How can you update an old sofa? Options for updating an old sofa. The final stage is decoration

Every person wants warmth and comfort. Sometimes the situation ceases to please the eye and you want something new. But what to do if the budget does not allow large expenses for the purchase of new furniture. How to change your environment inexpensively? It's quite simple by doing minor repairs After gluing the wallpaper, refresh the upholstered furniture to match it on a budget.

Let's consider available options for budget alterations. It’s not difficult to do this with your own hands, in a short time. All it takes is a little creativity.

Cushions

Sometimes it takes very little to update. Just update and sew new ones sofa cushions, if they were not there at all. They give a completely different accent to the sofa and armchairs. Anyone can handle sewing. The main thing is to choose colors and combine them correctly with the upholstery and decor as a whole.

Cases

One of the first ideas that comes to mind after deciding to update. Buy or sew covers. Have you decided to buy? It’s worth looking in stores; they often hold various promotions and sales. You can choose inexpensive, beautiful covers.

Sewing covers will not cost much if you are good at sewing yourself. The fabric can be inexpensively selected in the color you need. And it’s easy to sew, the sizes of the required fabric and principles are available on the Internet.

Furniture reupholstery

The decision to change the upholstery is quite difficult. In the event that the sofa sagged and the upholstery was torn in places. The cover won't save you and you can't just cover up the holes, so you should think about reupholstering it. You can do this at home with your own hands.

What you will need for this:

  • fabric - it should be taken with a reserve;
  • foam rubber for pressed areas;
  • wide flat screwdriver;
  • furniture stapler;

  • staples;
  • pliers;
  • anti-stapler, if not, a narrow flat-head screwdriver will do;
  • spanners from 8-19mm;
  • wire cutters;
  • side cutters;
  • buttons - if they are present in the decor;
  • scissors;
  • threads;
  • sewing machine.

Everything is? So let's begin.

  1. First, we find a place where everything is fastened with an anti-stapler or a narrow screwdriver, helping ourselves with pliers, we begin to remove the staples. Be careful with the upholstery, it can later be used as a pattern for new upholstery.
  2. Disassemble into components - seat, back, armrests.
  3. Whether to change the old foam rubber, if it has not yet lost its properties, is up to you to decide. But the best solution completely change it, since a lot of dirt has accumulated in it and various residents may have already settled in. Using the old foam rubber, you can cut out a new filler onto it.
  4. Worn and broken parts should be replaced.
  5. Now it's time for tailoring. Taking it as a template old upholstery, we cut out new details. We sew all the necessary parts.
  6. If the sofa has complex elements and geometry, strings should be sewn into the fabric in the places where they were previously on the old upholstery.
  7. Now carefully return the filler to its place. We start covering all the parts - the back, seat, armrests, stretch the fabric well and secure it with a stapler.
  8. All that remains is to assemble the entire structure into place. Ready!

Depending on what result you want and how you decide to update your furniture. You can completely change the atmosphere of a room and home. The result will please you.

Please write in the comments which option is closer to you. What other inexpensive options for updating do you know? What did you change yourself to create a comfortable environment?

I suggest you get acquainted with my monster sofa. This is a very common model, in my opinion, it is comfortable, but there is a nuance - the upholstery. We wanted light skin, but by chance we chose fashionable eco-leather, but in fact dermantin... Everything was good for about a year and a half, and then cracks appeared, these cracks grew into small holes, and then.... Alas and ah. So, a photo of the victim:

Replacing the sofa was not in our budget, but it was simply impossible to continue living like this. I decided to change the upholstery and replace the pillows (these ones are too hard) with regular ones: either feather or padding polyester. I advise you to choose dense padding polyester for these purposes - they hold their shape well and do not shrink.

I will partially change the upholstery, but I will not touch the frame itself, because... the material is there in in good shape, plus it washes well. The following will be replaced: 2 stationary parts of the sofa and one retractable part. Those that are stationary, with a tie, I will leave it, but I will do it with buttons (I have wanted it for a long time). Regarding the choice of material for upholstery: in principle, you can use the usual fabric you like, but I still advise you to choose upholstery fabric, it is much denser and has higher wear resistance, which is important in the case of a sofa. I chose chenille for the base and jacquard chenille for the decorative pillows. Sometimes they are found in regular fabric stores, but it is better to contact professional stores. There is a huge selection for absolutely every taste. The prices are very different, I advise you to pay attention to the “leftovers”, many stores have a measuring flap, where you can buy excellent materials at bargain prices. These “remnants” can be quite large in size (for example, one of the offered pieces of my fabric was 21.5 m). The fabric that I liked cost 300 rubles per meter, width 140. Here it is:

So, for work we need:

– furniture stapler (I have the most ordinary one, it costs about 600 rubles);

– staples for a stapler (6 mm seemed small to me, and 12 were too large, so I took 8 mm), 150 rubles/1000 pcs.;

- sewing machine;

upholstery fabric(I took 9.5 meters, including delivery 3200 rubles);

– thread No. 20;

– zippers on pillows;

- scissors;

– marker;

– a tool for removing old staples (I used a screwdriver and pliers);

– pins;

– buttons (at your discretion, a tight “leg” is required);

– cord for ties (I used waxed one).

First, let's disassemble the sofa:

I have 3 seats. Two with a tie, one of which is L-shaped with internal corner, the second is rectangular, and the third is rectangular without a tie that extends (with a handle). We start with a rectangular one with ties. We remove the material that covers the reverse side, cut off the old screed and remove the old upholstery:

Next we do necessary measurements and cut out the required piece of fabric (in length: pillow length + pillow height * 2, in width the same) with an allowance of at least 5 cm on each side. We place the fabric face down on the floor and place part of our sofa on top of it. You need to decide how to handle the corners. Or by folding:

Or we'll waste it. I will scribble, because... if the corners are made by folding, I get the idea of ​​working “on a quick fix”, it looks somehow…. Not so short. And these folds of fabric are a breeding ground for all kinds of “evil spirits.”

In order to do everything neatly, I proceed like this: I lay the fabric on the floor, put a pillow on top, fold the fabric and secure it masking tape, so that the corners remain outside:

Then I take a ruler, rest it on the floor, lean it against the sofa on both sides of the corner and make notches from the inside:

Based on these notches, draw a rectangle and, combining the drawn lines, chop them off:

It is better to pin along the line (I forgot to take a photo) so that you can try it on or sweep along it.

Let's try:

It is important that during fitting, the fabric is put on with little effort. If everything is good, let's go sew the corners. My stitching runs 5 mm from the intended line in the direction of decreasing the upholstery, this is necessary so that the fabric sits tightly and the corners do not “run away” during subsequent tension. I made a straight stitch so that later the corners would be a little soft, or you can round the ends a little (just a little, no more than a couple of centimeters down from the corner).

We try it on, cut off the excess (I cut along an already drawn line, it turns out wonderful blanks for patchwork :)

Initially, I had holes in the foam rubber for the screed, but I didn’t have a needle that long, so I used ordinary tubes as assistants. Place the pillow on its side and insert the tubes into the holes:

For convenience, it is better to shorten them later so that they stick out slightly from the sofa on both sides.

I have 5 lines with 3 buttons each. I advise you to make a minimum number of buttons per piece of rope - this way the tension will be better. We fasten the cord to the frame with a zigzag (do not spare the staples) and begin to make a tie. I advise you to start from the middle line, then the line higher and higher, then turn the pillow over and move in the same way from the farthest to the closest line. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the process, because... you need 2 hands (and it’s even better if you have an assistant), but everything is quite simple: we push a needle with a threaded cord from the bottom side of the pillow (which is in the photo above) through a tube through the foam, take out the needle, pierce the fabric at the mark, put on a button, and pass the needle in the opposite direction, move the tube along the cord and cut it off, then into the next tube and so on in order. When we have completed the row, we stretch it well so that the buttons “sink” a little, helping ourselves to “sink” them from the front side, while making sure that they “sink” evenly. The row was completed and secured in the same way with a zig-zag. We repeat required quantity once and we get:

Here in the photo only one side is stretched. At first furniture stapler We fix the fabric along the line of buttons, and then, if everything suits us, we can fix it along the perimeter. When tensioning, keep in mind that the fabric must be stretched very tightly and evenly (so that the foam does not “sag”). Look at the previous photo - the first two lines along the buttons are stretched well, but the next 3 are overtightened (instead of a line it turns out to be a plane). If this happens, you need to loosen the tension a little.

We go around the entire perimeter and get:

Turn it face down and cover it with a cloth. reverse side, we place the staples close enough. I didn’t take any photos, I think everything is clear.

We cut/sew according to the order already described, before fixing with a stapler, we cut the fabric in the area of ​​​​this curve and fix it:

And fix it with a stapler.

For the handle you need a piece 60-70 cm long and 15 cm wide (wider/narrower, as you prefer). Fold the edges towards the center along the handle:

Then fold it in half lengthwise again and stitch it as close to the edge as possible. We fix the handle in its place, and don’t skimp on the staples.

We get the following result.

Not every old and sagging sofa belongs in a landfill. Restoring upholstered furniture can bring just as much joy as buying new one. Or maybe even more if you like to make things with your own hands. In this article, Dekorin will tell and show how to reupholster sofas and armchairs with new upholstery, how to replace the filling of pillows, how to repair springs and disguise minor damage. Let your old furniture become a source of pride!

Restoration of upholstered furniture inside and outside. Step by step examples

Repair and restoration of upholstered furniture may consist of the following stages:

  1. Disassembling an object into its component parts. Typically this is required for furniture with wooden legs, armrests or other parts that need repair or replacement.
  2. Sanding wooden elements using sandpaper, followed by cleaning with a damp cloth. The wet cloth should absorb all the small particles, so the paint (or varnish) will lie smoother and last longer.
  3. Painting wood. Before applying paint with a brush, it is recommended to coat the surface with a primer. We still recommend using spray paint, which is applied easily and evenly, which will greatly simplify your work and save time. Usually 3 layers is more than enough. After the paint has dried, you can apply it protective covering which will prevent chipping.
  1. Replacement of internal filling and upholstery. We will tell you in detail how to repair the springs inside an old sofa or chair below in this article. As for reupholstering upholstered furniture, everything depends on the characteristics of the product being restored. For example, the seat of the chair in this example was simply wrapped in new fabric, which was secured with a stapler. More examples with step by step photos you will see below!
  2. Assembling a piece of furniture into a single whole.

How do you like this transformation?

Restoration of cushions for sofas and armchairs

Perhaps this point is the simplest and most inexpensive in the process of restoring upholstered furniture. You will need to measure the height, length and width of your pillows and, based on the data obtained, purchase the required amount of foam. Subtract about 5-10mm from each edge to get required sizes for filling the pillow. For softness and increased service life, be sure to wrap the foam rubber with batting or padding polyester. Here's what the finished filling looks like in the photo:

Repairing spring upholstered furniture: the best way

This repair method spring sofa or chairs are considered the most reliable of all existing ones, although they require a lot of time. Let's look at its implementation step by step:

  1. Make sure you remove all trim, staples, and nails from the frame. In this case, the furniture body was already completely ready for installing the seat (cleaned, sanded, washed, painted). The springs were removed and set aside for later use. Before this, the master took several photos so as not to forget how they were located.
  2. Install straps (slings) to secure the springs on the lower part of the seat. The more strips you install, the stronger the seat will be. Secure them with a stapler, leaving a couple of centimeters of material on each edge. The tension should be moderate so that the sling bends slightly when pressing on it.
  3. The extra centimeters on each edge should be folded and also attached to the frame with a stapler. Repeat these steps until you have installed all the vertical lines, then move on to the horizontal ones. Don't forget that they should intertwine with the vertical ones, and not just go under them.
  4. Reinforce the strength of each strap with three small upholstery nails. This is what this whole process of upholstered furniture repair looks like in the photo:

5. Now you can proceed directly to installing the springs. You can use an old photo or just distribute them evenly on the sling support. The end of each spring should "face" in the same direction as all the others.

6. The springs are attached to the straps either using a special tool or with a thick strand of twine and a special button. Each spring must be secured at three points.

7. Drive 2 nails into the end of each vertical and horizontal row of springs.

8. Measure the length of the twine, which will be 2 times the length of the seat plus 40-50 cm. Fold the piece in half and create a loop around the nails, as shown in the photo below. After this, pulling the twine taut, hammer in the nails with the loop to the very end.

9. Now our goal is to intertwine the springs together to form the seat and connect all the springs into a single unit. Start and finish tying knots at each end on the second “ring” from the top, then immediately move on to the top rings. This will allow you to get a dome-shaped seat.

10. Once you have tied all the springs together, wrap the twine around the nail and hammer it in until it stops. Secure the free end of the thread with a stapler.

11. For the second thread from each secured loop, repeat steps 9 and 10, but it should be tied exclusively on the upper rings, without “falling” to the second level from above.

12. Knit all the vertical rows like this, then the horizontal ones, and to be sure, you can also go diagonally. As a result, none of your springs will be able to move separately from the rest. Be guided step by step photos to secure springs in the seat of upholstered furniture:

Finally, all that remains is to reupholster the finished seat. In this case, the craftsman simply sewed on the fabric (which could also be done using a stapler), and masked the seams with ribbon.

Reupholstering or replacing upholstery of upholstered furniture

Reupholstering can also be quite a task, but it's definitely worth it, especially if you don't have any special plans for the weekend. Next, you will learn how to properly reupholster an old sofa or chair with your own hands.

Stage 1. Removing old upholstery

  1. You may feel like you know this piece of furniture by heart. But still, before removing the upholstery, take a photo of it inside, outside, front and back, taking close-up Particularly difficult areas are around the armrests, etc.
  2. Carefully remove the old upholstery, being careful not to damage it or the furniture itself. You may need an anti-staple gun, a screwdriver and other tools for this. It is recommended to remove the fabric in the following order:
  • From the lower base (turning the sofa onto its back or upside down);
  • From the outside of the backrest and armrests;
  • From the inside of the back and armrests;
  • From the seat.

You will use the old upholstery as a template. Before putting it on new fabric, we recommend ironing it with an iron.

Stage 2. Sewing new upholstery and reupholstering upholstered furniture

  1. Use your photos and old upholstery as a guide. Start reupholstering the furniture from the bottom base, then work on the armrests, backrest and seat in that order.

2. Cut the fabric according ready-made template taking into account the following:

  • On the edges that will be sewn with thread, leave an additional 10-15 mm of fabric;
  • At the edges that will be stapled, add about 50mm, which will be used to pull the upholstery over the sofa.

3. Sew sections of fabric where necessary and stretch it over the bottom, securing it with a stapler along the edges.

5. Following her - outer part armrests.

Notice how the craftsman avoided seams and secured the outer armrest padding with a hammer.

The photo below shows Alternative option restoration of armrests. The master secured them with a stapler, and then covered the staples with a beautiful braid.

  1. Let's return to our example. After the armrests came the turn of the backrest. A rope sewn around the perimeter gives it an interesting and expressive shape.

This technique can also be used to add expressiveness to the armrests, which is what was done during the restoration of this chair.

  1. The outer part of the backrest is secured in the same way as the outer upholstery of the armrests. Additionally, the sofa was decorated with buttons and new legs. In the next photo you can compare the sofa before and after repair and reupholstery.

Restoration of upholstered furniture: before and after photos

At the end of this article, we offer you a few more photos of upholstered furniture before and after restoration. We hope that these examples will clearly demonstrate to you that any furniture can be restored beyond recognition and bring you pleasure with its new style, color and upholstery!


Also read: Transformable furniture for a small apartment



Also read:

And if you have no desire to engage in restoration and reupholstery of furniture, then here are a few simple solutions on camouflage problem areas and repairing upholstered furniture with your own hands:



Restoring upholstered furniture with your own hands: tips with before and after photos updated: April 20, 2018 by: Margarita Glushko

The interior always contains upholstered furniture. It is practical and incredibly convenient. But over time, the appearance of the sofa deteriorates. The fabric loses its rich color and stretches. Due to constant use, the sofa may appear various pollution and spots. Mechanical damage to the upholstery is also common: tears, holes, cuts or scratches. A logical question arises: how to update old sofa? How to do this at home?

Features of upholstered furniture

The peculiarity of upholstered furniture lies in its constant use. A sofa can be intended not only for sitting, but also for sleeping. With constant contact, friction and use, the upholstery fabric of the sofa is the first to suffer.

Important! There are several elements of upholstered furniture where the material deteriorates most often: seats, armrests and pillows, if they are included.

Updating an old sofa with your own hands

By by and large, there are only three options for updating your sofa:

  1. Buy new. This method requires the availability of certain funds, most often considerable ones.
  2. Use the services of a qualified specialist. Of course, the work will be done quickly and efficiently, but the cost of such services is also high.
  3. Restore it yourself.

If everything is very clear with the first two methods, then let’s take a closer look at how to update a sofa at home.

Bedspreads, blankets and decorative pillows

In addition to solving problems with the upholstery of the sofa, a blanket or blanket will create additional comfort in the room. They can be purchased without any problems at any home textile store, since the assortment is simply huge.

Important! Before you go shopping, be sure to measure the back of the sofa to choose the right size for the throw.

A variety of these soft accessories awaits you: various materials- from airy to dense, all kinds of patterns and ornaments, a wide palette of colors. You will definitely find something special and suitable for yourself!

Important! All these textile elements can be handled if the imperfections on the surface of the sofa are located in such a way that they can be covered. For example, the back or seats. If any problems are on the armrests, then they become powerless.

Sometimes you can make bedspreads yourself. Some housewives sew blankets, and some needlewomen even knit or create them using the patchwork technique, that is, patchwork fabric.

Decorative pillows will help hide only defects located on the back of the sofa. However, they perfectly complement the composition with a blanket, and the sofa will take on a completely new and stylish look.

Important! The downside of this simple method is the regular straightening of the bedspread and arranging the pillows in their places. And if the sofa is used for sleeping, then all the elements will need to be constantly assembled.

Thus, this is the easiest and most inexpensive method of updating a sofa. Besides the solution main problem By masking defects, textile elements add coziness and warmth to the room, and also effectively complement its interior.

Cases

Another quick and budget way to update an old sofa.

Ready-made cases are also sold in stores, but they are only suitable for standard models. If the dimensions of your furniture do not allow you to purchase ready product, then you should contact a specialized atelier or company for sewing covers.

Important! The cover will help you hide any imperfections and defects in the sofa upholstery. They can also be removed and washed - regular care will keep them looking clean and tidy for a long time.

Thanks to removable covers, you can not only update your sofa, but also refresh general form premises.

Padding

This is more serious decision, requiring small investments, effort and time. But it is super effective!

If you decide to change the upholstery of the sofa yourself, then be prepared for some difficulties in the process:

  • The design of the sofa can be difficult to dismantle yourself.
  • Development of a sofa pattern with complex geometric shapes.
  • If the furniture has been in use for more than 7 years, most likely its frame will also need updating.

If this is your first time doing such work, we advise you to carefully study how to update the upholstery of a sofa with your own hands. Below we will look at this process in more detail.

Reupholstering old furniture - procedure

Before you start reupholstering, carefully study the components of the sofa.

Important! The sofa consists of a frame, sealing and upholstery. Furniture parts include back, seat, sides and additional elements, such as fittings, pillows, etc.

Materials and tools needed for work

Reupholstering a sofa is a rather painstaking process, and diverse work requires availability large quantity tools and materials.

So, to update your sofa at home you will need:

  • Hex keys.
  • Various screwdrivers: flat and Phillips.
  • Furniture nails.
  • Matching threads.
  • Scissors.
  • Sewing machine.
  • Marker or chalk.
  • Construction stapler.
  • Shoe hammer.
  • Side cutters, wire cutters and pliers.

Important! Prepare all the necessary equipment in advance so as not to be distracted from work later. It is most convenient to put it in one place, for example, a tool box. Thus, necessary items will always be at hand.

Choosing fabric upholstery for a sofa

If you decide to update your sofa, then it is important to choose the right upholstery fabric. Think not only about the reliability of the material, but also about the color and pattern of the coating, its texture. The updated sofa should fit harmoniously into general interior rooms. For a long service life, the material must withstand daily stress and stretching.

Important! Determine the size of your budget, since, first of all, the choice of upholstery you purchase depends on it.

Currently, the range of furniture fabrics is very wide:

  • A huge variety of colors, tones, designs and patterns.
  • A wide price range makes it possible to purchase upholstery for your wallet.
  • Various additional features: washable, smooth or brushed surfaces, etc.

Material selection rules

For acceptance the right decision In relation to this or that fabric, a few tips and recommendations will be useful to you:

  1. Absence unpleasant odor. So, leatherette often has a persistent aroma, and if, in addition, the upholstered furniture is in small room, then the smell will also concentrate in the room.
  2. The material should not fade.
  3. Unsuccessful upholstery options include rough and synthetic fabrics. They stretch quite quickly and strongly.
  4. Pay attention to the pile of the fabric. It must be strong, and when cutting the material it is important to take into account its direction.
  5. Drawings and patterns. If the pattern on the fabric is small, then its consumption will be less than when using fabrics with large or geometric shapes.
  6. Try combining fabrics with each other. This will give your sofa contrast and exclusivity.

Common types of upholstery

So, what materials can you turn your attention to first? Which of them have already proven themselves as excellent furniture fabrics?

  • Cotton tapestry. Natural cotton fabric.
  • Jacquard. This material consists of equal parts from natural and synthetic fibers. This fabric is similar in appearance and feel to rayon.
  • Velours. This fabric consists of several components: cotton, polyester and viscose. Velor has a pleasant velvety surface.
  • Flock. The fabric is made of polyester, but contains about 35% natural cotton.
  • Microfiber. Synthetic fabric, which is based on polyamide and polyester.

Important! All these materials are of excellent quality and are perfect for upholstering a sofa. They are strong and durable, easy to maintain and look great!

Preparatory operations: disassembly, checking springs

The process begins, of course, with disassembling the sofa. Dismantling should be carried out sequentially:

  • First of all, we free the sofa from overhead elements and decor: backrests, pillows, ottomans, etc.
  • Then unscrew the sides, legs, backs and seats.
  • We also dismantle sliding mechanisms and fixation elements.
  • We remove the upholstery.
  • After you have disassembled your sofa, inspect the springs, if any.

Important! Springs can often fail during use: they weaken and wear out. They cannot be repaired, they only need to be replaced.

  • If the sofa is not spring, but has filling, then check its condition. Most often this is foam rubber, which is no different for a long time services. If you have started such a large-scale restoration of an old sofa, better filler replace, despite its appearance.

Important! Instead of foam rubber, you can use more reliable ones modern materials. For example, latex or polyurethane foam. They are durable and retain their shape perfectly.

Let's move on to the pattern of upholstery elements

This stage may seem the most difficult, but no! After all, the template will be the previous details of the sofa cover. Therefore, remove them carefully.

What needs to be considered at this stage?

  • Make cuttings on flat surface, maybe on the floor.
  • Carefully straighten the material.
  • When cutting, be sure to allow an allowance of 5 cm around the edges. Cut along the contour with sharp scissors.
  • Having cut out all the elements, sew them together.

Important! Pay attention to the fabric pattern and the direction of the pile.

Thus, we have completed the preparatory activities, the purpose of which is to update the sofa upholstery with our own hands.

Restoration of the frame and other elements

After you have disassembled the sofa, be sure to evaluate the condition and wear frame structure sofa:

  • If damage is present, it is repaired or replaced with a new part.

Important! Check the reliability of the fastenings.

  • If necessary, reupholster individual elements: sides, back. You can add elasticity to the updated parts using accessories: buttons or rivets.
  • Inspect back wall sofa, if necessary, replace it with a new one made of plywood, covering it with fabric.

Important! You can update wooden frame, just painting it a new color.

Assembly and installation

At this stage, the following steps await you:

  • Direct fixation of upholstery. Place the elements in the places where the previous corresponding parts were previously located.
  • Attach the fabric to the frame using a hammer, construction nails or a mounting stapler. In this case, the edges are bent inward. The optimal distance between staples is 3-4 cm.

Important! Pull the fabric while fixing it so that it fits evenly and tightly around the base.

  • Laying the filler. Depending on the type of filler you use, there are two possible options for its placement: while fixing the fabric to the part or when the upholstery is almost attached.
  • Assembling sofa elements. It is carried out in the reverse order of the dismantling process.
  • The final stage is the installation of minor parts. These can be legs, removable pillows, cushions, decorative elements.

And now the long-awaited result has been achieved! And most importantly, you were able to update the sofa yourself. Agree, this makes the effect even more pleasant.

First of all, make a rigorous assessment of the condition of your sofa. If there is no mechanical damage to the upholstery or frame, you may still be able to get by with just a thorough cleaning.

Important! Use washing vacuum cleaner, sponge or brush, special stain removers, detergents for upholstery materials.

If not, then following tips will help you carry out the restoration as efficiently as possible:

  1. If you have no experience, test your strength on a simpler subject. A chair or an armchair may suit you. Choose inexpensive material.
  2. During dismantling, as well as reupholstery, record all actions with a camera or video camera. In the future, this will help you assemble the sofa correctly.
  3. When removing upholstery material, proceed with extreme caution. All the elements you need for the patterns.
  4. Restoration is recommended to be carried out regularly for 5-10 years. It is during this period that the fabric wears out.
  5. Use simple patterns, don't complicate your work. Also, do not experiment with combining several fabrics.
  6. Well, you’ve learned how to update an old sofa. Depending on its condition, you will find a simple solution to the problem or a more painstaking approach. In any case, following our advice and recommendations, you will definitely be satisfied with the result. The old sofa will be transformed and will delight you with its appearance.

Sometimes people become attached not only to living beings, but also to the city, home and even furniture. After all, sometimes you don’t want to throw away your favorite chair or ottoman, which brings you warmth, coziness and convenience. But what to do if your favorite thing is outdated? Believe me, it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. You just need to breathe new life into it, that is, update the upholstered furniture. Of course, you can call specialists and pay a lot of money to reupholster and reconstruct furniture, but it will be easier and more interesting to do it yourself, putting all your original ideas into your favorite thing.

First, make a sketch of your plan, think about what your “new” furniture will look like. The decor style of the converted product must necessarily match the entire appearance of the room or space. Thus, by choosing suitable textiles, you can easily and for little money update and add fashionable chic to even the most “decrepit” sofa or soft ottoman.

Style

By choosing the right design style, you can transform any outdated upholstered furniture beyond recognition:


Ways to update upholstered furniture

The first and easiest way is to sew covers on the sofa, armchairs or chairs. Today this is a fairly fashionable and popular option, in which updating upholstered furniture occurs quite quickly and without special costs. Heavy velvet covers or light and cheerful “clothes” for furniture with all kinds of decorative elements in the form of ruffles, ruffles or bows will perfectly update your “worn” furniture. In addition, the covers are quite practical. After all, they can always be washed or replaced with new ones. Having purchased required material and sewing the chosen style, having previously treated all the edges with an overlocker, the cover should be secured with an elastic band so that it does not slip off the furniture.

The second way is to create an applique that will be appropriate on both new upholstery and old fabric. With its help, you can hide the flaws that have formed or even give the furniture your own special style. Applications can be sewn onto upholstery fabric, glued, or applied with special fabric paints under a stencil.


But the most common method is reupholstery. At the same time, the form itself old furniture will remain the same, but her appearance using fabric with bright color, unusual texture, can be radically changed. When starting work, you must first completely disassemble the old product.

Reupholstering a sofa or easy chair

For reupholstery you will need:

  1. Foam rubber. It is used to make the product soft.
  2. To separate the upholstery and internal filler, padding polyester is used.
  3. The upholstery fabric itself. For furniture that will often be used for its intended purpose, it is best to choose a dense and wear-resistant material.
  4. Working tools: a fairly sharp knife, a ruler, scissors, a construction tape and a special stapler with staples.

As mentioned earlier, the fabric for the constriction should be very dense. Synthetic leather, beautiful jacquard or tapestry are perfect here. It is very important to correctly calculate the required amount of footage with a good and sufficient margin. If the upholstery material has a pattern, then to combine all its details it is necessary to increase the fabric consumption by about 25%.


After you remove the old upholstery, do not rush to throw it away, because it can become a good pattern for a new covering. Laying out new cloth on the floor front side down, place the old one on it and straighten it thoroughly, removing all unnecessary wrinkles. When drawing an outline, be sure to learn what old material may become deformed during use of the product. When carefully cutting out the stencil for future upholstery with scissors, it is better to make a larger allowance for allowances. All excess fabric is removed during work.

The next stage is replacing and laying foam rubber on those parts that need to be updated. Then we put padding polyester and cover it with new upholstery material. After making sure that the upholstery is in the desired position, we fix it with a stapler. The staples need to be fastened every 2 cm, making a careful bend and watching the upholstery so that it does not wrinkle or move.

Pay due attention and wooden elements upholstered furniture, because they have also become worn out over time and need proper restoration. Wooden openwork overlays, armrests, legs and other solid elements are best re-varnished or painted (also under varnish), if it is appropriate in the general style premises. Wooden surface first carefully processed with sandpaper. Cracks should be eliminated using a special putty for wood, followed by surface treatment, but with fine sandpaper. After all the preparatory procedures, the wood is coated with varnish of a suitable color.

According to this simple principle You can update any old furniture. Of course, every task requires skill and experience, and in order to understand all the intricacies of the work, it is better to start with simple products, for example, an ottoman or a chair, and only then begin updating more complex upholstered furniture.