Sofas are mandatory interior items in every apartment or house. They are usually installed in the living room for watching TV, reading, relaxing, and are also often found in the kitchen. They are made from various materials and come in a variety of sizes. When choosing a design, it is taken into account that it should fit perfectly into the existing interior. Therefore, upholstery of sofas is an important factor in making the right choice. It can be made from various materials and have a variety of shades.

Which material to choose

Often, in high-quality sofas, the upholstery loses its attractiveness, becomes dirty or fades. Changing an entire piece of furniture is quite expensive, so the right choice is considered to be replacement of the casing, and to carry out this process quite easily, so it is often implemented by each owner on his own.

Upholstering sofas with your own hands is considered simple, but it is important in advance to correctly select the material used in the work process.

The fabrics used for upholstering sofas are numerous, so people are often lost with the right choice. In the process, it is important to consider what factors will affect the product, as well as what colors and other parameters it should have. If you need to sheathe old sofa, then it is important to decide on the material in advance, and you can choose from some popular types:

• chenille - this material has excellent strength and density. Its cost is at an average level, and its base can be fabric or glued. In the first case, the result is a skin that is resistant to moisture, so cleaning can be done using a wet method. The glued base should not come into contact with moisture, as this leads to deformation of the material. Cleaning must be carried out carefully, and after this process it is important to leave the skin for some time to dry thoroughly. It is not advisable to choose chenille if there are pets in the house that destroy the structure of the fabric with their claws;
• matting - this fabric has a fine and interesting texture, and most often comes in one shade. Its upholstery is highly durable and wear-resistant, and is easy to care for. However, it is impossible to choose any fabric for covering bright shade or multi-colored element;
• velor - it produces a velvety surface of the sofa, which is incredibly pleasant to touch. The material is easy to care for and does not cause allergic reactions. Dirt is easily removed, and the canvas lasts for a long time. The disadvantages include a fairly high price, as well as mechanical stress leading to a violation of the integrity of the tissue;
• flock - is easy to care for and retains its original shape for a long time. Has good resistance to moisture and high density, and also environmentally friendly;
• tapestry is a natural fabric, pleasant to the touch and highly practical. It is considered plastic, therefore it accepts any the required form. The appearance is beautiful, and there are no harmful components in the composition. However, the material is expensive, and it is not allowed to clean it wet;
• genuine leather - covering your sofa with this material is quite difficult. It has a high cost, however, it produces cladding that has an unusually attractive and presentable appearance. It lasts a long time and is highly durable. It's incredibly easy to care for;
• artificial leather is more affordable than natural material, and at the same time it is also distinguished by its beauty and durability.

Thus, you can sheathe different types fabric or other materials. The choice depends on financial opportunities owners of the piece of furniture, as well as the characteristics that the cladding should have.

Velours
Tapestry
Genuine Leather
Gozhka
Flock
Chenille
Eco leather

Step-by-step instruction

If you plan to cover a sofa with your own hands, then initially select a material suitable for this. Next, the instructions are carefully studied, since it is not allowed to make any mistakes during the work that are almost impossible to correct. Before covering, it is recommended to first work a little with the selected fabric to understand how difficult it is, and also to practice.

Laying foam rubber

The step-by-step instructions suggest that it is initially important to completely remove the old upholstery from the sofa frame. Even the filler is removed, since usually after a long service life it already becomes compressed and has lost its original shape. The opened frame is freed from various brackets and other fasteners. It is important to ensure that it is durable and reliable and suitable for future use. If necessary, it is reinforced with fiberboard sheets or plywood.

The casing is removed and the bottom is checked for any need for repairs.
The upholstery should be removed along with the filling

Next, the foam rubber begins to be attached, and it is important to choose this material wisely. Its optimal thickness is considered to be 40 mm, but for the sidewalls foam rubber of a smaller thickness is taken. When choosing, it is important to take into account the density of foam rubber, and the optimal indicator for upholstery of upholstered furniture is considered to be a density of 46 units. If it is too low, the foam will quickly lose its shape and become deformed. However, if this indicator is too high, it causes the upholstery to be too hard, which reduces the comfort of using the sofa for its intended purpose.

Description of foam fastening:

• Initially, the first layer of foam rubber is fixed with glue, and during the work it is necessary to cut the sheets in accordance with the dimensions of the frame;
• another layer is created on top, and here it is advisable to use a softer material;
• in certain places you have to bend the foam, and this should be done carefully so as not to damage it.

As soon as the sofa is completely covered with foam rubber, it begins to be covered with the selected fabric or leather.

Damaged foam should be replaced with new one.

Preparatory work

Before the actual process, you should prepare the materials used in the process to cover the sofa. These include a construction stapler and screwdrivers, staples and pliers, a hammer and thread with a needle, as well as pliers and a drill. Often other tools are required.

Selected optimal material for covering, for which the operating conditions of the sofa itself are taken into account. If you plan to install a sofa in the kitchen, then the upholstery must be resistant to dirt and temperature changes. If it is installed in the living room, then it is important that it is beautiful, soft and comfortable, since it is intended for relaxation, and often for sleep.

Required Tools

Calculation of the required amount of fabric

The next stage of work is to calculate required quantity material to carry out the cladding without interruptions and problems. If you need to cover it with new fabric standard sofa, then you will have to purchase approximately 8 m of material. For more accurate and reliable calculations, you need to take a tape measure or other measuring equipment. With its help, the width and length of the existing piece of furniture are determined. The resulting values ​​are added and multiplied by 2, which determines the length of the cut, and its width is equal to the width of the sofa.

There is a more accurate calculation method. To do this, you need to measure all the wide and long parts of the seat, back and armrests, and then draw up a sketch on a sheet of paper with all the values. In the sketch, all vertical values ​​should be placed vertically, and horizontal values, respectively, horizontally. After this, all vertical values ​​should be summed up and the result divided by 100. The resulting number will be the length of the required piece of fabric. The width of the fabric should be equal to the maximum of the horizontal values. When calculating the amount of fabric, add 1 meter for every 5 meters of fabric. This calculation is indicative, but it will allow you to determine how much fabric, leather or other material you need to buy to ensure uninterrupted operation.

Pattern

The step-by-step process of upholstering a sofa further involves the formation of the correct pattern. This procedure will be easiest if the sofa is standard and has rectangular shape. Even for a corner product, no special difficulties arise.

All the old casing must be carefully ripped apart in order to cut out the parts for the new cover.

The process of creating a pattern consists of simple steps:

• For each individual part, correct and accurate measurements are taken;
• then they are placed on special paper, called graph paper, and here the correct direction of the cut is certainly checked;
• outlines of future elements are drawn;
• they are transferred to the fabric, and the work is done from the reverse side, and for this it is advisable to use chalk;
• Individual parts are cut out, which will ensure the creation of patterns.

During the work process, the allowance for the seam and hem of the fabric must be taken into account, and if the material is dense, then it is advisable to make an allowance of about 3 cm.

Pattern of new parts
The parts are sewn together

Sewing a cover

Once the patterns are ready, the formation of the cover begins. It is advisable to practice a little in advance in working with the selected material in order to avoid mistakes and not spoil a large amount of expensive fabric.

In the process of work, special threads of increased strength, which are reinforced, are certainly used. Since loads will constantly act in the places where the seams are present, they will certainly be stretched with force. It is advisable to do a double line here.

Allowed to use sewing machine, if the fabric is excessively dense, therefore handmade complicated. However, in this case, the old product is considered optimal, since modern machines usually cannot cope with this work due to low quality and insufficient power.

A high-quality cover is placed on the sofa and is also securely fixed to the frame, as a result of which it is possible to update its appearance, strengthen the frame, and also form new upholstery, characterized by high density and quality. If you understand well how to cover furniture, then this process will not cause any difficulties. This will allow you to continue to use your favorite piece of furniture, and there will be no need to spend a lot of money on purchasing a new design.

The parts removed from the sides should be left as a template.
The seat should be wrapped in batting
How to attach a seat cover
Fixing the cover under the bottom
Removing the sidewalls
Manufacturing of sidewalls
Installing the Bottom
Fastening finished sides
Rear end
Cover for the back of the sofa

Video

Any thing becomes unusable over time and upholstered furniture is no exception. But in the case of furniture, it is possible to restore its original appearance and properties. This article will discuss reupholstering a sofa yourself. How, what and in what order should be done, what materials should be used.

Damage and types of repair

Damage to a sofa or other upholstered furniture can vary in severity. Depending on the existing injuries, a different range of work is required. Here's what can happen to your furniture:

So reupholstering a sofa may include various works. From simply replacing the upholstery to a complete renovation, including part of the frame. The most troublesome part is with the spring blocks. This is long and painstaking work. If the “historical accuracy” of your furniture is not important to you, it is easier to replace a failed spring block with foam rubber or (better, but more expensive) furniture silicone. If everything is done correctly, the sofa will become even more comfortable: incorrectly tightened springs cause a lot of inconvenience.

Types of "soft part"

IN general outline Let's talk about what the seat and back of the sofa can be made of. There are options:

• Without springs:
  • High-density foam rubber (polyurethane foam, also called PU foam) (also called furniture foam).
  • Foamed latex. In terms of quality and convenience, it is better than foam rubber, but also much more expensive.
• With springs:
  • with classic springs connected into one block;
  • snake springs that support the foam/latex filling.

These are the most common types of sofa seats. In more expensive models, the spring block can be supplemented with a layer of polyurethane foam or latex, which makes the seat more elastic and comfortable at the same time. When reupholstering, they then look at the condition of both parts, replace or leave them - depending on desire and capabilities.

But that's not all the layers. In addition to springs, polyurethane foam/latex, padding polyester or thermal felt (or regular felt) are also laid. This is if the sofa is more or less modern and not too expensive. Older exhibits may contain matting or burlap, batting (or something very similar), horsehair, dried seaweed and other now almost exotic materials for sofa stuffing. When repairing a sofa, they will need to be replaced with the same ones (if you want to look) or similar in thickness and properties. So, to understand how a sofa should be reupholstered, first understand what’s inside it.

We disassemble the sofa and assess the scale of work

Reupholstering a sofa begins with disassembling it. During the process, you will be able to assess the extent of the damage and decide what exactly you need to do. For this part of the job you will need:

• a large screwdriver to unscrew visible bolts (if any);
• a small flat-head screwdriver, pliers or staple remover - to remove the staples that secure the upholstery.

The main thing is to remove the old upholstery. Then everything will become clear

Actually, that's all. First, remove the individual pillows, if any, and remove the side panels. It’s difficult to suggest here - there are many designs. Look carefully, you are sure to find something. If you have retractable parts, you can try starting with them.

Separating the upholstery

The next step is to separate the fabric from the frame. It is attached with staples to wooden blocks frame. We pry the staples with a flat screwdriver and pull them out. Some may fit very tightly; it is easier to pull them out by grabbing them by the raised back with pliers or pliers.

We remove the fabric carefully, trying not to damage it too much. We will then use it as a sample for new sofa upholstery. There are several layers underneath the upholstery fabric. Maybe felt, padding polyester, some kind of fabric. If the sofa repair was started only to replace the upholstery, look at the condition of these materials. If there are signs of wear, it is better to replace. After all, it will be a shame if in a few months the sofa needs to be reupholstered again, but this time because the layers of the lining have been removed.

Once the fabric is removed, it's time to evaluate which parts you'll need to replace. Everything is clear with the upholstery and lining underneath. It is advisable to keep the pie in the same composition. If old materials were used that are not currently on sale or are too expensive, replace them with modern analogues. The main thing for folding sofas is to reach the same height of the seat and back that were before, since folding mechanisms are designed for certain parameters of the “pillows”. In order not to be mistaken with the thickness of materials, find unworn (or least worn) areas and measure the thickness.

Assessing the damage

This stage is needed if the sofa seat is uneven, there are humps and depressions, protruding springs (and from below too). In seats that consist only of foam rubber, everything is simple: they are usually replaced. They can be made from high-density foam rubber by folding several layers; you can order ready-made foam rubber at a store that sells furniture spare parts. It's wise to order by exact dimensions(measure after removing the fabric and all layers) latex mattress.

If the sofa has springs, remove all the covering layers to get to them. If there are no burst springs, the frame and its connections are strong, without play or cracks, the backing for the springs is in good condition, you can stop there. We change the covering layers, sew a new cover, stretch it and fasten it. This completes the reupholstery of the sofa.

One of the common defects of spring blocks is a broken spring. There are also such sofas - with spring snakes, which are attached to the frame and give elasticity to the foam mattress standing on top

If there is any damage listed above, the spring unit will have to be separated. It is attached to the frame frame using U-shaped brackets or nails. Now you have completely disassembled your sofa into its components. Next is the replacement and repair of damaged parts, and then reassembly.

Classic sofa pie with a spring block and possible problems

To understand how to repair a sofa at home, you need to know what layers of materials are needed and in what order. For example, in a sofa seat with a spring block the sequence will be like this (from bottom to top):

1. Frame made of plywood or wooden blocks. A plywood frame is more reliable, but it takes longer and is more difficult to make. Therefore, pine bars are usually used. They are connected according to the tenon-groove principle, gluing the joint with wood glue. If desired, the connections can be strengthened with dowels or corners (aluminum).

   

2. Spring block base. There may be options: lamellas (straps of elastic material), fiberboard, plywood. Most a budget option- Fiberboard, the most expensive - lamellas. The lamellas are attached to special stops (lamella holders). When using plastic stops, there is a risk of them breaking. At the same time, low-quality lamellas can bend (in normal condition they are curved slightly upward) or break - to reduce cost they are often placed at large intervals. All this leads to the fact that the sofa seat is pressed through. Instead of wooden slats, there may also be snake springs. They also have sufficient elasticity, but cost less. The problems with them are the same.
3. The spring block itself. The block can be with independent or dependent springs. The first one is cheaper, the second one supports the body well. Such mattresses are also called orthopedic.
4. Felt or thick fabric (teak or other similar dense fabric will do). This layer is needed so that the springs do not push through the foam rubber located above.

   If the fabric is thin, it will tear, then the foam will begin to crumble. But this is not the saddest thing - the lamellas were bent in the opposite direction. In normal condition they should be curved upwards

5. Polyurethane foam(PPU, foam rubber - all names of the same material). Special dense foam rubber is used. If you choose, in addition to density, look at such an indicator as the durability coefficient - the higher the number, the better (and more expensive). This indicator reflects how long the foam will take to restore its original shape after removing the load. Its thickness is taken according to the original, factory cake. You can make it thicker without restrictions only on upholstered furniture that does not fold out (banquette, sofa, armchair).
6. Sintepon. This is necessary so that the fabric does not “erase” the polyurethane foam. It is usually glued to a layer of foam rubber so that it does not bunch up during use. The glue is taken in a can.
7. Upholstery fabric. The best are tapestry, chenille. They don't fray and it's easy to sew with them. Flock and jacquard are good fabrics, but some of them “creep” at the seams. Therefore, when you sew, the seams need to be strengthened. By the way, it is better to sew upholstery for a sofa using special Tytan brand threads. Regular ones, even thick ones, will quickly tear.

These are all the layers and their features. You can add something (for example, a double layer of padding polyester), but removing it is highly undesirable.

The design of a sofa on snake springs and options for its restoration

Snake springs in expensive models are used as an additional means to increase elasticity. In budget models, a foam block can be placed on this base. They are attached to a wooden or metal frame across the seat - each spring separately. The installation step depends on the planned load. If your sofa begins to sag, or the springs have lost their elasticity or are broken, the solution is to replace them.

To increase elasticity and extend service life, when reupholstering a sofa, the number of “snakes” can be increased. Another option is transverse reinforcement with rigid corsage ribbons (which are used for straps on bags and backpacks).

The tape is nailed on one side to the frame. Professional furniture makers then tighten it using a special tool, but it can be replaced with a regular block wrapped around the middle with coarse-grain sandpaper. You wrap a couple of turns of tape around this beam, pull with both hands (make sure that the frame does not bend), secure the tape with staples or nails, release and cut off the excess. The same method is also suitable for increasing the service life of a mattress with slats.

An example of sofa repair with step-by-step photos

The old sofa became completely uncomfortable, began to sag in places and creak. There is no way to buy a new one, it was decided to reupholster and change the upholstery. As usual, reupholstering a sofa begins with disassembly. The legs were removed first. The railings were fastened with two large bolts; they were unscrewed and removed without any problems. Further disassembly is also not difficult - we unscrew the bolts that appear one by one.

When all the components were separated, the old upholstery was removed. The staples were easy to remove - the frame was made of pine timber. The spring block itself turned out to be without defects, but there was a crack in the frame, one of the frame beams sagged, the fiberboard sagged, although there were no cracks.

Frame repair

Since the frame bears the main load, it is better to replace damaged elements. We carefully measure them, draw them schematically, and put down the dimensions in millimeters. With the drawing we go to carpentry shop. Please pay Special attention: the wood must be dry, preferably kiln drying. If you know how to work with wood yourself, you can do it yourself.

It was decided to connect the frame, as it was, with a tenon/groove, coated with wood glue. But to prevent it from coming loose, the connection was reinforced with metal dowels.

First, the connections are glued and clamped in a vice. A hole is not drilled under the dowel large diameter, the dowel is hammered in. The frame stands in a vice until the glue dries.

We will use 4 mm thick plywood as the base for the spring block. The sheets are standard, a little more than 1.5 meters, and the length of the sofa is almost two. It turns out two pieces. It is better to make the joint of the pieces on a jumper, it is more reliable. Cutting out rectangles the right size, coat the frame with wood glue, lay down the plywood, and nail it with small nails. The length of the nails is so that they do not stick out outside the frame. We additionally support the joint with a plank (50*20 mm).

The updated sofa will serve in the country house, so we try to keep the budget to a minimum; we use an old blanket instead of a backing for the springs. We stretch it well and fasten it with staples using a hand tool.

The base for the springs is an old fleece blanket

If possible, it is advisable to put thermal felt here. It is more reliable and not so expensive. It is cut to size, straightened and nailed around the perimeter. You can use staples or nails with large heads.

Repairing and fixing the spring block

To fasten the spring block, you can use powerful U-shaped brackets, and it is better if their legs are sharpened. But the stapler does not work with these, so we cut staples from steel wire with a diameter of 1.5 mm and hammer them in with a hammer.

In addition to being attached to the frame, the springs are also secured with nylon straps. Twine was taken, folded in two layers, secured with the same wire staples. We tighten the constriction so that it does not press down on the springs, but the tension should be sufficient so that the block “does not move.”

On top of the springs you should put some kind of dense material, usually it's felt. In this case, the old one was used flooring. Something like felt. It is quite dense and durable. Fold in two layers, cut to size. This layer must be attached to the spring block. The coating is dense, you can’t pierce it with a needle, even a gypsy one. A large diameter awl would be suitable, but there isn't one. We pierce the coating with a nail, which we push through with the handle of a screwdriver. We thread a thick thread into the holes made. The stitch pitch is about 3.5 cm. To speed up the process, we use several nails at once.

Next “according to plan” there should be foam rubber, on top of which a padding polyester is placed. In this project, it was replaced with two layers of densely elastic material, which had been stored in the attic for a long time. Instead of padding polyester, another old blanket was used. To prevent the blanket from moving around, it was grabbed around the perimeter with threads (in conventional technology, synthetic winterizer is glued to polyurethane foam or latex using glue from a can).

Case and cover

Upholstering this sofa turned out to be easy: the shape is simple, without decoration. The old cover was ripped open and a pattern was made from new, not very expensive upholstery fabric. In the place that falls on the corner of the sofa cushion/seat, a thick tape was sewn from the inside to prevent the fabric from fraying. The fabric is inexpensive, so the edges had to be rolled up to prevent fraying. They are often left unprocessed.

The finished cover was laid out on the floor, and the restored part of the sofa was placed in it. At this stage it is important that the fabric is stretched evenly and does not wrinkle. We started nailing the cover from the middle, moving towards the edges. Staples with thick backs were used to avoid damaging the fabric.

The back of the sofa was restored in the same way, the armrests were covered, then all the parts were screwed to the folding mechanism. The thickness of the pillows matched, so there were no problems.

The reupholstery of the sofa is finished. The result has been verified :)

According to the test results: the seat turned out to be a little hard, but it’s just right for a tired back. For the home, of course, it is better to use foam rubber, and for those who like comfort - latex.

Everyone likes change. If an old, but beloved and familiar sofa has worn out, and you have not yet saved up the money to buy a new one, you can update it by covering it with new beautiful upholstery. You need to figure out how to choose the material and then cover the sofa with your own hands.

If your sofa is worn out and looks ugly, then reupholstering it will be the way out of this situation.

You need to start with the main thing, without which it is impossible to start work, with tools and materials.

Tools and materials

How to upholster a sofa yourself? It is necessary to prepare in advance the tools that are available in the house:

In the process of reupholstering the sofa, you will need a construction stapler.

• hammer;
• Screwdriver Set;
• scissors;
• hex wrenches;
• screwdriver;
• wire cutters;
• construction stapler;
• pliers;
• pliers.

Now about the materials. First of all, this is upholstery fabric. The main requirements for it are as follows: it must be strong, easy to clean when in contact with external environment, do not lose its original appearance. The following fabrics are most often used for upholstery:

1. Tapestry is a practical and cheap fabric, dense, 100% cotton with woven patterns of various shades and colors. Has dust-repellent properties.
2. Jacquard fabric is expensive, looks very solid, is easy to clean, strong, durable, and wear-resistant.
3. Flock is a fabric similar to leather or suede, but much cheaper. It is easy to clean, does not fade, durable, velvety, pleasant to the touch.
4. Shinile is a fabric containing 50% synthetics and 50% cotton. Similar to velor, but more High Quality. Strong, breathable material.
5. Artificial suede is durable, environmentally friendly material, easy to clean. Washable warm water. Visually it is not easy to distinguish natural suede from artificial one.
6. Leather. Both artificial and natural materials are used for furniture upholstery. Solid, strong and comfortable material.

In addition to upholstery fabric, you will need to prepare braid, furniture tape and piping. Also needed:

• plywood sheet;
• foam;
• padding polyester;
• special staples;
• piece of chalk;
• strong threads or twine and needle;
• nails;
• screws and bolts;
• wood glue or PVA.

To change the upholstery of the sofa you will need foam rubber.

When buying foam rubber (polyurethane foam), you should note the following properties:

• softness;
• density;
• elasticity.

The thickness of polyurethane for a sleeping sofa should be at least 4 cm. Markings will help you find out its density, where letters indicate the brand, numbers indicate density (the first two) and hardness (the final two). To sit on a sofa, you need foam rubber with a hardness of 40 to 50 units.

For different parts For sofas with unequal loads, polyurethane is selected with different densities: for the seat - with a higher density, and for the back and armrests - with a slightly lower density.

The heaviest load is directed at the seat, so you should choose foam rubber with a density of 40 kg/m³ (EL4050 brand), but you need to lay super-soft polyurethane foam on top.

For the handles and back, you can use foam rubber with a lower density, for example, 25 kg/m³.

Dismantling an old sofa

Use a nail puller or screwdriver to remove the upholstery from the sofa.

Before starting the main work, you need to carefully inspect the condition of the furniture. Use a screwdriver to remove the upholstery from the furniture. Then it is recommended to pry the staples. If they are firmly fixed, then you need to use a flat-head screwdriver and pliers.

To repair an old sofa with your own hands, you need to inspect all the wooden elements. For a detailed examination of the frame, you need to remove the backing. All joints and fastenings must be checked for strength. It is better to replace screws and bolts with new ones. Broken and old structures must be replaced with new components made from wooden beams, fiberboard sheets or plywood sheet. In case of minor damage, the product can be corrected using construction tape and wood glue. Particular attention should be paid to fastening elements. Replacing them will allow you to extend the life of the sofa for a long time.

To repair a sofa, you need to separate the seat from the back:

1. First, unscrew the bolts holding the armrests to the sides.
2. Then remove side surfaces and detach the lower part of the furniture.
3. Unfold the sofa and turn it over outer side to the floor.
4. Remove the backrest and remove the metal mechanisms holding it in place.
5. Dismantle the seat and remove used fasteners: staples and nails.
6. Remove the old drapery and take out everything that is filled with the sofa.
7. If the springs are not damaged, then leave them, and if there are damaged ones, then remove the block.

There is no need to rush to throw away the old upholstery; it can be useful as a pattern for a pattern when sewing new covers.

Sofa interior repair

Use pliers and a hammer to remove old springs from the sofa.

First you need to start repairing the spring blocks inserted into the back and armrests:

1. Use pliers to unscrew the damaged springs.
2. To replace the removed springs, new ones must be installed.
3. Attach the spring blocks to the sheathing with nails.

If the springs on the seat are particularly worn out, they can be made elastic again:

1. Cut the polyurethane into small pieces.
2. Stuff the spring block tightly with these pieces.
3. Cover it with an old blanket or some material, such as burlap.
4. Attach this entire layer of material with nails to the box.
5. Attach the springs to the material using twine and a thick needle.
6. If there are depressions between the springs, fill them with foam rubber or cotton wool.
7. Cover everything on top with binding material, for example calico, and secure it with nails, pulling it tightly.
8. Apply glue to one side of the polyurethane and place this side on the material. The foam will stick and the surface will be smooth.

If there are sagging springs, do not throw them away; you can stretch them and they will still serve. To make the sofa more voluminous, you can put padding polyurethane on top of the polyurethane.

When all of the above work is behind you, you can start sewing covers for the sofa.

Upholstery and reupholstery of furniture

Each detail of the sofa should be cut out separately.

Now you need to figure out how to cover the sofa. First you need to cut the fabric. The fabric chosen for drapery is laid out on the floor or on a huge table, used covers are placed on it instead of patterns and outlined with chalk. They cut the fabric, leaving allowances, and sew new covers on a machine. When sewing, it is necessary to take into account that the seams receive a large load during operation. Therefore, their strength is mandatory. You can use reinforced threads when sewing and sew in 2-3 layers.

You can use decorative tape or braid at the joining points. These materials will cover up unnecessary or unsuccessful seams and give the product a decent look.

When everything is ready, you can put new covers on the seat, armrests and backrest. The attachment points for the new upholstery should be in the same place where the old covers were attached.

You can attach the covers with a stapler, tensioning the material each time you insert the next fastener. Upholstery on upholstered furniture should stretch well. The fasteners should be located every 2-3 cm. This will ensure a strong and reliable fixation of the upholstery. Fabric sagging is unacceptable. But excessive fastening is also undesirable. Therefore, this procedure requires caution and accuracy. During finishing work, it is necessary to control the degree of fixation.

In order for the upholstery to lie flat, you need to find the middle of the long side of the sofa, drive in the fasteners, and then move gradually from there to the edges, alternately driving in the fasteners on one side or the other of the first fastener.

Having finished with the upholstery, assemble the sofa with your own hands in the reverse order:

1. Strictly control that the marks match.
2. Attach the lock first to the back, then to the seat and the bottom of the sofa.
3. Secure the sides.
4. Attach elbow pads to them.
5. Secure the wooden panels, pre-coating them with varnish if necessary.

Anyone who wants to do this can upholster a sofa with their own hands, because there are no barriers for an interested person.

To decorate the sofa and disguise imperfections, you can make several decorative pillows from the same fabric. This will give an organic and undivided look to this design. A set like this looks great and will be complete. And the pillows will also perform a practical function: they are comfortable to lean on. They will act as side backs. Now you know how to upholster a sofa, and you can do it yourself.

When upholstered furniture becomes unusable, the owner has only two options: purchase a new one in a furniture showroom or have the old one restored in a specialized workshop.

Upholstering a sofa with your own hands will significantly save your budget and time spent on finding a craftsman and transporting the product.

What is sofa reupholstery?

Repairing upholstered furniture is a very specific process that requires knowledge of the technology and properties of materials, and certain skills in working with tools. IN furniture production There are several concepts that for the average person have practically no differences.

However, it’s worth initially determining what work can be done at home without resorting to the services of professionals:

Reupholstery is the work of replacing upholstery and internal filling sofa May include work on minor changes in product design. All work can be done at home without the use of specialized tools.

Repair of upholstered furniture is a process associated with restoring the functionality of the product. May include replacement of frame elements, repair or replacement of the transformation mechanism, reupholstery. Repairing a sofa with your own hands requires knowledge in the field of carpentry and plumbing, and mastery of a variety of tools. It is better to perform such work in a specialized workshop.

Restoration - includes repair of the frame with full or partial replacement of elements, reupholstery, restoration of functionality, design, paint coating, decorative elements and accessories. All work is carried out while maintaining the original stylistic design of the product. Furniture restoration implies a fairly extensive list of works, the implementation of which is best entrusted to a professional.

If you are not a professional carpenter and furniture maker with a workshop equipped according to all the rules, then you can only do relatively simple work with your own hands - minor repairs and reupholstering of upholstered furniture.

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands

The first thing to do is to determine the scope of work that needs to be performed as part of the reupholstery.

As a rule, during the operation of the sofa the following becomes unusable:

• upholstery;
• foam rubber (latex);
• batting (sintepon);

A very common reason restoration work are deformation and failure of springs and jamming of transformation mechanisms.

In models from the first half of the last century, lump (algae), sawdust and horsehair were used as filler. In sofas from the second half of the 20th century, as a rule, batting and a leveling layer of foam rubber were used as filler. In modern budget models, the springs are replaced with several layers of polyurethane foam, latex, synthetic padding, and pressed felt. In sofas in the middle and premium price segments, struttofiber or periotek are used as fillers - non-woven materials with high strength and elasticity.

Spring sofas can be equipped with a spring block of a dependent (independent) type or with “snakes”, which support the filling.

Sofas equipped with snake springs have not been produced for a long time and have practically gone out of use. That is why we will consider the stages of work for a classic sofa-book with a spring block.

Do-it-yourself reupholstery of a spring sofa includes:

• Disassembling the sofa into individual elements.
• Removal of upholstery, filling, spring block.
• Elimination of deficiencies in the supporting frame.
• Laying new filler.
• Replacement of upholstery.
• Assembling the sofa.

Regardless of the condition, the filling with hair, algae, sawdust, batting, and felt must be replaced. Foam rubber and latex are changed as necessary.

What you need to reupholster a sofa

To reupholster a sofa, you need to prepare some materials and a standard tool that almost every man has in his bins. The only thing that stands out from the standard set is furniture stapler, which can be pneumatic, mechanical or electrical. The first requires a compressor with a receiver, which is not worth purchasing just for the sake of tension alone. Mechanical samples are self-contained and relatively cheap. An electric stapler is very convenient to use, but requires a power supply.

In addition you will need:

• Screwdrivers, straight and figured. Having a screwdriver with a set of attachments and bits will significantly speed up the work.
• Open-end wrenches for 12, 14, 17, 19.
• Hammer.
• Pliers and side cutters.
• "Gypsy" needle and nylon cord.

The choice of materials for upholstery should be discussed in more detail.

Choice of upholstery fabric

Materials should be purchased as needed. In some cases, it is enough to simply sew up the upholstery, (if there is minor damage) wash it and re-stretch it over the soft part of the product. How to sew a sofa with your own hands? It’s very simple: you need to remove the upholstery, put a patch on it inside damage, after which the cut can be reused.

If the upholstery has become unusable, then fabric will be needed to sew the cover. Choosing a material for upholstery is a very difficult process, because each fabric has certain properties and characteristics.

Among the most common upholstery materials are:

1. Velor – natural material, which contains wool and cotton. It is highly decorative, has a high margin of safety, and is practically not deformed. Disadvantages: short service life, tendency to wear and burn out.
2. Flock is easy to clean, so it is perfect for a home with children and pets. Durable and hypoallergenic material with low wear resistance.
3. Shinil is a very decorative, durable and durable material that does not deform during use. Disadvantage: low water resistance.
4. Tapestry is an exquisite material with high strength and abrasion resistance. The disadvantage is the high stretch coefficient, which creates certain difficulties when upholstering a sofa with your own hands.
5. Jacquard is distinguished by high levels of strength and decorativeness. Disadvantage: low water resistance.

Among the large number of upholstery fabrics presented on the domestic market, one cannot fail to mention various options leatherette These materials have excellent strength characteristics, resistance to moisture and abrasion, and ease of use. The disadvantage of all leather substitutes is flammability and deformation when exposed to high temperatures.

Filler selection

As noted above, the following can be used as a sofa filler:

1. PPU is a synthetic porous material with various indicators density. During operation, it loses its elasticity and elasticity. To fill furniture, you should choose a material with a density of at least 30 kg/m2.
2. Sintepon - inexpensive synthetic non-woven fabric with good elasticity indicators. It has a short operating period.
3. Periotec - modern non-woven material with high strength and elasticity. Perfectly restores its shape even after prolonged deformation.
4. Struttofiber is a high-strength and elastic material that does not rot and does not absorb moisture and can withstand heavy loads.
5. Batting is a fabric made from technical cotton wool. Due to its high density, this material is used to protect against the effects of springs.
6. Pressed felt is a natural fabric that is used as protection for spring blocks. Used with fillers of lower density (foam rubber, polyurethane foam, etc.).

In addition to the above materials, modern sofas can use holofiber in the form of a mat, which perfectly retains its structure when deformed. The most common material used in classic sofas budget price segment is foam rubber. Of all the fillers, foam rubber is the most short-lived and cheapest material.

Since sofas are subject to intensive use, experts do not recommend using foam rubber as the only filler.

Do-it-yourself sofa reupholstery: disassembly process

To disassemble the sofa you need to perform a number of operations:

• disconnect the armrests;
• unscrew from the frame the transformation mechanisms that hold sleeping area on the base of the sofa.

In principle, this disassembly process can be considered complete. Now that all the elements are in sight, you can assess the damage and determine the scope of work.

Removing the upholstery fabric

This is quite easy to do. Use a screwdriver to pry up and pull out all the retaining brackets. This process must be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the upholstery fabric, which, even with severe wear, can be used as a pattern for sewing a new cover. An anti-stapler will significantly increase the quality and speed up the time it takes to complete this work - a simple but effective tool that can be purchased very inexpensively at any specialized store.

Removing the filler

Layers of filling are hidden under the upholstery fabric. As a rule, in spring sofas this is foam rubber, under which there is batting, latex or other, more modern non-woven material. Next can be a layer of felt or burlap, which acts as a layer between the filler and the springs. If there is damage, then the entire filler or its individual layer must be replaced.

Changing the foam rubber in a sofa with your own hands is very simple, because this material is held on the filler or frame with glue. Tear off the old one and glue it on new material Any glue based on acetone or dichloroethane is suitable for these works. You can simply purchase inexpensive and affordable glue No. 88.

Inspecting the spring block

Springs in a sofa are most often subject to damage due to high loads. If there are no burst or sagging springs in the block, the frame of the block is intact and there is no play between the elements, then there is no point in making a replacement. If there is at least one burst spring, then it is better to change the entire unit at once. The thing is that replacing springs in a sofa with your own hands is a very labor-intensive process that requires certain skills, experience and the availability of tools. To change the block, it is tedious to remove the brackets holding it to the frame, install the new one in its original place, and fix the frame to the frame using brackets or nails.

When replacing, pay attention to the backing, which protects the frame from abrasion and helps reduce squeaks. For the substrate, it is better to choose a sheet of pressed felt, 3-5 mm thick.

Build process

Now everything is simple: after installing the spring block, (if necessary) replace the layers of filler, pull on the new cover and attach it to the frame with staples, using construction stapler. The last stage of reupholstering a sofa with your own hands is assembly, which is done in the reverse order: installing the soft part on the frame, fixing the transformation mechanism, attaching the armrests.

In this publication, we looked in detail at how to reupholster a sofa with your own hands step by step. In fact, the process of reupholstering upholstered furniture is very simple. The difficulty usually arises when creating and stretching a new cover. It is better to entrust cutting and sewing to specialists.

To avoid sagging fabric, upholster the sofa in a crisscross manner: start at the front, then stretch the fabric and shoot from the opposite side. After fixing it on four sides, you should stretch the fabric between the back and the seat and “shoot” it with staples to the frame.

Do-it-yourself replacement of sofa upholstery - video

Save so you don't lose!

The upholstery of upholstered furniture wears out very quickly and loses its original appearance. At the same time, the fittings and mechanisms can be in excellent condition, despite the fact that the fabric is already very worn out. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to have information on how to reupholster a sofa yourself. The procedure for reupholstery does not require the qualifications of an experienced furniture maker; in this case, it is enough to show accuracy and desire. In this article we will look at how to reupholster a sofa with your own hands.

Some difficulties of the re-upholstery process

In the process of reupholstering upholstered furniture, you will still have to face some difficulties. But by acquiring certain knowledge, you can significantly reduce the risk of failure. The professional technological process of replacing sofa upholstery differs significantly from work performed at home. That is why, first of all, you need to ask in what cases it is not recommended to reupholster the sofa yourself.

Basically, such moments occur if:

• The design of the sofa that is subject to the renovation procedure has a relatively complex mechanism that causes difficulties during disassembly.
• It is difficult to select the material for individual parts that have elements of complex geometry and cause certain difficulties in creating a pattern.
• The soft part has been in use for more than 10 years. Here you can't do without additional repair work frame structure, legs or replacing the filler.
• The sofa is antique furniture and requires very careful handling.
• Material with a complex structure is used as upholstery material. Very often, such fabric is leather or leatherette, which can cause problems when working with it.

In all other options, it is not difficult to reupholster the soft part at home.

Tools for work

To reupholster home upholstered furniture, you need to prepare the following tools:

• an anti-staple gun to help remove old staples, or a flat-head screwdriver;
• wrenches with a diameter of 8 to 19 mm;
• scissors;
• wire cutters;
• side cutters;
• stapler;
• sewing machine;
• Titan threads, which are highly durable;
• decorative buttons for decorating sofa cushions.

Important! You decided to reupholster the sofa and came to the conclusion that you can do it on your own, without involving specialists, then pay special attention to the material with which you will replace the old upholstery, because whether you will be satisfied with the work done depends on it. We will tell you how to choose the best:

Technology for reupholstering a sofa at home

When reupholstering furniture at home with your own hands, it is important to adhere to the correct technological process and carry out all work in stages:

1. We disassemble the soft part into individual components.
2. We remove the upholstery from parts that require replacement.
3. We create patterns for new upholstery material.
4. We fasten the cut upholstery to the corresponding parts of the soft part.
5. We are assembling an updated design.

Each of the above points has its own characteristics and procedure. Let's look at them in more detail to make the replacement process easier. old upholstery home furniture for new ones.

Disassembling furniture into separate parts

Disassembling the soft part into individual components is much simpler and easier than subsequently putting them together. But at the same time, it is also impossible to do without patience and attention.

To carry out this procedure, you need to prepare the following tools:

• pliers;
• screwdriver;
• screwdriver.

Let's consider what steps need to be taken to disassemble the furniture:

1. First we disconnect the sides of the sofa.
2. If there are overhead elements, such as seats and backrests, remove them.

Important! In order not to damage the structural parts, all work must be done patiently and carefully.

Modern upholstered furniture is made taking into account its high maintainability, so at this stage no problems arise.

Important! It is advisable to put all the removed fasteners - nuts, bolts, screws - in one place so as not to lose them. They will be useful to us for reassembling the entire sofa structure.

Removing old upholstery from disassembled furniture

How to change the upholstery of a sofa with your own hands:

1. We remove worn material very carefully.
2. We remove the fastening staples with extreme caution, while trying to keep the fabric intact and undamaged, since these are the parts that will be used for new patterns.
3. The next step will be an audit metal parts located behind the filler to detect possible damage.
4. We check the springs very carefully, since an overlooked defect can cause serious problems in the future.

Important! In some models, manufacturers may install belts or mesh. In this case, it is better to immediately replace these elements with new ones.

Cut out new upholstery

Correctly cut blanks affect the quality of upholstery of upholstered furniture. In this case, it is advisable to leave old material, according to which we will later design a new pattern.

Important! Upholstering an ordinary sofa with your own hands is not difficult, but corner option upholstered furniture will require much more effort and attention.

The technology for creating a pattern is quite simple, although at first it seems like a complicated procedure:

1. To create a pattern, we measure the parameters of each part that will be updated - we need length, height, width.
2. Using chalk, we mark the material, laying it out on a horizontal, flat surface.
3. On each side of the workpiece, add 3-4 cm to the hem.
4. Now we cut out the parts along strictly marked lines.

Attaching new fabric

In order to secure new fabric on upholstered furniture, you need to perform the following actions:

1. Apply the prepared material to the required surface.
2. We stretch the fabric evenly over the parts of the sofa, otherwise the material will bristle and, as a result, the product will look sloppy.
3. We tuck the edges of the fabric and initially strengthen the material on the sides, which will greatly facilitate the final upholstery.
4. We fix the workpiece on wooden frame, using construction staples or special nails that are used in furniture production. The staples should be spaced approximately 3-4 cm apart.

Important! When reupholstering furniture at home for the first time, it is sometimes difficult to avoid mistakes. The most common problem is the incorrect calculation of the material. Such an error leads to a suddenly discovered problem, which appears as a lack of fabric. In this case, you will have to buy it in addition. But the problem is aggravated by the fact that the store may not have a similar shade of material. Therefore, when purchasing upholstery fabric, it must be carefully calculated or purchased with a reserve. If you have reupholstered the soft part and this material still remains, you can always make another pillow for the sofa or cover an ottoman or stool.

Final assembly

The final stage of step-by-step reupholstery of a sofa with your own hands at home involves a careful inspection of the updated parts. At the same time, it would not hurt to remember what the soft part looked like before the reupholstery, so as not to miss anything. We arrange all the elements in order of assembly, after which we begin the final assembly of the structure. We work slowly and as carefully as possible, using previously saved fasteners and tools.

Selecting materials for upholstering a sofa

The choice of materials for changing the upholstery of upholstered furniture must be approached very responsibly and carefully. This will determine how beautiful the sofa will look and how long it will last. Let's take a closer look at this process to avoid all sorts of mistakes.

Important! Low-quality materials will very quickly become unusable, and the soft part will again look unpresentable.

Choosing upholstery fabric

When choosing upholstery fabric, it is advisable to pay attention not only to the aesthetic appeal of the material, but also to its practicality in use. Rough or synthetic fabrics, while interesting, can end up disappointing.

Important! When changing the upholstery of a sofa, sometimes you have to completely change the design of the room in which it is located. Our materials will help you do this without unnecessary difficulties:

Of course, the texture, color, and pattern of the material are influenced by both personal preferences and the design of the surrounding interior, but certain requirements are imposed on upholstery fabric:

• The material for upholstering a sofa should not have a sharp, specific odor. The fabric should not fade, since these signs indicate that a low-quality toxic dye may have been used during dyeing.
• The fleecy surface of the material must be firmly fixed to the main fabric.
• Choosing a thick, fleecy material can help hide your inexperienced stringing process. However, when using such fabric, you have to take into account the direction of the pile when cutting. Therefore, if during the cutting process all the elements had the same appearance, then after reupholstering the furniture at home with your own hands, the right armrest may look much darker than the left. This situation arises due to the fact that on one part the lint is located in one direction, and on another element the lint “looks” in the other direction. Ultimately this difference very noticeable.
• During the cutting process, choosing a fabric with a small abstract pattern, plain and lint-free can minimize material waste. This material allows you to economically place patterns, since they can be rotated and positioned in different directions.
• The maximum consumption of material is observed in the presence of a large geometric ornament or pattern. During the cutting process, each cell or line must be located in a certain direction, and the ornament must match both on the back of the sofa and on the seat.

Important! For example: if you purchased material with wide stripes of blue and red shades, then the blue stripe on the back of the sofa should go into the stripe on the seats. In this case, no combinations should be observed, otherwise problems with the upholstery will be clearly visible and the product will look unattractive.

• Use companion fabrics. As a rule, such sets consist of colored fabric, for example, large daisies on a bright green background, and plain fabric of exactly the same shade. Creative imagination and a little ability allows you to design original version upholstery for your upholstered furniture. For example, the seats and backrest will be provided with a bright colored fabric, and the armrests will be upholstered in a dark, plain companion material.

Important! Such armrests are justified because they will not get very dirty. In addition, such a composition can focus attention on the main fabric; in this case, the sofa acquires clear contours, this is especially true when self-stretching corner furniture.

Selection of padding polyester

When purchasing a ready-made soft part, there is practically no way to determine and evaluate the quality of the synthetic padding under the upholstery. But if you need to use it to reupholster a sofa, it wouldn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with some recommendations that will help you make the right choice:

• Color. The quality of the padding polyester determines its color. White color The material implies a fairly high quality. But if the color scheme is not monochromatic, but other shades are present, this means that toxic recyclable materials were used in the manufacture of this product.
• Smell. The padding polyester fabric should not have any pungent odor.
• Strength. A high-quality padding polyester should be strong enough, but it should be difficult to tear it apart with your hands. But if this fabric delaminates in your hands, then it is better to refuse such an acquisition.

Important! It is necessary to ensure that the density, thickness and structure of the material are uniform throughout the entire canvas.

​Choice of foam rubber

In the process of creating and reconstructing the soft part, foam rubber and latex are used:

• Low-quality foam rubber very quickly loses its original properties and characteristics, which will lead to fairly rapid sagging, sticking and abrasion - it becomes a plasticine-like mass, and the sofa ceases to be soft.

Important! Look at cheap furniture in the shop. Despite the fact that the sofa is still new, it has already sagged, the material has sagged, although only a few potential buyers sat on it.

• High-quality foam rubber differs from cheap material by the presence of a porous structure. High-quality foam rubber has small bubbles, while low-quality products have large bubbles. If you squeeze low-quality foam rubber, it slowly straightens, while high-quality material “shoots” instantly.
• As a rule, goods come from the factory in packaged form, the volume of which is compressed by 5-6 times. It is not recommended to store it in this condition, since the product loses its quality to a greater extent. After you have bought foam rubber, experts advise straightening the sheets and letting them rest for a while.

Important! If you like a more rigid base of the sofa or bed, then you can replace the top layer of foam rubber with a thickness of 50 mm with a “sandwich” made of two foam rubber sheets with a thickness of 20 and 30 mm, between which there is a layer of felt. In this case, the hardness of the felt is directly dependent on the hardness of the sofa.

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands efficiently? To do this, you need to remember a few tips:

• If the fabric contains lint, it should evenly cover the surface of the material.
• The most common fabric for making new sofa upholstery with your own hands is tapestry. High-quality, expensive material can give your furniture aristocracy and sophistication, in contrast to cheap tapestry or chenille, which can be compared in quality to ordinary medical gauze. Therefore, their service life is not long.

Important! If this is the first time you have to reupholster your sofa, then you should not start with such fabric. So you may forever lose the desire to engage in such a craft.

• Cotton materials wear out and wrinkle very quickly.
• Jacquard material has a high density and has a relatively long service life.
• Velor by appearance very similar to velvet. It is easy to clean, looks beautiful, but wears out quickly.
• Flock is a pile material. It is not recommended to use it because it attracts dust and becomes electrified.
• Chenille is easy to clean, the surface of this material is excellent for removing stains.
• Arpatek is very similar in appearance and quality to leather, but costs much less. This material is very durable.

Important! If the furniture has wheels, then you can change the bearings in them. If this option is not possible, then you should replace the old wheels, or make changes and install legs.

As you have seen, the entire process of reupholstering a sofa with your own hands is not something overly complicated. To a greater extent, what you will need is not cutting, sewing skills and experience in furniture restoration, but accuracy, scrupulousness and the desire to bring your upholstered furniture into a decent appearance.