How to update an old sofa with your own hands: ideas and technologies

• January 24, 2020
• Repair Tips
• Tatiana Vedenkina

We all know that money doesn't grow on trees, and purchasing a new sofa can put a big dent in the family budget. Still, this is not something we buy every year.

What to do if the old sofa has become unusable and it is impossible to buy a new one? Many people think that a sofa is not a piece of furniture that you can do something with yourself to give it a different look. Therefore, there are only two options - buying a new one or reupholstering the old one. The first one hits the pocket. The second is labor-intensive and not always feasible. Take your time! In fact, you'll be surprised how much you can do yourself without breaking the bank. If you have a couch that's no longer looking good, but you're not ready to part with it, then the following steps for updating your old sofa will come in handy.

Wash the sofa

It sounds trivial, but sometimes a simple deep cleaning can do wonders for an old item. You will need shampoo, a brush and a machine to remove pellets from clothes. First, shave your couch. Pills on the fabric of the sofa, as well as on clothes, give it a second-hand and unsightly look. If you don't have such a machine, it doesn't matter. You can use a disposable razor. The effect is no worse, and sometimes better. Then dilute the shampoo in water until a rich foam forms. Use shampoo and a brush to clean the entire sofa. After drying, you will see that the difference between what was and what is now is colossal. Sometimes a deep clean is a great way to update an old sofa without reupholstering it.

In what cases can you not do without the help of professionals?

• If the useful life of the product exceeds 5 years. Surely, in addition to worn upholstery, damage to frame elements occurs. When pulling furniture, you need to fix all the defects and you may not have the necessary tools or spare parts on hand.

An interesting individual sofa design requires the help of a professional

Leather upholstered chair padding

• If you are going to reupholster furniture with leather or leatherette. This is a difficult material to work with, and it is not always possible to do it correctly at home.

Classic sofa in a new velvet upholstery

Hide the imperfections of the sofa under beautiful pillows

Not all of us know how to make something with our own hands. For some, seemingly simple tasks such as sewing or cutting are overwhelming. This is why when we hear the expression “do it yourself”, many people panic. The task of updating an old sofa with your own hands seems even more difficult. If you have never made anything, but want to update your sofa without ruining it, then, in addition to thorough cleaning, beautiful decorative pillows can save the situation. Decorate an old couch with colorfully patterned pillows and see it take on a completely different look. Pillows will help hide stubborn stains, the main body of the sofa that has lost its shape, as well as decorate it and give it a cozy look.

How to calculate the required amount of material

Transporting upholstered furniture around the house is a complex and time-consuming process. To avoid having to sew on individual flaps on a sewing machine, you need to take into account the size of the roll of the selected fabric. When calculating the required footage, you need to remember about the possibility of fabric overlays. On average, up to 30 cm is taken into account.

Craftsmen advise taking into account two lengths and two widths of the sofa. With this approach there will be no difficulties with calculations.

The decisive aspect is the pattern of the chosen fabric. The designs and patterns match each other and this will require additional yardage of fabric.

Buy a new case

If your sofa was purchased in stores like IKEA, then, as a rule, you can also buy a replacement cover for it there. Such hypermarkets often sell covers of different colors for standard sofas sold by them. There is no need to think about complicated options on how to update an old sofa. Buying a slipcover is one of the easiest ways to make your sofa unrecognizable.

If your sofa does not have a completely suitable cover, then you can buy a more or less suitable one and, after making some changes yourself, adjust the cover to the sofa. And if you are good at sewing, you can sew such a cover yourself. This option is even better than buying a cover, because then you can choose any material you like.

30+ cozy sofa cover ideas to decorate and protect furniture (photo)

Light chintz cover for a sofa in bright orange colors

Textiles play a significant role in creating an interior - it is very important not only aesthetically, but also functionally. For example, a cover on a sofa or chair not only decorates the furniture, but also protects its upholstery from damage, dirt and wear. In addition, it is much easier to wash or clean a bedspread than a sofa. But still, their main purpose is to complement and decorate the interior.

Fur cape on a luxurious velvet sofa

Variety of styles and materials of sofa covers and bedspreads

Linen sofa bedspread with hand embroidery

Even in the Middle Ages, a hand-made furniture cover was highly valued and was a kind of indicator of the success and ideal taste of the owner of the house.

Beautiful snow-white openwork cape, knitted with your own hands

They were made from expensive materials and decorated with embroidery and lace. Jacquard and tapestry bedspreads were real works of art and were even sold at auctions for fabulous sums. Moreover, they were available only to the upper classes, because only representatives of the nobility could use tapestries in interior decoration.

Faux fur blanket on the sofa for a cozy and comfortable stay

Empire style daybed with white long pile fur cape

Restuff sofa cushions

Very often, sofa cushions become deformed from long use. They stretch, sag and completely lose their shape. Restuffing your sofa cushions is one of the good ways to give your furniture a new look. To do this, you will need foam rubber, because it is what stuffing for pillows is usually made from. You can also buy or sew special pillowcases or bags yourself, inside which you put new foam rubber. These bags will serve as additional protection against deformation. You can also use special sealing fabric for this purpose. This cosmetic renovation of an old sofa will not require large expenses, and your couch will take on a new look.

Change the sofa legs

Want to give your modern sofa a more classic look? Or maybe you want it to look more original? An easy way to achieve this is to give him new legs.

If your old couch has legs, then a good option on how to update an old sofa is to replace them. In hypermarkets that sell goods for repairs and home improvement, you are sure to find legs that you like. If the new legs are not quite the right size to replace the old ones, you can purchase special pads from the same store that will make it easier for you to replace the legs.

Types of "soft part"

Let's talk in general terms about what the seat and back of the sofa can be made of. There are options:

• Without springs: High-density foam rubber (polyurethane foam, also called PU foam) (also called furniture rubber).
• Foamed latex. In terms of quality and convenience, it is better than foam rubber, but also much more expensive.

When restoring a sofa, you need to examine the layers.
These are the most common types of sofa seats. In more expensive models, the spring block can be supplemented with a layer of polyurethane foam or latex, which makes the seat more elastic and comfortable at the same time. When reupholstering, they then look at the condition of both parts, replace or leave them - depending on desire and capabilities.

The structure of sofa seats can be multi-layered

But that's not all the layers. In addition to springs, polyurethane foam/latex, padding polyester or thermal felt (or regular felt) are also laid. This is if the sofa is more or less modern and not too expensive. Older exhibits may contain matting or burlap, batting (or something very similar), horsehair, dried seaweed and other now almost exotic materials for sofa stuffing. When repairing a sofa, they will need to be replaced with the same ones (if you want to look) or similar in thickness and properties. So, to understand how a sofa should be reupholstered, first understand what’s inside it.

Add decorative elements

Another way to repurpose an old sofa is to add decorative elements to it. For example, buttons. If you sew buttons onto the cushions of the sofa, it will give it a completely different look. You will have to find decorative buttons that match the color of the sofa material. Count how many buttons you will need for each pillow. Carefully mark where exactly you will sew them. Take a thick needle and strong thread. Sew on the buttons. Now your sofa looks like new.

All of the above methods do not require special skill or large financial investments from you. If you want dramatic changes in the appearance of your couch, then you will have to paint or reupholster it.

Furniture remodeling

INSPIRING EXAMPLES

1. A super idea for protecting the sofa from stains and masking those that have already appeared on the upholstery. The pockets on this blanket are simply designed for storing useful household items!
2. It was a real misfortune: this sofa was clearly destined for a landfill. We painted it, sewed new pillows, and here he is, a handsome man!
3. What a bedspread! If you know how to crochet, then not crocheting such a wonderful blanket for the sofa is a crime. The sofa is white like an angel's robe, lush, like a fresh bun, and updated!

• Here's how new upholstery can transform a sofa!
• Acrylic paints and furniture are made for each other!
• And one last idea... Well, how can you not admire the magic and start creating!

It seems that remaking old furniture with your own hands is not such a difficult task. Perhaps I’ll go study, I’ll have enough inspiration... And I recommend that you start remodeling!

Subscribe to our website so you don't miss the most interesting things!

Did you like the article? Subscribe to the channel to stay up to date with the most interesting materials

Source

Painting the sofa

A good way to update your sofa and breathe new life into it is to paint it. Aerosol paints are usually used to paint sofas. Before you buy a paint, make sure it can be used on fabric or leather, because not all paints are suitable for these materials. If you make a mistake in your choice, the fabric of the sofa will become rough, it will be unpleasant to sit on it and you will only have to throw the sofa away.

Before applying paint, vacuum it thoroughly to remove dust, crumbs and other types of contaminants. Prepare the room: cover the floor with film or cardboard, remove all unnecessary objects from the paint spray area. First, spray paint on the part of the sofa upholstery that is not visible to the eye, such as the bottom. This is necessary in order to see how the paint will behave on this type of fabric. Then carefully spray the paint over the entire surface of the sofa. The paint should be applied evenly. Leave the couch to dry for 72 hours. Then apply a second coat of paint. When all layers are dry, brush the fabric with a brush or sponge.

Damage and types of repair

Damage to a sofa or other upholstered furniture can vary in severity. Depending on the existing injuries, a different range of work is required. Here's what can happen to your furniture:

• Only the fabric became unusable (cats tore on the armrests, for example), i.e. There are no dips in the soft part or protruding parts. Then everything is more or less simple and you can get by by replacing the upholstery fabric.

  
  The simplest case is if you need to replace the fabric

• There are some dents in some places . This damage is caused by wear and tear on the components that make up the upholstered part of the sofa. Depending on the degree of damage and the design of the sofa itself, it may be necessary to replace padding polyester and other underlying layers. In more severe cases, repair of spring blocks, if any, or foam rubber/silicone if the sofa is spring is required. If the upholstery looks quite good, it can be washed and used again.
• Dim in the bottom of the seat. Sometimes, due to high loads, the springs pierce the bottom of the frame. This happens most often if it is made of fiberboard. In this case, you will have to disassemble everything, remove the spring dock, replace the fiberboard (preferably with plywood).

  
  This sufferer needs more than just replacement upholstery...

• Damage to the frame . One of the most unpleasant things is cracks in the frame bars. The sofa will have to be completely disassembled, the broken bars replaced, and then everything restored. This is a complete reupholstery of the sofa. Essentially, you're building a new one.

So reupholstering a sofa can involve different jobs. From simply replacing the upholstery to a complete renovation, including part of the frame. The most troublesome part is with the spring blocks. This is long and painstaking work. If the “historical accuracy” of your furniture is not important to you, it is easier to replace a failed spring block with foam rubber or (better, but more expensive) furniture silicone. If everything is done correctly, the sofa will become even more comfortable: incorrectly tightened springs cause a lot of inconvenience.

Sofa reupholstery

The second option for a global redesign of a sofa is to reupholster it. Unfortunately, this is not the easiest or fastest task. If you have previously contacted furniture reupholstery specialists, you know that it is quite expensive. The entire job may take you more than 20 hours. In addition, if you have never done this before, then first it is better to try re-upholstering, for example, a chair. This is necessary for training to understand the principle of operation. There is nothing radically difficult about how to cover an old sofa with new fabric, but be patient and take time.

The story of remaking a sofa: 27 ideas after which I could not calm down for a long time

Remaking old furniture will warm the craftsman's soul and delight his family.
Recently, a couple I knew asked a woodworker to reupholster some simple Soviet chairs. He painted the wood either with special paint or varnish in a rich emerald shade. I chose avant-garde upholstery - green with silver apples... What a miracle it turned out! There was trash, natural decay, and now there is new stylish furniture, both antique and unique. No one else has one like this. And what savings!

I offer you ideas for repurposing old furniture that can lead to an interesting transformation. Why not paint your dining table with acrylic paints? Moreover, the table is already 20 years old, and you have artistic talent.

Required Tools

• Furniture stapler.
• Anti-stapler.
• Fabric glue.
• Needles and threads.
• Scissors.
• Flathead screwdriver.
• Screwdriver.
• Sewing machine.
• Pliers.
• Hammer.

Before updating an old sofa, think about what kind of fabric you want to upholster it with. It is advisable to choose dense material for upholstery of the sofa. If you choose fabric with a pattern, please note that when cutting the material, the pattern on all parts of the sofa should face the same direction and be positioned symmetrically. It is easier to work with plain fabric without a pattern. This will save time and material when cutting. To give the sofa more brightness, you can then decorate it with pillows with beautiful patterns.

Restoration process: step-by-step instructions

We check the frame and base of the sofa, replace it if it breaks

Before you restore the sofa with your own hands, you need to check the condition of the main frame. If there are cracked or sagging bars, it is better to replace them. Solid wood rarely requires repairs, but chipboard often breaks. It is not worth repairing; here you need to completely replace the broken part.

We drag the lower base of the sofa, using the old upholstery as a template

The repair of the back, seat and armrests is slightly different, but in general, the restoration scheme for various parts is approximately the same.

We replace the upholstery on the inside of the armrests, replace the filling and sew a new cover

First of all, you need to carry out dismantling work:

• remove the side armrests (usually the bolts on them are made from the inside; here you may need a hexagonal spanner or pliers);
• remove the seats and backrests from the fasteners to the lower frame;
• remove the old upholstery, remove the staples too;
• Carefully dismantle the old filler and check for suitability for reuse;
• remove the springs, check their condition, if necessary, clean, lubricate, replace in whole or in part;
• Check the condition of the chipboard and replace the sheets if necessary.

We replace the outer part of the armrests and connect both parts together

It is better to put all the small parts from disassembly in one container so as not to lose them.

We fix the upholstery at the base, use a hammer and stapler if necessary

At the second stage, we replace the old elements. To fasten parts together, it is best to use both glue and a stapler. But if necessary, you can make do with handy means. For example, instead of a stapler, use small nails:

• lay thick fabric on both sides of the spring block, bend the edges inward on each side and stitch with nylon thread;
• lay the spring frame on a wooden base, secure the springs through the fabric with a stapler. If you don’t have a tool, you can make arched staples from steel wire, or from thin nails, driving the “head” to the side;
• lay new, or suitable old, filler;
• tighten the entire structure with fastening fabric, like upholstery, and secure it;
• put on a new cover, secure with glue and a stapler.

Now it’s the turn of the back of our sofa - we do the work according to the same principle