We have had our share of fantasies and woes with pristine marble, exotic granite and old-world wood. While these materials can still floor you, leather has arrived in a quiet, majestic way to change home interiors for good. Imagine your private library dressed in a dark brown leather floor, perfect to match the rose wood furniture and coffee table editions. Or even your new bar, with large mahogany units to display the prized single malts and plush velvet stools, offsetting the tan leather floor with paisley motifs.

Leather does have its way with spreading the oomph into an already splendid setting.

Material talk

Leather tiles or flooring are available in an interesting set of varieties. The best however, is full grain leather, which is pure, untouched and is of high quality and cost too. The clearer the hide, the better the grade. This is followed by corrected leather, where the hide is touched to repair flaws. One can choose softer ones for walk-in closets and high-durable leather for areas with more traffic. Apart from being custom dyed, designers offer the choice of giving it an aesthetic appeal with intricate embroidery, design stamping and inlaid motifs.

What works

What makes leather floors a winner is its rich appeal. If used in the right interior spaces and maintained well, it can last long, very long. And the patina that it gains over years of use only adds to its exclusivity. Apart from this, the properties of leather as a material makes it a bad conductor of heat and cold, hence welcoming your feet every time with a warm touch. It works well as a sound insulator too, thus making it an apt choice for home recording studios. Many companies coat it with a layer of wax or treat it to make it water resistant, making maintenance just a damp mop away.

What doesn't work

Grandeur notwithstanding, the task of taking good care of your leather floors is perhaps its major let down. It is not as durable as hard flooring. Water and moisture are its biggest enemies, making it a complete no-no in wet areas like kitchen and bathrooms. One has to steer clear of harmful chemical cleaners and only use leather solutions for removing stains. Furniture legs also need to be padded to make sure they don't damage the leather surface. Ideal places to use leather flooring are dry areas with plenty of sunshine that brings out the best in the material over time. It's best to wax it twice a year to keep the sheen going.

Environ-friendly

Amidst all the excitement around leather flooring, the use of recycled leather is doubly interesting for interior designers who are particular about nature-friendly décor. Recycled from old leather products like jackets, belts and shoes, the tiles and flooring get unique patterns, and are sought after for home offices and media rooms.

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