This guide will show you how to change the color of a leather sofa. We will be changing of a small seat from a light beige color to maroon to demonstrate the correct procedure of changing the color of leather.
A color change can be made from any color to another, i.e. black to white, or white to black, with just as successful results.
The Leather Colorant Kit used in this guide can be used to change the color of all leather, vinyl, plastic, PVC & leather cloth car interiors.
This photo shows a seat cushion we will be changing from beige to maroon.
PRODUCTS REQUIRED
Leather Colorant Kit - Used to change the color of leather
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STEP 1. PREP THE LEATHER
The first step is preparing the leather ready for applications of color. We do this to remove any waxes, oils or silicones that may be present on the leather, not removing these could cause adhesion problems. Prepping the leather also removes the manufactured finish. If the leather is very dirty, clean it first with the leather ultra clean or warm soapy water.
Do the back & sides first. A lot of furniture these days have finished splits on the back & sides and using a strong cleaner like the leather prep would strip the color off so we won't be using it on the sides. For the sides all you need to do is wipe them down with some alcohol cleaner on a cloth. Not prepping the back and sides as thoroughly as the rest of the leather won't affect the end results, this is because the back and sides aren't really used and so come under no, or very little stress
Because the seating cushions and other areas come under more stress (wear & tear) it is more important to prepare them. To do this it is best to rub them with the leather prep and an abrasive pad, this application removes the leather finish. A good way to apply this is to place two cotton wool balls on the abrasive pad and then wet them in prep, fold the abrasive pad over the balls and then use it to rub the leather. This way applies the prep in the correct and sparing way making the product last longer.
Prepping the leather in this manner will remove any creased and cracked areas on the leather. So it not only makes the leather ready for coloring but it greatly improves its appearance. Any severe cracks can be filled using heavy filler.
The leather is correctly prepped when you start to see color transfer from the leather onto the abrasive pad or cloth. This indicates that the finish has been removed exposing the color beneath. Any distinctive creases in the leather may wear through quicker than other areas once color is applied (this would only happen on a color change job, and is just a maybe). To reduce the chance of this happening wet some fine grade sandpaper (320+) in leather prep and rub along the crease to reduce it. Then proceed to the next step.
STEP 2. WIPE THE LEATHER DOWN WITH ALCOHOL CLEANER
The previous step will have removed the manufacturers finish and any silicones that are soluble in solvents. There are however some silicones like spray on polish and waxes that aren't soluble in solvents, and so to remove these we need to use the alcohol cleaner. After using the leather prep wipe the leather down with a cloth dampened in the alcohol cleaner and for ease of use you could also spray the alcohol cleaner directly onto the leather. Now wait 30 minutes for the cleaners to evaporate.
STEP 3. APPLY THE FIRST LAYER OF COLORANT
Shake the bottle of colorant for about 3 minutes to make sure it is well mixed. Pour a small amount onto a sponge and rub into the leather. The idea is to sponge on a thin coat of color working it into any gaps, creases and hard to reach areas. Apply light pressure here to work the colorant into the grain. If you apply too much pressure you may get a foam of color on the surface, this is not a problem, just wipe it away with the sponge (gently).
The image to the left shows what the leather should look like after one application of color. DO NOT try to achieve a perfect finish with the first coat.
The colorant dries naturally or you can speed it up with a hair drier. After applying one base coat, apply two more coats of colorant in the same way as before. You can actually achieve a good finish without even spraying any color on! However, it is best to spray some on as well.
STEP 4. SPRAY ON THE COLORANT AND LEATHER FINISH
Wait 30 minutes for the colorant to thoroughly dry and then proceed to spray the colorant onto the leather. Set up your spray gun or airbrush and then spray the leather at a comfortable distance, being careful not to over apply the color. It is best to practice a bit on a piece of paper to get the hang of spraying first. Spray the colorant on in thin layers. This avoids runs and so makes for a nicer finish.
Because the colorant we're using is water based it takes a few minutes to dry. We, therefore, advise you to spray one area and then dry it using a hair drier. Doing it this way reduces the chance of runs. If you do see a run, just wipe it off with a cloth or sponge and then re-spray the area.
There is no right number of coats that should be applied to the leather. Spray on one coat and dry it off, then just keep spraying on a coat at a time until all the base color is hidden. When you are happy that sufficient colorant has been applied, the Leather Finish should be sprayed on to the leather. First apply the glossy Super-Seal, in three-five coats, this forms the base of an incredibly flexible and durable finish. The glossy appearance, if unintended, will be altered to the desired finish with the application of the Leather Finish.
After the super-seal has been given sufficient time to dry, the remaining leather finish should be applied, again using the entire contents of the bottle provided to cover the entire area in between three to five coats. Always remember to leave sufficient time for each coat to dry before applying the next.
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
The above two images are of the seat thoroughly colored. As standard, the leather has a slight shine to it. This can be either increased using a gloss finish, matted down using a matt finish or kept the same using a satin finish. Our customer required a matt finish for this item, which is shown in the pictures below.
