A sofa is an almost indispensable attribute of any living room. Soft and cozy, large and solid, designed for gatherings with the whole family or sleeping…
The widest range of models is presented on the market, among which choosing the best one is not an easy task. Why not take a different approach and make your own dream sofa?
materials
One of the primary questions facing a novice master is what can you easily make a sofa from? The answer is simple: almost anything.
Boards, plywood sheets, chipboard, furniture boards are classic materials. Nothing prevents us from using door leaves that have served their purpose, pallets (pallets), a bathtub or car tires left over from the construction.
Be sure to find the right upholstery fabric and filling. In the role of the latter, foam rubber with a density of 35 kg / m3 and more often acts. The top layer is made of synthetic winterizer.
straight sofa
We offer instructions for making the simplest version of a sofa from traditional materials: plywood or boards.
Basic design includes:
- frame;
- backrest;
- Side parts;
- Sheathing.
Additional elements can be drawers, mechanisms, etc.
Instructions for the correct assembly of the sofa
Don't start work without a drawing. Schemes of hand-made sofas can be found on the Internet and adapted to the existing room, and if you are confident in your abilities, come up with your own model from scratch. The main thing: carefully take measurements and do not make mistakes in the calculations.
Stock up on enough materials and tools. You can not do without a jigsaw or hacksaw, drill, screwdriver. Get plywood with a thickness of 20 mm. If boards with a thickness of 20-25 mm are used in the work, plywood can be taken thinner - 15 mm.
Cut out the details of the structure with a circular saw or jigsaw. You will greatly simplify further work by immediately numbering and signing them.
Drill holes with a diameter of 3 mm for self-tapping screws. Suitable with fine threads and a regular cap with a diameter of not more than 5 mm. You will need self-tapping screws of different lengths: from 20 mm to 60.
We start assembly. Attach the lower side pieces to the back. Self-tapping screws are screwed through the back wall into the end of these parts.
Screw the seat close to the back. Attach it through the horizontal ends of the side pieces, and then the end of the seat through the back. Screw in the screws in increments of 15-18 cm.
Install the structure at the place of permanent deployment.
Drawers equipped with a sliding mechanism can be built into the lower part. It's time to do it.
Use a file or jigsaw to slightly round the corners of the plywood so as not to damage the sheathing material. Glue the foam rubber with polyurethane glue or the usual "Moment". The thickness of the filler is 100 mm. Lay a layer of synthetic winterizer on top.
Put on the upholstery cover and secure with a furniture stapler. Ready!
rounded sofa
An unusual idea for a homemade sofa is to make a design of a non-standard shape, for example, a semicircular one. It is important to choose a material that will cope with new loads. Furniture panels or thick plywood are perfect. Reinforce figured details from fiberboard with boards.
corner sofa
A more complex design that requires even greater attention to the calculations. It conditionally consists of three sections: two straight lines and an angled one. In manufacturing, it does not differ from a straight sofa, except that an additional lower box will have to be made.
Examine the photos of do-it-yourself sofas so as not to miscalculate the features of the model. In addition to the classic, options with an ottoman (protruding part without a back) are popular.
Sofa book
The “book” folding mechanism is familiar to everyone: we raise the seat, recline the backrest, return the seat to its place.
The assembly of such a sofa begins with the lower box. Then, the back and seat frames are mounted from the timber and reinforced with lamellas.
A mechanism is installed that connects the three elements. It can be purchased at a furniture store. After that, you can install the side parts and complete the trim. In this case, the sofa must be in the unfolded state.
This is how, without much effort and financial investment, you can complement the interior with an unusual and original sofa. Dare!
DIY sofa photo
If the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a shelf for books, a kitchen stool or a bench for a summer residence comes to mind for every second home craftsman, then not every one of them will dare to swing at the sofa. And in vain. Simple designs of such furniture are quite affordable for self-production. Moreover, this does not require any special skills and special tools. Only time, desire and patience. You don't even need to know how to sew to make covers. Of course, it all depends on the chosen model.
Some, on the contrary, require tailoring skills and do not involve the use of building tools. In a word, anyone can make a sofa in an apartment, a country house or a gazebo. Especially if he has detailed instructions before his eyes.
Don't believe? Then carefully read this article and be sure to watch the video.
Unusual sofas with your own hands
Creative, courageous people who prefer non-standard solutions, before picking up a hammer or jigsaw, should carefully look around. Perhaps their free imagination will tell you how you can use a variety of things and objects as the basis for a designer sofa.
Let's give some examples.
Sofas-transformers without frame
A few thick pieces of square or rectangular foam rubber can be turned into cozy upholstered furniture. To do this, they need to sew covers from a suitable fabric with zippers for easy washing. One part of the resulting soft modules will become the seats, the second - the backs.
If strips of double-sided Velcro are sewn on the sides of such modules, it will be possible to assemble sofas of various configurations from them - straight, angular, U-shaped. Or lay out to create a spacious bed.
Prices for different types of corner modular sofas
Corner modular sofa
We need a sofa higher - we stack the modules on top of each other. I want to retire in an armchair - we tear off one module from the sofa and take it to a quiet corner. In general, there are a lot of options. The only drawback is that it will be possible to lean on the back of such a sofa only if it stands against the wall.
Sofa from construction pallets
Not everyone is comfortable using too low frameless furniture. The option described above can be improved by using ordinary pallets to create the base of the sofa - wooden construction pallets for transporting bricks and other materials.
And here again, you need a little imagination to come up with a convenient design from the available parts. Pallets can be disassembled into separate boards and used, but this is not necessary. It is enough to assemble a sofa frame with a back and armrests from them, fasten all the elements together with nails or self-tapping screws, and then cut out the details from the foam rubber in accordance with the resulting dimensions. As in the previous case, they are covered with fabric. And they are fixed in place either with the same Velcro or rubber bands.
Mini sofa made of chairs
Several chairs fastened together are a ready-made frame for a small sofa that can be placed in the kitchen or on the terrace. Of course, it needs to be refined and decorated, and here, too, you can let your imagination run wild.
Cast iron bath sofa
If you decide to replace an old metal bathtub with a modern acrylic one, do not rush to throw it away. An old bath can also turn into a sofa, and a very unusual one that will surprise all your guests.
Of course, this idea is not suitable for everyone, and for various reasons.
- Firstly, the work ahead is long, dusty and rather difficult.
- Secondly, furniture with small dimensions will turn out to be very heavy if the bathtub is cast iron, and unusually cold.
- And thirdly, such a sofa will not fit into any interior.
Sofa from Breakfast at Tiffany's
If none of the above scares you, let's get started.
- After dismantling the bath on one of the walls, we outline a smooth contour of the front of the sofa.
- Cut out the excess part with a grinder.
Prices for angle grinders (grinders)
Angle grinders (grinders)
- Replacing the cutting wheel with a grinding wheel, using the same grinder, we smooth and level the cut.
- We remove the legs and thoroughly clean both them and the bath itself, if necessary using chemicals or a grinding tool. It is necessary to achieve a flat and relatively smooth surface.
Grinding from the inside. Sanding uneven edges
- Then we putty gross defects and cover the bath with a primer.
- We paint it in the desired color, applying several layers of paint with drying and grinding each layer.
- We install the bathtub on restored and painted legs.
- We make a mattress from foam rubber dressed in a cover, sew small pillows under the back - and the sofa is ready.
Video - Making a sofa from the bath
How to assemble a traditional pull out sofa
In our small apartments, the sofa often functions as a bed, if not for the owners, then for the guests who stayed overnight. Therefore, it should unfold when necessary and fold again for convenience and space saving.
Such furniture is not so easy to perform and requires the installation of special mechanisms, but it can also be done at home.
Material selection
The sofa, if considered in parts, consists of a frame, filler, upholstery and a folding mechanism. Let's figure out what material can be used for each part.
Table. Material options
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| As a rule, they go to the manufacture of the frame, support legs, legs, armrests and other decorative elements. There are also completely wooden frames, especially when it comes to hard sofas in the form of a bench with a back for the street or a gazebo. In upholstered furniture, in which the base is practically invisible under the upholstery, their use is impractical both from a financial point of view and from a practical point of view due to the large weight. |
| Inexpensive, durable and very easy to use material with low weight. It is lined with frame frames, drawers are made. High quality plywood of good thickness can also be used as face material. |
| The main advantage is the low price. Disadvantages - instability to moisture, low strength, high weight. Sofas with such a frame are very heavy. If visible structural details are made from chipboard, laminated boards are used - laminated chipboard. |
| Outwardly, this material is similar to chipboard, but surpasses it in many ways. It is stronger, not afraid of high humidity, does not emit harmful substances, is easily processed, but also costs more. Depending on the exterior finish, it can imitate different types of wood and other natural and artificial materials. |
The softness and elasticity of the sofa gives the filler located between the frame and the outer upholstery. Foam rubber, synthetic winterizer, batting, as well as special springs are usually used.
The requirements for upholstery material are simple: it must be durable and wear-resistant. Otherwise, there are no restrictions, you can choose flock, tapestry, artificial or natural leather, etc.
Fasteners may require screws, furniture screws, small nails or staples. As well as special accessories.
Prices for different types of upholstery fabric
Design choice
With the independent manufacture of a sofa for the home and the lack of experience in such work, it is better not to take on complex designs, but to choose something simpler. For example, a folding sofa or an eurobook.
Preparation of materials and tools
To purchase the right amount of materials and decide on their type, you need a drawing of the future sofa with dimensions. In our case we use:
- pine bars with a section of 40x40 mm;
- fiberboard sheets;
- plywood sheets;
- chipboard panels;
- boards;
- dense and thick furniture foam rubber;
- upholstery fabric;
- self-tapping screws;
- furniture legs or wheels;
- glue for sticking foam rubber on the frame.
The following tool is required for work:
- jigsaw for cutting blanks;
- plane;
- screwdriver;
- stapler with staples;
- knife and scissors;
- tape measure and pencil.
Prices for popular models of jigsaws
Electric jigsaw
Note. A sewing machine for sewing a cover is a desirable tool, but not required. You can cover the sofa with fabric without it. What is relevant for those who do not know how to sew.
Drawer Assembly
Let's start with a box, the walls of which we will make from chipboard. You will need 4 panels - two short (about 60 cm) for the sidewalls and two long (150-160 cm) for the front and rear walls. The width is selected depending on the desired depth of the box. Optimal 15-25 cm.
Step 1. First, we fasten the legs and the guide from the timber to the sidewalls with screws.
Step 2 Then we assemble the frame of the box, setting all the details on a flat surface and screwing the back and front to the legs. In the middle of the frame, you need to fix the spacer bar.
Step 3 Turning the box upside down, we fasten a short bar under the central spacer, to which we subsequently fasten one of the hinges. We sew the plywood bottom to the box with small screws, after cutting out the corners of the plywood under the legs. Be sure to check the equality of the diagonals.
Assembly frame for seat and back
They will be assembled from timber. The assembly algorithm is the same for each element.
Step 1. We twist the rectangle to the size of the seat with self-tapping screws. To make the frame strong, we reinforce the two extreme crossbars along the edges with small pieces of bars.
Step 2 We check the diagonals and fasten the plywood to the frame.
Step 3 At regular intervals, we install additional crossbars in the frame. Two of the intermediate crossbars of the backrest should be level with the position of the legs of the drawer, since the extreme loops will be attached to them.
Step 4 The seat frame is ready, but on the back frame on the back side you need to sew a cut-to-size sheet of fiberboard.
Left - back frame, right - seat frame
Video - Box Assembly
Video - Assembly of frames
Leg manufacturing
Before finalizing the sofa seat, you need to make two legs for it (you can skip this step if you purchased the fittings in the store). To do this, we grind the corners of the bar with a planer and paint the rounded part with a dark stain to match the color of the upholstery.
We wrap the middle square part of the leg with synthetic winterizer and upholstery fabric, which are fixed with a stapler. We leave the upper part open for fastenings, and stuff a piece of felt on the supporting part of the leg.
The fabric was turned inside out, fastening along the upper edge, and then fixing the edges of the fabric with staples
Assembly and sheathing of the frame with plywood
Step 1. From plywood or chipboard we cut out the drawer with a length equal to the length of the seat and a width of at least 150 mm. We apply it to the seat frame and make marks on both sides of each bar.
Step 2 According to the marking, we cut out grooves with a depth of 40 mm (the thickness of the bar), set the drawer perpendicular to the base and pull it to the long bar of the frame with self-tapping screws.
Step 3 Flush with the drawer, we install the previously made legs on the frame, fix them with self-tapping screws and strengthen the fastening with a through bolt.
Step 4 From the remnants of plywood, we cut out curly sidewalls for the seat and fasten them to the sidewalls of the frame, closing the end of the drawer and the base of the leg.
Video - Seat Assembly
The frame is ready, it's time to start upholstery work. And let's start again with the drawer, its front and side panels. The rear does not need to be trimmed, it will not be visible. It is also not necessary to use foam rubber, it is enough to cut a strip from the fabric a little wider than the depth of the box, so that it is enough for a hem, and shoot it against the walls with a furniture stapler.
Prices for the model range of pneumatic staplers
Pneumatic staplers
Video - Drawer upholstery
Production of a soft back and a seat from foam rubber
In our case, its thickness is 40 mm, the filling will consist of two layers.
Advice. The foam density must be at least 30 kg/m3. The material of lower density is too loose and soft, it will be uncomfortable to sleep on such a mattress.
Step 1. When cutting the foam rubber, make allowances of 2 cm on all sides, except for one long one.
Foam rubber with markings for threads
Video - How to cut foam rubber
Video - Foam rubber on the seat
Video - Seat upholstery
Step 2 And stick it on the base in the same way - with overhangs. First, glue one sheet of foam rubber to the plywood of the back or seat, then a second one on top of it.
Step 3 Then cut strips from the remnants to line the ends and sides and glue them.
Attaching the next layer of foam
It remains to sew and put a cover on the sofa, securing it from below and behind with furniture brackets using a stapler. If this is not possible, it is quite possible to get by with one stapler, pulling the fabric, laying it in the folds in the corners and shooting as often as possible.
Video - Back upholstery
The assembly of the sofa is completed by screwing three loops to the back of the drawer, one of which will be attached in the middle under the central tightening bar of the drawer, and two extreme ones to its legs.
Video - Assembling the sofa
The second shelf of loops is screwed to the bottom of the back. To do this, the sofa is first set to the unfolded position, and markings are made, determining their position on the back plane of the back.
It cannot be said that creating a sofa with your own hands is a simple task. But it is quite solvable, and you yourself could see for yourself. The advantages of this solution are significant cost savings and the ability to get upholstered furniture that fits perfectly into the interior of the house in design and size. And, of course, a reasonable sense of pride in yourself and your abilities.
Read on our website about. such furniture will fully meet all the necessary requirements, and will also ideally fit the child's room in size and design. And most importantly - you can make interior items from those materials that meet all the wishes and, first of all, the level of environmental friendliness and safety.
In the furnishing of the apartment, one of the most important places is given to the sofa. Sometimes there are several of them - in the kitchen, in the living room, in the hallway. The stores have a huge selection of such interior items, however, some craftsmen make them with their own hands, as they simply know how. Read more about how to make a sofa with your own hands, its advantages, the necessary materials and decoration, in this article.
DIY rounded sofa
In independent production of the sofa has its advantages:
- cheapness - when calculating the cost of materials, evaluating the result, it turns out that the resulting product costs an order of magnitude less than a store counterpart;
- originality - you can make a sofa that no one will have;
- this is a matter of pride - not everyone will undertake to make furniture with their own hands;
- independent quality control of materials and fasteners;
- the piece of furniture is made according to individual sizes;
- if in the future you need to reupholster the sofa, it is easy to do it yourself;
- it is a creative process that brings joy.
Of the minuses, it should be noted that not every home has the necessary tools, so they will have to be taken from friends or at the box office.
Advice. You should use high-quality, environmentally friendly materials, serviceable power tools.
Types of sofas by type of transformation
First you need to decide where the future sofa will be located, how it will be used - only for sitting or also for a night's sleep. It should fit well into the existing interior in color, size. A large sofa is not suitable for a cramped room; in a spacious hall, a miniature corner or straight sofa will simply “get lost”. Its upholstery should be combined with the color of the rest of the draperies in the room or create a bright accent.
Varieties exist as follows:
There are also U-shaped, built-in options, but this design is overly complicated to perform at home. If you have the skills of a woodcarver, you can create a unique sofa in the Baroque or Classicism style. It is also possible to manufacture a rocking sofa, which is suspended on iron supports in a country garden.
Garden swing or rocking chair with natural wood construction
Tip: before starting production, they make all the necessary measurements, calculate the height, weight of those who will sleep on it.
Drawings, schemes of sofas
Drawing of a corner sofa with dimensions
Consider how to make a corner sofa with your own hands. To begin with, you will need to make several sketches of a general view from different sides, draw a diagram, a detailed drawing with all sizes, indicating all significant elements, moving parts. If the design is made for the first time, you should choose the simplest drawing, without unnecessary details. The angle of the backrest, the height of the legs is selected at will.
Spike joints can only be performed by a professional carpenter. You can come up with a drawing yourself or choose the simplest option on the Internet. Nailing is not an option, it will not be durable, self-tapping screws should be preferred, which will provide a strong fastening for many years. From wood, pine, spruce are preferred - they are durable, strong.
Advice. Some make this piece of furniture from euro pallets, old boards and chairs, outdated interior doors, thick timber, tires, but such a “rough” sofa is not suitable for every interior.
Necessary materials, tools
In order to make an unusual sofa with your own hands, you will need some materials purchased in the store:
- pine timber, with dimensions of 50 by 30 mm;
- fiberboard panels, 3 mm thick;
- plywood 5 and 15 mm;
- Chipboard, with a thickness of about 16 mm;
- microlift or other lifting mechanism;
- nine legs for furniture or bars 7 by 20 cm;
- thick foam rubber 40-100 mm;
- upholstery fabric;
- pillow filler.
Various tools are needed to perform the work:
- jigsaw or hacksaw;
- screwdriver;
- drill, drills;
- construction stapler;
- sharp knife for cutting foam rubber;
- fasteners - self-tapping screws, screws;
- PVA glue and carpentry;
- sewing machine for upholstery, pillows, covers.
Tools you may need to make a sofa
If it is assumed that there are open wooden parts - armrests, wooden legs, then they are covered with stain, varnish, paint. For rooms with high humidity, special wood impregnations are used to protect the structure from mold and decay. Sometimes MDF, laminated boards are used instead of wood.
Tip: if the room is cramped, it will not work to cut the materials with high quality. Then this can be done when buying - most companies, stores provide this service.
Construction manufacturing process: step by step instructions
Before you start assembling the sofa, on pieces of chipboard, mark out the details, in accordance with the drawing, dimensions. After they are cut out, adjusted to each other.
What should be the details.
- The frame or linen box is the main part of the structure, everything else is attached to it, it is made of boards, bars. The middle is reinforced with transverse rails, the bottom is made out of fiberboard or plywood. Lamellas are stuffed onto the frame, which act as a support for the mattress.
We make a frame-box with a storage box
- Armrests - they are made of chipboard, two identical or different, depending on the intended design. Assembly occurs by attaching smaller parts to large parts.
The armrest frame of the desired size is wrapped with padding polyester, and then the cover is pulled
- Back - it is attached when all the details are already connected. It has the form of a rectangle with at least one transverse bar; lamellas are also attached to it.
We make the frame of the back, sew it and the lower part of the sofa with a slab
- Seats - they are assembled in parts, while it is important to take into account the coincidence of the diagonals of the boxes in order to get a normal shape, a stable frame.
For the seat, a sheet is cut that matches in size, foam rubber is glued to it, spandbond and synthetic winterizer are laid
- Legs - cut out of wood or bought ready-made, wooden, metal.
We attach the frames with legs to the frame and connect them with long screws through the holes in the legs
Before assembly, the sidewalls are drilled, for the manufacture of a folding sofa, special mechanisms are used, which are sold in furniture fittings stores. The frame of the product is assembled very carefully - the strength, durability, and stability of this piece of furniture depend on it.
Advice. After assembly, all parts are glued. They must be well sanded beforehand.
Tailoring of a cover, close-fitting
Before starting the sheathing, all joints are checked - the fastening should be as rigid as possible, nothing should “dangle”. Sheathed surfaces are measured, each part is cut out, glued, then the next one is measured-cut-glued. The elements are joined to each other, they must be trimmed with high quality, and the trimmings used to decorate the joints. A thick layer of foam rubber is laid on the seat - at least 100 mm. To do this, it is glued from several thin sheets. For the design of the sidewalls, 40-60 mm is enough. At the end, it is checked how tightly the upholstery fits, whether all protruding corners, sharp details are well covered.
We attach the side parts to the corner part, connecting the lower parts of the walls
After that, they move on to sheathing with furniture fabric - it is chosen to be wear-resistant, high-quality, beautiful. The appearance of the finished product depends on this. The fabric is bought at any textile store, furniture fabrics.
We sew cut-out parts for the seat, back and cushions from upholstery fabric
The most popular types are:
- jacquard - premium upholstery, characteristic features - deep texture, silk sheen, medium wear resistance, poorly cleaned;
Colors and patterns of jacquard keep perfectly, do not fade
- tapestry - suitable for the "elite" decoration of the sofa, such a fabric has a special strong structure, a unique pattern, a pleasant texture;
Tapestry is a fabric with an incredibly aesthetic appearance, but its price is quite tangible for any budget.
- velor - natural is quite expensive, artificial is cheaper, looks like soft suede, sometimes with patterns;
Velor is a fabric similar to velvet, but with a denser and longer pile.
- gunny - the most budget option, reminiscent of burlap, pleasant to the touch, does not wash off for a long time;
Furniture fabric matting with unusual weaving, it comes in various colors and shades
- flock - textile with a dense pile, suitable for those who have pets, has high wear resistance, is not afraid of animal claws;
Flock - a pleasant and soft fabric with artificial pile
- leatherette - very resistant to abrasion, has a luxurious appearance, is indispensable on the armrests, places where increased friction occurs, unpleasant when in contact with a naked body in the heat;
Artificial leather is a modern upholstery material with improved dust and water repellency.
- genuine leather - pleasant to the touch, environmentally friendly, durable, but overly expensive.
Genuine upholstery leather - durable, elastic, wear-resistant upholstery material
If you combine two or three fabrics at the same time, the product will come out very original, but it is important to choose the right upholstery.
How upholstery is made:
- patterns of each detail are cut out from newspapers or wallpaper, their coincidence is checked by applying to the surfaces of the sofa;
- borders are drawn on the inside of the fabric, details are cut out, leaving allowances of at least one centimeter on each side;
- the tightenings are made symmetrically, so the finished sofa will look harmonious, there will be practically no folds;
- to better hold the fabric, buttons and loops are fixed through the holes on the body;
- if you put a layer of agrotextile, synthetic winterizer under the upholstery, the foam rubber will crumble much less;
- textiles are fastened with a construction stapler, first one side, then the opposite, the edges are tucked in.
After that, the sofa is assembled again, decorative pillows, bundles, brushes, machine seams are made. Legs, wooden lining are attached at the very end.
The final stage - decoration
Custom made corner sofa
The sofa is decorated with bright or upholstery color pillows. This is the easiest way. If you make several sets of various covers, they can be changed depending on the mood, season - faux fur is suitable for winter decoration, for summer - cotton, linen. Sometimes one side of the pillow is decorated with embroidery, applique, bright prints, small soft toys, cords, knitted elements, the other side remains smooth. Patchwork decoration is also acceptable, and a removable cover is also sometimes made. Regardless of the size of the sofa, more than five pillows should not be used. It is better that they are of various shapes, sizes, textures.
The cover for the sofa is selected for the interior: it should be well combined with other textiles in the room - curtains, carpet, chair covers, etc.
The material for it is most often:
- fur - natural or artificial, creates a unique comfort;
- acrylic - very durable, non-allergenic;
- terry cloth - available in various colors;
- tapestry - suitable for a "rich" classic interior;
- silk, satin - look luxurious, expensive.
Plaids for decorating upholstered furniture are made of bamboo, fleece, viscose, acrylic, cotton, silk. You can also make your own or buy a sofa cover in the store - it is convenient because it does not slip, it is easy to wash, but the store is quite expensive. Homemade is sewn on a typewriter according to patterns made to the size of the structure.
Conclusion
Making a regular or corner sofa with your own hands, with some carpentry skills, quality materials, tools, is quite easy. Detailed master classes, photo and video reviews are available on many sites dedicated to the subject of furniture and repair. Such a home-made design will cost much cheaper than store-bought counterparts, and besides, it will be made with soul, according to individual sizes.
Video: How to make a sofa with your own hands (homemade sofa)
Making furniture with your own hands is a task that masters with little experience with carpentry tools can do. It is best to start with simple models. Choose a drawing or photo of a sofa with straight lines for a sample, without intricate decorations and connections.
How to make a sofa with your own hands
For a simple model, we need:
- beam with a section of 2.5-7 cm
- wooden furniture boards, plywood, fiberboard, OSB, MDF or other similar sheet material, depending on the intended design, slats
- filler (foam rubber, spring blocks, polyurethane, holofiber, synthetic winterizer, latex, batting, felt) we use both separately and in combination
- self-tapping screws, wood screws, corner plates and shaped connectors
- fittings (legs, sliding mechanisms, etc.)
- varnish, stain, paint for processing wooden elements
- upholstery material
Step by step instructions on how to make a sofa yourself
The first thing to do is to think over and draw the general appearance of the finished furniture, and then move on to a more detailed drawing of the structure and details with dimensions. Alternatively, use the finished drawing with the assembly diagram.
If you want to make a corner sofa with your own hands, we start by measuring the area where it will stand. Leave complex and oval shapes for later. Start with simple ideas.
Frame assembly
Let's start with the basics. We assemble the frame from timber, boards or chipboard. We select the type and thickness of the material depending on the size of the sofa and the expected load. In most cases, bars with a cross section of 2.5-5 cm are sufficient, boards with a thickness of 2 cm, thick plywood - from 1.2 cm.
To assemble the parts, we take self-tapping screws or wood screws. We pre-drill holes in the places of the screed - this will reduce the risk of delamination and cracking of the wood.
Additionally, we strengthen the design with corners. It is such fasteners that are able to withstand the load for a long time and reliably connect the base.
Important. Do not try to simplify this stage of work and use nails. With this approach, the sofa will very soon begin to creak and fall apart.
We mount thin sheet material from below. From above we close with thicker plywood. For greater strength of the base, we fix the top sheet around the entire perimeter. As an option, we make a storage box by fixing a wooden plate on folding hinges. For legs, you can use pieces of timber or buy ready-made furniture fittings in a store.
Further, according to the drawing of the sofa, the back is assembled (similarly to the previous stage). The easiest way to make the back inclined is to reduce the width of the beam at the top and increase it from the bottom on the front side. The back part instead of MDF can be closed with a cotton cloth, securing it with staples with a construction stapler.
The side elements can be either simple single-layer or assembled according to the pattern of the main frame. Modern sofa models are often produced without armrests. Undoubtedly, such a system for a novice master is much more accessible in assembly, unlike the classic varieties.
The next step is the laying of the filler. Before this, do not forget to pre-sand all the elements of wooden structures and smooth out the corners. It will not be superfluous to cover the frame with stain, varnish or paint.
Most often, foam rubber 10 cm thick in 2 layers is used for sofas. For the seat and armrests, it is better to take a brand with increased rigidity of 30-40 kg / m3, for the back - 25-40 kg / m3.
The foam layer is attached to the modules with glue. In addition, the transition points of the elements and sharp corners can be laid with synthetic winterizer or batting.
The final touch is covering the sofa with fabric and assembling the modules into a single whole.
How to sheathe a sofa
For covers, it is best to use non-woven material. The easiest option is to cover the modules with a fabric with a turn in the corners. However, this solution will not last long.
Covers with stitched corners are more reliable. We make it removable with a zipper, with ties or buttons, or we fasten it with a stapler directly to the frame. We sew at home or order from the master.
To begin with, we divide the sofa into sectors. Keep in mind that after measuring, all pieces of fabric should be cut into rectangular pieces. The rule also applies to sofa elements with other shapes.
Then you need to cut a blank from wallpaper or newspapers to compare them with fitted modules. According to them we produce cutting. Do not forget about the seam allowance from 8 cm.
Important. When choosing upholstery material, keep in mind that not every home sewing machine can sew upholstery fabric. Perhaps it makes sense to immediately contact the studio with the required sketch.
sofa cushions
They can be made separately as independent elements. For the filler, we use foam rubber of increased rigidity with a thickness of 10 cm or more. An additional plus of this solution is that the covers can be made with a zipper, they can be easily removed and washed if necessary.
DIY sofa photo
The issue of saving space does not cease to be relevant. Bulky furniture goes out of fashion and is replaced by more compact and multifunctional options. You can make similar "smart furniture" with your own hands.
This sofa bed is made of natural wood. You can also use thick plywood, as it is not always possible to find a board of the right width. The author used wooden slats as lamellas. Due to their arrangement, the sofa unfolds, turning into a full-fledged bed.
In order to make a sofa bed with your own hands you will need:
Materials:
1. wide board for the frame;
2. bars for the base under the lamellas;
3. slats instead of slats;
4. furniture screws;
5. oil for wood treatment (for example, Danish colorless or linseed oil);
6. furniture glue for wood;
7. wooden dowels;
8. putty on wood;
9. ready-made sofa cushions.
Tools:
1. miter saw;
2. drill;
3. grinder;
4. screwdriver and 2 drills: according to the diameter of the screws and dowels;
5. big vise;
6. jig for drilling holes at an angle;
7. several clamps of different sizes;
8. spatula for filling holes for screws;
9. lint-free fabric for wood processing;
10 square, pencil, construction tape measure.
Step One: Preparing the Parts
The author uses a fairly wide board in his project. The evenness of the cut in this case is very important. Therefore, in order to trim the parts, use a miter saw.
Saw the boards into pieces of the required length. Prepare 6 parts for a voluminous past with shelves. The backrest, like the second one, consists of two parts.
Saw the details of the base for the lamellas from the bar. Prepare two sets of slats: for the sofa itself, as well as for its folding part.
All parts should be carefully sanded using a sanding belt with a grit of at least 220. Pay special attention to those parts that you plan to oil. If you are using stain, the surface should be perfectly smooth.
Step two: assemble the main frame
The frame is assembled on dowels. The author uses a grooveless method of fastening parts butt-to-butt. To make inclined holes for screws, use a special drilling jig (see photo). Also select a drill for the diameter of the dowels you are using. The dowel should fit into the groove quite tightly. If you are using a hammer to place it in the hole, then the drill bit is correct.
Assemble and glue the back and flat back of the sofa as shown in the photo. Be sure to use clamps while drying.
Assemble a bulky former with shelves. The upper part of the past is attached to the frame of the sofa on the dowels.
Join the parts on a flat surface and assemble the main frame of the sofa using screws. Let the glue dry and move on to the next step.
Step three: puttying and oiling wood
Screw holes must be sealed. Use a spatula to quickly level the putty. Let the mass dry and sand.
The author uses Danish oil from Watso. It dries quickly enough and protects the wood well from moisture. The colorless oil emphasizes the grain of the wood while preserving its original hue. You can also purchase tint oil.
Apply 1-2 coats of oil with drying time. Wipe off any excess oil with a dry, lint-free cloth. To apply, use a wide brush, cloth or regular kitchen sponge.
Step Four: Sofa Bed Base Assembly
Proceed to the manufacture of warping under the lamellas. All parts are attached alternately to the frame, butt to butt. In order to fix the corners for the drying time, temporarily screw the support from the scraps of the boards. It will not allow the frame parts to move.
Attach the slats to the base. In order to correctly calculate the distance, between two lamellas lay one lamella flat and two on the edge, as shown in the photo. In the final version, when folding the sofa bed, the lamellas should converge with a small gap.
Fix the narrow plank flush with the lamellas using glue.
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