Do-it-yourself sofa repair in a classic style
At home, wear and tear on furniture is inevitable. The solution to the problem may be to restore the sofa yourself. Most often require replacement external elements, regardless of the type and quality of the material. The fabric fades in the sun, wears out, the foam loses its elasticity and sags.
Padding and minor repairs corner sofa with your own hands
Advantages of do-it-yourself restoration:
- purchasing material is several times cheaper than new furniture;
- preservation of antiques;
- choice color range and design, to suit personal tastes and general interior rooms;
- independent choice of material based on quality, environmental friendliness, cost;
- the ability to take into account the weak points of the old sofa and strengthen them.
Broken sofa folding mechanism
In addition to external wear and tear, internal breakdowns occur over time. Somewhere there is a creak, the folding mechanism does not work, the springs break.
Repair of the interior filling of the sofa - replacement of springs
Lubricate the creaking parts of the folding mechanism
The wooden base may crack or break. In order for the restoration of an old sofa to be of high quality with your own hands, you need to know its approximate structure and repair methods.
Cracked block - part of the base
Bed base in need of replacement
Restoration of a Soviet sofa - a new life for old furniture
Conventionally, the sofa can be divided into four parts. This wooden base made of solid wood and chipboard, steel springs and folding mechanism, filling (foam rubber or batting) and upholstery (fabric, leather, leatherette), decorative elements(wooden overlays, buttons).
The process of reupholstering a soft sofa step by step
There are several ways to restore a sofa with your own hands, depending on the complexity:
- minor repairs to upholstery and decor;
- complete replacement of upholstery (reupholstery);
- replacement of upholstery and filling;
- replacement of upholstery, filling, repair of mechanisms;
- complete repair of all parts.
Repair of the spring mechanism, replacement of the filling and upholstery of the sofa-couch
You should not get down to business if we are talking about antiques, or if the old sofa has complex structural elements. It is also better to entrust work with capricious materials, such as leather, to professionals, or change the material to fabric.
Transformation of a leather sofa after restoration by specialists
Required materials and tools
Tools and materials needed for repairs upholstered furniture
Restoring an old sofa will take time. This creative process, requiring desire, tools and good stuff. Everything needed to repair a standard 180*90 sofa is indicated in the table. It is better to purchase filler and fabric for upholstery with a reserve.
Materials and components for DIY sofa repair
The following tools may be required:
- construction adhesive;
- stapler for furniture;
- strong nylon thread and a needle for it;
- spanner wrench, pliers, screwdriver;
- jigsaw, as a last resort, regular saw(if chipboard replacement is required).
Variety of tools for furniture repair
Cut the fabric into a cover in advance. It is difficult to sew dense elements, so you can order the production of the material from a seamstress. To avoid mistakes with sizes, use old fabric, like a template. When cutting, be sure to leave 5-10 centimeters for fastening, taking into account the height of the seat (width of the back).
Restoration process: step-by-step instructions
We check the frame and base of the sofa, replace it if it breaks
Before you restore the sofa with your own hands, you need to check the condition of the main frame. If there are cracked or sagging bars, it is better to replace them. Solid wood rarely requires repairs, but chipboard often breaks. It is not worth repairing; here you need to completely replace the broken part.
We drag the lower base of the sofa, using it as a template old upholstery
The repair of the back, seat and armrests is slightly different, but in general, the restoration scheme various parts about one.
We replace the upholstery on the inside of the armrests, replace the filling and sew a new cover
First of all, you need to carry out dismantling work:
- remove the side armrests (usually the bolts on them are made with inside, here you may need a hex socket wrench or pliers);
- remove the seats and backrests from the fasteners to the lower frame;
- remove the old upholstery, remove the staples too;
- Carefully dismantle the old filler and check for suitability for reuse;
- remove the springs, check their condition, if necessary, clean, lubricate, replace in whole or in part;
- Check the condition of the chipboard and replace the sheets if necessary.
We replace the outer part of the armrests and connect both parts together
It is better to put all the small parts from disassembly in one container so as not to lose them.
We fix the upholstery at the base, use a hammer and stapler if necessary
At the second stage, we replace the old elements. To fasten parts together, it is best to use both glue and a stapler. But if necessary, you can make do with handy means. For example, instead of a stapler, use small nails:
- at both sides spring block lay thick fabric, bend the edges inward on each side and stitch with nylon thread;
- lay the spring frame on a wooden base, secure the springs through the fabric with a stapler. If you don’t have a tool, you can make arched staples from steel wire, or from thin nails, driving the “head” to the side;
- lay new, or suitable old, filler;
- tighten the entire structure with fastening fabric, like upholstery, and secure it;
- put on a new cover, secure with glue and a stapler.
Now it’s the turn of the back of our sofa - we do the work according to the same principle
The final stage is decoration
We fix the outer part of the sofa, decorate it with beautiful legs and decorate it with buttons - we get a great new sofa
DIY sofa restoration interesting activity, as well as its decoration. Here you can simply lay beautiful pillows, or make a carriage tie.
Do-it-yourself carriage tie for the back of the new Diana
Usually the backs are decorated in this way, leaving the seats solid. The screed elements are simple; you need to prepare buttons or metal rivets. Cross diagonals can be emphasized with tape. In order for the foam rubber to lie flat, you need to cut out small circles from the filler at the replacement stage - places for future buttons. Then cover it with fabric and sew on the selected elements. To tighten the buttons, you can use a stapler or strong threads, tightening them on the other side.
Do-it-yourself upholstered furniture repair
If the structure contains wooden elements, front part armrests can be glued figured solid wood in colour. Then all the furniture parts are put back together. It is important to check all fastenings so that nothing comes loose during operation. That's it, the restoration of the old sofa is complete!
Restoration of an old sofa - photos before and after reupholstery
Old soft sofa With wooden elements after restoration
Video: sofa renovation with design changes. sofa restoration. timelapse
Even the highest quality pieces of furniture can fail. Most often, sofas break, or rather, the springs fail. However, you can cope with this problem yourself, at home, without the help of specialists.
When to carry out repairs?
Everyone knows that a sofa is comfortable, soft object furniture designed for comfort and relaxation. Of course, like any furniture, it consists of several parts.
While the product is new, everything is great, and it’s a pleasure to relax on it. However, after some time, malfunctions may appear. You may find that a spring has come out, the frame has broken, or there has been a problem with the upholstery material.
The better quality each of these parts is, the longer the sofa will last without losing its original qualities.
Replacing the spring unit may be necessary for various reasons.. For example, when the action of the springs weakens, dents can be seen on the surface of the sofa. As a result, the level of comfort decreases, and using the furniture is no longer as pleasant. Sometimes you may find that a spring has snapped shortly after purchasing your sofa. This may be due to manufacturing defects or low-quality spare parts.
The solution to such a problem is clear - replacing the entire spring mechanism or, if possible, one spring.
It is necessary to resort to premature replacement of springs even if they remain intact. This happens if the rigidity of the sofa does not satisfy full comfort. This parameter cannot be adjusted in any other way. We'll have to find more suitable system springs, which will be softer or stiffer. Of course, you can cheat and use one or more additional layers of foam rubber for softness.
Types of springs
For upholstered furniture, the spring system is one of best fillers providing comfort. This also allows you to significantly increase the service life of products. When you have to come to terms with replacing springs, you first need to better know what types of springs exist.
After this, repairing a sofa at home will not be difficult.
- Flat snake springs They are characterized by durability, simplicity and low cost. At the same time, they provide the necessary comfort. Among their inherent disadvantages, it is worth noting excessive softness. As a result, you get the feeling that you are sitting not on a sofa, but in a hammock. Because of this, the snake is rarely found in folding models.
- The most commonly used springs are in the form of a solid block, it is called a bonnel. They are able to last a long period without losing your comfort. However, under heavy loads, upholstered furniture with such filling may begin to creak. If one spring fails, the entire unit will need to be replaced.
- Springs in the form of a block in which they are independent of each other are called Pocket Springs. In such a system, each spring is in a separate case. As a result, a sofa with similar “internals” allows you to relax with maximum benefit for the spine. Of course, the cost of such a block is quite high. Among the advantages, it should be noted that if one spring bursts, it is easy to replace it with a new one.
Work order
Repairing upholstered furniture with your own hands is not difficult and even pleasant. Moreover, this can be done at home, without even removing the sofa from the living room or kitchen. Among the advantages of this method, significant savings also stand out, because professionals charge quite a lot for replacing spring systems. In addition, when choosing a filler yourself, you can choose the best.
Of course, before you repair the sofa yourself, you will have to carry out some preparatory work. First you need to purchase suitable springs.
In this case, you can choose similar ones to those that were or install more a good option. It is also better to write down the sequence of actions in advance so that everything goes correctly.
It is important to have everything at hand necessary tools for replacement.
To take measurements you will need a special tape measure. The frame of upholstered furniture is dismantled using wrench. Staples on the upholstery can be easily removed using a flathead screwdriver.
Hardware impossible to change without pliers. The underlying layer is easiest to cut off stationery knife or scissors. On last stage When the upholstery needs to be fixed to the frame, you will need a construction stapler and staples.
When everything you need is ready, you should disassemble the sofa. At the same time, experts recommend photographing all stages of disassembly, so that later it will be easier to return the furniture to its original condition. Dismantling should begin with the side parts and armrests. In some models they are attached to the legs. If there are such fastenings, you need to place a block of wood under the frame of the object. This is necessary to avoid the furniture sagging on one side. After this, the seat is raised and the bolts are unscrewed. It is important not to miss any of them.
Next stage– removing the backrest and then the transformation mechanism. You will see a block with springs. It is advisable to take it out completely in order to immediately check the condition of the frame. After all, if there are faults in it, they must be eliminated. All necessary elements sold in special stores. Repairing modern fillers is not difficult. They most often take the form of spiral-shaped blocks. Typically, the thickness of the blocks is 2.2 millimeters. To repair a broken element, unscrew it from one side and then unscrew it from the other.
If the springs are old, up to five millimeters thick, then they can be strengthened. This is done using strong wire or twine. They are needed for tying the block. If there are parts that are completely out of order, they should be removed. Of course, if possible, it is better to completely replace the filler with a new one.
It also happens that the problem lies in twisted elements that are simply disconnected. You can restore the fastening of such springs to each other or to the frame using thin (preferably hardened) wire and pliers. In this case, the sharp parts should be bitten off and then bent down. A broken spring must be replaced with a new one. They do the same if it has simply become less elastic.
Sometimes the entire spring system fails. In this case, it is necessary to choose a different design. It would be better if it was of higher quality.
Blocks with weak points should not be repaired, as they may soon break again. They should be replaced.
Unpleasant sounds that occur when the sofa is impacted should alert you. To determine their source, you should carefully examine the entire surface of the sofa using squeezing. Most often, this problem is resolved by installing a gasket between metal elements that rub. However, after a while you will still have to resort to replacing the springs.
When repairing spring blocks It is important to vacuum the machinery and everything around it. This is necessary to remove debris that has accumulated in the sofa over the entire period of its use. When the spring is repaired or the entire block is replaced, the underlying layer in the form of foam rubber or other material must be returned to its place.
It is important to tighten all the bolts well.
After this, the upholstery fabric is secured using a stapler and staples. Finishing touch– returning the armrests to their place and attaching them to the frame.
However, in some cases it is still better to entrust the sofa repair to professionals. This is necessary if the furniture is antique - such models have difficult moments in the design. Problems may also arise with leather sofas, or rather, with their top layer. You can replace such upholstery yourself with a simpler fabric one, or you can trust a specialist.
In the next video you will learn how to quickly repair broken springs in a sofa using a wire tie.
An important detail of the interior is the sofa; most people spend a considerable amount of time on it. Over time, it becomes unusable, and the paradox is that no matter how you sit or lie on it, it will sag in the middle. The casing and some parts also wear out.
When such a moment comes, there are two options. Either throw it away and buy a new one, or breathe into it new life, repair the subsidence area yourself. It won't take much time and will save the family budget.
We will tell you how to fix a sofa yourself if it has fallen in the middle.
Materials and tools for work 
- Upholstery material (if necessary to completely change).
- Filling: foam rubber, padding polyester, etc.
- Strong thread for re-upholstery (if necessary).
- Furniture stapler with staples.
- Flat head screwdriver for removing old trim.
- Furniture belts. If they are unavailable, strips of durable fabric are used.
- Wooden blocks (In case of frame failure).
How to fix a sofa
First of all, it is necessary to determine the location and extent of the damage. To do this, you need to look at the root of the problem. Pull the sofa to the center of the room and look inside. Perhaps the breakdown is hidden inside.
Often in such cases, the frame bar breaks or the filling in the pillows is pressed through. If the sofa has a spring base, this may be the problem, but do not despair.
Once we have identified the problem, we move on to repairs.
How to replace the filling of sofa cushions 
There is nothing easier to repair a sofa than replacing the filling.
And sometimes you don’t need to change it completely; simply adding filler inside the pillow can save you. This happens if the pillows have been washed several times. During washing, the filler clumps or simply becomes softer. This gives the feeling of the sofa sagging.
Fixing the pillows will not be a problem. We carry out the work in this sequence.
- Carefully open the seam on the side of the pillow.
- Add filling, being careful not to overfill, otherwise the pillows will become hard and uncomfortable.
- If necessary, replace the filler completely.
- Don't forget to sew the seam carefully.
Important! Try to use the same filling that was used in the pillows.
If the casing becomes worn, it must be replaced. Choose a color similar to the original, or use a contrasting combination.
How to repair a spring block 
Sometimes it happens that, in addition to squashed pillows, springs break.
IN in this case it is necessary to remove the casing without damaging it, unless it is worn out and requires replacement.
After this, you need to find the broken springs, carefully remove them and replace them.
Furniture springs can be found in construction stores or you can use an old mattress that has become unusable.
In some cases, the springs are simply compressed, and their repair consists of re-tensioning the spring.
After replacing the spring, make sure to secure it correctly, otherwise you risk getting an injection when using the furniture.
If the trim does not need replacing, simply put it back on and secure it with a furniture stapler.
Advice! To avoid injury, use pliers to replace the spring.
How to fix a frame 
If, after looking inside the sofa, you find that a part of the frame is broken, do not panic. Any damage can be repaired with your own hands.
To replace a broken frame part, make required material the same. Disconnect the broken part, if necessary, replace the fasteners; sometimes moisture causes the fasteners to rust.
Advice! Do not use raw material. During the drying process, it will lead, after which another repair may be required.
Install new part. Carefully inspect the entire frame; there may be cracks in other parts. Therefore, they also need to be replaced.
Old furniture after for long years use becomes unusable. The sofa looks like an old, humpbacked camel, the fabric on the sides is worn out, and when sitting in a chair, can you reach the floor with your heel? A completely logical question arises: what to do?! Throw it away and buy a new one or restore it? In our case, start repairs immediately!
To restore an old sofa we will need:
- Manual stapler with 6-8 mm staples,
- Hammer, pliers, set of keys (13, 14, rarely 17),
- A screwdriver with a thin blade for pulling out old staples,
- Awl, needle (crescent), thread, wide belts, scissors,
- Upholstery materials.
Materials
Best used for upholstery quality material such as velor, matting, chenille, jacquard, etc.
Matting Chenille Velor Jacquard
As a filler in furniture production use spring blocks or foam rubber. To replace them you need to disconnect sleeping area from the linen tray (sofa) using a wrench. For ease of work, you can use a table that will not only reduce disassembly and assembly time, but also preserve your health.
Dismantling the sofa
The upholstery fabric can be removed using special device. This is an ordinary screwdriver, sharpened in a special way (for pulling out staples), or factory staple removers.
Such devices are not only effective, but also safe, as they completely protect your hands from involuntary slipping.
We must not forget that repairing sofas at home is considered unsafe, so excessive forethought and caution will not hurt.
After we have removed the old fabric, we can begin to replace the spring block or those springs that have broken.
Changing a spring block at home is very problematic; it must be ordered from the manufacturer, and this takes time.
Replacing sofa springs
A marker indicates a broken spring. Spring block after repair.
Using pliers, unscrew the spiral tape; if it is a rope (twine), then cut it off.
We install the new springs in place, and do not forget to secure them to the bottom of the frame.
It is necessary to lay batting under the springs so that the springs do not create an unpleasant sound while sitting or sleeping.
Methods for tying springs Method for passing twine
It is very important to know and follow correct technique upper weave to maintain uniform protrusion of the springs in height. You can use the options suggested above.
When the springs are replaced, we lay upper layer hard batting to prevent the springs from touching the fabric.
Sewing covers
Let's start cutting and sewing a cover for the sofa. In order to make the task easier, you can use the old cut, having first measured all the sewing details.
- We remove the old fabric from the sofa. We carefully sew the seams into individual parts using a special steaming device. If there is such an opportunity, time and desire, then each part can be ironed well to maintain its original dimensions.
- After ironing, it is advisable to number the parts so as not to get confused in the future. We lay out everything we got on a new piece of fabric.
- You need to try to arrange them so as to “fit” into a width of 1 m 40 cm - this is standard width. Pay attention to how the fabric fibers run. Longitudinal ones can be used on the seat and back, and transverse ones are best used on the sides.
Difficulty may arise if the fabric has a pattern. It is necessary to extremely accurately calculate the moments of joining, for example, strips, in order to avoid unnecessary consumption. The direction of the pile is also taken into account, this is especially visible on velor fabric.
Always buy fabric with a reserve. Take at least 100 mm of extra length and width!
When all the parts have been cut out, the frame has been previously repaired, the springs have been changed, new batting is in place, only then can you begin to adjust the fabric cover.
All seams are basted by hand. Marking needles can be used for fixation. Where the fabric sags, you don’t need to cut it right away, measure everything to the end and only then can you cut and sew it up.
If the work involves sewing machine, adjust it for the appropriate fabric. Check the quality of the seam on a separate piece. Where there will be allowances, make small cuts, especially in those places where the fabric runs at a right angle or along an arched line.
When the cover is sewn, you can try it on.
Upholstery of a sofa with fabric
The next stage, the final one, will be shooting the remainder of the fabric onto the fold.
- It is best to secure the fabric in four places; this will serve as a kind of beacon.
- We begin hammering in staples at intervals of 2-3 cm, while simultaneously ensuring uniform tension along the edges of the frame. There should be no overtightening or sagging. We do the same with the chair.
This is what it looks like at first glance in a simple way You can do the restoration of an old sofa with your own hands!
It's no secret that over time, the upholstery of upholstered furniture loses its original appearance, especially if there are pets in the house; old furniture often does not fit into new interior after repairs. In this case, you should not replace existing furniture with new interior items.
More simple solution there will be a replacement upholstery fabric and soft lining of upholstered furniture. In most cases this is not at all difficult to do. This short review provides detailed instructions how to reupholster a sofa with your own hands.
Do-it-yourself sofa reupholstery
It is quite possible to renew the covering of upholstered furniture yourself or with the help of professionals. When performing work on your own, you may encounter the following difficulties that are difficult to overcome without special skills:
Problems may arise at the first stage of disassembling furniture. Sometimes it is difficult to do this without special skills and tools. Therefore, having decided on this job, you need to test your strength by pulling at least a stool. Using this simple task, you can hone your technology and select a tool.
Sofa details may have complex geometric shapes. Therefore, it is difficult to make the correct pattern for them, and then carry out the correct stretching. It will be easier to make a pattern if you copy it from old upholstery.
Re-upholstering a sofa book, which essentially consists of two rectangular halves and two sidewalls, is much easier than not folding sofa with large armrests and additional pillows or in the case where the pattern consists of several pieces of fabric.
When restoring old furniture, it may not be enough to just replace the upholstery. Often it is necessary to replace the filler, repair the frame, and even replace the springs in old sofas.
Antique furniture requires very careful handling; its repair and renovation is best left to professionals.
Materials that are difficult to work with can be used for finishing. Leather is much more difficult to deal with than fabric. For the first hand-made reupholstery of a sofa, it is better to choose fabric materials.
Technology of work execution
This task is time-consuming, but completely doable. Reupholstering a sofa at home is not at all difficult if all steps must be performed carefully and in accordance with the recommendations and instructions.
At the first stage, the sofa is disassembled: the overhead elements, seat, and back are removed. The fasteners will be useful during assembly, so they are carefully assembled.
Next, the old upholstery is removed. This is done using an ordinary fine flat screwdriver. The covering cannot be thrown away, as new pieces of fabric will be cut out from its shape. After removing the coating, you need to check the condition internal structure and clean it.
Foam rubber requires mandatory replacement, as it has a short service life compared to natural materials. Instead of foam rubber, the relatively recently introduced padding polyester, which has a long service life, can be used. In addition, you need to correct and check the fastening of the metal springs.
Patterns are then made from the new material. They are very easy to make using removed old upholstery; you just need to add a few centimeters on each side for an allowance, the excess of which is then cut off. All fabric blanks for the pillows and for the sofa itself are made in a similar way.
It is better to purchase upholstery fabric with a small margin. Since if the dimensions and calculations are inaccurate, it may not be enough and in the worst case, it will not be possible to purchase more.
Depending on the purpose of the furniture, they are purchased various materials. They can be made from a breathable natural but not hard-wearing fabric, ideal for sleeping, or they can be made from hard-wearing leather, suitable for long-term constant use, such as in organizations.
Buying fabric or leather is a very important undertaking, so before upholstering a sofa you should study photos of various design solutions, pick yours individual style, choose the appropriate fabric and store.
Material selection
The selection of materials should be done with great care. It is necessary to select fabrics not only by their design and combination, but also by their quality.
Textile good quality It shouldn't have a strong smell. The pile should be firmly fixed to the base, there should be no shedding. Its consumption depends on the pattern of the fabric, since in some options it is necessary to set the pattern in a certain direction.
Sintepon is also not the same and requires choice. When purchasing it, you should pay attention to the fact that it should be white, odorless, durable, and not tearable in your hands.
Foam rubber also happens different quality. Main characteristic feature is the size of the bubbles. In high-quality foam rubber, the bubbles are small, while in lower quality material they are large. The size of the bubbles, oddly enough, determines the durability and wear resistance of the foam rubber.
Fabric upholstery is the final stage and is carried out using construction stapler and glue. This operation is easier to complete if you take photographs of the furniture before disassembling.
Upholstering furniture yourself at home is quite doable, but requires certain skills and patience. A carefully executed reupholstery will bring pleasure and save considerable money.
