How to make a sofa book with your own hands at home

It is now impossible to imagine any office, and especially residential, space without a sofa. This piece of furniture not only creates coziness, but can also serve as a sleeping place and even a place to store things.

And, of course, guests will definitely sit comfortably on it. So now it’s impossible to live without a sofa. However, first you need to choose an option that is suitable in size and method of transformation .

Thus, book sofas have been and remain very popular, as they are comfortable and extremely easy to use and, moreover, do not take up much space at all. When purchasing this option, you can order a furniture assembly service at home, but in general, if you know how to assemble a sofa book, you can do without the help of craftsmen.

How to assemble a sofa book?

Types and classifications of sofas

Under one general name “sofa” are hidden a variety of types of this furniture. And corner ones, and books, and even round ones. To understand which sofa is suitable for an apartment, it is worth understanding the classification of this type of furniture. First of all, let's look at sofas by the type of how they fold out (or transform), that is, by the type of folding structure.

Sofas come in different types of transformation

Table. Types of mechanisms.

Sofa book

There are also book sofas, which are one of the most popular models. But they will be discussed below in a separate chapter.

Also, sofas can be divided into several types according to the type of design.

1. Straight - a sofa with a flat seat and a flat back. Can be folded out. It is this type that book sofas belong to.
2. Chair-bed. Compact and take up very little space when folded. Designed for one person's sleep.

   Armchair beds

3. Angular. For a long time, such sofas were very fashionable. But they take up quite a lot of space. They have an angular shape and can be converted into a bed by folding out or pulling out the straight part of the sofa.

   Corner sofa book

4. Couch . A small-sized sofa that can easily be converted into a bed for one person just by moving the seat and lifting the lower part.
5. Roll-out . This sofa unfolds by rolling part of it forward or to the side.
6. Unfolding . To unfold such a sofa, part of it needs to be unfolded.
7. Folding - a sofa that can be unfolded and turned into a place to sleep 1-2 people.

Sofa “Book-Finka”

Upholstery

For upholstery, we recommend using jacquard, tapestry or velor. Such fabrics do not get dirty so much and are easy to clean. For the filler, use synthetic padding polyester, batting and compressed felt. These materials are elastic and have increased density. Sintepon is a budget option, but short-lived.

The sofa is upholstered in this way:

Upholstery elements are cut out according to the drawing. Their outlines are chalked onto the fabric and only then cut out. Along the perimeter of the part, add 5 cm per hem.

The upholstery parts are applied to the necessary parts of the sofa, straightened and fixed with a stapler. The fabric needs to be stretched well, as poorly stretched upholstery will quickly deteriorate.

We focus on the corners. To avoid their rounding, the fabric is placed inside. We strongly recommend stitching the corners. This will help keep it in shape longer.

A little about book sofas

This is perhaps the most familiar version of the sofa to many, which could be seen back in Soviet times in almost every apartment. When folded, it takes up very little space and is usually placed along the wall, and when unfolded, it turns into a comfortable and cozy place to sleep, where two people can sleep at once. At the bottom of the sofa there is usually a convenient and spacious drawer for linen, and bedding can be put away in it for the day when they are not needed, as well as storing various things there. During the day, the sofa can not be folded out and can be used as a place for one person to rest - its length is quite enough to sit comfortably and stretch out your legs.

This design has a number of advantages

On a note! Book sofas come with or without armrests. Those that do not have these design details usually take up less space.

This sofa design has many advantages:

• easy to assemble and disassemble;
• small size;
• durable option;
• you can buy covers and capes and preserve the upholstery, protecting it from dirt;
• has a drawer for linen;
• comfortable for sleeping;
• It's inexpensive.

How to choose the right sofa book?

But this version of the sofa is not without its drawbacks. You also need to know them in order to make the right choice. Disadvantages of book sofas:

• the structure needs to be moved somewhat away from the wall in order to unfold it;
• a weak person or child may not be able to handle unfolding - it may be too difficult. But a lot depends on the model;
• frame parts can be felt in the middle of the bed;
• the transformation mechanism must be regularly lubricated with oil so that it does not creak and functions correctly;
• There are poorly made models whose transformation mechanism quickly fails.

Give preference to quality models

In any case, everyone will have to decide which sofa to buy on their own. But books were and remain one of the most practical variations.

Why is self-assembly better?

So you can order assembly and the problem will solve itself. Indeed, this is the simplest and physically least expensive option (you don’t have to cover yourself with drawings and diagrams, select the necessary screws, look for holes for fastenings under the upholstery - a master will do all this).

There are at least two things to consider here:

• first, they assemble sofas for free in isolated cases (not all stores can afford such a function or this is a very simple sofa model);
• second, between delivery and the visit of the furniture assembler, it can take from one to several days (and while you wait, the sofa will take up space in your apartment disassembled).

But don't be upset. You can assemble the sofa with your own hands. It is not difficult.

Other book variations

The classic version of the book sofa is described above, but now there are more advanced models on sale. This is a click-clack and a Eurobook.

The click-klyak is an almost traditional book, but has the ability to be installed reclining. However, its transformation mechanism is very unreliable. It unfolds in the same way as a regular book. There are no joints or height differences in the sleeping area.

Sofa click-clack

The Eurobook has a roll-out part. That is, to unfold it, you need to move the seat forward and then lower the backrest down. A simple option that folds out easily and has such a simple mechanism that it is extremely difficult to disable it. It is considered very reliable and durable, usually lasting longer than an ordinary classic book. Even a child can lay it out.

Eurobook sofa

Examples of simple designs

How to make a transformable sofa bed of a simple design without using complex mechanical connections? And, by the way, we are all accustomed to the fact that if you do make a sofa bed, then it must be a double one. Here are examples of a single bed.

For transformation, only rearrangement of the back cushions is used. And the next day the structure turns from a bed into a sofa.

Review photos of the sofa bed from the article

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Selection and use

When choosing a sofa, you need to pay attention to several aspects:

• ease of use and folding;
• the dimensions of the furniture, and it is important to take into account the parameters of the people who will sleep on it;
• color spectrum;
• price;
• the presence of the necessary additional structural elements - drawers, armrests, etc.;
• product quality.

Assembling a sofa book

Important! It is worth choosing furniture only from good manufacturers so that it is of high quality and lasts a long time. This is especially true for variations of a classic book. Cheap sofas usually do not have high quality mechanisms and break down quickly.

To keep the sofa book clean, you can purchase special covers or capes that cover it. Fortunately, stores sell a variety of bedspreads specifically for such models. It is also better to immediately place the sofa so that access to its side is convenient, otherwise it will be impossible to unfold it.

Sofa cover click-clack

It is important to know how the book mechanism works, otherwise, if you perform incorrect actions when unfolding, it can be damaged and ruined. First you need to move the backrest forward, and then raise the seat, the backrest will begin to fall. Next, you just need to lower it down, and the seat will move forward. That's it, the sofa is unfolded.

On a note! Some mechanisms, when unfolded, emit a characteristic click, which indicates that the mechanism structure is seated correctly.

Diagram of the book transformation mechanism (klya-klyak)

Formation of the inner layer

The required seat thickness is 100 mm. It consists of a piece of foam rubber with a thickness of 40 mm and 20 mm. The foam rubber is cut out in accordance with the base drawing. Place the layers on top of each other and glue.

For increased comfort, the products are made multi-layered. Foam rubber is the main layer. Before covering, padding polyester is placed in the top layer for softness. This material gives the required shapes and rounds corners. It is better to layer layers of foam rubber with felt to avoid pressing through the seat.

How to assemble a sofa book?

Many people, when purchasing a sofa, do not want to take the furniture “from the display case”, but prefer to order a new one from the warehouse. In this case, the sofa may arrive completely disassembled, and you will have to assemble it yourself. In order to save money, buyers can refuse the services of furniture assemblers and do the assembly themselves. Some sofas are easy to assemble, but with a book it will be a little more difficult. But if you have instructions, this procedure will not raise any unnecessary questions.

On a note! You don't need many tools to assemble the book yourself. It is enough to have screwdrivers, a screwdriver and the instructions themselves on hand. Sometimes you may also need wrenches, a wrench and an adjustable wrench. It is better to invite an assistant to help, since collecting a book alone is quite inconvenient.

Scheme for disassembling and assembling a sofa book

Let's look at how to assemble a sofa book (bed) from one of the furniture factories. It is worth remembering that the designs of different manufacturers in the assembly may differ in small details, but in general the mechanisms are still the same.

Step 1. First of all, you need to unpack all the elements of the sofa from the packaging. This must be done carefully so as not to spoil the materials from which the furniture is made. When unpacking the elements, it is worth inspecting each of them for defects and checking the contents in accordance with the instructions.

Unpacking the sofa elements

Step 2. Assembly must begin with the box with the mechanism itself. It is necessary to remove the restraining clamps from metal products. Next, you need to use screws, washers and nuts to install the crossbars on the racks of the transformation mechanism.

Assembly begins with the mechanisms themselves

Installing the crossbar on the racks

Step 3. The sofa backrest lifting mechanisms themselves need to be secured to the inside of the side posts. The mechanism platform should be on top. Fixation is carried out with bolts using washers and nuts.

Fastening the lifting mechanisms

Bolts with washers and nuts are used for fixation

Step 4. Next, you need to install the sofa frames on the platforms of the mechanism. First, the one that will serve as a seat is installed.

Frame installation

Frame installation process

Step 5. Then you need to install the second frame on the second platform of the mechanism.

The second frame is installed on the second platform of the mechanism

Step 6. Once the frames and mechanisms have been assembled, you need to make sure that the sofa folds and unfolds normally.

Checking the functionality of the structure

Step 7. After this, you need to unfold the sofa and place a mattress on it, which serves as seat cushions and a sleeping place.

Placing a mattress on a sofa

Step 8. Next, on the back side of the sofa frame, you need to fix the mattress using specially provided clamps, securing them to the frame.

Special retainer shown

Step 9. Then you just need to put on the cover that comes with the kit, secure it to the frames with special tapes and that’s it, the assembly is complete.

The cover is put on

Assembled sofa book

Note that now it’s quite easy to assemble a sofa even on your own. But the old Soviet sofas were very massive and heavy, and it was very difficult to assemble them precisely because of the large weight of the parts.

Sofa bed assembly diagram

Video – DIY sofa book

Useful tips from the master

Useful tips will be useful to every home handyman. Assembling furniture is a responsible job that needs to be taken as seriously as possible.

Inattention and haste can lead to irreparable mistakes.

1. After assembly, you may find that pieces of upholstery may appear in some places. To remove them, just use a stapler.
2. When checking the mechanism after assembly, do not make sudden movements. If the structure is not assembled correctly, serious damage may result.
3. If fittings or components are damaged, under no circumstances should they be used for work. You need to purchase new parts, exactly the same as those included in the package.

Anyone can assemble a sofa, so don’t be afraid of such work and tune in to a positive result.

How to collect a Eurobook?

Another popular variation of sofas is the Eurobook. It is very similar to a regular book, but this option is easy to assemble and disassemble, as well as reliable. Let's see how to assemble such furniture yourself.

Step 1. First of all, the sofa delivered to your home needs to be unpacked, freed from film and cardboard. It is important to inspect its elements and make sure that everything is intact and has no defects or damage.

Unpacking the sofa

Step 2. Next, you need to move the sofa seat forward - inside you will find a box in which all the other small parts of the structure lie.

The seat moves

Step 3. Now you need to install the armrests. First you need to decide which side is the inner side. In this case, it has a protrusion. The armrest must be installed in its intended place and secured with a bolt through a pre-made hole. First, you need to tighten the bolt with your fingers and then tighten it with a wrench.

The armrest is screwed on

One armrest installed

Step 4. Then you can install the backrest. It must be installed on an open box so that the hinges screwed to it are at the bottom. Now you need to screw the hinges to the box using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. The lower screws are tightened first, and then the upper ones.

Installing a sofa back

The hinges are screwed on with self-tapping screws

Step 5. It remains to make sure that the sofa is functioning correctly and all its mechanisms are working.

At the end, the functionality of the sofa mechanisms is checked

Creating a wireframe

Wood is often used to make the frame. Although they can also use budget materials - chipboard or plywood. Metal frames are considered reliable, however, they have a big disadvantage - they are extremely heavy. Experienced craftsmen use alder, pine, and birch in their work.

To make a frame, you need to mark and cut out its base with a jigsaw. If the structure is large, then the base is divided into components, which are then also processed. If it is assembled from component parts, then they must then be very carefully adjusted.

Then horizontal partitions and vertical racks are made, which are then assembled into a box. To achieve strength, notches are made at the base of the parts to form clutches. Next, the parts are sanded and covered with stain. When the frame elements dry, they must be connected with metal corners.

Peculiarities

Everyone knows that a sofa plays an important role in any residential or non-residential premises.
On it, people receive guests, relax in the company of their nearest and dearest while watching TV or playing board games, and sleep at night. Recently, instead of the usual straight models, people prefer to install corner sofas, which are distinguished by functionality and rational use of free space. Before you start making a sofa, you need to decide on its:

• Appointment. Think in advance about which room the product will be placed in. The dimensions and design of the furniture will directly depend on this. A corner sofa can be built for a comfortable family time in the living room, or you can make a small product for the kitchen.
• Shape and size.
  Here it is worth starting only from personal wishes and preferences, as well as from the features of the room where it will stand. For small rooms it is better to make compact and ergonomic models, and in a spacious living room it is worth installing a roomy and large corner sofa. As for the shape, it can be varied: in the form of the letter L, U-shaped, with or without armrests.
• Filler. As a rule, foam rubber, padding polyester and holofiber are used as filler for upholstered furniture. Their choice must be taken with full responsibility. Here, the thickness of the material, its density, elasticity and resilience, as well as rigidity play an important role.
• Functionality. Some consumers prefer furniture with spacious drawers where they can store bedding or personal items. Also, corner sofas are often equipped with shelves and bookcases.

Preparation of the drawing

A drawing is always needed for quality assembly. The following parameters must be displayed on the plan diagram:

• Overall dimensions of the model.
• Dimensions and shape of each part.
• Availability and location of fasteners.
• Types of rotating mechanisms for folding sofas.

The drawing also shows the features of the soft part: the arrangement of the filler and the application of upholstery. Don’t forget about the images of additional accessories: armrests, bolsters for the head and legs.

Basic Rules

The work of independently assembling a furniture structure is accessible to most home craftsmen. You just need to take into account that often all stages turn out to be labor-intensive.

When assembling upholstered furniture yourself, you must adhere to a number of basic rules.

• It is necessary to keep the assembly instructions for the factory product on hand. Typically, such accompanying documents contain schematic images of each stage of the work. You should not neglect familiarization with this component. It is in the instructions that all the nuances and features can be indicated, without knowing about which, assembling the furniture will be difficult.
• It is recommended to prepare all the tools and materials in advance so that during assembly you do not get distracted and look for the necessary items, only wasting time. Wrenches must be of the required sizes. You will need a hexagon, a screwdriver, and a good screwdriver. You should use reliable and high-quality devices that will not let the master down at the most crucial moment.
• When studying the accompanying documentation that comes with a set of upholstered furniture, you should also pay attention to the declared package. All necessary components must be included with the furniture structure. You should make sure of this before starting any work.
• When assembling a sofa of any design and shape, you should not rush to tighten the fixing bolts all the way. It is much simpler and easier to correct all defects and assembly errors if the bolts are not tightened too much.
• Assembly should be done slowly. We must act carefully, carefully, without neglecting any of the steps. Be patient. If you assemble furniture carelessly and hastily, you can accidentally damage any part of the structure or lose small parts, without which it will not be possible to complete the assembly.
• It is very important to ensure that the mechanism present in the furniture structure is installed correctly. If you install it incorrectly or make some mistakes, it will not function properly.

If you adhere to these simple rules, the assembly of upholstered furniture will be quick and there will be no need for further “work on mistakes”.

Required Tools

In order to assemble the “book” on your own, you don’t need too many tools. All you need to have on hand:

• wrenches and adjustable wrenches;
• screwdriver;
• screwdriver;
• assembly instructions (provided by the manufacturer if the furniture is new);
• structural components of the sofa.

In addition, an assistant is needed (since assembling the “book” without the help of others is not an easy task, due to the large weight and significant size of the structure, it is necessary to involve a partner).

You will need about an hour of your time and a little patience.