We turned to the experts to ask why leather is a great material to decorate across your entire home and how to best incorporate more leather into our homes. “Incorporating leather into your space is a great way to introduce your home to a warm color palette,” she says. “The undertones of leather play nicely with the oranges, greens, yellows, and reds of the fall and help to create a balanced look.” “Cotton, velvet, linen—these are all beautiful choices to mix with leather,” Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs agrees. Lindsey also notes that it’s not just about adding texture—it’s about mixing in patterns, too. “We love mixing leather with patterns and textures," she says. “Something neutral with a thicker weave and a soft hand always plays nicely with leather. Throw in a patterned accent pillow for some pop, and you’ve got a great layered look to accent your home decor.” “There is no doubt that the density and texture of leather create a grounding feeling for fall and winter,” they explain. “Adding vintage leather pieces into rooms that are even light and airy can add dimension—especially in the cooler time of year,” they explain. “One of our favorite things about leather is the soft, worn-in feel,” Katie Labourdette-Martinez and Olivia Wahler of Hearth Homes Interiors agree. “This can come from breaking in your own piece over time, or sourcing something vintage. There’s nothing quite like a well-worn leather accent chair for cozying up with your morning coffee or a good book.” “Leather wall coverings are a fun and unexpected way to use the material in a design plan,” she tells us. “It adds a ton of texture that you don’t see in most homes.” Lizzie McGraw, owner of Tumbleweed & Dandelion and author of the upcoming book Creative Style, agrees. “Leather is famous for its durability and wear. We love to offer kid-friendly distressed leather goods, and soft leather ottomans are a perfect way to accent any room.” “One way to use leather accents is by using leather accessories–you don’t want to go overboard, but generally, rooms without any accessories are cold and uninviting,” Nelson says. “There’s a lovely balance when throw pillows, a blanket, plants, some leather decorative accessories, and books all sing together to provide a sense of completeness in a space." “I appreciate details like leather-wrapped pulls or a leather paneled door or cabinetry,” Joyner adds. Lindsey also tells us that leather works just as well in small doses. “Leather accent pillows, benches, or poufs are great ways to incorporate another material without committing to leather upholstery.” “We usually stay in the light to medium range, as a leather sofa in this color range transitions really nicely between the winter and summer months,” Labourdette-Martinez and Wahler share. Curtis notes her favorite at the moment are caramel, cognac, rust, and butter tones. But as a rule of thumb, she says to avoid leather tones that are overly orange, as these can tend to clay in a lot of environments. “You always want to pick a color that best compliments the rest of the space,” Berry adds. “I love classic camel and black but have also enjoyed working with blush.”
