How to assemble and disassemble an accordion sofa - assembly diagram: transformation mechanism

Thanks to its compact dimensions and high performance characteristics, a sofa with an accordion mechanism is very popular. This model transforms into a spacious sleeping area, so it is perfect for both living rooms and children's rooms. If necessary, upholstered furniture can be moved from one room to another. Knowing how to assemble a sofa accordion, this will not be difficult. The model has a simple design that every man can handle without much effort.

Features of the accordion folding system

Accordion sofas are common and easy to find in stores. Of course, they are less popular than the books themselves, but nevertheless they are considered one of those that are quite simple to use and design. The transformation mechanism is very simple, and such a sofa can even be made independently from start to finish, because it does not use complex metal elements for unfolding, as in the same popular book.

Modern classification of sofas

Sofa accordion mechanism

So, the “accordion” folding or transformation system is the following mechanism: the sofa has three soft sections and unfolds according to the accordion principle. Its elements are connected to each other using special hinges firmly fixed to the frame. One of the sections is the seat, and the other two when folded are the backrest. I mean, it's like a double. When unfolding, you need to move the seat forward, first part of the backrest will stretch out behind it, then the second. Thus, the sofa becomes a spacious place to sleep. The bed will not have curves or sagging, it will be soft and comfortable. Of course, these conditions are met only when using high-quality furniture models.

The sofa bed is easy to use, very durable and can be used every day

Folding the sofa is also not difficult, just return all sections to their original position. Previous accordion sofas were quite heavy and bulky, but modern models are easy to fold and unfold. And now even a physically underdeveloped person or child can cope with this task.

Beautiful accordion sofa

On a note! It is interesting that it was the accordion that served as the prototype for the name of the method of transforming this sofa, since it is reminiscent of folding the bellows of this musical instrument.

Typically, the frame of such a sofa is made of metal, since this material is quite capable of ensuring a long service life of the product, its reliability and strength. The bed itself will have a wooden frame (like sheets) that is attached to a metal frame.

Sofa accordion

Accordion sofa on wooden structure

Packing for moving

After disassembling the sofa into its components, there is no need to rush loading it onto the car. First: the upholstery will be dirty during transportation, and quite possibly also with technical oils. Second: wooden decorative elements will definitely have to be thrown away after such transportation. To prevent such consequences, the sofa is carefully packed. Here are some basic rules:

For packaging, prepare tape, bubble wrap, plastic film, cardboard and wrapping material in advance;
Each item is packaged separately. hard parts are insulated with cardboard, and soft parts are wrapped in several layers of film;
individual packaging layers are fixed with film;
a properly packed sofa will not get dirty, wet or scratched during the move;
Hardware is placed in a separate container. If there are several sofas, then each has its own container.

Advantages and disadvantages

So, we have discovered the folding mechanism for this type of furniture. However, it would not hurt to study the advantages and disadvantages of this sofa. The advantages include the following aspects.

Durability and high reliability of the entire structure. This transformation mechanism has been and remains one of those that can serve for many years without complaints. Even in the event of a breakdown, such a sofa can be easily repaired; for this you do not need to buy any special devices or mechanisms.
Ease of transformation. This sofa is easy to fold and fold. There is no difficulty in simply enlarging the frame, and after use, folding it and returning it to its original appearance.
Photos and dimensions of the accordion sofa
Ease of repair. It was already said above that the folding mechanism can be easily corrected in case of breakdown, but it is also easy to re-upholster the sofa if such a need arises. If the sofa begins to creak, the reason for the unpleasant sound often lies in the lack of lubrication in the parts of the transformation mechanism. Simply by lubricating all the hinges, you can get rid of the squeak. If the cause is a broken piece of wood, it is often enough to replace the damaged sheet with a new one or glue it.
Availability of storage space. Accordions often (but unfortunately not all) have drawers for storing bedding and other items. They allow you to free up space in closets and in the apartment as a whole.
Reducing space.
Accordions can be placed directly against the wall, leaving no space between it and the furniture, as is the case with books and Eurobooks. How to choose the right sofa book
Large number of size variations. Accordions can be large or small and can be used for sleeping by both adults and children. There are also very small products that are suitable for modest-sized rooms.
The accordion sofa bed has many advantages when it comes to furniture transformation

But the accordion also has its drawbacks. Often they are not the reason for refusing to buy such a sofa, but they can play an important role in choosing a model.

This sofa folds forward, which means there should be a lot of free space in front of it.
The accordion storage compartments are small. So don't expect to be able to stack a lot of stuff on your sofa.
The sofa may leave marks on the floor over time if it is constantly reclining. But here a lot will depend on the type of floor.
The back of the sofa often seems very massive and bulky; Do not forget that it turns out double due to the peculiarities of the folding mechanism.

Sofas with accordion mechanism

Cozy sofas

How to disassemble a roll-out sofa

One of the most popular sofas is a roll-out sofa. Easy to use, durable and affordable. And dismantling such a model is not particularly difficult:

To get to the fasteners, the covers and pillows are removed.
For roll-out models, the backrest is static. To provide access to its rear, it is better to place the sofa in the middle of the room.
The side elements are removed, including the armrests.
In cases where the withdrawable part and the transformation mechanism form a single whole, only the back is disconnected.

Features of the transformation mechanism

According to the principle of operation of the mechanism, a folding sofa accordion can be compared to a tension accordion or button accordion. Its design consists of three blocks, which consist of a metal or wooden frame. It is filled with wooden slats placed at a distance from each other.

The sleeping area consists of two blocks. The plates in them have a maximum distance from each other. The third frame serves as a seat. At the same time, it extends the living space when the sofa is unfolded. This part of the furniture receives a lot of stress, so the slats are placed as close as possible here.

When folded, the two main blocks fit snugly against each other, forming a backrest. They are perpendicular to the seat. To quickly unfold the accordion sofa, the seat must be removed. It will pull the entire structure along with it. When folded, the sofa does not take up much space and looks miniature.

The accordion mechanism can be found in the following versions:

Straight sofa. It has 3 seats and 2 bunk beds. Suitable for rooms with a small area. Folds forward.
Chair-bed. Small size, designed for one person. Used as a permanent or temporary place to sleep.
Corner sofa. When unfolded, it has a large sleeping area due to the design consisting of straight and stationary blocks. More suitable for spacious living rooms.

Right

Chair-bed for one person

Corner
How to lay out a sofa with an accordion mechanism: First you need to slightly raise the seat until you hear a click indicating the safety lock is locked. Also, the seat strongly pulls towards itself until the blocks create a flat surface.

Folding the accordion sofa is also easy. To do this you need to do the steps in reverse order:

The seat snaps into place. This causes the bed to rise up and become a headboard.
Lift the bottom unit slightly until you hear a click. The sofa can be fully reclined.

With a correctly assembled structure, the process is very quick and easy. If the accordion sofa does not unfold or fold, this indicates that the product was assembled incorrectly.

How to take a corner sofa apart

The cover is removed from the furniture and the pillows are removed. It is important to ensure unobstructed access to furniture from all sides. At the first stage, the seat is raised, which blocks access to the internal frame. Further:

The sides are unscrewed.
The corner parts are detached.
Soft elements are removed.
The back of the short corner part (if there is one) is unscrewed.
The drawer for linen is removed.

In cases where the sofa is disassembled not for repairs, but for moving, then each element should be well packed and protected from getting wet with polyethylene. Some models have wooden elements (for example, armrests). They need protection from mechanical damage. It is preferable to use corrugated cardboard for packaging wood. Don’t be upset when you have to remove the upholstery during dismantling. It’s easy to put it back in place using just a stapler.

It is not difficult to disassemble a corner sofa. All you need is a flat-head screwdriver and several keys of different sizes. But there is a nuance. You should not remove branded fasteners if you do not understand the principles of their operation. It’s better to entrust this to a specialist or spend time understanding the nuances of the mechanical part. The sofa can only be transported in disassembled form, or they most often do not fit on the staircase openings and it is not always possible to move them intact.

Assembly and preparation for use

Assembling an accordion sofa yourself is not at all difficult. Also, many who like to make things with their own hands note that making such a sofa is as easy as shelling pears compared to other models. To design such a model, you need to stock up on a metal frame, panels or chipboard, upholstery and filling material, as well as fasteners. As for assembling the purchased sofa, there is nothing complicated here either.

Mechanism transformation

Step-by-step work to make it easy to assemble an accordion sofa

Along with the furniture parts there are mandatory instructions; following the step-by-step instructions, you can very quickly assemble this sofa model. Of course, design options may differ slightly depending on the type of sofa, but in general the technology remains the same.

Clue! Assembling any piece of furniture alone is not easy. Then it is better to invite an assistant to assemble the accordion.

Straight accordion sofa

In general, the entire construction process can be divided into two stages:

frame design;
assembly of sleeping elements.

Let's look at the step-by-step process of assembling one of the accordion sofa models.

Step 1. As a rule, such a sofa is delivered from the store partially disassembled. That is, the armrests, mattress and frame structure with the assembled transformation mechanism will be delivered separately. The first step is to unpack the sofa and free it from packaging elements.

These sofas are usually delivered partially disassembled.

Step 2. Next you need to take the frame part and unfold it, pushing it apart until it is completely open.

Frame part expands

Step 3. Next, you should lay the mattress on the surface of the frame. It is equipped with special Velcro straps that will help securely fix it to the frame part.

Stack mattress

Special Velcro straps available

Step 4. Use Velcro strips to secure the mattress to the frame. To do this, you must secure it to the base of the frame in the folds of the mattress, and also fix the mattress at the edges of the frame. You must use all the Velcro; This is the only way to achieve reliable fixation of soft tissues.

Attaching the mattress to the frame

Confirmation process

It is important to fix the soft part correctly

Step 5. Now you should start installing the armrests. For this process, it is necessary to remove the fixing and adjusting elements of the main frame armrests on the sides, and also remove the included accessories from the packaging. You will also need a 10 key.

The fixing and adjusting elements of the armrests have been removed from the main frame

Accessories included

Step 6. It is necessary to install and secure the brackets on the armrests of the sofa in specially marked places.

Mounting brackets

Step 7. When all the brackets are secured to the armrests, you need to insert them into the special transformation grooves.

Next, the armrests are inserted

They must be inserted into special slots for transformation

Step 8: The armrests also have plastic connectors. They need to be placed on the back of the sofa. They will help bring the armrests even closer together.

Installing a sofa back

Step 9. Now you need to move the sofa to such a position that you can reach with your hand the adjustment knob located between the armrest and the bed.

You have to get to the right lamb

Step 10. Next, the thumb should be squeezed until it stops. The sofa is completely assembled, all that remains is to check its transformability and, if all is well, place it in the chosen place in the apartment.

Lamb is squeezed to the end

Let's consider a more complex assembly option, where it is also necessary to additionally assemble the transformation mechanism.

Step 1. In this case, you must first secure special brackets to the side walls of the armrests. Fastening is carried out using bolts, screws and washers.

Attaching the brackets to the armrest

Bolts are used to fix

Step 2. Now you can assemble the frame. It is required to install small and large brackets, securing them with screws and nuts, and also install special flags on the transformation mechanism.

Assembling the sofa frame

Step 3. After this, you need to install the springs on the mechanism bracket, and then the plugs on the rods.

Installing the spring and plug

Step 4. After this, when the main part of the sofa is assembled, you can install the armrests by screwing them to the base of the sofa with nuts.

Armrests installed

Step 5. All that remains is to install the back of the sofa and voila, the product can be used. The main thing is to test it before use and make sure that the folding mechanism is working properly.

At the end the back of the sofa is installed

Dismantling a straight sofa

Before disassembling, the sofa should be folded and examined carefully. If the fasteners are hidden under the upholstery, carefully remove the edge of the fabric. The staples are removed using a flathead screwdriver. Less often in such cases you have to deal with small nails. They are removed with pliers. After that:

Place the seat on the back, giving it a vertical position.
Unscrew the fasteners on the sides.
Remove the hardware holding the seats in place.
Release the backrest fasteners.

Disassembling the “Eurobook” type structure takes the least amount of time. The model is characterized by the fact that the seat and back form a monolithic segment. You only need to disconnect the side and bottom sliding parts.

It is also easy to separate an accordion-type sofa. First you will need to detach the headboard and roll back the triple frame on the box. To do this, you need to lift the seat and unscrew the fasteners connecting it to other components. Some models have boxes held in place by special clamps that are simply removed. As a result of dismantling, you should get four parts: two sidewalls, a pull-out laundry box and a transformation mechanism. At the last stage of work, the roller legs are unscrewed. It is advisable to stack them in pairs.

Step-by-step instruction

How to assemble an accordion sofa in the morning and arrange it in the evening? This process can be confusing, but after repeating the process a few times, you can easily do it every day.

When you see an accordion sofa, how it folds out is the first question that arises in the minds of many. Let's start with deployment:

Hold the bottom of the seat with both hands and lift it up until the safety mechanism clicks.
Pull the system towards you while reversing. The back will unfold, the blocks will become a single flat surface.

How to fold the back of an accordion sofa:

While holding the bottom edge of the seat, push or rotate it towards the backrest so that the transformation mechanism folds into its original position.
Raise the seat until it clicks so that the safety catch snaps into place and the sofa does not fall apart on its own.

Important! Learn how to fold the frame correctly to avoid operational problems.

It will be difficult to lift and drag a wide sofa, so when purchasing, pay attention to the presence of wheels on the seat. Then it will be enough to launch the first module, place it on the ground, and roll it out until it is completely even.

The photo shows a diagram of the transformation of the sofa mechanism

Important! Low-quality hard drives scratch parquet and laminate flooring; replace them with silicone or rubber analogues so as not to damage the flooring every time you unfold the sofa. It is also better to remove carpets and rugs in the way of unfolding the accordion.

If the mechanism works properly, disassembling and assembling the accordion sofa will not cause difficulties. Any jamming or difficulty indicates improper installation or design problems. Most often they suffer:

Wheels. Have you noticed that over time the device began to fail? Check, change the small wheels, it should help.
Accessories for lamellas. Armored bras do not affect the ability to pull out the sofa, but cause discomfort during sleep. Replacing them is easy; just buy the required quantity at a furniture store and replace the damaged ones.
Frame hinges. They are the most mobile element. Often a quick tightening of the bolts and a quick lube (repeat every 6-12 months) is all it takes to make the frame usable again. A broken hinge that no longer works will need to be purchased and completely replaced.
Framework. Poor quality welds and the use of poor quality material cause bends, cracks and other damage. The element can be desoldered or a new one ordered.

What may be required for analysis?

Moving a sofa is a problem that almost everyone who moves faces. Modern sofas have several design options. Available for sale:

sofa book;
corner sofas with additional sections;
roll-out models;
sofas with a collapsible “dolphin” mechanism;
sofas with the “click-click” transformation type;
sofa accordion.

They all have their own assembly methods and types of fastenings. This means that the set of tools that will be needed when disassembling the structure for its subsequent loading and transportation may be different. If you don't know what's inside your sofa, you need to stock up on the following tools:

open-end wrench for 10, 12 and 14;
pliers and thin-nosed pliers;
flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
screwdriver with replaceable polyhedron bits.

Using this kit, it is quite possible to disassemble the sofa, but there is no guarantee that, by doing it yourself, you will not damage the upholstery or the frame itself. If you don’t know how to disassemble a sofa for transportation, it’s best to turn to professionals. They will quickly and efficiently disassemble your upholstered furniture, and after the move, they will put it back together.

Useful tips

When assembling an accordion sofa yourself, you should arm yourself with some useful tips.

If you cannot unfold or fold the sofa, it means it was not assembled correctly; you will have to “correct the mistakes.”
It is better to assemble such furniture with an assistant. In this case, the work will be faster and easier.
Do not start assembling furniture with an accordion mechanism if you don’t understand anything about it; call a specialist so as not to accidentally damage the sofa.
For assembly, use only high-quality and reliable tools that will not fail at a crucial moment.
If you make wooden furniture yourself, do not forget to treat it with antiseptic compounds before starting all work.

Video instructions for assembling the sofa are presented below.

Due to its compact size and high performance characteristics, a sofa with an accordion mechanism is very popular. This model transforms into a spacious sleeping area, making it ideal for both living rooms and children's rooms.

If necessary, upholstered furniture can be moved from room to room. Knowing how to assemble an accordion sofa is not difficult.

The model has a simple design that every man can handle without much effort.

How to disassemble a sofa book

Before starting work, you should carefully study the instructions: this will help to avoid annoying mistakes and reduce work time. The sofa consists of four main elements: the back, the back support bar, the box and the seats. Some models have sides with armrests. The Eurobook occupies a separate line. It differs from the usual version in that the box is used to store linen or other things.

Dismantling procedure:

We look for fastenings from the inside. They are usually visible. But sometimes the manufacturer covers them with upholstery material. In this case, the search is carried out by touch.
To get to the hidden fasteners, you need to remove the staples holding the upholstery. They are easily removed with a flat screwdriver. The upholstery is just as easily fastened into place using an ordinary mechanical stapler.
First of all, the sides are unscrewed, after which you can unscrew the seat and, lastly, the backrest.
In Eurobook type models, the seats and backrest are assembled on one frame. Therefore, they will have to be removed together.

Armrests

The easiest way to make armrests is rectangular in shape; they can be made quite wide. The armrests are completely symmetrical and differ only in the direction of the bolt for assembling the elements. Sequence of work:

Assembling a frame from 4 strips of plywood (top, bottom, front, back walls) and 7 vertical beams, the 7th beam is installed closer to the rear wall of the frame, a hole is drilled in it for a bolt. The bolt is immediately installed in place and fixed from the head side.
Covering the frame with foam rubber (allowance at the edges of 0.5 cm).
Covered with fabric (allowance of at least 5 cm, for a model with drawstrings more).
Manufacturing, pasting with foam rubber, covering the sidewalls from fiberboard (a hole for the bolt is immediately drilled in the inner sidewall).
Installing the side panels into the body, fixing them with self-tapping screws in the corners.

If tightening is being done, it is convenient to cut holes in the foam rubber using a joker pipe with a pointed edge. Instead of furniture buttons, you can use footrests on a nail, covering them with fabric. The prepared bearings are driven into the holes with a mallet, the fabric in the tightening areas is pre-fixed to the plywood with a stapler.

Design advantages

The system appeared relatively recently, but has managed to become very popular. This is due to a number of advantages that make its use very convenient:

The sleeping area is absolutely flat, without joints or height differences. Sleeping on it is very comfortable, especially if the filling is chosen correctly. Models are available with orthopedic mattresses; they can be used as a bed for daily sleep. They are comfortable and practical.
There is no need to move the product to unfold it. If necessary, it can be moved close to the wall, this will not interfere with the arrangement of furniture. The sleeping mattress only moves forward. This must be taken into account before purchasing and free up space in front of the system so that it is convenient to use.
There is a drawer for storing bedding items. It is roomy enough to put a blanket and pillows in it. Access to the box is not difficult; just lift the seat and you can put in or take out the items you need.
Long term of use, subject to compliance with operating instructions. The accordion is one of the reliable mechanisms, designed for a large number of transformation cycles. Breakdowns are certainly possible, but they are quite easy to deal with.