Leather furniture is a timeless investment, offering elegance, comfort, and durability. But when it comes time to put it in storage—whether you’re moving, downsizing, or redecorating—proper care is crucial to preserving its quality. Unlike fabric or wood furniture, leather requires special attention to avoid damage from humidity, dust, and improper handling.
To help you store your leather furniture the right way, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will keep it looking as good as new.
1. Make your leather furniture spotless before storage
Before storing your furniture, start with a deep clean. Dust, dirt, and moisture can lead to long-term damage, so take time to properly prepare your pieces.
- Use a leather cleaning foam to remove dust, grime, and potential mold spores.
- Wipe in circular motions to ensure even cleaning.
- Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step—trapping moisture inside can lead to mold.
- Use only specialty leather products to avoid harmful chemicals that could weaken or dry out the leather.
2. Apply a leather conditioner for extra protection
Leather is prone to cracking if it dries out. After cleaning, apply a high-quality leather conditioning cream to maintain its suppleness. This simple step helps prevent dryness and keeps your furniture looking smooth and polished.
Bonus tip: Be sure to use a conditioner specifically designed for leather—not just any household product.
3. Disassemble your furniture if possible
If your furniture allows, disassemble it to make moving and storage easier. For example, remove cushions and store them separately to prevent indentations. Any detachable parts, such as legs or armrests, should also be removed.
Wrap all disassembled parts in the same type of breathable covers used for the main furniture piece to protect them from dust and damage.
Secure small components, like screws and bolts, in labeled bags to avoid losing them during reassembly.
By breaking down your furniture before storage, you reduce the risk of damage and make better use of your storage space.
4. Wrap your furniture with care
The process of moving and storing furniture can be tedious, but proper wrapping can help ease the burden and ensure protection.
“Use a breathable cover or cloth to protect leather from dust and scratches while allowing air circulation,” advises the team at Clyde’s Leather Company. While plastic wrap might seem like a good option, their team warns against it. “Plastic traps moisture, leading to mold and mildew growth on the leather surface.” Instead, opting for breathable materials will help preserve your leather items during the move.
Investing in a high-quality cover can be your best defense, serving as the first barrier between your furniture and the elements. Tuck the cover in snugly, as loose covers can allow dust and dirt to accumulate, defeating their protective purpose.
Silica gel packs are also an effective way to control humidity, so use them as needed. Another excellent moisture-absorbing solution is activated charcoal, which works similarly. Pre-packaged activated charcoal bags can be conveniently placed near or directly on the furniture, acting as a natural dehumidifier.
5. What storage unit should you choose for your leather furniture?
For leather furniture, a climate-controlled storage unit is the best choice. It helps prevent fading, cracking, and moisture damage by maintaining stable temperature and humidity levels.
Once you’ve decided on climate control, the next step is choosing the right unit size. A 10×15 storage unit typically provides enough space for a couch and armchairs, ensuring they remain well-ventilated. If you’re unsure what size you need, our storage unit size calculator can help.
On average, a climate-controlled 10×15 unit costs around $178 per month nationwide, while a non-climate-controlled 10×15 unit is about $157 per month. Climate-controlled units generally cost more, but the added protection is worth it for valuable leather pieces.
Storing your furniture in the right unit helps preserve its quality and protect it from long-term damage, giving you peace of mind.
6. How should you store leather furniture inside your unit?
Now that you’ve prepared your leather furniture and placed it in the right storage unit, it’s time for the final step: proper storage placement. Taking the right precautions at this stage will help preserve its condition and extend its lifespan. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Keep leather furniture off bare cement floors. Cement absorbs and releases moisture, increasing humidity levels and promoting mold growth. Instead, elevate your furniture using wood pallets or similar materials to create a protective barrier.
- Handle with care during the move. Take extra precautions to ensure sharp corners or rough surfaces don’t scratch or puncture the leather. If using professional movers, instruct them to handle the furniture with care and consider adding padding or buffers for extra protection.
- Never stack leather furniture. Leather is delicate and prone to tearing, so avoid placing heavy items on top of it. Instead, arrange your pieces with ample space to allow for proper air circulation. A well-ventilated setup helps maintain the leather’s quality and prevents deterioration.
7. What else can you do to ensure your furniture’s longevity?
Once your furniture is in storage, staying on top of its condition should be a priority.
- Every couple of months, visit your storage unit to rotate the cushions and inspect each piece for any signs of damage. This allows you to catch potential issues early and prevent long-term wear.
- Pay close attention to temperature and humidity levels, especially for leather furniture. Since leather damage is irreversible, prevention is key. Keeping the environment stable will help maintain its quality over time.
- To avoid losing track of your belongings, create a catalog of everything stored in the unit. Periodically reviewing your inventory will help ensure nothing is overlooked, whether it’s a scratch, a crumpled cushion, or any other sign of deterioration.
- If your leather furniture is particularly valuable, investing in storage insurance can provide extra peace of mind. This added protection can cover potential damage, ensuring your items remain safe.
Leather furniture is a timeless statement piece, but maintaining it requires careful handling. Since damage is often permanent and difficult to repair, it’s important to take the necessary precautions before storage. Cleaning and conditioning the leather, disassembling and wrapping each piece in breathable covers, and choosing a climate-controlled unit will go a long way in preserving its beauty. With the right approach, your furniture will remain in excellent condition for years to come.
Under-Bed Storage Ideas: From Options to Precautions
The space under your bed is some of the most valuable (and most overlooked) square footage in your home. For anyone needing more storage in a small apartment, tiny home, a student dorm or just a space shared with roommates, that low, hidden zone can absorb off-season clothes, spare bedding and luggage without cluttering a single visible surface. But under-bed storage rewards a little strategy. Used well, it clears your floors and frees your closets. Used carelessly, it can trap moisture against your mattress and, in time, damage the very things you were trying to protect. Here are some under-bed storage ideas to help you get the upside without the downside.
RV Storage Ideas: Smart Solutions for Every Space
The best RV storage ideas work by finding space you already have but aren’t using — under beds, inside cabinet doors, on walls, above entry steps and in the overhead bunk. Most RV owners run out of obvious places quickly, but the real storage capacity in a typical trailer or motorhome comes from vertical surfaces, divided compartments and rethinking what each space was designed for.
Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas for Less Chaos
The best way to organize kitchen cabinets is to store items where you actually use them: mugs near the coffee maker, plates close to the dishwasher, spices next to the stove. Small placement decisions like these turn crowded cabinets into functional ones, and they cost nothing to implement.
Where to Donate Clothes in NYC: From Pickup to Mutual Aid
Every year, 200,000 tons of clothing end up in NYC landfills — but yours doesn’t have to. Your unwanted clothes have a real second life waiting. Whether it’s a low-income family needing affordable basics, a woman reentering the workforce looking for interview wear, or an undocumented resident accessing free community support, the donation method you choose matters. Plus, there are plenty of convenient ways to go about it. Local mutual aid groups, free pickup services, mail-in programs, workforce nonprofits, and textile recycling — each one routes your clothes to neighbors and causes that need them most. Here’s where to donate clothes in NYC, according to your plans.
The Best U.S. Metros To Own A Boat
Boating is one of America’s favorite pastimes. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, nearly 100 million Americans go boating each year, and recreational boating contributes over $230 billion annually to the U.S. economy. It’s a lifestyle deeply shaped by geography, climate, and local culture.
Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry: 5 Ways to Speed Things Up
Sometimes a move sneaks up on you and you wind up having to move in a hurry. A job starts sooner than expected, a lease ends abruptly, a sale closes fast, or life simply throws a curveball and suddenly you’re staring at a full house with only days or weeks to empty it. That short timeline can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to mean chaos. With a focused plan and a few smart shortcuts, you can pack up quickly, protect your belongings, and land in your new home without losing your mind.
How to Store Tools Properly: Keep Equipment Rust-Free and Tidy
Good tool storage saves you time, money and the very specific rage of finding a rusted drill you paid good money for. Cleaning, drying and organizing your tools properly keeps them rust-free and findable — and it takes less effort than most people assume. True, nobody wakes up thrilled to organize their tools; it ranks somewhere between cleaning the gutters and reading the terms of service. But here’s how to do it right without the hassle.
Drive-Up Storage Units: Pros, Cons and When They’re Worth It
A drive-up storage unit is a ground-level space with an exterior roll-up door, a lot like a detached garage. Units are usually arranged in rows with wide, paved aisles between them, so you can pull a car, van, or moving truck directly up to your door during access hours. The key feature is the access, and it comes in a few forms:
2026’s Best Cities for Roommates: Irvine, CA, and Atlanta, GA, Lead in Shared Living Gains
Americans sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting a one-bedroom alone can save, on average, about $6,700 per year. In some of the country’s most expensive cities, including Irvine, California, or Jersey City, New Jersey, the savings gap widens to around $13,000. For a growing share of renters, living with roommates is less of a lifestyle arrangement and more a conscious financial strategy.