Good furniture has always been expensive. And, despite the fact that it is far more durable than its cheap counterparts, it also becomes unusable. Especially upholstered furniture, such as a sofa, since it is constantly in use. And when this happens we are faced with the question of what to do with it? What to do with a sofa in which the upholstery has lost its aesthetic appearance or the springs have broken free? There are three ways to solve this issue: throw it away and buy a new one (the most expensive option), call a furniture repair specialist, or, armed with a tool, repair the sofa yourself.

Let us immediately note that the last two solutions are for an “old” but high-quality wooden sofa. Cheap sofas, the frame of which is made of chipboard, are very difficult to repair and in most cases it is easier to purchase a new one. But if the frame is intact, you can try to restore it too. So, to repair a sofa with our own hands, we need, in addition to desire, to know the structure of the sofa, the materials that are used and the sequence of work. Our article will try to answer all this.

Sofa design

Before we begin the renovation, let's look at the elements of the sofa and their purpose. And although your sofa may differ from the one shown in the picture, nevertheless, the purpose of the main elements is identical. The sofa consists of:

1. The armrest can be made of wood, chipboard, MDF, metal, or soft (upholstered).
2. Upholstery fabric or leather, there is quite a wide variety of upholstery material, both natural and synthetic.
3. A layer of synthetic padding or batting.
4. Furniture foam with a density of 35 mm is used in high-quality sofas.
5. Polyurethane foam gaskets are not used in all models. It serves for additional shock absorption and weight distribution; thanks to such inserts, the surface of the sofa has orthopedic properties.
6. Spring block, the main shock-absorbing element of the structure.
7. Burlap or felt prevents the appearance of unpleasant sounds when metal rubs against plywood.
8. Fiberboard serves as the base of the sofa mattress.
9. The frame of the sofa can be made of wood, metal and chipboard.
10. Flazelin.
11. The roller rail can be located at the bottom of the bed box and can be either wooden or metal.
12. Box or niche for bedding. ​

Design and design features may differ from the presented version, but all these elements will be available. Therefore, when you disassemble your sofa, you will know the purpose of certain parts of it.

Let's take a closer look at those parts of the sofa that influence its main characteristics.

Frame - main load-bearing structure. Material of manufacture: wood, metal, chipboard or combined. The durability of the entire sofa depends on the quality of the selected materials and its assembly. Chipboard and fiberboard are used as panel elements and parts of the frame filling.

Filling the sofa. This includes all materials between the frame and the upholstery fabric. Not only the service life of the sofa, its comfort, but also its environmental safety depend on the layout, types and quality of these materials. We will talk in more detail about the materials that are used to fill sofas in the second part of the article.

Transformation mechanism. The type and design of your sofa depends on the design of this mechanism. That is, if the mechanism of your sofa is, say, “click - click”, then it will not be possible to make a “Eurobook” out of the sofa. Unless you change the elements of the frame, and this is tantamount to creating furniture with your own hands. In addition, the comfort of using such furniture depends on the quality of manufacturing of such mechanisms. Not to mention the operating time before the first repair.

Types of materials and accessories

We have come to the second part of the article, where we will take a closer look at the filling materials for sofas and the transformation mechanisms. This needs to be known at least general outline, since in addition to disassembling and assembling, you will also have to go to the store for the appropriate elements and materials. And since the choice in modern stores is very diverse, and sellers are not always eager to help the buyer make a reasonable purchase, one can only rely on one’s own head and intuition.

Let's start with a review of the main mechanisms of transformation. Today, as a rule, the following options are common:

• The book is the most common option and the most reliable. The seat rises until it clicks and falls - the sofa is unfolded.
• Eurobook, the design of such a sofa is transformed as follows - the back cushions are removed, the seat is rolled out and the back is lowered in its place. ​

• Eurobook “tick-tock”, unlike the previous mechanism, the seat does not roll out, but moves in a semicircle.
• Accordion, sofa layout mechanism is implemented according to the accordion principle. Consists of three parts. When the seat is slightly raised until it clicks, the mechanism moves forward, unfolding the sofa. Repairing the accordion sofa mechanism makes virtually no sense if the elements are bent, they can be aligned, but since the transformation takes place with force, the mechanism will bend again in that place.

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• Click - click, allows the sofa to have three positions: sofa, “relax” (half-folded) and the bed itself. It should be noted that such sofas have a metal frame.

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• Dolphin is used, as a rule, in corner sofas; at the bottom of the sofa there is a strap, by pulling which the transformation mechanism is activated, the second part of the berth comes out and rises to the height of the seat.

If the transformation mechanism is faulty and needs to be replaced, buy the type that was originally there. Mechanisms of other types are not interchangeable; they simply will not fit. So, for example, when repairing a sofa “click - clack”, the mechanism for transforming the sofa - book will not work, despite the fact that the difference is only in one position - “relax”. They are different in size and operating principle. And the frames of these sofas are different.

Let's consider the materials that are used to fill the sofa. The best option was and still is a box spring, which is lined with burlap and covered with burlap and batting. But this is one of the most expensive options. Therefore, to reduce costs, foam rubber and calico are used. In the cheapest versions of sofas, they completely abandon the spring block and replace it with several layers of polyurethane foam, comfort, etc.

Since we do everything for ourselves, we need enough quality materials. These include:

• Polyurethane foam (PPU) is an environmentally friendly material with increased wear resistance. To repair a sofa, we need special furniture foam; it usually has a thickness of 40 mm. It provides maximum seating comfort.
• Holofiber is a material that perfectly retains its shape over a long period of use. Environmentally friendly and safe. Refers to “breathable” materials, allows you to wet clean the sofa.
• Sintepon is a resilient and elastic material, environmentally friendly. It has a high resistance to fungal stains, does not absorb water and gives softness and relief. upholstered furniture.
• The quilted jacket is a kind of sandwich - two layers of coarse fabric with a 5-centimeter layer of cotton wool. Excellent material for covering the spring block.
• Periotec is highly resistant to deformation and holds its shape well. Hypoallergenic, durable and heat-resistant material.

And the last one required material for repairing a sofa - upholstery fabric or leather. Leather is a very troublesome matter, and repairs leather sofas It is better to entrust it to professional furniture makers. But with fabric it is much easier and you can replace such upholstery yourself. All upholstery fabrics are divided into woven and non-woven textiles. At the same time, non-woven ones, as a rule, have a synthetic base and a synthetic coating. The most common upholstery fabrics are:

• Flock is a soft, pleasant-to-touch material. Strong, durable, does not fade. Can be cleaned well with neutrals detergents. Composition: approximately 65% ​​synthetic and 35% cotton.

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• Velor is a pile fabric. Unlike flock, it is woven rather than glued. Accordingly, it is more durable and natural, but the price is higher. The base is of two types: cotton and wool.
• Jacquard is an artificial silk, a very durable material with high resistance to fading. The fabric is made in two layers, so either side can be used for furniture upholstery.
• Chenille is a strong and durable velvet fabric. They produce two versions: adhesive and woven, the latter are more natural and, accordingly, more expensive. High-quality chenille is susceptible to lint formation on the surface.
• Tapestry is a natural upholstery fabric, one might say “elite” among upholstery materials. Easy to clean with detergents. The most expensive material.

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Sofa repair

We got acquainted with the design elements of the sofa, selected and purchased materials, it’s time to take the tool and repair it. For this job we will need:

• Screwdrivers, flat and Phillips;
• Pliers;
• Set of open-end wrenches for 8/10 and 12/14;
• Stapler with a set of staples 10 and 16 mm;
• Carpenter's glue or, at worst, PVA;
• Scissors, utility knife and hammer;
• Self-tapping screws 35 - 45 mm long;
• If you have a screwdriver or drill, place it in the access area.

Upholstery replacement

All renovation work will require complete or partial disassembly of the sofa. It is advisable to carry out these works in two persons, but if this is not possible, you can use wooden blocks as a support. Before disassembling, prepare a camera (mobile with a camera) or a piece of paper and a pen. This is necessary in order to mark the installation locations of some elements and their correct position (right/left, etc.).

Disassembling the sofa begins with the armrests. In some models they can be combined with legs, in others they can be separate. In the first case, put wooden beam under the base of the sofa, so that it “hangs” from one edge. This will prevent you from pinching the bolts that secure the side elements. The “sides” are fastened with two bolts; to get to them you need to lift the sofa seat, or pull out the pull-out part, it depends on the design of the sofa.

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After you have dealt with the armrests, you need to remove the transformation mechanism. To do this, use a screwdriver or screwdriver/drill. It is attached with one part to the frame, and the other to the seat and back. In a regular sofa book this is not difficult, just turn the seat and backrests over soft part to the floor - access to the mechanism is free. When repairing corner sofas with the “dolphin” mechanism, no special problems arise either. In other models it is not so free, and insurmountable difficulties should not arise. Repairing an accordion sofa is similar. We photograph or write down which mechanism was located where.

After this, depending on the design of the sofa, it is necessary to disassemble the remaining parts of the sofa, the back and seat, so that the frame remains. All these elements either “sit” freely in their places or are bolted.

Next comes the removal of the upholstery, since we are replacing it, we remove it from all parts of the sofa. This is quite easy to do with a regular flat-head screwdriver and pliers. At the same time, we remove all metal parts, be it screws, nails or staples. Make sure you don't miss anything, if they remain in the future they may break through already new upholstery, and this is very offensive.

After removing the upholstery, take a closer look at the mattress; if its condition is suspicious, disassemble it too. More information about mattress repair will be discussed below. IN in this case we need to replace the upholstery. We removed the old one and now we have two ways to solve the problem with replacement. The first is to try, as in workshops, to sew a cover. To do this, you need to have a sewing machine capable of sewing rough fabric and sewing skills. You can use the services of a tailoring studio. And the second is to upholster by hand. If the design of the sofa is not complicated, it will be easy. But in the case of complex design solutions you still have to sew a cover. With a cover, replacing the upholstery is much easier, because... You just have to pull it on and secure it with staples, the dimensions are already adjusted.

If the cover is sewn, we stretch it and fasten it with a stapler with 10 mm staples around the entire perimeter. In the case of manual stretching, the procedure is as follows: we measure the exact length and width of the sofa element that we plan to upholster, cut it out, maybe with a small margin, the main thing is that there is enough tension. We always start attaching the fabric from the front side, you never know, it will suddenly become a stretch. It is better to fold the edge of the fabric in half, so there is less chance that the fabric will break through at the place where the staple is attached. We fasten the entire front side with staples. After this, we perform the same procedure on the opposite side. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the fabric is as stretched as possible along the entire perimeter. Folds or separation of the fabric from the paralon or silicone are not allowed; it must be pressed tightly against it. After that, we move on to fastening on the sides, fastening in the center. Then you need to lay the fabric in the corners, the excess can be trimmed or wrapped. Sew it up.

Thus, we change the upholstery on all elements of the sofa. It is important to ensure that all staples fit tightly into the wood; we finish them off with a hammer. If some staples do not “fit”, remove them; in the future they may cause damage to the new upholstery.

After we have changed it, we proceed to assembly. We assemble in the reverse order of disassembly. We put all the elements in their places, tighten them with bolts, and install the transformation mechanism using new screws. Don't confuse right with left. We install the armrests, twist them and admire the work done.

Replacing foam rubber

This repair is almost the same as replacing the upholstery, with the only difference being that we keep the upholstery and do not change it. Usually these two works are combined, but situations are different and if the “skin” of the sofa is in good condition, why spend money on fabric as well.

The disassembly procedure is similar, we need to get to the foam rubber. We delete the old one. As we already know, we need special furniture foam rubber with a density of 35-40 mm, this is the key to the longevity of your repair. If the springs have broken through the foam, it means that the coating of the spring block will need to be replaced. We cut whatever burlap, tarpaulin or batting is available to size and cover the block in two layers. We cut out the foam rubber and lay it on top. Using staples, we attach the foam rubber to the frame, or you can use glue to the burlap. The main thing is that it is fixed. We put synthetic padding on the foam rubber; it is not necessary, but it will make stretching the fabric much easier. There is no need to fix it. We stretch the fabric, fasten it with staples and assemble the sofa.

Repair of frame and transformation mechanism

Disassembly is similar. To repair the sofa mechanism, we remove it and determine the extent of damage. If the fittings are intact, it may be enough to lubricate the units with machine oil and develop them. You can replace the spring if it is damaged; if it is overstretched, try shortening it. The transformation mechanism itself is deformed or burst - we purchase an identical one and install it.

Repairing the frame will be more difficult, but you can do it. If there are cracked or broken frame elements, they must be replaced. To do this, measure them exact dimensions, sketch their appearance and, taking some money, go to the nearest carpentry shop or construction hypermarket, there is a department there that will cut necessary element frame. Change the element, tighten and glue the remaining joints. At the same time special attention Look at the plywood underneath the box spring. If it “walks”, secure it with self-tapping screws instead of nails and glue it with PVA, the unpleasant creaking will disappear when you sit on the sofa. Collect and use for your pleasure.

Restoring the spring block

Disassembly - assembly is identical. There are two types of springs:

- “old” - height about 20 cm, diameter - 15 cm, thickness - 5 mm;

- “modern” - height - 12, diameter - 10 cm, thickness 2.2 mm.

All modern springs are connected to each other by a spiral. To replace damaged elements, if there are not many of them, you need to release the spiral from one end, and use the other end to unscrew it like a screw. We release the spring on both sides, change it, tighten the spiral and then proceed as when replacing foam rubber.

If there are a lot of such damaged elements in the spring block, it’s easier to buy new block, because other elements will also begin to break, and disassembling the sofa every six months is below average pleasure.

It was not possible and will not be possible to mention all the nuances, but we hope that the basic procedure for repairing a sofa is clear. The main thing is to start, and over time all the necessary skills will appear.

DIY sofa repair video

When upholstered furniture becomes unusable, the owner has only two options: purchase new furniture showroom or restore the old one in a specialized workshop.

Upholstering a sofa with your own hands will significantly save your budget and time spent on finding a craftsman and transporting the product.

What is sofa reupholstery?

Repairing upholstered furniture is a very specific process that requires knowledge of the technology and properties of materials, and certain skills in working with tools. IN furniture production There are several concepts that for the average person have practically no differences.

However, it’s worth initially determining what work can be done at home without resorting to the services of professionals:

Reupholstery is the work of replacing upholstery and internal filling sofa May include work on minor changes in product design. All work can be done at home without the use of specialized tools.

Repair of upholstered furniture is a process associated with restoring the functionality of the product. May include replacement of frame elements, repair or replacement of the transformation mechanism, reupholstery. Repairing a sofa with your own hands requires knowledge in the field of carpentry and plumbing, and mastery of a variety of tools. It is better to perform such work in a specialized workshop.

Restoration - includes repair of the frame with full or partial replacement of elements, reupholstery, restoration of functionality, design, paint coating, decorative elements and accessories. All work is carried out while maintaining the original stylistic design of the product. Furniture restoration implies a fairly extensive list of works, the implementation of which is best entrusted to a professional.

If you are not a professional carpenter and furniture maker with a workshop equipped according to all the rules, then you can only do relatively simple work with your own hands - minor repairs and reupholstery of upholstered furniture.

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands

The first thing to do is to determine the scope of work that needs to be performed as part of the reupholstery.

As a rule, during the operation of the sofa the following becomes unusable:

• upholstery;
• foam rubber (latex);
• batting (sintepon);

A very common reason restoration work are deformation and failure of springs and jamming of transformation mechanisms.

In models from the first half of the last century, lump (algae), sawdust and horsehair were used as filler. In sofas from the second half of the 20th century, as a rule, batting and a leveling layer of foam rubber were used as filler. In modern budget models, the springs are replaced with several layers of polyurethane foam, latex, synthetic padding, and pressed felt. In medium and premium sofas price segment Struttofiber or Periotek are used as fillers - non-woven materials with high strength and elasticity.

Spring sofas can be equipped with a spring block of a dependent (independent) type or with “snakes”, which support the filling.

Sofas equipped with snake springs have not been produced for a long time and have practically gone out of use. That is why we will consider the stages of work for a classic sofa-book with a spring block.

Do-it-yourself reupholstery of a spring sofa includes:

• Disassembling the sofa into individual elements.
• Removal of upholstery, filling, spring block.
• Elimination of deficiencies in the supporting frame.
• Laying new filler.
• Replacement of upholstery.
• Assembling the sofa.

Regardless of the condition, the filling with hair, algae, sawdust, batting, and felt must be replaced. Foam rubber and latex are changed as necessary.

What you need to reupholster a sofa

To reupholster a sofa, you need to prepare some materials and a standard tool that almost every man has in his bins. The only thing that stands out from the standard set is furniture stapler, which can be pneumatic, mechanical or electrical. The first requires a compressor with a receiver, which is not worth purchasing just for the sake of tension alone. Mechanical samples are self-contained and relatively cheap. An electric stapler is very convenient to use, but requires a power supply.

In addition you will need:

• Screwdrivers, straight and figured. Having a screwdriver with a set of attachments and bits will significantly speed up the work.
• Open-end wrenches for 12, 14, 17, 19.
• Hammer.
• Pliers and side cutters.
• "Gypsy" needle and nylon cord.

The choice of materials for upholstery should be discussed in more detail.

Choice of upholstery fabric

Materials should be purchased as needed. In some cases, it is enough to simply sew up the upholstery, (if there is minor damage) wash it and re-stretch it over the soft part of the product. How to sew a sofa with your own hands? It’s very simple: you need to remove the upholstery, put a patch on it inside damage, after which the cut can be reused.

If the upholstery has become unusable, then fabric will be needed to sew the cover. Choosing a material for upholstery is a very difficult process, because each fabric has certain properties and characteristics.

Among the most common upholstery materials are:

1. Velor is a natural material that contains wool and cotton. It is highly decorative, has a high margin of safety, and is practically not deformed. Disadvantages: short service life, tendency to wear and burn out.
2. Flock is easy to clean, so it is perfect for a home with children and pets. Durable and hypoallergenic material with low wear resistance.
3. Shinil is a very decorative, durable and durable material that does not deform during use. Disadvantage: low water resistance.
4. Tapestry is an exquisite material with high performance strength and abrasion resistance. The disadvantage is the high stretch coefficient, which creates certain difficulties when upholstering a sofa with your own hands.
5. Jacquard is distinguished by high levels of strength and decorativeness. Disadvantage: low water resistance.

Among large quantity upholstery fabrics presented on domestic market, can't help but mention various options leatherette These materials have excellent strength characteristics, resistance to moisture and abrasion, and ease of use. The disadvantage of all leather substitutes is flammability and deformation when exposed to high temperatures.

Filler selection

As noted above, the following can be used as a sofa filler:

1. Polyurethane foam is a synthetic porous material with different densities. During operation, it loses its elasticity and elasticity. To fill furniture, you should choose a material with a density of at least 30 kg/m2.
2. Sintepon is an inexpensive synthetic non-woven fabric with good elasticity. It has a short operating period.
3. Periotec - modern non-woven material with high strength and elasticity. Perfectly restores its shape even after prolonged deformation.
4. Struttofiber is a high-strength and elastic material that does not rot and does not absorb moisture and can withstand heavy loads.
5. Batting is a fabric made from technical cotton wool. Thanks to the high density this material used to protect against the impact of springs.
6. Pressed felt is a natural fabric that is used as protection for spring blocks. Used with fillers of lower density (foam rubber, polyurethane foam, etc.).

In addition to the above materials, modern sofas can use holofiber in the form of a mat, which perfectly retains its structure when deformed. The most common material used in classic sofas in the budget price segment is foam rubber. Of all the fillers, foam rubber is the most short-lived and cheapest material.

Since sofas are subject to intensive use, experts do not recommend using foam rubber as the only filler.

Do-it-yourself sofa reupholstery: disassembly process

To disassemble the sofa you need to perform a number of operations:

• disconnect the armrests;
• unscrew from the frame the transformation mechanisms that hold sleeping place on the base of the sofa.

In principle, this disassembly process can be considered complete. Now that all the elements are in sight, you can assess the damage and determine the scope of work.

Removing the upholstery fabric

This is quite easy to do. Use a screwdriver to pry up and pull out all the retaining brackets. This process must be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the upholstery fabric, which, even with severe wear, can be used as a pattern for sewing a new cover. An anti-stapler will significantly increase the quality and speed up the time it takes to complete this work - a simple but effective tool that can be purchased very inexpensively at any specialized store.

Removing the filler

Layers of filling are hidden under the upholstery fabric. As a rule, in spring sofas This is foam rubber, under which there is batting, latex or other, more modern non-woven material. Next can be a layer of felt or burlap, which acts as a layer between the filler and the springs. If there is damage, then the entire filler or its individual layer must be replaced.

Changing the foam rubber in a sofa with your own hands is very simple, because this material is held on the filler or frame with glue. We tear off the old one and glue the new material. Any glue based on acetone or dichloroethane is suitable for these works. You can simply purchase inexpensive and affordable glue No. 88.

Inspecting the spring block

Springs in a sofa are most often subject to damage due to high loads. If there are no burst or sagging springs in the block, the frame of the block is intact and there is no play between the elements, then there is no point in making a replacement. If there is at least one burst spring, then it is better to change the entire unit at once. The thing is that replacing springs in a sofa with your own hands is a very labor-intensive process that requires certain skills, experience and the availability of tools. To change the block, it is tedious to remove the brackets holding it to the frame, install the new one in its original place, and fix the frame to the frame using brackets or nails.

When replacing, pay attention to the backing, which protects the frame from abrasion and helps reduce squeaks. For the substrate, it is better to choose a sheet of pressed felt, 3-5 mm thick.

Build process

Now everything is simple: after installing the spring block, (if necessary) replace the layers of filler, pull on the new cover and attach it to the frame with staples using a construction stapler. The last stage of reupholstering a sofa with your own hands is assembly, which is done in the reverse order: installing the soft part on the frame, fixing the transformation mechanism, attaching the armrests.

In this publication, we examined in detail how to reupholster a sofa with your own hands step by step. In fact, the process of reupholstering upholstered furniture is very simple. The difficulty usually arises when creating and stretching a new cover. It is better to entrust cutting and sewing to specialists.

To avoid sagging fabric, upholster the sofa in a crisscross manner: start at the front, then stretch the fabric and shoot from the opposite side. After fixing it on four sides, you should stretch the fabric between the back and the seat and “shoot” it with staples to the frame.

Do-it-yourself replacement of sofa upholstery - video

Save so you don't lose!

There are different materials furniture upholstery, some of them quickly fail. Often, the product itself is suitable for use - it has an intact frame, filler and fittings, but it no longer looks aesthetically pleasing. For such a situation there is practical solution- this is reupholstering a sofa at home by calling specialists from a furniture company or a private craftsman. Reupholstering gives furniture new life.

Sofa upholstery material

Textile

It is known that everything good materials to create new upholstery home furniture must have certain properties. The special qualities of the fabrics ensure long-term use for their intended purpose while maintaining an aesthetic appearance. The material must have high wear resistance so that the upholstered furniture can be used for years without being damaged. An important property of the fabric is 100% hydrophobicity. This quality means repelling moisture, which is very useful in everyday life.

The material must be very durable so that it does not rupture under the pressure of people sitting on the sofa. This indicator reflects the durability of the new upholstery. Ideally, the fabric is smooth and soft so that it is pleasant to the touch, which ensures the highest comfort for users - adults and children.

For example, these practical materials are in demand today:

• jacquard;
• chenille;
• anti-claw;
• velours;
• flock;
• matting;
• tapestry;
• microfiber;
• leatherette

Leather

Genuine Leather

Today, a very useful service exists and is gaining popularity - specialists visiting your home to reupholster furniture with genuine leather. If necessary, craftsmen take the sofa for a while and work in their workshop. Genuine leather requires more investment than woven upholstery. A professional approach involves careful planning of new furniture upholstery - a set of patterns is made and the parts are sewn together according to the pattern.

It is important to choose the right thickness of the natural material. Supple leather performs best in upholstery. It is not recommended to reupholster a sofa with leather thicker than 3 mm, as it is too rough and difficult to work with. It is easier to stitch leather with a thickness of 1.5 mm. New upholstery is made from dry leather, but if it is wet, it can subsequently shrink.

Eco leather

Today tighten old sofa practical and aesthetic eco-leather costs half as much as purchasing the same new furniture. Eco-leather is cheaper than natural leather and holds its shape perfectly. It is not recommended to do this operation on your own, especially since you can’t just buy the material in a store. It's better to turn to professionals. Eco-leather is good because it has high wear resistance and lasts up to 10 years. The material is water-repellent, very pleasant to the touch and surprisingly elastic. New upholstery will be easy to care for. Moreover, at first glance, eco-leather is completely indistinguishable from genuine leather.

When using such a sofa, allergies are excluded and there is no irritation on the most delicate skin. Eco-leather does not attract dust and does not deteriorate under the influence of high and low temperatures. The reupholstering process is very labor-intensive and requires many tools and skills.

photo instructions - how to reupholster a sofa

How much material will be required for restoration?

Only professionals can correctly calculate the consumption of materials. If you take on this matter yourself, you will have to study some of the nuances. First you need to decide what kind of material will be used. Next you need to take accurate measurements of all the details of the sofa. The parts are cut out taking into account seam allowances and folds of the fabric. Be sure to measure the longest and widest parts of the backrest, seat, cushions and armrests. Draw the diagram of the sofa as a sketched diagram. Add up all vertical indicators and divide by 100.

It is important to depict vertical and horizontal details correctly, in the correct position. The resulting number approximately reflects the length of the piece of fabric in meters that will be needed to cut all the details. To determine the required width of a piece of fabric, you need to start from one of the horizontal parts, the one that is the widest. When you calculate the width and length, add another 1 meter for every 5 meters for ease of cutting.

Approximate fabric consumption:

• double sofa - up to 9 sq.m. m;
• three-seater sofa - up to 12 sq.m. m;
• kitchen sofa (corner) - up to 6 sq. m;
• corner sofa or regular sofa with 2 armchairs - up to 22 sq. m.

Typically, fabric consumption increases greatly if it has complex drawing, which must be carefully adjusted when connecting parts. It can also waste a lot of material if there are no patterns and the design is done on site. In the case of very thick armrests, backs or seats, or complex non-standard furniture shapes, a lot of fabric is also consumed.

Types of sofa reupholstery

Corner sofa

Update corner sofa involves certain specifics, it is more difficult to work with than the classic one. If you contact craftsmen who reupholster furniture, the work will begin with inspection and disassembly of the furniture. All details are signed for convenience, since we are dealing with a corner structure. Next, the upholstery and filling are disposed of. The new material is determined by the user. Then measurements are taken and new parts are cut according to the model of the old ones. If you make a mistake at this stage, the upholstery will be uneven and wrinkled.

After cutting, the reupholstery process begins, and then the craftsmen assemble the corner sofa, and it looks like new. Although the process is labor-intensive and takes a lot of time, it is worth it.

Kitchen sofa

It is known that modern budget kitchen corners with a sofa wear out quickly and the upholstery looks unpresentable. It can be damaged by children or pets. This picture spoils the interior of the kitchen. If the kitchen sofa has become unusable, there is no need to rush to dispose of it. It’s worth calling specialists; they will be able to quickly restore warped furniture and completely replace the upholstery. This can be a left-handed or right-handed corner. It can be re-stretched without sewing the parts together or with sewing.

Masters know how to update kitchen sofas with decor, for example, they sew on buttons, piping and lay down stitches. It is possible to replace padding polyester or foam rubber, replacing them with similar new insides. Broken frame parts must also be replaced. The new upholstery can be genuine leather.

Sofa book

Each of us knows well what a sofa-book looks like; many have been using it for a long time. You can exchange your favorite piece of furniture for short term refresh by replacing the casing with a new one. The tightening technology has been proven over the years and requires standard tools. Any furniture craftsman can handle the job, even with little experience. Some even try to reupholster a sofa themselves, but you still need to have an idea of ​​the process. To update the book you need screwdrivers, construction stapler, hammer, pliers, PVA glue, stringy threads, drill, wallpaper knife, scissors, chalk pliers and nail puller.

New covers can be made from any fabric that the customer chooses. As a rule, book sofas are cheaper than others complex structures. Often, reupholstering a book at home is combined with replacing some outdated parts.

Sofa armrests

It often happens that the sofa looks like new, with the exception of the armrests. Worn or holey sides spoil appearance furniture. The armrests of upholstered furniture are the most vulnerable place with which people come into contact the most. We place our hands on the sides or sit on them, or this part can be ruined by a pet due to the need to scratch everything in the absence of a scratching post. New armrests are covered with genuine leather, eco-leather or any dense material that will match the color and texture of the main part of the sofa.

Repairing armrests will be inexpensive, since there is no need to dismantle other parts. Very little material is used, so you can save money. All the workers have to do is disconnect the armrests, remove the upholstery and cut out exactly the same parts, attach the upholstery and sides in place.

photo of sofa reupholstery

How much does it cost to reupholster a sofa at home?

Here are approximate prices for professional sofa reupholstery:

• covering the sofa elements with thick natural leather - 19,500 rubles;
• updating a corner sofa with leather - 17,000 rubles;
• restoration of a large sofa with leather - from 12,000 rubles;
• restoration of a medium-sized sofa with leather - 7,000-10,000 rubles;
• updating a leather sofa with wooden or fabric armrests - 3000-6000 rubles;
• full leather sofa cover - from 15,000 rubles;
• updating a corner sofa with leather and leatherette - from 14,000 rubles;
• upholstery of a soft corner sofa - from 8,000 rubles;
• restoration of a sofa for 2-3 seats with soft leather armrests - from 5,500 rubles;
• covering a sofa without armrests with leather - 3,500 rubles;
• stretching a 3-seater sofa with new eco-leather - from 9,000 rubles;
• stretching a 2-seater sofa with new eco-leather - from 6,000 rubles;
• eco-leather upholstery of a sofa-book or sofa bed - from 1600 rubles;
• updating the upholstery of a corner sofa - from 8,000 rubles;
• upholstery of a classic sofa with leather or fabric - from 4,000 rubles;
• restoration of a sofa-couch or sofa-book with wooden armrests- from 2300 rub.;
• cover of a modern book without armrests - from 3,500 rubles;
• restoration of a sofa without armrests - from 2800 rubles;
• renovation of a very old sofa with replacement of springs - from 9,000 rubles.

The prices for the work are indicated; perhaps the visit of the craftsmen will be paid separately.

Restoration by a private master

A private craftsman is the one you need to reupholster your sofa with high quality without removing it from your home. The fact is that contacting a special large furniture repair company is good, but more expensive, since the payment includes remuneration for the company and the workers for their labor. If you are dealing with a self-taught furniture maker, who is called a “jack of all trades,” then you will not lose. The fact is that usually a private owner has a lot of experience behind him and has approximately the same knowledge as qualified craftsmen from a furniture company.

Don’t be afraid to contact private craftsmen, as their services will cost you little. But try to discuss in advance all the nuances of the upcoming work to update your furniture, and also control the work process.

reupholstering furniture at home

How to reupholster a sofa with your own hands?

Below is given step by step instructions By self-stretching sofa:

• disassemble the furniture - carefully remove all parts (sides, poufs, back, seat and pillows);
• Place all fasteners in a container so as not to lose them;
• using a flat-head screwdriver and an anti-stapler, remove all the old upholstery (in some places you will need to open the staples);
• replacement of the internals is carried out if the old ones are out of order and wrinkled (for example, you often have to change the foam filling, it is short-lived);
• replace belts, nets and correct defects in springs, if required;
• cutting new parts from a single piece of fabric will be accurate and fast if you take the old parts as a basis (be sure to take allowances into account);
• Pull the new upholstery moderately tightly and evenly, gradually aligning the parts with a furniture stapler to the base;
• When all the parts are covered with fabric or leatherette, you need to assemble everything in the reverse order.

In addition, when reupholstering furniture at home, padding polyester, metal dowels, glue, wire, nylon thread and self-tapping screws can be useful. There are many tricks to the process of updating furniture; this matter can be learned, but it requires practice.

As you can see, if you wish, you can reupholster the sofa without leaving your home. This event will not take much time. The update will definitely cost much less than buying new furniture, which means it will allow you to save a lot. New upholstery can be from any available material, have any colors and textures, at the request of the owner.

All things and furniture tend to wear out, and it happens that your favorite sofa does not please the eye as much as before: the upholstery becomes not so beautiful, stains and holes appear. There is no need to despair and run to the store for a new one; we will offer another option - to reupholster the sofa yourself.

What are the advantages of working independently, and what equipment should you prepare?

Do-it-yourself restoration has the following advantages:

• You can choose any material you like and decorate it to your liking.
• In the process of replacing the upholstery, it will be possible to repair the frame and spring unit.
• Modern sofas are significantly inferior in quality to older-style products, so you will be left with an excellent frame that will serve you for many years to come.
• You don’t have to spend a large amount of money on buying new furniture; restoration will cost several times less.

To cover a sofa at home, you will need:

• wrenches (from 8 to 19 mm);
• wire cutters;
• scissors;
• side cutters;
• construction stapler;
• an anti-stapler that will help you remove old staples;
• strong threads;
• the fabric you choose;
• foam;
• felt;
• padding polyester (filler).

Choosing a material - leather, cotton or flock?

There is a variety of furniture fabric, so before starting work we must decide which material to choose: artificial or natural, with or without a pattern, and, of course, choose a color scheme.

Genuine Leather. It is an indicator of solidity and wealth, but find the skin good quality not so easy. The undoubted advantages are: noble appearance, ease of use and maintenance, long service life, disadvantages: cracking (with insufficient quality) and high price.

Cotton. A natural material that is ideal for furniture in children's rooms. Harmless, environmentally friendly and absorbs moisture well. Relatively inexpensive.

Jacquard. If you choose this fabric, you will not be disappointed; it will serve you for many years. It has a fairly dense base and a relatively high price, but it looks quite impressive, does not wear off and does not fade in the sun.

Flock. It will be simply indispensable for pet lovers, because marks from your pets’ claws are practically invisible on it. It is one of the best environmentally friendly materials; it looks like velvet, is pleasant to the touch, and can easily remove any household stains.

Tapestry. It began to be used back in the 14th century, but now companies offer the widest selection color range, various prints and decorations. However, a significant disadvantage is susceptibility to sun rays, so if you decide to make tapestry upholstery, you should hide it from the sun.

When choosing foam rubber, it is better to give preference to foam rubber with a density of 30 kg/m3 and a thickness of at least 4 centimeters. Soft or hard, choose according to your taste.

Reupholstering furniture - how to deal with this matter?

Having started to change the upholstery on the sofa, we remove the old fabric, but it is advisable not to spoil the old cut, it will be easier for us to make patterns using it. An anti-stapler or a flat-head screwdriver will help us with this. Then we must unstitch all the seams on the parts. As a result, we have individual parts that will help us save on new raw materials. We recommend taking photos at all stages to make it easier to assemble our structure in the future.

Taking chalk or a felt-tip pen, we can easily trace the old patterns on the new fabric (it will be convenient to do this on a table or on the floor). After that, we carefully cut out the necessary blanks and we can start sewing the covers (the parts need to be numbered so as not to get confused).

We make outlines as we work, this way we will achieve maximum accuracy. We fix the fabric with sewing pins. We do the final fitting before sewing the cover on sewing machine. We put the cover on the sofa and secure it with a construction stapler, not forgetting to stretch the fabric as much as possible.

When attaching new fabric, remember three important things:

• carefully straighten and fix the new upholstery to wood panels with a stapler, the distance between the staples should not exceed four centimeters;
• place filler in places where it is needed;
• The corners are fixed last.

Now we put all the parts together, this must be done carefully so as not to spoil all our work (by looking at the photographs taken in advance, it will be easier for you to understand how to assemble the structure).

When you change the upholstery yourself, try to avoid complex figures and clippings from several parts. Such upholstery will naturally look great, but implementing such an idea will be quite difficult and time-consuming. There is no need to throw away the remaining raw materials, you can easily sew decorative pillows. Even from scraps you can create a fun little thing.

Another tip is to have a garbage bag with you, as there will be a lot of garbage and trash, don’t waste precious time walking far. When all the furniture is disassembled, treat it with an antiseptic against insects and germs.

Furniture in the house occupies important role. It creates comfort and convenience and decorates the home. Any product sooner or later needs restoration or repair. Often there is a need to simply reupholster a sofa, because the frame remains in excellent condition, but the upholstery has already become unusable.

Ideally, furniture restoration is best entrusted to a specialist, but many owners want to do it themselves. If you delve into the sequence of repairs and at the same time have the basic concepts of carpentry, then the work will bring pleasure, and the result will delight you for many years.

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The choice of fabric is individual. The texture, color and texture of the material are selected according to personal preferences, the existing interior and the degree of practicality. Light industry offers special materials intended for upholstery of upholstered furniture. They have a number of characteristics and have different purposes and qualities. It is impossible to cover a sofa with any fabric. The material must be durable, wear-resistant, environmentally friendly and comfortable.

The material for upholstering the sofa can be leather or fabric. For example, leather covering always looks expensive and elegant, but this option is expensive. And not everyone can work with him. The material is difficult to finish and requires basic skills.

When covering a sofa with leather, it is worth considering that over time the upholstery will shrink and shrinkage will occur. To prevent the constriction from becoming deformed, it is recommended to leave allowances.

In addition to genuine leather and its substitutes, the most common materials for upholstery are: tapestry, chenille, jacquard, vinyl.

Craftsmen recommend taking into account when selecting fabric for upholstery intended purpose furniture. If the modules are intended for sleep and relaxation, then it is better to give preference to soft and natural fabrics. For restoration of a sofa in the kitchen or for office space it is recommended to choose material with synthetic fibers, which is wear-resistant and easy to clean.

To restore a sofa for a children's room, you need fabric from natural materials, no toxic dye and chemical smell. When purchasing canvas for an ottoman, do not forget to leave upholstery fabric stock

Required Tools

For work we prepare the following tool:

1. Gypsy needle, thick threads, scissors and sewing machine.
2. Sewing meter, square, metal ruler and glue.
3. Furniture stapler, staples of the required size and nails.
4. Hammer, pliers, side cutters, screwdriver, stapler, wrenches.
5. Drill and screwdriver with a set of drills.
6. Accessories.

From additional tools and materials in order to reupholster the sofa with your own hands, you will need:

• Foam rubber.
• Filling for pillows and bolsters.
• Cords and tapes for masking seams.
• Fasteners, zippers and decorative elements.

To work, you need to stock up not only with tools, but also with basic knowledge of carpentry and patience. After all, the process is quite painstaking and time-consuming.

We disassemble the sofa and assess the scale of work

Before reupholstering either the sofa or easy chair, it is necessary to correctly disassemble it into its component parts. First of all, it is recommended to carefully remove the previous fabric without damaging it. The old fabric will serve as a model for the new pattern. Patterns will be created using it.

Using a screwdriver and pliers, remove the staples and remove the nails. The material is removed sequentially, without using scissors. After the fabric is removed, you need to carefully rip out all the corner and longitudinal seams using a blade. Craftsmen advise carefully ironing these parts before transferring them to the pattern.

Disassembling furniture into separate parts

The work should be done gradually and slowly. First, the bolsters, pillows and headrests are removed. Then you need to dismantle the back and side parts of the furniture. With the help special tool remove the seat from the main frame.

All parts of the furniture, even small fasteners, must be preserved until the very end of the work. They may be needed during the reupholstery process.

If the old sofa is equipped with springs, you will have to deal with their dismantling. Here, experts recommend that beginners take photographs, recording details and specific location metal springs. This will allow you to install them back without any problems in the future.

Removing old upholstery from disassembled furniture

If the upholstery has become completely unusable and it is not possible to remove it in one piece, then it is recommended to use scissors or a blade. But, if it is possible to keep the old fabric intact, it is better to do this: it will allow you to make a correct pattern from the new fabric. The old foam rubber is removed and replaced.

Repair of internal parts

After the sofa was disassembled into its component parts and removed old upholstery, you need to check the serviceability of the frame parts, springs and furniture legs.

Most often the side parts of the sofa, the seat, the springs and the frame become unusable. If required partial replacement parts or fasteners, then it is worth doing it. At this stage, you have to go deeper into carpentry and master its basic skills.

Step-by-step instructions for reupholstering a sofa

Before upholstering a sofa with your own hands, you should study the algorithm of actions and prepare thoroughly for each stage.

After disassembling the sofa into pieces and carefully removing the fabric from it, we begin making the pattern. If the fabric has retained its integrity, it must be carefully ironed and the parts on the front and back sides must be numbered using chalk.

Then we proceed directly to transferring these elements onto the pattern and cutting out the fabric.

Cut out new upholstery

In order to initially make fabric calculations correctly, you need to take measurements of the product. The canvas is taken with a reserve. This will allow you to avoid unpleasant nuances in your work in the future.

It is impossible to determine by eye how much fabric will be needed to cover a sofa. All details of the product, pillows, assemblies, bolsters, the height of the armrests and their volumes are taken into account here.

On new fabric, using old fabric, a pattern is made for each detail separately. Then, with a needle and thread, the covers for each element are swept away in parts. A test fitting of the upholstery on the ottoman is carried out and the cover is sewn on a sewing machine.