Lessons on reupholstering upholstered furniture. Do-it-yourself sofa reupholstery. Pattern and preparation of new upholstery

Over time, the upholstery of chairs and sofas can deteriorate. However, by resorting to the services of special workshops or on-call workers, it can be replaced. But such services are expensive and not everyone can afford them. Fortunately, reupholstering old furniture with your own hands is not that difficult thanks to master classes.

It is also worth remembering that you need to update the upholstery on an expensive antique sofa or armchair very carefully, since when restoring appearance manually, you risk significantly reducing the cost of restored furniture. It is better to seek advice from a professional. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the following MK on reupholstering furniture with your own hands.

Stages of DIY furniture restoration

Let's consider the detailed sequence of reupholstering furniture with your own hands:

  1. It is necessary to disassemble the furniture into components, separate the backs and legs.
  2. Remove old upholstery parts.
  3. Prepare new elements.
  4. Assembling the new skin into its component parts.
  5. Final assembly of the frame.

Regardless of the type of furniture being restored, prepare necessary tools:

  • Screwdrivers different forms and sizes (cross and flat).
  • If the furniture is relatively new, hex keys will come in handy.
  • You also need side cutters, wire cutters, a stapler and furniture glue.
  • Trim nails and sewing tools.

In the process of restoring furniture with your own hands, try not to resort to complex upholstery patterns, and there should be plenty of material. This is necessary in order to avoid sewing small pieces of furniture together again.

Replacing old upholstery furniture with your own hands

First you need to disassemble the furniture into its component parts. Unscrew all fasteners and joints very carefully so that the frame remains intact. If you encounter rusty screws or bolts, do not rush to tear them off; it is better to use a metal corrosion remover. To remove the brackets, pry up the plywood sheet using a screwdriver, but be careful not to damage the plywood when you lift it up.

If the screws and bolts are suitable for further use, put them in a separate box; if not, replace them with new ones. Remove the old fasteners from the casing without damaging it, as it may be useful to you. Do not leave old staples on the surface of the frame because they may cause rust stains on the new upholstery.

Master class on repairing and reupholstering furniture with your own hands

First, a soft layer is attached between the plywood and the new sheathing. This is where pre-prepared glue comes in handy. Glue the layer and wait until it dries. Once the glue has dried, secure the new upholstery on one side to the frame or plywood with several staples. After this, turn the workpiece over and stretch the fabric. Make sure that no folds form. Secure the new trim. The corners are sheathed at the very end. To do this, fasten the fabric on both sides of the frame, not reaching the corners (about 5 cm) and secure the upholstery completely.

To finish reupholstering upholstered furniture with your own hands, simply assemble the components in the same sequence as during disassembly. This way, you will receive furniture that you could restore yourself!

Watch the video: master class on reupholstering furniture with your own hands

No matter how expensive, high-quality and generally wonderful the upholstered furniture is, sooner or later you will still have to deal with such unpleasant phenomena as wear of the upholstery and stretching of the springs. It’s not just time that can damage furniture.

If the sofa has lost its original appearance, you can change the upholstery yourself.

Frequent relocation from one place to another, careless handling, pets - all this can result in damage to the upholstery and furniture mechanism. Of course, you can buy a new chair, sofa or armchair, but you can reupholster the upholstered furniture yourself and save money.

Fabric selection

The fabric for the upholstery should be dense and easy to clean.

First of all, if you decide to reupholster upholstered furniture yourself, you need to choose a fabric. When choosing fabric for upholstery, pay attention to the following important characteristics:

  • the material must be durable and dense;
  • the fabric should be easy to clean and keep its shape;
  • the upholstery must be impregnated with a dirt-repellent or water-repellent solution;
  • the fabric should be able to withstand cleaning with a brush or sponge using a soap solution or special means and without them.

These parameters indicate the quality of the upholstery material and are decisive when choosing and purchasing it. If the upholstery you choose meets all or at least most of the listed characteristics, then you can safely begin choosing the color, pattern, texture, relief and other important points.

For upholstery, you can also use a combination of several different fabrics.

Most often, people who decide to reupholster upholstered furniture themselves give preference to the following materials:

  • skin;
  • flock;
  • nubuck;
  • tapestry;
  • jacquard;
  • chenille.

Modern technologies make it possible to create material of any design and structure, so you need to pay Special attention and the quality of the upholstery.

The standard set of tools that allows you to reupholster upholstered furniture yourself is as follows:

For reupholstering furniture, the main tool is a furniture stapler.

  • furniture stapler (can be bought at any hardware store, the most budget option will do);
  • foam rubber (use material 4-6 mm thick, it can be bought either at a specialized furniture fabric store or at a regular hardware store);
  • staples for a stapler (use hardened staples 1-1.4 cm long, buy them immediately with the stapler);
  • flat screwdriver;
  • wrench for bolts (preferably adjustable);
  • pliers;
  • hammer;
  • tailor's scissors.

Return to contents

Upholstery of a chair with a seat

Most often, furniture such as chairs, sofas and armchairs are reupholstered. it is necessary to begin with an inspection and assessment of its frame. Over time, it can become quite loose. It definitely needs to be strengthened. Metal corners are used for this. Sometimes simply gluing the frame elements is enough.

First you will need to unscrew the backrest and remove the old upholstery fabric from it. As a rule, it is secured with staples. Next, you should examine the filler. If necessary, it is replaced with new foam rubber.

In order to reupholster a chair, you need to strengthen the frame, and then remove the upholstery fabric.

Make a pattern from old upholstery. Attach the new fabric to the backrest using furniture staples and place the backrest in its rightful place.

Do a similar job with the seat of your chair. If you need to unscrew it, be sure to save all the fasteners, otherwise in the future you will have to waste time looking for a suitable replacement.

Take the seat upholstery material and place it face down on a flat, hard surface. Place on new upholstery old material and make the markings. Don't forget about allowances. In the case of a chair, 2-3 cm is enough, now you can cut the fabric along the intended contour. If the fabric has a pattern, make sure it is evenly positioned. Attach the upholstery to the seat using staples. Place the finished part in place and attach it securely, ensuring maximum fixation.

As a result of such simple work, you can give new life your chair and get a beautiful product.

Return to contents

Sofa update

Upholstery of a soft sofa new fabric- quite a troublesome job. It is very important to follow the correct sequence and do everything carefully. First of all, you need to prepare the necessary tools, namely:

  • upholstery;
  • pencil and paper for patterns;
  • stuffing material;
  • round nose pliers;
  • threads;
  • sewing machine;
  • hammer;
  • nails or staples;
  • construction stapler;
  • scissors;
  • set of screwdrivers and keys.

Take yours apart old sofa, freeing up the seat, armrests and backrest. Be careful not to damage the furniture frame, otherwise the reconstruction process will be significantly more complicated.

Remove the old staples using pliers and carefully remove the upholstery fabric. Select new suitable upholstery material. Classic fabrics such as tapestry, flock, jacquard are best suited. These are very practical, beautiful and easy-to-use materials. It is not recommended to use leather and substitutes unless you have the appropriate skills. Ordinary sewing machine may not be able to handle such materials. A medium-sized sofa, as a rule, requires 7-8 linear meters of fabric with a width of 1.4-1.5 m.

Carefully examine the condition of the “insides” of the sofa. If necessary, replace the padding (foam rubber will do high density, holofiber, polyurethane foam, down, felt) and strengthen the frame elements.

Take old upholstery fabric, lay it out on paper and make a new pattern. Then cut out the necessary pieces from the new upholstery. Sew the seams using a machine. If desired, you can diversify the style of the upholstery material, for example, use several fabrics of different colors and textures at the same time.

Now you can proceed directly to reupholstering the sofa. This must be done as carefully and carefully as possible so that there are no sagging or folds. The material is pressed against the sofa using a special powerful construction stapler. The fabric is nailed to the wooden frame with small nails or fastened with staples every 18-20 mm. After all parts are covered with new fabric, the sofa is assembled.

Such restoration does not take much time, but it allows you to save money on the purchase of new furniture or the services of third-party craftsmen and get an updated sofa.

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands at home, is interesting to many rational and economical owners and housewives. The goals they pursue are not only updating the interior, but also saving money. Buying a new sofa to replace one that is worn out or damaged by animals is very expensive pleasure. A huge number of positive reviews about this procedure, as well as a countless number of beautiful photos reupholstered sofas with “before” and “after” notes.

Sofas have long been part of people's lives. The first copies of this upholstered furniture were a large number of pillows stacked one on top of the other and randomly placed on the stage or directly on the floor. And today such designs can be seen in most Turkish and Asian restaurants.

In modern apartments or houses there is always upholstered furniture. Modern sofas more complex in design than their predecessors, and are presented a large number models. Most often, this upholstered furniture is found in living rooms. Sofas are also often used instead of beds in children's rooms and bedrooms. Not quite standard models can be seen in hallways, on balconies and loggias, as well as in kitchens.

All sofas are distinguished by functionality. Improvised ones are considered the easiest to use and cheapest. kitchen corner sofas. They are followed by book sofas. They got their name due to their similarity to the book. It was precisely these sofas that formed the basis of the assortment in Soviet furniture stores. Currently, the range of upholstered furniture and its the lineup expanded a lot.

Sofas are chosen based on their massiveness and functionality. For living rooms, corner sofas or fixed structures are most often purchased. The upholstery material is often leather (both artificial and natural) or expensive jacquards with silk threads. The color range allows you to satisfy the most sophisticated tastes of consumers.

For small rooms, the following types of roll-out units are considered the most suitable:

  • dolphin;
  • click-clack;
  • accordion;
  • cot.

Leather or leatherette sofas are inappropriate to use in bedrooms. First of all, because the material wears out quickly. And such furniture will be slippery. The sofas that replace the bed are covered with breathable materials. They are inexpensive and practical. Such furniture is elastic to the touch and is often made on springs. orthopedic blocks providing healthy sleep and comfort for the sleeping person.

Kitchen sofas are mostly narrow and quite hard. It is unlikely that you will be able to sleep on them, and sitting on them for a long time is also uncomfortable. Kitchen sofas most often have wear-resistant upholstery, easy to clean and resistant to stains.

Over time, absolutely all sofas become unusable. They not only break wooden structures, springs sag or mechanisms fail, but the coating also wears out. And if serious damage to the frame is difficult to fix at home, without experience and special devices, then everyone can update the upholstery at home. You will learn how to do this with a minimum of costs in this article.

DIY reupholstery

Reupholstering a sofa with your own hands is not an easy process. In order for the work to be of high quality, it must be done without fuss. That is why reupholstering a sofa should begin with preparing materials and tools.

To update the coverage you will definitely need:

  • pliers;
  • tape measure;
  • marker;
  • notepad and pencil;
  • nail puller;
  • hammer;
  • set of wrenches;
  • sharp tailor's scissors;
  • stationery knife;
  • a furniture stapler and several sets of metal staples for it;
  • screwdriver or screwdrivers with various attachments;
  • needles of various sizes;
  • sewing threads;
  • a sewing machine designed for sewing coarse fabrics.

You may also need a camera or video camera. Using this device, you can easily recreate a picture of the process of disassembling a sofa. This will help you stay calm when assembling your “new” sofa and avoid mistakes.

The materials that may be needed when reupholstering a sofa at home are:

  • main fabric;
  • foam;
  • padding polyester or holofiber;
  • auxiliary fabric (non-woven or cotton);
  • batting;
  • buttons;
  • nylon threads;
  • substrates made of sealing fabrics;
  • frame nylon or rubber bands.

In addition to all this, when replacing upholstery, you may sometimes need a glue gun and sticks for it, regular glue and brushes for applying it, foam plastic, bars, plywood, nails and screws.

The method and complexity of reupholstering depends on the design of the upholstered furniture. The more complex the mechanism and the more decorative or voluminous parts, the more time and effort it will take to disassemble and reassemble the sofa.

Classification of sofas and choice of fabric

The main criteria by which sofas can be classified are functionality and upholstery material. The appearance and price of upholstered furniture depend on these indicators.

Sofas in living rooms and halls can be classic - straight or corner. In most cases, the design of such furniture is simple and low-functional, and the sofas themselves are quite bulky. In bedrooms, on the contrary, folding models are most often used, which can quickly transform into a full-fledged one. sleeping area, as well as tiny sofas, which when assembled take up very little space. Sofas in living rooms can be covered with natural or artificial leather, as well as expensive fabrics. Such furniture usually has many decorative elements and decorations. In addition to all this, such sofas do not have hard spring blocks inside the cushions.

The choice of the main fabric depends primarily on the conditions in which and for what purposes the sofa will be used in the future. The best materials for reupholstering sofas used in various rooms, are listed below:

Kitchens and hallways:

  • tapestry;
  • arpatek;
  • leatherette (leatherette, leatherette) and artificial leather;
  • tapestry;
  • cotton;
  • flock;
  • interlock;
  • chenille;

Living rooms and halls:

  • jacquard;
  • velours;
  • printed silk;
  • natural and artificial leather;
  • canvas

Cotton fabrics, canvas, non-woven fabric and nylon are used as auxiliary fabrics. Sintepon and other fillers are needed to fill rollers and sofa cushions, as well as for securing foam rubber on curved parts. Foam rubber and other substrates are distinguished by density and thickness. It is noteworthy that by changing the amount or thickness of padding used, you can change the softness of the furniture and its appearance.

It is very difficult for a non-specialist to determine the amount of material required for reupholstery before disassembling the sofa. It is also not easy to determine what kind of material may be needed in the work. Among other things, it is very likely that when opening the upholstery, you will also discover the need to replace leaky frame strips, plywood or fasteners.

All those who have decided to try their hand at refacing a sofa with their own hands should remember that the process of changing the appearance of upholstered furniture without sewing and design skills is impossible, and the time until the final result is achieved can last from three days to several weeks. You should also know that the cost of reupholstering at home will not be much lower than the price of similar work in specialized workshops, because fabric and other components will need to be purchased at retail prices. In addition, the workshop will be able to not only renew the outer layer, but also

  • replace broken bars;
  • align the springs;
  • carry out anti-corrosion treatment of wood;
  • change the shape of the covers and the model of the sofa.

If you are ready to do it yourself or do not know where you can return the furniture to its original appearance, then the next section will be useful to you.

Step-by-step instruction

Step-by-step instructions, following which you can make the old sofa look like a new one, looks something like this:

  1. Free the sofa and the space around it from unnecessary things. Prepare a sheet of paper, a pencil and a camera, which will make it easy to recreate the disassembly at any time.
  2. Prepare tools with which you can remove old upholstery. Please note that the outer layer must be removed with extreme caution. This will facilitate subsequent cutting of parts and calculations required quantity materials. Remove the staples with a device for removing them, carefully remove the nails with a nail puller or pliers, and remove the screws with screwdrivers with suitable threads. By the way, if unscrewed correctly, the latter can easily be returned to their original place during reassembly.
  3. Remove the upholstery pieces one at a time without cutting them, and then mark them with a marker. Be sure to indicate the bottom and top, whether the piece of fabric belongs to one or another part of the sofa, as well as the direction of the grain thread.
  4. Before you begin removing the foam, lay the upholstery on the floor, maintaining the direction of the longitudinal and longitudinal threads, and then measure the area it occupies. Most furniture fabrics are produced in a width of one hundred and eighty centimeters. Fabric selection is carried out by linear meters. When purchasing, allowances should be taken into account, especially if complex parts will be made from the canvas. As practice shows, to reupholster a sofa you need to purchase about a third more fabric than the layout takes up. It doesn’t matter if the material remains, because you can sew additional pillows from it or change the color of the ottoman.
  5. Remove the foam, being careful not to tear it. Label and measure it exactly as you would the fabric. Be sure to record the thickness of the pieces. Remember that this material shrinks during use, so when purchasing a new filler, take material that is thicker than the one you removed!
  6. Write down all measurements on a piece of paper. On it you can draw a rough plan for the layout of materials. Write down the location of the screws and where the nails were.
  7. Lifting mechanisms, wheels and stands should only be removed if they interfere with the removal of materials.
  8. Calculate required quantity consumables and purchase it.
  9. After all the materials have been purchased, cut out the foam rubber according to the patterns, and then the auxiliary fabric.
  10. Secure the foam sheets with staples, cover them with auxiliary fabric and secure them according to the model with frame tapes or nylon threads.
  11. Sew covers for removable pillows.
  12. Place foam in them. If the height of one piece is not enough, then use several pieces. To prevent the foam rubber from “walking,” be sure to glue the parts together and then cover them with auxiliary fabric or non-woven fabric. Pieces of foam rubber, short in length, are connected according to the principle of brickwork.
  13. Cover the sides of the sofa, shaping them in place, or put on prepared covers and staple them to the bottom of the armrest.
  14. Cut out the parts on the main fabric, sew the covers and start assembling with front side furniture. Place the fabric on the frame with a soft layer and attach it with staples. Form folds and bends on the spot. Make ties using buttons covered with fabric.
  15. Attach wooden armrests or interior details.
  16. Hand stitch the back wall of the sofa. If the furniture will stand against the wall, you can close the technical hole with cotton or furniture lining fabric that matches the color. If this side of the sofa is visible, then only the main material should be used for upholstery.
  17. Secure the legs and assemble the sliding structures.

You can see the reupholstery of the sofa in more detail in the master class in the video attached to this section of the article. In the video tutorial, the master furniture maker will talk in detail about the rules and show the entire process of updating the appearance of the sofa. By analogy with it, you can reupholster soft chairs.

To conclude this section, I would like to give a few useful tips regarding what you need to focus on when reupholstering sofas with your own hands.

  1. Textile. Choose it based on the subsequent use of upholstered furniture, as well as the color scheme of the interior. In children's rooms, give preference to bright and colorful shades and children's prints, while for the upholstery of the sofa in the bedroom, use muted classic shades. Light-colored, breathable fabrics may show stains from sweat, while dark and patterned upholsteries show little or no stains. A profitable solution for reupholstering sofas in living rooms is to combine fabrics not only in color, but also in texture.
  2. Foam rubber. Preference should be given to rigid material with low porosity. It is heavier and more expensive than a conventional seal, but more durable. In areas where you need to create height, bulge, or other shape, use multiple layers from least to most. On strong bends, cover the foam with a protective cloth.
  3. Frame. Be sure to replace worn sheets and bars, otherwise reupholstered furniture will not last long. When replacing parts of the frame, replace damaged parts with ones that are similar in rigidity, that is, do not replace plywood chipboard or fiberboard. Eliminate all gaps: tighten with bolts, corners or glue.
  4. Legs. They and other supporting mechanisms, as well as wheels, must be replaced if the bases are bent or visible cracks have formed on them. The sofa is a very heavy structure, and if you decide to turn it over (and this will definitely have to be done more than once when reupholstering!), then it is imperative to inspect the bottom and supports!
  5. Moving parts. If any mechanism fails, it must be replaced when changing the casing. When choosing a replacement, you need to find exactly the same mechanism as it was before. If this is impossible, you need to change it to a similar device, and you need to do the revision on both sides at once. Entire parts of the components must be cleaned of old grease and dust adhering to it, treated with an anti-corrosion compound, and then lubricated with a portion of fresh grease.

Changing the upholstery of a sofa once done with your own hands will help you believe in yourself. And over time, this activity can become an excellent hobby and source of additional income.

As evidenced by the reviews of many owners of mini-workshops for the repair of upholstered and cabinet furniture, it was the change of fabric on an old sofa that became the first impetus for opening your own business, which, by the way, quickly brings in a good profit.

We hope that this article will instill in many readers the confidence that it is quite possible to reupholster an old but very beloved sofa yourself.

It always brings joy when we buy something new for our home, such as furniture. Every apartment or house must have armchairs, a sofa, ottomans, and chairs.

We use them all the time. It’s hard to imagine an apartment without a sofa, armchairs and other upholstered furniture. Time passes, the upholstery becomes ugly, in places...

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands step by step

It always brings joy when we acquire something new for our home, for example, furniture . Every apartment or house must have armchairs, a sofa, ottomans, and chairs. We use them all the time.

It's hard to imagine an apartment without a sofa, armchairs and other upholstered furniture.

Time passes, the upholstery becomes ugly, wears off in places, holes, stains, traces of paint, felt-tip pens, and plasticine stuck in places appear. All this remains, especially when there are small children in the house. They will take furniture to the extreme in just a few months. The stains cannot be cleaned, the holes cannot be mended, even a bedspread will not save you from their pranks, except perhaps a Euro-cover. Furniture becomes unusable and ceases to decorate the interior.

After a few years, the upholstery may lose its former attractiveness, become unusable and no longer fit into the interior of the room.

Many people simply get rid of it, throw it in a landfill or take it to their country house. Others, on the contrary, cannot get rid of the old furniture simply because it is convenient or it’s a pity to throw it away and buy new sofa or a chair is simply not possible. What to do in such cases? There is only one thing left - to restore, make sofa reupholstery . Of course, you can turn to specialists, but it’s easier and much more profitable, in order to save your budget, to do it yourself.

Not everyone knows that reupholstering a sofa with your own hands is not a very difficult task.

It’s a big plus if the sofa has a high-quality base. Old items furniture much better quality than those that are produced now.

Replacing the upholstery will not take much time and effort.

Furniture restoration at home has some advantages.

  • Are you reupholstering a sofa? any material you like, and you can add pictorial elements to your liking.
  • When performing work to replace the upholstery, if necessary, you can repair the frame or spring block.
  • Outdated sofas, as a rule, are the strongest and best quality, prevailing in all properties over modern furniture.
  • By doing this work yourself, you will not spend big money, and a new sofa or chair costs much more.
  • You don’t have to throw your favorite soft corner into a landfill because it has become unusable.

It’s worth deciding whether you will reupholster the sofa yourself, in which case the work will take more time, or trust the specialists, they will do it in a short period, perhaps at your home, without transporting it to a workshop.

To change the appearance of an old sofa, you can sew a new cover, make pillows and throws of various models. Furniture will sparkle with new colors. If you want to constriction , then it can be done partially by replacing some upholstery elements. There are many varieties here - from typical to creative.

It is important that everything is in harmony.

A cape made using the patchwork technique will look extraordinary. You can make an unusual applique and glue it to the upholstery. For sofa reupholstery denim will do textile or artificial leather. The most commonly used furniture tapestry, high-quality leatherette, leather, special synthetic velor, artificial fur with a strong base, and furniture jacquard. It is quite possible to sew removable covers from clothing fabrics.

If the sofa is not intended for decoration, but for relaxation of all family members, then you will need strong upholstery that will last for quite a long time.

To begin work on replacing old upholstery, the first step is to decide which textile you choose a color scheme, with or without a pattern, artificial or natural material. There are many different furniture fabrics.

Each fabric has technologically advanced and multifunctional quality levels.

Let's decide what materials will be needed. Besides the fabrics Need accessories, foam rubber required thickness, piping to cover the seams, felt, padding polyester or batting as a filler, zipper, marker needles, decorative buttons.

Selected fabric - it needs to be taken with a margin for the possibility of error, now let's prepare the tools that will be needed: a sewing machine, a set of needles, strong threads (polyester), a flat-head screwdriver, a hammer, an anti-stapler to remove old staples, pliers, wrenches (from 8 to 19 mm), side cutters, furniture stapler, scissors, staples (6-8 mm), sewing meter, square, metal ruler, chalk, screwdriver, drill, glue.

The necessary set of tools.

All work is divided into stages. First you need to disassemble furniture . We remove all pillows, cushions, and decorations. Then, using the necessary tools, we separate the back and sides of the sofa.

Disassembly with removal of individual components in the form of pillows, sides, poufs.

We dismantle the seat and separate furniture from the base. The parts needed for fastening need to be placed in some container; they may be needed.

All fasteners are placed together so as not to lose them.

The next step is to dismantle worn upholstery using a staple remover or a flathead screwdriver. old textile You can leave it - it will be easier to cut out patterns using it. We remove dirt and dust accumulated inside. Old foam rubber should be thrown away and replaced with new one.

The work requires a certain amount of care so as not to tear the old covering and use it as a template for cutting out parts from new fabric.

Let's look at the condition of the spring block and frame. If necessary, we carry out repairs. We strengthen all the joints and tighten the screws.

All screws must be carefully tightened, the joints of the parts must be strengthened, and the wooden joints must be glued.

On old fabric We cut out new patterns from the selected material, leaving seam allowances. We fasten the parts with special needles and stitch them on a sewing machine. If you don't know how to sew, entrust the work to a seamstress.

The result of the entire reupholstery of the product largely depends on the quality of the new patterns.

Now you need to cover the sofa. We attach new upholstery to each individual part, starting with the decorative elements, then the seat, sides, and back. We carry out the tension carefully so that there is no distortion, using a stapler in the work.

In order not to make a mistake with the amount of material, it is recommended to buy it with a small margin.

The fabric on the sofa parts is stretched evenly so that there are no distortions.

Four centimeters - this should be the gap between the staples. Use the remaining material at your discretion. We attach the foam rubber, and its remains will be useful for upholstering other furniture.

Having finished with the reupholstery, we assemble the structure and return the legs and other fittings to their place.

The most significant point in this work is the acquisition of the required quantity fabrics . You can roughly calculate how much you need by adding the length and width of the sofa and multiplying the resulting amount by two. For example, a sofa has a size of 2 x 1.8, then you will need to buy 7.6 m of fabric. To find out exactly, draw the layout necessary elements, taking into account the fractional direction. You need to be extremely careful when making calculations for corner sofas, because they have a complex shape.

When choosing fabric, you should avoid synthetic and very coarse varieties.

It must be remembered that material having large drawing or striped, it is necessary to cut in one direction, accordingly, the cost of fabric will increase. It is very important to consider seam allowances. You definitely can't go wrong if you buy upholstery textile with a margin of one meter. It is worth considering the fact that you will need to change the filler. Compacted foam rubber and a layer of padding polyester are quite suitable for this purpose.

The structure of some pieces of furniture may include parts filled with thick foam rubber. This causes certain difficulties. To avoid this, foam rubber is wrapped in thin padding polyester, then attached and wrapped in upholstery fabric.

High-quality foam rubber has very small pores in its structure. After squeezing with your hand, it immediately straightens and takes its previous shape.

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands competently and avoid mistakes when sewing parts? It will be better if you familiarize yourself with master classes, watch video and photo lessons, and read the necessary information on the Internet.

The sofa is the most important piece of furniture. We gather there with the whole family, relax after work, watch TV, and sometimes it’s just great to lie around, covered with a cozy blanket. Its color scheme is significant in the design of a room.

How to make an old sofa sparkle with new colors?

To begin with, you can change the area around the furniture, for example, change the wallpaper or stick photo wallpaper. Picturesque prints will look original. They decorate pillows - choose some image and apply it to the cover. This is best done in a workshop.

You can do it yourself using fabrics different colors, sew stripes or squares, or combine them.

Most perfect option- This is a replacement cover. If you don't want to sew it yourself, buy it at the store. Now there is a very large selection of different colors and models. They have different features, including water-repellent, and even ones that are resistant to the sharp claws of your pets. Well, the simplest option is to cover the sofa with a blanket or two.

Pillows with new covers of different colors will add some zest to the sofa. Saturated shades are best placed in the center, neutral shades are preferable at the edges. If you like a style such as eclecticism, then feel free to use all your imagination - combine incompatible things. Sofa cushions can be either square, round or triangular, large or small, different colors, different fabrics, even fur.

The color of the pillows can be matched to the curtains, lampshade, and chair.

Padding furniture is a fun activity that doesn’t present any particular difficulties. The main thing is to do everything according to the rules, and you will have original old furniture at home that will serve for many years to come.

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

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands, step by step instructions

Upholstery of upholstered furniture after long-term operation falls into disrepair or obscene condition, losing its former attractiveness. Sometimes you just want to change the upholstery because it doesn’t match the interior of the room. There is no need to rush into replacing furniture; you can simply think through the design and change the upholstery material.

Where to start reupholstering furniture

Of course, you can invite a furniture specialist who will repair the sofa or armchair, or you can do the work yourself.

We will try to cover the topic “how to reupholster furniture with your own hands”, what to pay attention to, where to start the process and in what case you should not carry out renovation work with furniture yourself.

Despite the fact that the method used by specialists differs from the method of upholstery at home, the result will be no worse, but more interesting, if you try. A low budget will also be a plus, because you will only have to spend money on material and tools, which you will have in the future.

The result will be excellent if:

  • disassembling the furniture did not cause you any difficulty;
  • the furniture has not lost its shape in terms of the frame, because it is difficult to change the structure, you need to have experience;
  • your furniture is not antique, it is more difficult to work with such a product, it requires a thrifty and special approach;
  • The sofa or chair should be upholstered with barracks or other upholstery material, but not with leather or its substitute.

The remaining cases are not as difficult as it seems, at least the task is doable even for a non-professional.

Steps for upholstering a sofa with new material:
  • analysis of product elements - poufs, armrests, sides and pillows;
  • eliminating worn upholstery;
  • determining product dimensions and cutting new upholstery;
  • fixing fabric to dismountable furniture parts;
  • final assembly of the furniture structure.
DIY sofa reupholstery technology

The first step is to capture your sofa in a photo so that you can understand what the structure originally looked like before disassembly. Since not everyone can remember the details of the entire furniture structure.

Analysis of furniture by detail

As stated above, it is necessary to decompose the sofa into parts, that is, disassemble it. To do this, disconnect the sides without damaging the fastenings, remove the overhead elements, seat, backrest, pillows, poufs, if any.

Place the fasteners in a separate box or bag so as not to lose them.

Removing worn textile upholstery

Stock up on tools such as a screwdriver or anti-staple gun to remove the mounting brackets. Carry out the work of removing the barrack carefully so as not to damage the coating; it will still be useful for making patterns from new textiles.

After cleaning the material from dust and dirt, it can be reused if it has not lost its original appearance. Foam rubber, which most often serves as a filler in upholstered furniture, is best replaced if it is rotten. By replacing the old foam rubber with a new one, you will update not only the appearance of the sofa, but also the quality of the surface; it will be elastic, dense and meet the needs of the furniture owner. After all, with old foam rubber, dents, lumps and irregularities will disappear.

Under the filler, the structure consists of springs, metal mesh, rubber belts, nylon guy wires or wooden slats. If they are defective, they need to be replaced or repaired.

Cut out new upholstery

Making a pattern is one of the important stages in reupholstering furniture; the result depends on the correctness of the actions. You can simplify the task if you use old upholstery material that was removed from the furniture. Before cutting out the pattern, add a few centimeters to the pattern mark along the edges for an allowance.

The material for upholstery of upholstered furniture should be functional and practical. If the sofa will be used as a bed, then the material should be selected as environmentally friendly and breathable. But if guests will gather on the sofa and it will play the role of a seat, then choose upholstery fabric that is wear-resistant, durable, non-marking, and with synthetic fibers.

Attaching fabric to structure

We stretch the finished fabric over the part, fix it along the edges, tucking in the excess on all sides, and use construction staples or shaped furniture nails to fix the fabric along the edge on the back surface of the structure. Please note that the fabric should be evenly and tightly stretched so that the pattern on the front of the barrack does not become distorted. Excess fabric can be used to decorate poufs, chairs, benches, which will look harmonious with the rest of the furniture. You can also use the cuts to create decorative and designer pillows.

Assembling furniture after reupholstery

The photo you took on initial stage repair will play an important role in furniture assembly. You can connect the elements of upholstered furniture using these photos to make sure everything is done in the correct order. Below we have added a video on how to reupholster furniture with new upholstery fabric, replacing the old surface.

How to update old upholstery on upholstered furniture with your own hands

Over the past ten years, it has become popular to restore old upholstered furniture - Soviet book sofas, seats of dining chairs, favorite armchairs. The reasons that force people to give new life to old things are practically sentimental - a relic sofa brought by a great-grandfather as a trophy from the war, or an armchair in which a grandmother knitted a lot of socks for a family of three generations.

But more often we are surprised to realize that good Soviet furniture in terms of quality and integrity of the frame is much better than new furniture found in the low and medium price ranges. Such furniture is often made from raw timber, cheap spring blocks, and covered with cheap and low-quality fabric on top.

A great many master restorers have appeared - there are even craftsmen who can so transform the appearance of an old sofa that it will not differ from its modern counterparts in design and content. But, in fact, with minimal business skills, desire and patience, reupholstering upholstered furniture with your own hands is an easy and even creative task.

Do-it-yourself methods for restoring and upholstering furniture

Furniture restoration allows you to completely transform old interior items

There are two ways to update the appearance of upholstered furniture: washing and replacement. Both options are quite labor-intensive and technically cumbersome, but doable! All your efforts will pay off when you see and feel the fruits of your labor with a feeling of complete satisfaction.

Washing covers

This option is best suited for small items furniture: seats of chairs, stools and small armchairs. If upholstery fabric on your favorite old sofa you like and it is well preserved, has a unique woven pattern, and you understand that a modern analogue is unaffordable, then the sofa cover can be thrown in the wash.

To wash large furniture covers, it is better to use the services of a professional laundry.

  • Saving money - you only spend time with small expenses, including the cost of washing detergents and furniture fittings(staples, lining fabric).
  • Reviving the authentic look of a piece of furniture.

There is one minus, but a significant one - there is a high probability that the cover will “shrink” during washing or even fall apart. Since upholstery fabric is not designed for washing, it is not treated for shrinkage, like clothing fabrics, for example.

Complete replacement of furniture cover

This path is the longest and most difficult, but true. Old and shabby upholstery is mercilessly thrown away, and the sofa can please you with brand new fabric in fresh colors. Complete replacement It is quite possible to make a furniture cover yourself at home. But be prepared for problems hidden under a leaky cover: cracked frame beams, broken springs, broken fiberboard or a faulty locking mechanism.

If, upon opening the cover, you are saddened to discover internal damage, do not despair - simply the operation of replacing the cover develops into a more complex, major phase of reupholstering upholstered furniture.

Padding

This relatively new concept includes not only replacing upholstery, but also: complete renovation frame, replacement of foam rubber, locks, spring blocks, everything that is needed. In essence, reupholstery is a major overhaul of upholstered furniture, as a result of which you will receive a new interior element made to your taste.

Major repairs allow you to save even the most “dead” furniture

Required tools and materials

In order for the work of reupholstering upholstered furniture to proceed comfortably, smoothly and without unnecessary nerves, you need to prepare the necessary tools in advance.

Tools for disassembly and assembly work
  • A large flat-head screwdriver and pliers are used to pick up and pull out old staples.
  • A Phillips or flat-head screwdriver that matches the size of the slot in the heads of the screws securing the lock to the frame.
  • Set of wrenches for nuts and bolts.

Almost all upholstered furniture frames are bolted, so you can’t do without a set of keys

  • Tape measure - take the necessary measurements when replacing body parts.
  • Stapler - construction or pneumatic. The second is preferable because, without effort on your part, it drives long, strong staples deep into the wood of the frame, even through several layers of fabric.
  • Staples - from 6 mm to 10 mm depending on the thickness and density of the selected upholstery fabric.
  • Garbage bags (larger and denser).
To sew new covers you will need:
  • New upholstery fabric - the choice in stores is mind-boggling, choose according to taste and cost. In order not to make a mistake with the footage, sketch out approximate details before purchasing. Consider standard width roll - up to 145 cm (together with the edging of the edges of the canvas) and the location of the patterns relative to the pile and shine of the material.
  • Lining fabric for padding the back surfaces of the back and seat. This is not necessary, but a layer of lining will protect the furniture from dust getting inside, and the cost of lining material is low. Therefore, it is better not to neglect this simple operation.
  • Sharp scissors, preferably special tailor's scissors for cutting.

When cutting new covers, tailor's scissors will be simply irreplaceable.

  • Crayons or thin pieces of soap.
  • Threads - no less than No. 10, and better - special reinforced ones for rigid fabrics.
  • Meter ruler.
  • Paper for patterns if you are going to modify the appearance of the product: change the shape of the legs, back and seats.
  • Sewing machine.

Constriction technology

Dismantling old furniture

This is the first and dirtiest stage - you have to unscrew and remove the bolts, locks and disassemble the frame. Then remove all the old staples that fasten the upholstery to the frame.

After removing the upholstery, a rather unsightly picture may be revealed to the eye.

Take care of the disassembly site - you will have to stir up the “dust of centuries” that has soaked the sofa or armchair. And staples have a sneaky habit of scattering across the floor and digging into the soles of sneakers (or feet). If it is not possible to disassemble the sofa outside, cover the equipment (TVs, computers, etc.) with film, and take everything that is possible into another room.

Keep trash bags handy - you'll have to throw away a lot of the junk you've turned into. inner filling sofa (armchairs, chairs, etc.). Once you've finished disassembling, immediately remove all resulting debris from your home. Various nasties can lurk in the interior dust of upholstered furniture - from allergens to dust mites.

Repair work and replacement of parts

Having removed the old cover, you may find a number of serious damages under the harmless abrasions of the upholstery; do not rush to give up and throw away the sofa, calculating in your head how much it will cost to buy a new one.

All repair problems can be solved, and parts are replaceable - the list of breakdowns and ways to fix them is not as extensive and scary as you might think at first glance.

Cracked frame beams

All old sofas and armchairs are based on frames held together with locking saws and glue. This is a strong and durable system, much better than modern installation with self-tapping screws. But when the service life ends, the corners of the frames become weak and crack. The beams need to be replaced. Choose a dry tree, without knots, cracks and bark - bast or middle with a smooth, straight structure. Otherwise, the beam, which carries a large load and lacks strength and integrity, will quickly burst. Damp wood in warm and dry apartment conditions will belatedly begin to dry out and warp. It is better to repeat the lock cut - order it from a master carpenter or do it yourself. It is better to soak the joints of the frame beams with PVA glue before joining.

Broken fiberboard parts (lintels of the seat frame and backrest)

Everything is simpler here - you measure the size and cut out new parts yourself with a jigsaw or make them to order in a furniture workshop. It is better to prepare separate parts of the jumpers (in old sofas there are usually three of them - the middle and two sides), which are easier to replace in case of a break. They can be attached to the frame with nails or a pneumatic stapler.

Broken springs

Broken springs not only impair the cushioning properties of furniture, but can also cause injuries and cuts.

The sore spot is the middle of the seat, where children love to jump and guests love to sit. Some craftsmen manage to “twist” spring blocks, replacing broken springs with new ones. However, there is no guarantee that after some time another one will not burst. old spring and for her sake you won’t have to start all the work all over again. Therefore, it is more rational to replace the spring blocks completely.

Replacing seat belts

Any dense tape of suitable width can act as belts.

Typically, the frames of the seats and backs of old chairs are tightened with intertwined wide belts, on which foam rubber is laid. And the belts very rarely break; most often the place where the belt and the frame meet is worn out. Any belts that you consider durable will be suitable for replacement. The main thing is that they are tightly woven, preferably made of synthetic materials and at least 5–7 cm wide.

Caked foam rubber

Any type of foam rubber has such a technical characteristic as the number of compressions. This is an indicator of how many times the material will withstand compression and be able to restore its original shape and elasticity. Almost always in old furniture foam rubber has long outlived its usefulness in this respect and has turned into dust or into a viscous substance reminiscent of sticky plasticine. Throw it away without regret and lay down new foam rubber.

It’s better not to skimp on foam rubber - it’s not only a soft layer, but also protects the internal structure from damage

Replacing locks

Also common problem– over time, the steel mechanism of the lock becomes loose, play appears in it, or the springs that snap the lock into the “sitting” or “lying” position fly off. Inspect the lock carefully; you may need to change the screw or install a new latch spring. If not, then the lock will have to be changed - fortunately, this is not a problem; furniture fittings stores will offer you a large selection of modern locks.

Master class on sewing new covers

The most creative stage of work. You can leave the look of the furniture the same; in this case, you can use old covers as patterns. Before work, they should be thoroughly shaken and vacuumed.

When cutting new parts, carefully monitor the location of the weft and warp threads, as well as the direction of the pile. This is especially true for the patterns of the backrest and seat-back, if the width of the fabric does not allow making a one-piece cover (meaning the upholstery of a sofa-book).

With creativity and sewing skills, you can transform the look of old furniture to make it more modern, comfortable and suit your taste. The main part of the modifications is achieved with foam rubber overlays - soft bolsters are added on the side panels, and backrest headrest pads are added. You can take into account the position of the body in a sitting position and add foam pads on the seat (under the knees) and inserts under the lower back.

By using darts, folds, and curly details, the covers will take on a completely new shape and become more modern.

In order to do a high-quality and beautiful job of modifying the appearance of upholstered furniture, you need basic cutting and sewing skills. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to risk doing it yourself, but hire a specialist to do the work.

Nuances of cutting and sewing
  • Leave seam allowances of 1 – 1.5 cm depending on the density of the fabric.

When cutting fabric, be sure to leave 1-1.5 centimeters for seams

  • It is advisable to process the edges of the sewn parts with an overlock or zigzag stitch.
  • Upholstery fabric with a large pile must be basted by hand before machine stitching to avoid moving parts.
  • If leatherette, artificial or natural leather is chosen for the upholstery, then when making facial finishing seams, use a special roller as a sewing machine presser foot. As a last resort, you can coat the surface of the fabric under the presser foot. thin layer machine oil.
  • In case of sewing into a cover decorative overlays, baste the folds by hand.

As often as possible during the sewing process, do fittings - foam rubber, a softening hard spring frame, a pliable material, the shape of which is determined by the cover.

Attaching new covers to upholstered furniture parts

The repair work has been completed, the covers have been sewn, it’s time to begin the important stage of stretching the new upholstery. You need to clearly understand that the final result and appearance of your chair or sofa depend on the quality of this stage. You will need patience and accuracy in your work.

At the stage of the last fitting, it will still be possible to correct mistakes - sew in or loosen the corners a little, alter the darts. Do not be alarmed if the cover fits very tightly onto the frame - in the process of attaching it, you will still “shoot” it even tighter. It's worse if the cover is put on loosely, because... By attaching it with staples, there is a high probability of getting unsightly folds and creases.

The sequence of work on attaching new upholstery covers:

  • First of all, put the covers on the parts and, while they are in a free position, straighten them as much as possible. The seams should be positioned evenly and parallel to the edges of the parts; match the corners of the covers with the corners of the frames.
  • Then start fastening the cover with staples - holding the stapler in your right hand, with your left hand constantly, with stroking movements, pull the fabric from the middle of the part to the edge. Make sure that the bevel is even and evenly rounded - this especially applies to the edges of the backs and seats of chairs and sofas. It is better to start “shooting” staples from the middle, so any excess tissue will move to the edges, where they can be sutured manually.

Stapler - best tool for fastening furniture covers

  • When upholstering the former, carefully cut out the holes for the bolts with scissors and fill the edges of the cutouts with staples. If necessary, use a hammer to drive the staples into the wood more tightly.
  • After stretching the upholstery, you need to cover the wrong sides with sheets of lining fabric. There is no need to waste time carefully cutting out the lining with scissors. Having outlined the approximate length, taking into account the folding of the edges 3-4 cm on each side, make a notch with scissors and tear the fabric; the synthetic lining breaks exactly along the thread, which you will not get when cutting with scissors. The inside of the lining should be shot from the corners, pulling the fabric tightly.

Byltse - (from Ukrainian) the back of a bed, chair, armrest of a sofa, armchair, etc.

The last stage of work is assembly. When assembling a sofa, first of all we attach the lock to the back and seat, then attach the resulting structure to the pallet of the sofa book and attach the bolts. When assembling a chair, you gradually install the seat and backrest to one frame, then attach the second to the structure. The legs are installed last.

Restoration helps turn old furniture into a new, stylish piece of furniture

Video: reupholstering an old chair

Since the process of reupholstering furniture is quite complex, we bring to your attention a short video that will clearly demonstrate all the stages of reupholstery, using the example of restoring an old chair.

Reupholstering upholstered furniture with your own hands is a responsible, labor-intensive task, but with excellent practical benefits and moral impact. You get satisfaction from the work done and the updated look of a piece of furniture you personally repaired. And most importantly - experience, which, who knows, can mark the beginning of a new hobby, and possibly a profitable business. Good luck with your renovation!

During use, upholstered furniture often becomes unusable, which manifests itself in the form of worn upholstery and sagging foam rubber. In this case, reupholstering the furniture saves the situation. Replacing spring blocks and re-upholstering a sofa or chair will not be difficult; it is important to have the necessary tools. We invite you to take a closer look at the process of updating furniture.

To begin the first steps of replacing upholstery and other components, it is important to choose the right suitable materials. These include the selection of fabric, the choice of filler: padding polyester and foam rubber, as well as other components. Repairing upholstered furniture is easy to do yourself, because it does not require special skills.

When you start selecting upholstery materials, be guided by the existing interior so that the updated furniture fits harmoniously in style and design into the surrounding environment. Pay attention to the recommendations:

  • the material for upholstering furniture should not fade or be too rough, so in addition to aesthetic options, also consider the practicality of the fabric;
  • check that the pile on the fabric is firmly fixed, otherwise these areas will wear out faster during use;
  • material of increased thickness will help hide some flaws when upholstering a sofa or chair at home, if this is done for the first time.

A private country house is usually equipped with expensive furniture with elite upholstery. A good option will become a tapestry, but it is expensive and is unlikely to be suitable for your first experience in upholstery. It is better to give preference to companion fabrics, which are presented in two variations: plain material, and fabric with a pattern on the same background.

In order for the restoration of furniture to be of high quality, it is necessary to select good padding polyester. It is placed instead of foam rubber or used simultaneously with it. In addition, it is suitable for covering sofa cushions. Below are the criteria that determine the relevance of raw materials; in order for furniture to be reupholstered without problems, it is worth taking care of the choice of material:

  • the color of the material speaks about its quality. It must be white, and if there are admixtures of other colors, then it is recyclable;
  • The padding polyester should be dense and not tear in your hands at the first attempt to stretch it;
  • there should be no tears in the canvases;
  • the smell of padding polyester is practically absent, but if it is present and has a strong tint, it is better to refuse to choose such a material - furniture should only be reupholstered with high-quality fillers.

Another important component is foam rubber. It has many markings and varieties, differing from each other in the characteristics of density, rigidity and elasticity. Reupholstering furniture with your own hands involves using foam rubber that is suitable for the intended purpose of the items. For example, for sofas, materials with a thickness of at least 10 cm are used; for chairs, it would be appropriate to use a material of 5 cm.

In addition to the specified raw materials, you will need a special felt placed between the layers of foam rubber, as well as batting - when reupholstering old furniture with your own hands, this material helps soften the structure of the foam rubber. Sometimes it is used instead of padding polyester.

Necessary tools for work

To perform the re-stretching procedure yourself, you need to have a number of tools in your arsenal that are important for obtaining an effective result:

  • screwdrivers, screwdrivers, wrenches - all of the listed devices will be needed in order to dismantle old furniture. Before reupholstering, all furniture parts must be twisted and disassembled, because each element is updated separately;
  • pliers or round nose pliers, as well as a chisel or a special furniture staple puller. After disassembling the furniture, you need to remove the upholstery, which is secured with staples. When pulling them out of a sofa or chair, you need to help yourself with pliers;
  • Upholstery of upholstered furniture at home is carried out using a furniture stapler and staples of appropriate length. When choosing this tool, give preference to the mechanical option if you plan to cover a small number of products. If large-scale work will be done, it is better to purchase an electric stapler.

In addition to the devices listed, sharp scissors will be useful, construction knife, hammer and tape measure. Immediately after selecting the tools, proceed to furniture repair - reupholstering one small item will not take much time.

Stages of work

Before you begin the process of reupholstering furniture, the photo sequence of which is presented in our article, you need to carefully inspect the products for wear. It is important to identify the main problems that arose during operation. Answer the question: what caused the furniture to become unusable, and which areas should be given the most attention. All stages can be clearly seen in the video tutorial on how to perform the constriction.

The procedure itself consists of stages:

  • dismantling furniture items;
  • removing old upholstery;
  • replacing springs and filler;
  • pattern of fabric parts;
  • upholstery parts;
  • final assembly.

Upholstery of upholstered furniture with your own hands is carried out according to the specified plan, so each of the stages of work must be considered in more detail.

Furniture disassembly

The process of dismantling old furniture depends on its design. If we're talking about O soft sofa, then first the side backrests and headrests, as well as additional equipment, are twisted. Next, wherever you can unscrew the mechanisms, you need to remove them from the sofa. After this, disconnect the main part of the product from its frame.

In the case of chair seats, it won't take much time. Here it is necessary to remove only those parts that will be tightened. To avoid getting confused in the sequence of work, watch the video posted in this article; it will help you fully understand the order of tasks.

Disassemble carefully and slowly so as not to accidentally damage the mechanisms and fasteners. If the product has not been disassembled before, it would be a good idea to mark it with a pencil seats fastenings. At final assembly You won’t have to look for a long time to find the places where the parts are fastened.

Side backrests and headrests curl up

All mechanisms and hardware are unscrewed

Removing old upholstery material

A good tip for beginners in this matter would be to carefully remove the upholstery for further use as patterns for new fabrics. Updated furniture is also refreshed with dermantine, which has more affordable price than luxury leather. During the process you will need to perform the following steps:

  • using a screwdriver, thin chisel or file, carefully pry out all the staples;
  • Pull out the staples using wire cutters or pliers.

Make sure that there is not a single fastening element left, because it is easy to get hurt on it when repairing furniture with your own hands. To avoid contaminating the floor surface, it would be appropriate to lay down film or old newspapers. Often, unusable foam rubber begins to fall out from under the upholstery, which is difficult to remove in the future.

Before reupholstering furniture, check the quality of the old foam rubber: here you can see which places need to be reinforced.

When performing this range of tasks, it is necessary to comply with the technologies that were incorporated into the furniture by the manufacturer. If innovation is used instead, there is a risk of completely changing the product configuration, which could affect its quality in the future.

If the springs are still in good condition, they are repaired. This is done using available tools, by bending the devices in the desired direction. When the material is damaged, it is better to purchase a new spring block, which pleases all users with its elasticity.

Reupholstering of old furniture is carried out taking into account the replacement of the filler, which is foam rubber, padding polyester, felt or batting. Foam rubber is used constantly, only its elasticity and thickness differ. Thickened material is used for armchairs and sofas, and lower density raw materials are used for chairs and soft stools.

Structurally, first the spring side is laid, after which foam rubber is placed, sandwiched with felt for reliability. Before upholstering the product, it is covered with batting or padding polyester, which serves to prevent slipping. In order to clearly understand how to reupholster upholstered furniture, study a special master class that will help you understand all stages of the procedure.

Pattern of fabric parts

For the pattern, use old upholstery: this will make it easier to get the right dimensions. Don't forget to leave 2-3 cm in seam allowances in case the fabric lies unevenly.

Before you make your own pattern, you need to thoroughly measure all the dimensions of the fitted part and carefully develop a drawing. Doing this yourself is difficult and will take a lot of time, so it is still recommended to use templates of old material. Therefore, do not tear or cut, and especially do not throw away the canvases you have just removed, but leave them for subsequent stages of work.

We take furniture measurements

Preparing tools and materials

Cutting out the details

Upholstery parts

To upholster furniture with your own hands, you will need a stapler and new fabric material, cut according to patterns. Start the process by upholstering the most simple details, for example from armrests, or square-shaped side panels. Pay attention to the recommendations:

  • test a stapler with staples on an unwanted piece of fabric and wood;
  • select the correct depth of the staples so that the new upholstery is firmly attached to the frame;
  • pull the fabric tighter to avoid distortion of the pattern;
  • if upholstery is being done for the first time, use materials with conventional relief patterns - from complex drawings, requiring docking, it is better to refuse.

If the sofa book is reupholstered, after updating the main part, check its functionality. Fold and unfold the sofa to observe whether the upholstery is slipping and what places need to be corrected.