Do-it-yourself carriage screed: step-by-step instructions

The quality and decent appearance of any interior largely depend on correctly selected furniture. In addition to cabinets, sideboards, coffee tables, shelves and chests of drawers, the style of the room is determined by upholstered furniture, the quality of its finishing and covering material. In classic interiors, designers prefer to use quilted carriage screed, which came into fashion when equipping living spaces several centuries ago. However, factory-made such products are too expensive, and not every average person can afford them. In this regard, many home craftsmen purchase fabrics or leather and do the work of making and installing a carriage coupler with their own hands.

Carriage screed on the wall

What is a carriage tie?

Carriage screed is a special type of finishing of upholstered furniture in a classic style, the technology of which originated more than 300 years ago in Europe. Throughout the history of its use, right up to the present day, this type of interior design has been associated with vintage luxury and wealth. The technology got its name because initially the seats of carriages for aristocrats were upholstered in this way, after which the fashion for this type of finishing moved to the interiors of rich houses.

Carriage screed on furniture

Today, the carriage screed has lost mass popularity, but, at the same time, is in active demand among adherents of the classical style of decorating apartments, offices and private residential buildings. Over the course of a long time, the carriage screed, which also has a second name - “capitone”, has changed significantly, and designers offer many options for quilted covering for upholstered furniture, walls, decorative panels, high headboards and other interior items.

Carriage tie at the head of the bed

Wooden headboard for bed

You will need the following materials for woodworking:

• jigsaw or wood saw;
• self-tapping screws;
• wood glue;
• screwdriver;
• beeswax or varnish to treat wood against insects and exposure to the external environment;
• electric drill;
• pencil and tape measure, construction ruler;
• chisel;
• sanding machine or sandpaper.

Variety of wooden backrest options

Craftsmen create many varieties of wood products. These can be either smooth boards, which are then painted, or knotty ones. The main thing is to fit into the interior style. Working with wood is always pleasant and easy. An unusual move would be to imitate a wooden fence. The inclined headboard looks interesting. It is made from a wooden profile of a certain thickness. Blank circles are cut out, carefully processed and leveled with a file.

The “restyling” idea is to lay out the headboard with multi-colored boards close to each other. Various variations of location and color combinations are possible. For the neoclassical style, a high back made of figured boards is suitable. You can add side shelves to it. Also make geometric shapes out of boards. It all depends on your taste and imagination; you can make carvings, try rearranging boards, choose paint colors, etc.

Size calculations

After selecting the material for the frame, you need to decide on the size of the headboard itself. The scope of the headboard should match the width of the bed, and the height is at your discretion and the image of the bedroom.

Making a wooden headboard step by step

1. Draw a preliminary sketch on the wooden profile with a simple pencil and mark the fastener holes.
2. After checking all the dimensions, cut out the base along the contour and cut holes with a drill.
3. Sand all corners and imperfections using a grinding machine or sandpaper.
4. Open the workpiece with beeswax or a special wood varnish. Wait until completely dry.
5. Screw the headboard to the bed or wall using self-tapping screws or bolts.

Advantages of carriage screed

The type of room decoration under consideration, combined with a classic interior, has many advantages over other techniques aimed at expressing the similar style of the room:

• Increased comfort during use - soft quilted upholstery in combination with high-quality leather, corduroy, velvet or thick fabric ensures comfortable seating for residents.

Leather product

• The surface is always in a taut state; new folds do not form on it during prolonged use. Sofas, panels and other interior elements are easy to clean wet or dry.

Material stretching

• When properly selected high-quality material, “capiton” has an increased service life. Thanks to the tension of the tie, jamming and friction of surface elements among themselves is eliminated, which guarantees their long-term safety, even during intensive use.

High-quality velvet screed

• Threads, buttons, braid and other finishing elements securely fix the material, giving it increased strength.

Buttons for the product

• When physical wear and tear is reached, when the coating needs to be replaced or restored, it is easily replaced with a new one, without the need to purchase filler or a new piece of furniture.

Capitone repair

• One of the main advantages of this technology is the possibility of widespread use on any type of surface. Experienced designers suggest using carriage screed not only on furniture and headboards, but also on parts of wall structures, columns, on vertical or horizontal panels and on many other interior details.

Carriage screed in the interior

• The carriage screed is one of the main elements of expressiveness of several eras in many countries. Vintage interiors, the English style of the 19th century, and even the Empire style of the first half of the 20th century are perfectly combined with the “Capitone” surface finishing technique. This style is the best way to add luxury and respectability to a room.

English style finishing

Empire style finishing

• If the carriage screed is installed on the wall, a porous filler made of natural or synthetic materials greatly increases the level of sound and heat insulation. It is advisable to use this decorative element when decorating the inner surface of walls bordering street space, as well as adjacent rooms belonging to other residents.

Filler

• When installing carriage screed on walls or ceilings, unlike classic painting, plastering or wallpapering, this type of finishing does not require leveling the supporting or enclosing structure. The soft elastic material levels out all unevenness, and on the finished surface of the fabric or leather, defects are completely masked.

Elastic surface

• This type of finishing device allows you to absorb sounds, which is especially important for large rooms with sparsely arranged furniture - in the absence of echo, comfort during its operation increases.

Soundproof barrier

• This type of finishing is a classic of the genre that will always remain relevant and will not go out of fashion. Adherents of the vintage style don’t have to worry about the fact that the decoration will have to be changed in a few years, as the interior design style of an apartment, office or private residential building is hopelessly outdated.

Carriage screed in a modern interior in a modern interior

Considering the degree of tension of the canvas, when installing a carriage screed, you should choose only high-quality material of increased strength. Thin fabrics or cheap leatherette can easily tear in the first months after the start of use.

Some nuances

Decorating with carriage screed is an expensive type of finishing. Since it gives a luxurious look to the product and the interior, the covering fabric must meet the following criteria:

1. dense texture;
2. color harmonizing with the interior;
3. discreet and not too bright design.

The colors for the upholstery are chosen according to your own taste, but the pattern should not attract attention to itself. Pronounced bright or contrasting patterns on the fabric in the finished design look sloppy. Plain, dense fabrics are considered the best option.

Thin fabrics such as taffeta and silk, although they look good, may not withstand the pressure of buttons or studs and ruin the appearance of the finished design.

When choosing nails or buttons, the design concept of the interior and the volume of the room are taken into account: in large rooms, furniture buttons look more appropriate. If they are chosen, they are sheathed with the same material as the upholstery.

Fabric for decorative covering should not be chosen from low price categories, since the durability of the structure as a whole depends on its quality. Furniture nails with decorative coatings and decorations look original, as they can favorably emphasize the luxurious design of the structure. The carriage tie is not only beautiful, but practical:

1. when applied to walls, it provides additional sound insulation to the room;
2. the decorated surface is easy to clean;
3. it is a complete design option and does not require the use of additional accessories and decorations.

To acquire the necessary skill, it is better to try decorating a small piece of furniture, an ottoman or a bench before work.

Decoration in the form of a carriage screed looks modern in interiors of different styles, and since it is a timeless classic, it will never disappoint.

Disadvantages of carriage screed

In addition to many advantages, professional designers and premises owners often note some disadvantages of carriage screed:

• A thick layer of lining material significantly reduces the internal volume of the room. Finishing like "capitonné" is appropriate in rooms with a large area and high ceilings.

Bulky furniture

• Carriage screed covering upholstered furniture or headboards visually enlarges the pieces of furniture. When it is used within standard apartments with small rooms, the comfort of the room is lost, due to the fact that the usable space of the room seems smaller than it actually is.
• If this type of finishing uses not leather or a high-quality polymer substitute with a glossy surface, but velvet fabric, then accidentally introduced oil, food waste or other contaminants leave a greasy mark on the surface, which is very difficult to remove.

Marks on the fabric surface

• If you choose cheap material, it is easily damaged by the paws of pets, or from rough mechanical impact when in contact with sharp objects.

Damage to the coating

• The complexity of finishing work and the increased price of high-quality materials compared to other types of design solutions for interior equipment.

The complexity of the screed device

All disadvantages are subjective and may not be taken into account. Properly selected colors, high-quality screeds combined with the overall style of a classic interior allow the owners to get an elegant interior and enjoy its use for many years.

Materials

• Bars 45 * 50 * 3000 mm - 12 pcs.
• Bars 45 * 20 * 3000 mm - 4 pcs.
• Plywood with a thickness of 15 mm 1600 * 700 mm.
• Wood screws 70 and 100 mm.
• Corners 50 * 50 mm - 4 pcs (or 50 * 100 mm).
• Corners 20 * 50 mm - 8 pcs.
• Legs 5 pcs. height from 150 mm (if you plan to make a roll-out box).
• Foam rubber 40-50 mm and 20-30 mm, one sheet at a time (you need furniture foam rubber with good density, otherwise it will lose its shape over time and immediately after installation it will be too soft and sink to the wood).
• Leatherette 1.6 * 2.5 m (do not take a thick one - it will not be soft and will crack quickly, and also be sure to choose one that stretches at least a little).
• Decorative buttons for headboard 12-15 pcs.
• 22-26 slats.
• Staples.

How to choose the right fabric for a carriage tie

The quality, as well as the service life of the carriage screed, largely depend on the characteristics and composition of the material from which it is made. When choosing fabric for covering, it is necessary to take into account the following features and requirements:

• Regardless of the composition, it should be taken into account that when manufacturing this category, the material is subject to strong tension, which is why it must have increased thickness, density and strength. Regular cotton fabric, or thin polyester or silk are not suitable for carriage ties.

Thick fabric for covering

Thick genuine leather for covering

• When choosing the density of the material, it is also necessary to pay attention to the elasticity of the fibers. The fabric is tensioned not only during installation - it remains in this state throughout its entire service life. Thus, fabrics that easily stretch when a load is applied will eventually become unusable, and the coating that has lost its shape will have to be changed.

Elastic fabric

• When making a carriage screed, many folds form on the surface of the material. In this regard, if there is a pattern on the surface of the material, upon completion of the work, most of its surface will be hidden in these folds. This means that with this type of finishing only plain material is used. At the same time, the use of a periodic meaningless ornament covering the entire surface of the material is allowed, since it will successfully merge with the folds after finishing.

• Considering that the cost of the work is quite high, the material must also be from a higher price category, and its quality must justify this price. As a rule, when constructing carriage screeds, dense, high-quality natural leather or multi-layer compounds with a velvet or smooth surface are used. Modern designers trying to create fashionable interiors often recommend using thick denim fabric. This significantly improves the quality of the coating, increases its durability during intensive use, and also adds originality to the bold design solution.

If you choose fabric or leather of poor quality, all expensive finishing may become unusable and must be replaced after 1 to 3 years of use. Purchasing an expensive coating followed by high-quality installation while following the technology will allow the surface to be used for decades without the need for repairs.

Making your own buttons

You can make buttons yourself

If you cannot choose buttons that match the tone of the main fabric or leather, then you can make them yourself. To do this, you will need blanks and leather/fabric for upholstery with a reserve.

Note! Do not buy a button with a plastic loop: it will not withstand the loads and, if not in the process of making capitone, will definitely burst during use. Buy a product only with a metal loop

To save money, it is better to buy the most ordinary smooth metal buttons, since blanks intended for plating are expensive.

Making buttons

First of all, you need to cut off a small strip of fabric/leather. Then a blank for a button is made from this strip, that is, a rectangle is cut out. Then the corners of the resulting rectangle are rounded. The circle should be 2 times larger in diameter than the button. This is what the leather/fabric blank for the button should look like. The advantage of leather is that its edges do not fray, which cannot be said about fabric. A thick, dense thread is taken so that it does not come off during the work, and it is threaded into a needle. Then the thread is folded in half and a knot is made at the end. You should step back a little from the edge and make small stitches in a circle. You should get a kind of cap into which the button is inserted. Then the thread is pulled together. You need to fasten the thread, and the sheathed metal button is ready. In appearance, you get a smooth edge and the homemade button is almost identical in appearance to the factory one. From the inside, of course, the appearance of the button is not so attractive, since the accordion remains.

Auxiliary materials for constructing a carriage coupler

To make a panel from a carriage screed, or to decorate any interior detail using this technology, in addition to fabric or leather, you will need a number of auxiliary materials, since the coating is a whole complex structure:

• Base - a sheet of plywood, OSB, board panel and other elements of increased strength can be used as a supporting material. The thickness of the sheet for the base must be at least 5 - 8 mm, and the material must have increased strength against impact. Also, there are additional requirements for the flexibility of the material, which depend on the overall dimensions of the product.

• Fabric or leather for upholstery, the selection criteria for which are described in detail above. Also, it should be added that the material has many folds, which is why the construction of a wall or panel requires much more of it - 30% - 40% than the total area of ​​the future product.

Leather range

Assortment of fabrics

• The carriage screed implies a soft volumetric surface, which is why elastic material of the internal padding must be laid between the base and the finishing coating. As such a composition, a well-compressible synthetic material that is not susceptible to settlement over time should be used. As a rule, foam rubber, which is sold in rolls, is suitable for such purposes. The perception of the volumetric structure will depend on the thickness of the packing material, and therefore the minimum value of this parameter should not exceed 50 – 70 mm.

Foam rubber for stuffing

• Finishing this type of surface always involves making deep stitches using special furniture nails with wide heads or buttons. You should purchase only metal products, as they will not crack or fly off during use.

Furniture nails with wide heads

• To stitch the fabric and attach buttons to it, high-strength thick nylon threads are required that can withstand a force of at least 15 - 20 kg.

High-strength nylon threads

• Dressing leather or fabric using carriage screed technology requires preliminary preparation of templates, which must be cut out of soft plastic or thick cardboard.

Cardboard templates

• The padding material must be securely fixed to the base before performing this type of screed. In this regard, a special adhesive composition that does not contain high concentrations of toxic substances will be required.

Furniture adhesive composition

Depending on the method of finishing the edge, you will also need to purchase additional tape, metal or plastic corners, a wooden baguette or other framing material that allows you to implement the design project.

Materials and tools for upholstery panels

In order to make the surface upholstery in accordance with all requirements, it is necessary to prepare some materials and equipment for the work.

The materials you will need to purchase are:

1. Plywood sheet, the thickness of which must be at least 7 millimeters. In this case, the exact parameters of the base depend on the preliminary drawing.
2. Thick, one-color upholstery fabric. It should be borne in mind that the canvas must have a size one and a half times larger than the base itself - this is necessary to form the relief.
3. Dense furniture foam rubber with a thickness of at least 5 centimeters exactly to the size of the base. If necessary, it can be replaced with padding polyester of similar thickness.
4. Buttons for fixing with a diameter of about 2 centimeters. Their number will depend on the dimensions of the facing panel and the characteristics of the ornament.
5. Thick threads for securing buttons.
6. Cardboard for making patterns.
7. Glue for joining foam rubber and plywood base.

In addition, during the work you will need the following devices:

• metal rulers of different lengths;
• measuring tape;
• markers for textiles;
• a screwdriver with a special cutting attachment;
• jigsaw;
• furniture stapler.

Special attention should be paid to the special attachment for rounded cutouts - it is called a tsifenbor. It is fixed to an electric drill or screwdriver, after which it will be possible to cut indentations on the surface. The peculiarity is that in this way not only foam rubber is cut, but also denser types of material, even wood.

Special nozzle for cutting foam rubber

Tools for installing a carriage coupler

Carriage screeding is considered a complex production process, which requires not only high-quality material or extensive experience of the craftsman, but also a set of special tools and other equipment:

• First of all, before cutting and starting work, it is necessary to take measurements. This procedure is carried out using plastic, wooden or metal rulers with a length of 1000 mm or more. Such measuring instruments are often used in many professional studios.

Long ruler for textiles

• To accurately measure flexible material around a circle or any other curved surface, you will also need a flexible measuring tool made from fabric or polymer material.

Flexible measuring tool

• To mark the wrong side of the fabric before cutting or stitching, specialized fabric markers are used. These tools are clearly visible on any textile surface, but at the same time, when applied, the material does not get wet.

Textile markers

• To tighten and make holes, it is necessary to create a torque, which is achieved using a special device - a screwdriver.

Screwdriver

• To cut the product after applying a load, you need to purchase a bit with a built-in blade.

Cutter for screwdriver

• Punctures in fabric or leather are made using an awl.

Awl

• Bit attachment for a screwdriver or drill with a crown, for making round cuts in soft material.

Drill bit

• The cutting of the base in the form of plywood or chipboard sheet is carried out using a circular saw or an electric jigsaw with a replaceable cutting blade.

Hand circular saw

Jigsaw

• To secure fabric or leather to the base from the wrong side, after tensioning and stuffing, a furniture stapler with reinforced staples is used, which can easily pierce plywood.

Furniture stapler

Staples for furniture stapler

All tools used when making carriage screeds must be of high quality and in good working order, and the cutting edges must be well sharpened. Otherwise, good quality work will not be achieved.

How to prepare the base for a headboard

Before making holes in a sheet of foam rubber, markings should be made.

Take a marker and a long ruler and draw out a diagram of the carriage tie. It’s even easier to cut out a regular rhombus or square from plain paper in advance, and then use it to mark a sheet of foam rubber. At the very beginning, apply two guides - vertical and horizontal stripes. And then place the template with the center at the point of intersection of the axes, and then draw sequentially.

The top marks of the diamonds are where the buttons are attached. This is where you need to make even holes in the foam using a drill. If you don’t have a drill on the farm, you can use a piece of metal pipe, but you will have to work hard to cut through the foam rubber. You can even try to make holes with a stationery knife; during screeding, flaws and unevenness on the furniture will be hidden.

Next, you need to transfer the markings from the foam rubber to the prepared sheet of plywood.

Place a sheet of foam rubber on the plywood and mark points along the holes. Here you can’t do without a drill, since you will need it to make similar holes in the rigid base of the headboard.

At the next stage, glue the foam rubber to the plywood, keeping the holes symmetrical. Do not forget to use special glue for porous materials, and also read the instructions for it. You may need to wait for the adhesive to set on the surfaces. After checking the strength of the manufactured product, it should be covered with a thin layer of padding polyester. Secure it with rubber cement to the foam rubber.

Briefly about the main thing

Carriage screed is a high-quality covering of walls, ceilings, furniture or headboards of beds. The screed is created by creating diamond-shaped folds on the material and fixing the figures with buttons to a rigid base made of plywood or chipboard. Before starting work, you need to choose a high-quality fabric that can withstand increased tensile forces both during installation and during operation. To carry out the work, you will also need a special tool and an extended working surface with the possibility of access for the master to the reverse side of the base. Work on the installation of a carriage screed is carried out in strict accordance with step-by-step instructions, and markings are carried out according to pre-prepared patterns.

Pros and cons of cardboard screed

Why do many people prefer to make Capitone upholstery themselves rather than buy a ready-made product:

• you have a chance to make truly unique furniture that you will not see anywhere else;
• the design, color scheme and style will completely match your interior or fit perfectly into the design that you want to bring to life;
• there is no need to choose from limited options, because you purchase all the necessary materials yourself: fabric by color, texture, density, price;
• You will significantly save your budget by doing everything yourself.

Of course, before you start tightening the head of the bed with a carriage tie, you should carefully study the instructions and think through all the steps.

Step-by-step instruction

Step-by-step instructions for making a carriage screed
So that you can make a carriage screed yourself, we suggest you consider the step-by-step instructions with photographs of this process. After familiarizing yourself with it, you can also watch an additional video on how to make capitonne using a different technology. All details can be seen in the table:

Manufacturing instructions
Plywood marking	The first thing to do after cutting out the plywood of the desired shape and size is to mark and make holes in it.
Applying glue to plywood	Then glue is applied to the plywood.
Gluing plywood	Foam rubber is glued.
Marking screed on foam rubber	The screed is marked on the foam rubber using a simple pencil. The marker may transfer to the fabric, causing the upholstery to lose its attractiveness.
Making holes	Then the holes are drilled using a drill with a Ziefendorf attachment.
Excess foam is removed	Excess foam rubber is removed.
A padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber.	A padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber.
Gluing padding polyester	The synthetic winterizer is glued with foam glue.
Markings on the skin	We make markings on fabric/leather. We retreat from the edge by the width to the first tightening + 7.5 cm for the allowance.
Stencil to help with marking	Next you need to take a stencil prepared in advance from cardboard with holes. It is applied to the wrong side of the fabric/leather.
Reconciliation of markings	The first marked point on the fabric/leather is checked. On all sides, the indentation of fabric/leather from the edge to the marks should be the same - the length from the edge to the first drawstring + 7.5 cm.
Putting the dots	Let's put points.
Insert threads	We insert threads into all marked tightening points.
Securing the first row	Now we pull the first row of threads using a needle or a special hook through the foam rubber and plywood and nail it to it with a stapler.
Formation of the second row	Then we turn the fabric/leather inside out and insert the next row of threads, lay out the folds and nail the threads with a stapler. If the template and markings are done correctly, then there will be enough fabric to create beautiful folds. To avoid skew and correctly lay the folds, you should lay them gradually, from row to row.
Straightening out wrinkles	It is convenient to straighten wrinkles using a special stick. After the row is completed, we proceed to the next one.
Fastening the ties from the middle	You should start securing a row of ties from the middle. In this case, the fabric will not stretch, and the finished capitonné upholstery will look very attractive. Before securing the thread with a stapler, you should carefully straighten the folds.
Product check	We check the product to ensure that all diagonals are even, straighten the folds if necessary.
Inserting and fixing buttons	We insert and fix several buttons. You can also insert buttons along the edges. But before the folds are fixed.
Formation of side folds	We form the side folds.
Fixing side folds	We fix the counter fold, which will result in a perfectly straight edge.
Fixing the corner	After all the extreme folds have been laid, the corner should be fixed. If you correctly calculate the material and fix the ties, there will be no difficulties at this stage.
Securing an edge	Ready corner. Final fastening of the edge.
Ready screed	The finished Capito screed made using this technology looks very attractive. It is worth noting that the process of its manufacture is not that complicated. What takes the most time is preparing materials and marking, while screeding is a fun and not so complicated process.