Turncoat can be used on Full Grain (highest quality and most expensive), Top Grain (next in quality), and Genuine Leather. All three of these grades are made from animal skins and, when properly prepared, respond beautifully to Turncoat.

Yes, if properly prepared. There are two types of synthetic leather: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC-Vinyl). Because synthetic leather products are non-porous—and real animal hides are porous—the acrylic color may take a little longer to dry on synthetic leather. Polyurethane synthetic leather is softer, more flexible, and more breathable than PVC-Vinyl synthetic leather, which is more water-repellant[1]. In some instances, PVC-Vinyl synthetic leather can dry with a slightly tacky feel. If you have vinyl furniture, test the color in an inconspicuous area and allow it to dry before determining if you want to color the entire piece. Even if you have leather furniture, the manufacturer may have placed a vinyl product on areas that your body doesn’t touch—like the back and sides of the furniture.

[1] Blesius, Jim. (2014, April 7). “What is Faux Leather?” Retrieved from //mitchellfauxleathers.com.

MAYBE. Because bonded leather is actually ground-up leather scraps that are “glued” to either a real animal hide or a synthetic fabric, it inherently has issues with long-term performance. With time, bonded leather may begin to crack and peel. Turncoat is not recommended for bonded leather, but if you think your furniture is beyond hope, you may want to test a small, inconspicuous area to see if the appearance can be improved. Turncoat may turn the color of your bonded leather, but it cannot repair badly damaged areas. If your furniture is bonded leather with a synthetic backing, DO NOT USE ACETONE because it may dissolve the glue holding your bonded leather together. Instead, clean your furniture as well as you can with a damp cloth and let it dry. Some Turncoat users have reported good results by removing the peeling portions of the bonded leather and sanding those areas smooth with ordinary sand paper. This works best on bonded leather that is glued to an animal hide. Acetone may work to clean and deglaze bonded leather that is glued to an animal hide. Check the reverse side of your bonded leather. If it looks like suede, it’s an animal hide, and Turncoat may work. If it looks like a fabric or some synthetic material, the color may absorb through those peeling or worn portions of your furniture into the cushion, and Turncoat is not recommended. If your bonded leather is glued to a hide, Turncoat can be applied and may make your furniture look uniform in color; however, the bonded leather is still subject to the peeling and cracking that is its nature. Turncoat cannot prevent bonded leather’s performance but it may help your furniture look better. Please use Turncoat at your own discretion if your furniture is bonded leather.

With your fingertip, press into the surface of your furniture. Real leather (and bonded leather) usually will wrinkle, making a “starburst” shape. Synthetic materials usually will show a depression only, without any wrinkling. If you’re still not sure, place a drop of water on an inconspicuous part of your furniture. Real leather should absorb the water; synthetics will not. Sometimes you may be able to see the reverse side of your leather. If the reverse looks shiny and feels smooth, your furniture is probably a vinyl or synthetic leather. If the reverse side is dull and feels more rough or suede-like, it may be an animal skin and real (or bonded) leather. You can also test for smell: synthetic leather will have a “chemical” smell, while real leather will smell more “earthy.” Many leather furniture pieces today are a combination of real leather and synthetic. Manufacturers often place real leather on the parts of the furniture that your body touches, and synthetic materials on the rest. Some synthetic leathers have advanced so much in their appearance that it’s sometimes difficult to tell them apart from the genuine article—they may even pass the “wrinkle” test. Price can also be an indicator. Real leather is generally more expensive than other types of furniture. If your furniture has peeled or worn away in areas, it could be bonded leather. Please read the FAQ regarding bonded leather.

Turncoat beautifully covers stains and scratches but it does not repair ripped and torn leather. Check online or with a leather professional for repairing leather.

Yes, Turncoat easily covers stains made by body oils.

Leather that has cracked or split is difficult to correct, but Turncoat can minimize the imperfections and provide a more uniform surface with gorgeous color.

If your cushions are zippered and have lost their oomph, an upholstery shop or a store that carries high-density foam may be able to offer replacement cushions to restore firmness. If the seat cushions are in good shape, but you still sink down too far when sitting on them, a piece of plywood cut to the size of the frame and placed under the seat cushions can help provide a stronger foundation.

Choosing a color based on a web site example can be difficult. At Turncoat, we’ve taken extreme care to accurately represent the unique colors we’ve created. However, all monitors are not created equal, and what may look one way on your mobile device may look another way on your laptop. In addition, humans “see” color differently from one another based upon photoreceptor cones in our eyes and how our brains perceive different wavelengths of light. Color also depends on the object itself and what wavelengths of light it absorbs and what wavelengths it reflects—which is what we “see” in terms of color. So, color is complicated, but we’ve tried to make your experience in choosing a color as uncomplicated as we can. When you click on a color square on the Turncoat Colors or Shop page, not only will you see that color, but how it could look on a larger piece of furniture—like a sofa. The color square is a photograph of Turncoat on leather and is more true to the actual color. When you order a Turncoat color, a leather swatch will be colored from the same Turncoat container that you will receive. In this way, you can place the swatch on your own furniture, in your own home, in your home’s lighting, and see what it will look like without the effort of coloring a piece of furniture. If the color is not what you had in mind, simply return the unopened, unused product for a refund or exchange. We want you to love your color!

Please send an email to Caryl@TurncoatLeather.com telling us what you’d like to see on our site, and we’ll try to meet the request. All the Turncoat colors are created by our chief colorist.

Your Turncoat Kit will provide: • Enough color for your project plus an additional amount for any future touchups (if needed) • A special applicator designed for Turncoat for the easiest and most effective coloring • Latex-free black nitrile gloves for cleaning and deglazing your leather • Latex-free vinyl gloves for applying color • A leather swatch, colored from the exact container of Turncoat that you receive • Written instructions and helpful hints. For easy reference, a demonstration video and customer experience videos are located in the How-To section on TurncoatLeather.com.

You will need ordinary, inexpensive, 100% acetone (nail polish remover) to prepare your leather, available at home improvement and discount department stores. Generally, a 16-oz bottle will clean and deglaze a chair and an ottoman or a two-seat-cushion sofa. You may want to purchase more acetone than you think you’ll need to make sure you have enough to complete your project. (You may be able to return any unopened acetone that you didn’t use.) Although Turncoat does not splatter when you apply it, a drop cloth or household trash bags can be used to protect your floors from any spills. You will also need a lint-free cloth or rag to use with the acetone and a small, disposable plastic plate or shallow container to hold your color while applying Turncoat. Note: If you have bonded leather furniture that is peeling or cracked, acetone may dissolve the glue that is holding it together and is not recommended. Please see the FAQ regarding bonded leather.

At Turncoat, we’ve eliminated the guess work for you. When you choose to make a purchase on the Shop page, pictures showing different sizes of chairs, loveseats, recliners, ottomans, sofas, and sectionals will help you know exactly what you need to order. You will receive an ample amount of your Turncoat color for your project plus an additional amount for any future touch-ups if needed.

Please allow five business days for processing your order plus mail delivery. All Turncoat colors are crafted individually per order and sent Priority Mail through the United States Postal Service. Rush delivery is available at an additional cost.

The application process is fairly quick. Many customers have indicated that an average two-seat-cushion sofa or a recliner or a chair and ottoman has taken them 30-45 minutes, depending on the size and if the cushions were removable (which involves coloring a few more surface areas). Depending on how many coats you apply, the complete process can take 2-3 days since 24 hours are needed between coats.

No. Turncoat is an acrylic product formulated specifically for leather. It’s non-toxic, there are no harmful fumes, and it cleans up with soap and water. You may want to place a painter’s tarp or household trash bags on the floor around your furniture to protect it from spills, but there’s no need to move your furniture—in fact, if you choose to color your leather outside, you run the risk of having your Turncoat product dry too quickly and having dust and debris end up sticking in your color. Prior to applying the Turncoat color, however, you will want to clean and deglaze your furniture with acetone in a well-ventilated area. Tip: Keep your Turncoat container tightly capped when not in use to prevent it from drying out or spilling.

There are only 3 easy steps to follow: • First, vacuum your furniture really well. • Second, use acetone to clean your furniture and remove the factory glazing. • Third, apply the color thinly and evenly, using the special applicator. Your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet.

Yes. Not only does acetone clean the dirt and body oils from your furniture, it also helps remove the glazing that was placed on your furniture at the factory. Your Turncoat color will adhere best to leather that’s been properly cleaned and deglazed. This step is very important to the long-term performance of your new color. Note: If your furniture is bonded leather and is cracked or peeling, acetone may dissolve the glue holding it together and is not recommended. Please see the FAQ regarding bonded leather.

Most darker colors usually need only two coats. The more coats, the deeper the color. A lighter color, especially if placed over a darker color, may require three coats. If you want to change your leather from black or another very dark color to a very light color, we suggest you use Turncoat Neutralizer as a base coat (available on the Shop page) to make the transition easier. Then follow up with two coats of your chosen lighter color. Your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet. Please remember to wait 24 hours between coats for the acrylic to cure properly.

With Turncoat, you can! In order to make the transition from dark to light easy, we suggest you apply Turncoat Neutralizer as the first coat (available on the Shop page), then follow up with two coats of your chosen lighter color. Please remember to wait 24 hours between coats for the acrylic to cure properly.

More than three coats is not recommended.

No. For best results, properly clean and deglaze the leather with acetone, then, when your furniture is completely dry, apply the first coat of Turncoat thinly and evenly. Thin coats help the product adhere better and reduce the risk of cracking. Allow the color to cure for 24 hours before applying a subsequent thin coat. The more coats, the deeper the color. Your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet.

Turncoat dries to the touch on leather in a few minutes, but for the best coloring results and for the best performance results, you need to wait 24 hours between coats for the acrylic to cure. Please resist the urge to re-coat too soon.

We suggest that you don’t. The Turncoat color dries so quickly that the air trapped in the plastic bag could still cause a “skin” to form on the acrylic color and cause hardened areas to form on the applicator. Instead, place any unused color back into the original Turncoat container (or cover your container tightly with plastic wrap) and thoroughly rinse the applicator and squeeze out excess moisture. Make sure the lid is tightly closed on the container when not in use.

For areas you want to protect, like decorative nailing, you have three options. One option is to cover the nailing with painter’s tape or masking tape and apply your Turncoat color around the nail heads with a very small paint brush or cotton swab. Wait until your Turncoat color is completely dry, then carefully remove the tape, making sure not to pull away any color from the surrounding areas. (This can be challenging.) Touch-up any missed areas using a small paint brush or cotton swab. A second option is to skip the masking tape and simply apply the color around the nail heads with a very small brush or cotton swab. Immediately wipe away any unwanted color with a damp cloth or paper towel. A third option is to paint over the nailing, then immediately wipe away the color from the nailing using a a damp cloth or paper towel. Customers have indicated that the third option is the easiest, but wet color must be removed quickly before it dries. Note: Do not place tape over areas covered with Turncoat.

Yes, it covers beautifully. Simply wipe the color over the entire area with your applicator, making sure to press the applicator into the indentations around the nailing and over the nail heads.

As soon as possible, wipe any spills with a wet paper towel or use a wet cloth with a little dish detergent to wash any color from your clothing. If your Turncoat color has already dried on furniture or flooring, try to scrape away what you can with a plastic utensil (or credit card) to reduce the chance of scratching, then use a wet cloth and rub away any residue. If color still remains, use a little acetone on a cotton swab to remove it, but only if the acetone is safe to use on that surface. Acetone could damage the finish on metal or wood flooring and furniture, and it can dissolve some fabrics, so test it first on an unseen area. If the color has dried on your clothes, it might not come out; try soaking the clothing in hot water overnight and scraping off any loosened portions the next day. If color has dried on your skin, it can be removed with soap and water or a little bath or body oil and some vigorous scrubbing.

High humidity can impact the drying of many things. If possible, run air conditioning or a fan on humid days when coloring your furniture.

Placing more than three coats of Turncoat on your furniture is not recommended. If you really desire changing it again, the prior color would first need to be removed with acetone.

If you follow the instructions, Turncoat will not crack, peel, or rub off— and your furniture will stay supple.

Turncoat is a non-toxic, water-based acrylic, and has no harmful fumes, but as with any product not made to be ingested, keep it away from curious pets and small children.

If there’s no way to keep your pets out of the room where your furniture is located, try loosely draping plastic trash bags over your furniture after it feels dry to the touch. Hopefully, it will discourage any pet from leaping upon your furniture during the 24 hours the color needs to cure.

As with your leather before Turncoat, pets sometimes scratch furniture; however, if you follow the instructions, Turncoat bonds to your leather and does not peel because of a pet’s scratches. Any light scratches can be easily touched up with the extra product you are provided. Simply place a small amount of your remaining Turncoat color onto the applicator and lightly wipe over the scratches and let dry. Remember that your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet. After 24 hours, apply a second coat if needed. Turncoat Scuff Protector (available on the Shop page) is a special acrylic finishing product that can provide your furniture with an added layer of protection against minor scuffs and scrapes. After your final coat of Turncoat has cured for 24 hours, apply the Scuff Protector with your special applicator or lint-free cloth and allow to dry 24 hours. The product goes on milky-white but dries clear. Tip: Use your special applicator or a lint-free cloth to apply Scuff Protector and smooth out any little bubbles so they don’t dry as little “beads” on your furniture. Choose Scuff Protector at checkout.

As with pets, kids can sometimes scratch and mark furniture. With Turncoat, minor scratches and marks from pens or colored markers that do not respond to wiping with a damp cloth can be easily covered with your reserved Turncoat. Use the applicator to lightly dab a small amount over the marks, then blend outwardly from the stain to feather (or thin out) the color so that no obvious correction shows. Apply the color thinly and evenly. Your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet. If the mark remains visible after 24 hours, re-coat and allow to dry again. Turncoat Scuff Protector (available on the Shop page) is a special acrylic finishing product that can provide your furniture with an added layer of protection against minor scuffs and scrapes. After your final coat of Turncoat has cured for 24 hours, apply the Scuff Protector with your special applicator or a lint-free cloth and allow to dry for 24 hours. The product goes on milky-white but dries clear. Tip: Use your special applicator to apply Scuff Protector and smooth out any little bubbles so they don’t dry as little “beads” on your furniture. Choose Scuff Protector at checkout.

A special acrylic finish coat called Scuff Protector is available for an added layer of protection against minor scuffs and scrapes. After your final coat of Turncoat has cured for 24 hours, apply the Scuff Protector with your special applicator or a lint-free cloth and allow to dry for 24 hours. The product goes on milky-white but dries clear. Tip: Make sure to smooth out any little bubbles so that they do not dry as little “beads” on your furniture. Choose Scuff Protector at checkout.

Most spills will wipe away with a damp cloth and without staining. For any stains or marks that do not wipe off easily, use the special applicator and dab a small amount of your remaining Turncoat color (you will be provided enough product to have an ample amount left over from your project for this purpose) onto the stained or marked area. Blend with the applicator, thinning out from the center so that no obvious correction shows. Apply color thinly and evenly and remember that your Turncoat color will dry darker than it appears when wet. Allow to dry 24 hours. If stain is still visible, apply another coat and allow to dry again.

If stored tightly capped, out of direct sunlight, and at room temperature, your color should last about three years. Turncoat is water-based, so please keep it from freezing.

No, if you followed the instructions, it will not come off or stick to a wet swimsuit or towel.

Not at this time. Like other furniture, in time, it can fade—especially in direct sunlight. We’re in the process of testing some products that show promise in protecting the color from sun damage. Contact us for recommendations.

You will receive a leather swatch, colored from your personal container of Turncoat, along with the other items in your Turncoat Kit. Because color can be perceived differently based on the lighting in your home—or the physical make-up of your own eyes—the swatch will help you determine if the color is right for your needs without having to open the container and applying it to your furniture. If you determine from the color swatch that the color is not right for you, return the unopened and unused container for a refund or exchange. Please contact us for directions on returning your product. We want you to love your color!

Yes, they absolutely are! Send us a picture and a few words about your experience to Caryl@TurncoatLeather.com and you may find yourself on the TurncoatLeather.com site!