Upholstered sofa do it yourself

The sofa is not just a piece of furniture, but also a real "four-legged friend", on which it is convenient to rest during the day or at night. In the life of a modern person, he has a symbolic meaning - “the heir to the crushed sofa” to be very frivolous. While the furniture is new, it is just that the blanket is periodically replaced on it. But with the active, frequent use, after a few years, many people have a question: how to pull the sofa, change the upholstery on it, springs, disassemble, getting rid of everything unnecessary.

Features constrictions do it yourself

If the upholstery has lost its attractive appearance, has indelible stains, holes, abrasions, it must be replaced. If there is damage to the frame, it can also be repaired in most cases. Not wanting to throw out the comfortable, familiar furniture, many are engaged in the restoration of their own.

Hauling a couch with his own hands has many advantages:

• This is an interesting creative process that requires accuracy and ingenuity;
• low cost - to bring furniture to the workshop will be more expensive;
• almost any material you like will be suitable for decoration;
• easy way to keep an antique item;
• the bases of old sofas are much stronger than modern ones;
• favorite furniture item does not have to throw away;
• You can easily change the design of the sofa.

Cons are also present:

• for high-quality repair of furniture you need some tools, skills to work with them;
• when using overly expensive materials, costs will be high;
• The beginner will need a lot of time to disassemble and assemble a piece of upholstered furniture.

When self-weave, upholstery fabric is selected for existing or planned interior style. The finished product can be combined in color, texture with curtains, carpets, chair covers, other home textiles, contrasted with the flooring, the general background.

The simplest way to change the look of upholstered furniture is sewing tailors for it, original pillows.

Damage, types of repair

Damage to upholstered furniture is most often caused by prolonged or careless use. The fabric shabby to shine on the seat, armrests, back, will fit perfectly into the interiors of a loft, vintage, art believe, but in classic, minimalism, modern and most of the others will be inappropriate.

Upholstery material is damaged by improper care of it, children who spill drinks, draw with markers, as well as pets - lovers chew on a corner, sharpen their claws on the armrest. Fading, rubbing to holes, stains that can not be removed, tears of fabric also require the replacement of all upholstery or part of it.

Vendored surfaces impair the appearance, reduce operational properties. In this case, the need to replace foam, sintepon, in some cases - spring blocks. Large failures at the bottom arise due to high loads - springs simply pierce the bottom, they need to be removed, replacing the damaged bottom with plywood, fiberboard. It is permissible to completely remove the springs, replacing them with a thick layer of foam rubber, furniture silicone, and other fillers.

Violation of the integrity of the frame makes the use of the sofa for its intended purpose impossible. Defects requiring repair include weakening of places with spike connection, breaking off sidewalls, the appearance of visible gaps, and general loosening of the structure. If wooden parts are heavily damaged by insects, fungus, mold, they must be replaced. It is also easy to break down the couch with improper transport.

A separate category of damage - chips, cracks, and other problems in the attachment points of the closing-opening mechanisms. Most often this applies to models of "eurobook", wardrobe-sofas, kitchen structures with drawers. Often the frame is so damaged that it will have to replace most of the parts, that is, completely disassemble the old sofa and assemble a new one.

When deciding on a repair, you should calculate the cost of repairs and materials - if the restoration, even an independent one, comes at about the same price as buying a new product, then it is inappropriate.

"Composition" of sofas

The interior of the sofa (back and seat) is performed in several versions:

• springless - used furniture foam, having a high density, foamed latex. The latter will cost many times more;
• spring - the product is equipped with a "classic" block with springs or snake springs are used that support the latex, foam "stuffing". Independent springs are also used, each of which has an individual textile case.

The composition of the interior of upholstered furniture depends on the model of the product, in the "cake" can be:

• bonnel or snake type spring block;
• synthetic winterizer;
• felt, thermofelt;
• horsehair;
• bamboo fiber;
• interlining;
• mat;
• batting;
• polypropylene fabric;
• Hardboard;
• polyurethane foam (including chopped), etc.

Outdated filler materials are recommended to be replaced with more modern, environmentally friendly, wear-resistant.

The choice of fabric, its varieties for upholstery / waist

Before you begin to cover the sofa, you should choose a suitable fabric. The material can be natural, artificial, synthetic, woven or non-woven, monophonic or variegated, with a small or large pattern. In some cases, different details of the design are upholstered in contrasting pieces of textile.

Upholstery furniture fabrics vary in strength, durability, production method.

Most often used:

• flock;
• tapestry;
• jacquard;
• velveteen;
• scotchgard;
• boucle;
• velours;
• chenille;
• microfiber;
• leather;
• eco leather;
• leatherette;
• faux suede;
• natural or artificial fur.

When choosing a fabric pay attention to the visual characteristics: color, its combination with the wooden parts of the product, the surrounding background. The more sofa couch, the larger the picture for him fit. But when the design consists of many parts, has a large number of seams, textiles are preferable to be plain.

Tactile sensations depend on the texture of the material, it is convenient for someone to sit, lie solely on a soft, smooth surface, while the other prefers a ribbed, creating a micro-massage effect. Additional impregnations are designed to protect the product from dust, dirt, and photo printing on textiles, which has polyester in its composition, can be produced in many "copy centers".

Suitable upholstery material is purchased in a furniture store, department of fabrics.

Step-by-Step Upholstery Replacement

Numerous workshops on the replacement of the textile top of the sofa suggest approximately the same sequence of actions:

• the product is disassembled;
• the old trim is removed, a new shape is cut out of its shape, or homemade patterns are used;
• edges are processed, turned up;
• the cover is nailed to the sofa design;
• the sofa is assembled, decorated at the discretion of the master.

The cost of repair in this case depends on the price of the fabric, the size of the product being processed.

Required materials, tools

In order to properly pull the furniture, you will need the following tools and materials:

• upholstery fabric, non-woven fabric, leather or fur;
• screwdriver - to disassemble the sofa;
• side cutter or thin knife - helps to remove the old brackets that secured the fabric;
• scissors - they cut fabric, leather, fur;
• crayon or narrow piece of soap - for marking the material;
• box for folding fasteners;
• thread, needle, sewing machine.

Parsing furniture, getting rid of unsuitable upholstery

The design of the sofa, even a kitchen corner or a simple book, is quite complicated and can cause some difficulties for beginners. In order not to get confused, small fasteners are put in a box, identical parts are numbered.

Next, you need to carefully remove the worn fabric - it will become the pattern for the new upholstery. It is important not to break the material, cut each seam, otherwise it is easy to make a mistake with the size. After the inspection of the whole structure is carried out - if the frame is completely intact, has no damage, you can begin to sheathe the sofa.

Instructions for assembling, disassembling popular designs of upholstered furniture can be peeped on the Internet.

Cutting, fastening a new material

The material (except leather, fur) that will be used for upholstery is recommended to be pre-stripped so that the pattern is neat. After that, all the details are circled in small pieces on the purchased fabric, laid out, fixed on the floor. That the material did not move down, old elements fix with pins. Further, all the parts are cut, swept away in the right order, stitched on a sewing machine.

Now the upholstery is attached to the sofa - each piece fits into its cover. To begin to drag from the middle to the edges, the largest fragments are drawn up first. To textiles not torn, it is recommended to use brackets with wide "backs." It is advisable to do this work together - one holds, pulls the material, the other fixes it to the base.

It is important to ensure that the design (if any) is not distorted, no wrinkles form on the surface.

When working with skin, it is cut with a circular knife, scalpel on a hard surface. It is impossible to sweep the skin, like fur, with pins - they leave traces, violate integrity. Use a special adhesive tape, rubber glue. Spread leather case with rare stitches on a professional sewing machine. When upholstered with fur, it is cut so as not to damage the pile.

If a thin, easily creased, stretchable fabric is chosen, it is pre-reinforced with a layer of non-woven fabric.

Build an updated product

When the upholstery of each part is complete, the structure is assembled by gently twisting the fasteners. If wrinkles appear on the assembled product, it means that the fabric is not sufficiently tight somewhere - this defect can most often be corrected without disassembling the product. The same is done when the folds appeared much later - during operation. The sequence of assembly of the "new" sofa depends on the specific model. The last thing fastens hardware.

Padding, repair spring sofa

Step by step the sofa is repaired and overtighted like this:

• all necessary materials, tools, accessories are selected;
• the product is partially or completely disassembled;
• replacement of damaged parts;
• the upholstery is cut out, fixed in the right places;
• the updated construction is assembled, the result of the work is evaluated

To understand what exactly requires replacement in a particular product, it will have to be disassembled. Beginners doing this for the first time without outside help are advised to take photographs at each stage of dismantling - this will exclude the possibility of confusing what was originally where.

Required materials, tools

For a complete disassembly, repair, assembly of the structure will need a number of tools:

• large screwdriver, wrench for loosening bolts;
• pliers, staple remover, to remove the staples that secure the upholstery;
• nail puller - if the fabric is fastened with small nails;
• spike hammer;
• a vice for a firm grasp of the glued places;
• furniture stapler;
• screwdriver;
• perforator;
• "Gypsy" needle;
• sharp scissors;
• simple pencil for marking;
• metal tape measure or ruler, to make measurements.

From materials needed:

• upholstery fabric;
• timber, boards, plywood to replace damaged parts;
• spring blocks, furniture foam to restore the "filling";
• rubber glue - if you plan skin covering;
• PVA glue for gluing wooden parts.

Disassembly, damage assessment

Different in design features sofas understand a little differently:

• Eurobook model - the seat rises, fits back, unscrew the mounting sidewalls (if any). The seat is removed, the back is unscrewed. If there is a withdrawable section, it is also removed. Then you can remove the upholstery, foam rubber, springs;
• The sofa "accordion" is a three-section construction, all parts of which are fastened together. First, the retaining clips of the rear part, which tightens the sidewalls, which are also required to be removed, are removed. Triple frame and headboard removed. After the linen box is dismantled - to do this, raise the seat, unscrew the bolts with which it is fixed;
• angular - the sofa is moved away from the wall, all covers and pillows are removed. It is recommended to remove the upholstery using special tools - part of the fastener may be located under it. Next is the dismantling of the sidewall connecting the planks to the back of the piece of furniture.

Later removed the seats, corner elements. If there is a back in the short half, it is removed by unscrewing the nuts in front of it, with which the seat is screwed to the frame. The base is disassembled last - the sequence of actions depends on what kind of mechanism for the transformation of the angular model.

When the couch is disassembled, it is necessary to assess the state of its individual elements - troughs, slabs, protruding springs need to be fixed. In some models, separately removed legs, the upper parts of the armrests. Accessories also need to be removed in advance. Often in the sofa the lamellae are broken, which are the support of the orthopedic construction - they must be replaced with new ones. When all the mounts, the mechanisms work well, they are simply cleaned of dust and oiled to eliminate squeaking.

Frame repair

Restoration of the frame is sometimes made "without a single nail", with the help of glue, but more often additional fasteners are needed in the form of screws, metal corners. For many modern designs, spare parts are sold in furniture stores, in the construction markets. When buying, it is advisable to take a worn part, mount with you, so as not to be mistaken. When a transforming mechanism is worn, it is also replaced with an identical one to the previous one.

Possible problems, recovery options spring block

The spring part may consist of parts of the old type with a height of up to 20 cm, a spring width of 15 cm, a thickness of 0.5 cm or modern, where the height is 12 cm, width is 10 cm, and thickness is 0.22 cm. In modern products, each spring is connected to adjacent ones wire spiral. Replacing damaged springs makes sense if they are few. To do this, on the one hand loosen the fixation of the element, on the other - unscrew it, insert the other. When the damaged springs are about half or more, it is easier to buy a new spring unit of a suitable size.

To increase the strength is made reinforcement bandages, stretched across the block.

The nuances of restoring the spring "snake"

"Snake" - a set of soft springs that reduce the cost of construction, but too quickly come into disrepair, as evidenced by the "hammock effect." "Serpentine" parts run from edge to edge of the entire unit, each of which is independent of the others. Fastening is made by special long brackets, slats, clips. Damaged springs are removed with pliers, replaced with new ones, and you can change one, a few or all. When it is necessary to “reinforce” the structure, the number of snakes is increased.

To increase the service life of the “snake” design, the spring block is covered with a thick layer of foam rubber, which helps to evenly distribute the load between all the springs.

Selection, fastening of new fillers

When replacing the filler, it is important that the thickness, height of each fragment be as close as possible to that which it originally had. If the parameters are larger or smaller, the structure may be skewed, problems with its assembly. To make the dimensions suitable, they measure the places where the deformations, abrasions are the least noticeable.

Foam rubber - the cheapest sofa "stuffing". The synthetic winterizer is also inexpensive, but does not differ in durability either, so it is used together with other materials. Holofiber is more expensive, more durable, latex refers to fillers with a "memory". Durafil made of polyester is comparable in its characteristics with the spring block. For a product of a complex, intricate form, cast polyurethane foam is preferable, and pillows, armrests, and backrests are stuffed with padding polyester.

Felt is completely made of natural wool.

To change the filler, you must first remove the old contents from the sofa. The size of the latter is cut out a new part that needs to be replaced on the frame with a stapler or small studs. For strength, it is recommended to combine several materials, especially for the seat - it is experiencing the greatest load.

Tailoring of a cover, its installation on a framework

The cover is cut out by the size of the old "shell", sewn on a typewriter. It is important to comply with seam allowances. Each fragment is covered individually, the place where the part is inserted is masked by a hidden seam, made by hand. If the textile material is characterized by "flowability", its edges are treated with overlock. Staples are installed at a distance of three to five centimeters from each other.

Обивку покупают с небольшим запасом - до 10-15%, если ее окажется слишком много, излишки пойдут на изготовление диванных подушек, прочего декора.

Сборка, декор

Порядок сборочных работ зависит от модели мебели, количества отдельных фрагментов. To check whether the assembly is well done, you need to sit on the sofa, lie down, fold it and fold it. The product should not stagger, creak, have noticeable distortions. During installation, all existing joints should be carefully strengthened and screws should be tightened. When large parts are attached, the legs and other design elements are installed.

Pillows made by hand, rollers, capes, decorative buttons are used as decor. In the presence of woodcarving skills, the design is decorated with carved detail plates, and instead of simple old legs, chiseled wheels of appropriate thickness and height are mounted.

Conclusion

Qualitatively restore the upholstered furniture itself is not too difficult, having the necessary tools. Extend the life of a worn sofa, making it tight and mending, you can at home - how to do it in stages, in great detail write in magazines for repair, home improvement. The abundance of modern materials simplifies the work process to the maximum. Independent reconstruction of an old, antique sofa may turn out to be overly complex, because it is better to entrust its restoration to a specialist or at least consult him.