Chocolate Polished Leather Walnut Wood is €999 and 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H).
In the taller format, the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – White – Rose Wood is €949 and 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H), while the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – Waxy Brown – Walnut Wood is €1199 and 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H). The white tall version is published with crisp white aniline leather, the ottoman included, free EU delivery and a 2-year warranty.
For PU dining seating, the Set of Two Eames DSW Chairs Replica PU Leather Black is €90 and 47 x 53 x 83 cm (W x L x H), and the Set of Four Eames DSW Chairs Replica PU Leather Black is €150 and 47 x 53 x 83 cm (W x L x H).
What are the decisive criteria when you compare real leather and PU?
The decisive criteria are material honesty, surface finish, placement on the chair, cleaning routine and price band. The key is to separate “real leather somewhere on the chair” from “100% aniline leather on every part” and from “PU leather”, because those are not interchangeable descriptions.
Start with where the material sits. In the lounge-chair range, every upholstered part is 100% aniline leather. In the leather office-chair range, the seat and front of the backrest are genuine leather, while the underside and outer back use colour-matched matching leather. In PU dining and PU office models, the upholstery is sold as PU leather and should be read as synthetic.
Then look at surface behaviour. Aniline leather shows natural variation and should be kept out of direct sun, especially white leather. The shop’s care rule is simple: wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth and never use abrasive or solvent cleaners. For follow-up care, see the guide on leather conditioner. For surface damage guidance, see the page on fixing scratches on leather.
If you are still narrowing down room by room, these related guides can help without repeating the full topic here: How to Choose the Right Leather Armchair, Faux Leather Dining Chairs: What PU Seats Mean and Black Office Chair: Leather, Mesh or PU and How to Choose.
What does it cost, and what does delivery involve?
The shop’s assortment spans several material types and price bands, so it helps to view the range by category first. Delivery policy is the same across the shop: orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days of confirmation, sent by fully tracked DPD, and typically arrive within 6–9 working days door to door.
| Category | Models | Price range | Example size | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer Lighting | 4 models | €190–€479 | 50x50x20 cm | Designer Lighting |
| Le Corbusier | 8 models | €639–€849 | 56x160x69 cm | Le Corbusier |
| Dining Chairs | 17 models | €90–€249 | 47x53x83 cm | Dining Chairs |
| Eames Lounge Chairs | 39 models | €275–€1199 | 84x85x89 cm | Eames Lounge Chairs |
| Eames Office Chairs | 38 models | €179–€409 | 59x61x90 cm | Eames Office Chairs |
| Rocking Chairs | 3 models | €149–€149 | 63x81x76 cm | Rocking Chairs |
| Accessories | 6 models | €139–€479 | 50x50x20 cm | Accessories |
| Special Offers | 13 models | €90–€849 | 72x70x91 cm | Special Offers |
Delivery is free, with no minimum order value, to the 25 countries available at checkout: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The price shown is the price paid, with no extra charge added at checkout and no customs or handling charge collected on delivery in these countries.
Weekend delivery is not part of the standard service. Tracking details are emailed as soon as the order is dispatched. Most single-product orders ship in one package; larger items may arrive in several boxes. A lounge chair with ottoman typically ships in two packages, and multi-item orders may be split across deliveries but are dispatched together. Dining chairs need minor assembly, for example four screws per chair, with the Allen key and instructions in the box.
What mistakes do buyers make when reading leather descriptions?
The most common mistake is treating every use of the word “leather” as if it meant the same construction on every part of the chair. It does not. One listing may be 100% aniline leather on every upholstered panel, while another may use genuine leather only on the contact areas and matching leather elsewhere.
The second mistake is assuming top grain always means the same thing as full grain. In trade terms, full grain keeps the complete outer grain unsanded, while top grain is the grain layer whose surface has been lightly sanded or corrected. Some sellers use the term loosely, so the safest approach is to read the exact upholstery statement on the product page.
The third mistake is confusing bonded leather with PU leather. Bonded leather contains leather fibre on a backing and is coated; PU leather contains no hide and is a polyurethane-coated synthetic surface. This shop does not sell bonded leather. If a chair is PU here, it is labelled as PU.
The fourth mistake is using the wrong cleaning method. For leather sold here, the care rule is dry or barely damp cloth only, no abrasive or solvent cleaners, and keep it out of direct sun, especially white leather. Keep the original packaging during the 14-day return window because returns must be repacked in it.
Frequently asked questions
Does this shop sell bonded leather?
No. The shop sells aniline leather, top-grain leather, genuine leather with matching leather on some office-chair outer surfaces, PU leather and mesh, but no bonded leather and no fabric upholstery.
Are the lounge chairs real leather all over?
Yes. The lounge chair and ottoman, in every version including standard, premium waxy, tall or XL, chair only and ottoman only, are upholstered in 100% aniline leather on every part.
Are the office chairs leather on every panel?
No. The leather office chairs have genuine leather on the seat and the front of the backrest, with colour-matched matching leather on the underside and the outer back. Mesh office chairs are mesh, and the D266 is PU leather, not genuine leather.
What if the chair arrives damaged or I want to return it?
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return, and nothing may be sent back without return authorisation from support@decomica.com. For a change of mind, the refund is made minus a €40 return fee that covers DPD collection. If an item arrives faulty, damaged in transit or wrong, the return is free: DPD collects it from your door and the shop sends a replacement or a full refund. Every piece also has a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Decomica sells reproductions inspired by mid-century designs, identified as such on every product page; they are not made, licensed or endorsed by the original manufacturers or licence holders. The D-series office chairs are Decomica’s own designs.
Last checked: 24 October 2026
Decomica Editorial
