Restoration of upholstered furniture with your own hands: instructions and photos. Basic rules for repairing upholstered furniture at home Do-it-yourself upholstery

27.06.2020

Furniture can be expensive and not very, high and low quality. Regardless of this, after a certain time it wears out and it becomes necessary to repair the sofa with your own hands. All work can really be done independently, it is enough to have elementary work skills, the necessary tools and materials.

If you have an old sofa with a chipboard frame, then it will be harder to repair it than one with a wooden frame, but everything will depend on the condition of the frame.

In order to repair the sofa with our own hands, we need to know its design.

Design features

Exists various models sofas, but almost all of them consist of the main elements:

the armrest can be soft or not, made of metal, wood, chipboard or MDF;
upholstery material can also be different: leather, leatherette, fabric;
a layer of batting or synthetic winterizer; furniture foam rubber is usually used as a filler;
to improve cushioning, some models install a layer of polyurethane foam;
the main shock-absorbing element is the spring block;
burlap is used so that when rubbing against plywood or metal there are no extraneous sounds;
the frame of the sofa is made of wood or chipboard.

Your sofa may not have all of the items listed, but now you will know their name and purpose.

In many ways, the durability of your sofa will depend on the quality of the frame and the material from which it is made. The life of the sofa, the comfort of its use and environmental friendliness will depend on what filler is used.

Parsing the sofa should begin with the removal of the sidewalls, after which the elements of the back and seat are removed.

Types of transformation mechanisms:

the most common is a sofa book;
when using the eurobook, the seat extends and the back rests in its place;
eurobook tick-tock does not extend, but moves in a circle;
type accordion consists of 3 parts, but it is practically not repaired;
the use of the click-clack mechanism allows you to make 3 positions: in the form of a sofa, in a semi-unfolded state and in the form of a bed;
the dolphin mechanism is used in corner sofas.

In the event of a breakdown, the transformation mechanism of the old sofa should only be changed to the one used in the specified model.

If we talk about fillers, then one of the best is considered to be a spring block covered with batting and burlap, but this option is expensive, and often foam rubber and calico are used to reduce the cost. The cheapest models do not use a spring block, instead they put several layers of polyurethane foam or similar material.

Since you are renovating an old sofa for yourself, you need to use quality materials. Polyurethane foam must be taken with a thickness of at least 40 mm. The use of holofiber allows you to do wet cleaning sofa. The synthetic winterizer does not absorb moisture, makes the furniture embossed.

A padded jacket is well suited for a spring block - 5 cm of cotton wool, covered with a layer of coarse fabric. Periotek holds its shape well, has high strength and heat resistance.

The upholstery is fabric or leather. Working with leather is quite difficult, so this work should be done by specialists. You can work with the fabric yourself, it is divided into woven and non-woven textiles. Most often, when deciding how to repair a sofa, the following fabrics are used: flock, velor, jacquard, chenille, tapestry.

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Work sequence

Knowing all the main elements of the sofa and the materials that are used for its restoration, you can begin to carry out the repair itself.

To complete the work you will need:

screwdrivers;
pliers;
stapler;
wood glue;
hammer, scissors;
screwdriver and screws.

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Upholstery replacement

Before proceeding with the repair, it is necessary to disassemble the sofa. You need to remember the location of the parts so that you can put everything back together later. To simplify the assembly process, you can use a camera or video camera during disassembly.

First remove the armrests, they can be combined with the legs. The sidewalls are mounted on two bolts, in order to unscrew them, you need to lift the seat. After that, the transformation mechanism is removed, it is unscrewed from the frame, seat and backrest. Now the rest of the sofa is dismantled until one frame remains.

The upholstery must be removed carefully so as not to damage it, as it will then be used as a template for cutting a new upholstery. If the mattress is in good condition, then you should not disassemble it.

In order to make a cover, you need to have basic sewing skills. If the sofa has a complex shape, then you will have to work harder. Fasten the finished cover with staples. If the stretch is carried out manually, then first the fabric is attached from the front side, at the attachment points it must be folded in half. After that, they are attached on the opposite side, and then in the corners, making sure that the fabric is stretched and there are no folds.

Similarly, the upholstery is replaced on all other structural elements. After that, the sofa is assembled in the reverse order.

Kitchen upholstery upholstered furniture can be done by hand. A video with a repair master class will help you understand how to do it correctly and efficiently.

Regardless of the quality of the covering of sofas and armchairs, sooner or later their upholstery loses its former brightness and beauty, and the springs sag. To restore the former appearance of these irreplaceable interior items, do-it-yourself furniture hauling is carried out. What are the benefits self-finishing? Of course, in significant budget savings, acquiring skills in handling furniture fabric, developing accuracy and purposefulness.

List of acceptable upholstery materials

Getting started, it is important to remember that expensive samples require professional finishing, so in order not to spoil the sofa with inept actions, it is advisable to contact a restorer. It is also not easy to replace the upholstery of quilted surfaces, decorated with all sorts of drapery elements, piping and pleats. It is better for a beginner in this business to postpone the idea of reconstruction, and you can gain experience on simpler models.

The following materials allow the hauling of furniture:

dense and strong leather substitute;
artificial or natural fabric impregnated with a water-repellent composition;
foam rubber of special rigidity with the corresponding marking "EL".

Upholstery should be chosen so that it is combined with the overall decoration of the room and the furniture itself.

In some cases, a combination of various fabrics is allowed. Most often, tapestry, flock, nubuck, jacquard, leather are used for upholstery.

Necessary tools for work

A set of the following tools will allow you to work very quickly and smoothly:

Phillips screwdriver, flat-bladed tools;
hex keys;
wire cutters, side cutters;
furniture stapler;
glue;
hammer;
pliers;
nails classic and with hats;
everything you need for hemming fabric.

How to avoid mistakes when choosing fabric?

Worn-out upholstered furniture requires careful material selection. He will not only transform her appearance, but will also be a practical acquisition. It is advisable to buy a special upholstery fabric, devoid of roughness and relief with a high percentage of synthetic fillers. It is unlikely that anyone will like the location on such a sofa, therefore, when choosing a fabric, it is important to consider the following nuances:

Matter with a pungent odor is best avoided. It is also worth abandoning dyeing fabrics.
Among fleecy coatings, it is better to choose those that have the greatest strength and do not crumble.
Dense fabrics skillfully hide all the shortcomings of the waist, it is important here to properly join the pattern, accurately following its coincidence.

The soft base of foam rubber must be porous and elastic, with small bubbles, such material should quickly take initial form. When purchasing a synthetic winterizer to soften the surface, it is important to pay attention to its quality: the surface must be uniform in thickness, density and structure.

The main points of installation

Self-restoration of sofas and armchairs does not need complex and curly patterns. To avoid patchwork will allow the acquisition of matter with a margin.

Before starting work, it is advisable to practice on chairs, which will consolidate your skills in handling fabric, allow you to choose the most convenient tool and master all the steps of a difficult repair.
Before removing the old fabric, it is advisable to photograph the main fastening elements, pivot points connecting the parts. The final assembly takes place in the order in which it was disassembled.

Restoration of upholstered furniture is carried out in the following order:

dismantling of the side parts, backrest, legs and pillows;
disassembly of worn parts;
taking measurements, preparing and cutting new elements;
fastening separate parts upholstery;
installation of the finished mechanism.

Rules for the reconstruction of sofas and armchairs

All work on the hauling of obsolete structures begins with dismantling: removing the side parts, seats, handles and legs.

It is important to be careful not to damage the frame.
Rusted elements are first treated with a special liquid, after which they are carefully removed.
You can get rid of the old staples by hooking the plywood with a screwdriver and gently prying it up. After loosening the fasteners, they are easily removed.
Self-tapping screws are unscrewed, but not pulled out of the wood.
Well-preserved fasteners are stored in a safe place for further use.
The staples for attaching the old fabric are removed with a knife or screwdriver and the upholstery fabric is carefully removed. (Later it will come in handy for pattern cutting).

Attention! Leaving staples on upholstered furniture, cutting off the fabric, is not worth it. The subsequent fastening of the new material will be completely inconvenient, as a result, the look of the sofa will be completely ruined.

In addition, the rust that has appeared on the fabric will not decorate the new upholstery at all.

Frame restoration

The old softening layer of furniture must be replaced, because it is impossible to fix sagging areas. And the laid additional layer is unlikely to correct the situation, in problem areas it is again deformed. wooden frame requires more careful handling. And all spring and mesh elements are replaced with new ones. If there are belts at the base of the sofa, you should check their integrity and flexibility. Their good condition allows these parts to be reused.

The connecting parts of the frame are disassembled, cleaned and glued again, and in order to achieve maximum results, the joints are fixed with clamps. Once the glue dries, they can be removed. Unsuitable for further use the nest is puttied or a plug is put into it, and a new hole is drilled for the screw at a distance of 2 cm.

It is important that irregularities, burrs and notches are carefully ground. If this is not done, the new upholstery may be damaged. Independent actions to restore the former appearance of a shabby sofa or chair, they require special care and patience.

How to cut new fabric?

The fabric chosen for upholstery is washed and ironed, which will prevent the appearance of creases and folds on upholstered furniture during subsequent use. When cutting fabric, it is important to be especially careful, leaving an additional allowance for fastening. It is good if the stock is large and in the process of work you do not have to save every millimeter, and the lack of fabric will cause serious difficulties. Similar actions are carried out with the old upholstery: it is also ironed, after that the edges are drawn with the remnants of soap and cut out.

First of all, a softening layer is fixed to the plywood using a special glue. The substance is applied in small drops at the corner and central points. The necessary details are cut out according to ready-made patterns without allowances. As the glue dries upholstery fabric attached with staples or small nails.

Next, the workpiece is turned over and the fabric is stretched, wrinkles and folds are not allowed. Again, the upholstery is fixed with fasteners, retreating from the corners of 5 cm. The fabric is also fixed and the corners are processed.

Assembly of the structure

To assemble upholstered furniture correctly, it is important to study the pictures taken during the dismantling process. must be removed prior to final assembly. wooden elements sofas that are sanded, varnished or painted. All work on the upholstery of the sofa, chairs take place in this sequence.

Sadly, over time, the upholstery of your favorite chair or sofa can deteriorate. This is most often faced by pet owners, because pets love to use furniture as a scratching post. Quite quickly, the upholstery loses its original appearance even if there are small children in the house. They can not only dine on the sofa, but also use it as a canvas for their creativity. Someone, faced with such a problem, solves it simply - old furniture is sent to a landfill. But someone is unable to part with such a beloved and comfortable chair, besides, buying new furniture is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, in our article we will consider such a question as hauling furniture with our own hands.

Is it worth taking on the job yourself?

Now, even in the smallest city, you can find companies that provide furniture upholstery services. Right at your home. But this service is quite expensive. And let's see how difficult it is to do the upholstery of upholstered furniture with your own hands:

If your sofa and armchairs are simple design, without curly elements, then the task initially becomes easier.
If the surface of the set is decorated with quilted fabric or piping, pleats or draperies, get ready for hard work. You will need to repeat all this decor exactly.
Difficulties with self-upholstery can also arise if the upholstery is made of leather or some other complex material that is extremely difficult to work with.

Important! If you have an expensive antique chair, then it’s better to give up the idea of upholstering furniture with your own hands. By repairing it yourself, you can significantly reduce the cost of a rarity. In this case, it is wiser to call a professional restorer for help.

Tools

Restoration of upholstered furniture with your own hands is impossible without tools. Therefore, before starting work, prepare:

Phillips screwdrivers and tools with a flat sting of various calibers;
hex keys (if you repair enough new furniture, which is not from the Soviet past);
wire cutters;
side cutters;
special furniture stapler;
furniture glue;
upholstery nails (regular and with decorative caps);
accessories for sewing.

Important! Please note that the restoration of upholstered furniture with your own hands is not an easy task. Schedule 2 days for this job. In addition, if you are processing upholstery by special means, then you need to wait until the surface is completely dry.

materials

To reupholster furniture with your own hands, you will need several types of materials. The first is the actual material of your upholstery. Then you need to choose the required thickness of the foam rubber layer, since, most likely, you will also have to change it. You can’t do without a rough rough fabric, which fits the filler and serves as a kind of understudy for the main fabric.

Let's see how to deal with all this:

As the main fabric, it is better to opt for dense materials - velor, tapestry, jacquard are suitable. You can also consider the option of flock upholstery.

Important! It is desirable that the fabric be plain, without a complex pattern and patterns - this way the upholstery will look better and it will be easier to sew.

If the fabric has any pattern or ornament, then it should be correctly positioned on the upholstery in such a way as to look good on the furniture.
If you chose such a fabric, then you will need to take into account the direction of the pile when stitching, so that later the left armrest is not darker than the right one due to the fact that the piles look in different directions.
Fabric understudy when hauling upholstered furniture with your own hands can be any, the main thing is that it be dense and a little rough. Usually, an inexpensive tweed or greta is taken as the basis, which will last quite a long time.

Important! As practice shows, about 5 meters of material will be needed for upholstery of a chair, 2-3 meters for a chair. The exact consumption of fabric can be calculated after drawing up patterns.

A little more nuances when choosing foam mats, which will be covered with upholstery:

Thicker options are suitable for the seat - 35-46 units.
For sidewalls, you can purchase thin ones - 25-30 units.
High-quality foam rubber should have a porous and elastic structure. The bubbles in it are small, and when pressed with a finger, such material straightens out quickly, the dent disappears without a trace.

Important! If you want to give a more rigid base when restoring upholstered furniture with your own hands, then get not one thick sheet of softener, but 2 thinner ones. And during installation, lay them with a layer of felt. Seats with this base last much longer.

Typically, the softener is sold in a vacuum package, which reduces its thickness by several times. Before starting work on the upholstery of furniture, free the foam rubber from polyethylene and let it rest for 1-2 days.
When choosing foam rubber, pay attention to characteristics such as stiffness and density. It is better to choose average values. It will be uncomfortable to sit on a very dense one, too thin - it will quickly take over and require replacement.

Important! Buy all materials for the restoration of upholstered furniture with your own hands with a margin. This will be needed in order not to sew individual flaps or run to the store in the midst of work and face the fact that the fabric you need is over.

Furniture disassembly

Before you start upholstering upholstered furniture with your own hands, it is recommended that you first take a picture of the disassembly process in order to assemble all the parts back correctly. Moreover, it is better to use this advice at each stage, in total there will be several of them:

Disassembly into component parts, removal of side and rear backrests, legs, pillows.
Dismantling of worn-out elements (upholstery and softening pads).
Cutting and preparation of new parts.
Mounting new upholstery on individual pieces of furniture.
Final assembly of the finished structure.

All connections must be dismantled very carefully, trying not to damage the frame:

If the bolts or screws are rusted, then do not try to rip them off, but use a special liquid to remove corrosion.
To remove the old staples, pry the plywood sheet with a flathead screwdriver and pry it up, being careful not to break the plywood. After the fasteners are loosened, you can remove them.
Try to unscrew the screws, and not pull them out of the wood.

Important! If the fasteners are suitable for further use, then collect them in a box specially designed for this. But in any case, when hauling upholstered furniture with your own hands, it is more reasonable to replace old fasteners with new ones.

Use a flathead screwdriver or the tip of a utility knife to pry up the staples holding the old upholstery to the furniture frame. Loosen the leg fastening, and only then remove the bracket. Try not to damage the upholstery, as it will later serve as a template for a new blank.

Important! Do not just cut off the upholstery, leaving staples with a strip of fabric on the furniture. They will prevent you from fixing securely new material and can spoil the updated look of a chair or sofa. In addition, rust on old fasteners can show through new upholstery in indelible stains.

Frame repair and damage repair

When you remove old, worn upholstery, you may find more serious signs of age. Parts of a sofa or chair can also be deformed or broken. Do not rush to give up and throw away furniture. To get started, carefully study our tips for repairing upholstered furniture at home with your own hands.

Cracked frame beams

Most of the furniture is made on frames fastened with locks and glue. The design is strong and reliable, but over time it can also become unusable. Frame corners can loosen and crack. In this case, it is worth changing the beams entirely. For these purposes:

Take dried material, without knots and bark - bast or middle with an even straight structure, strong and solid. Only in this case the beam will withstand a large load, otherwise it will quickly burst again.
Drying of the material should be carried out in special chambers in production. At home, where there is no necessary conditions, a raw tree will simply dry out and deform.
It is better not to change the lock saw, but to remove it and take it to the nearest workshop so that it can be made exactly according to the model.
When joining beams when installing new parts, impregnate the joints with PVA glue - this will increase the strength of the entire structure.

Broken fiberboard parts

When restoring upholstered furniture with your own hands, you can find another common defect. Large loads can not withstand the jumper pads of the frame of the seat and back. If you find such breakdowns, you should not be upset either:

Make accurate measurements of worn out parts.
You order them in the workshop or cut out new ones with a jigsaw.
Put the parts in place with nails or a stapler.

Springs

A sore spot is the middle of the seat, where children love to jump and guests sit. Some craftsmen manage to “twist” the spring blocks, replacing the burst ones with new ones. However, there is no guarantee that after some time some other old spring will not break, and for the sake of it you will not have to start all the work again. Therefore, it is more rational to replace the spring blocks completely.

Important! Usually, the frames of the seats and backs of old chairs are pulled together by interlaced wide belts, on which foam rubber is laid. Belts are very rarely torn - most often the junction of the belt and the frame is wiped. Any belts that you consider durable will work as a replacement. The main thing is that they should be tightly woven, preferably from synthetic materials and at least 5-7 cm wide.

Clumped foam

Any kind of foam rubber has such technical specification, as the number of compressions. This is an indicator of how many times the material can withstand compression and be able to restore its original shape and elasticity.

Almost always in old furniture foam rubber has long outlived itself in this parameter and turned into dust or into a viscous substance resembling sticky plasticine. Therefore, when hauling furniture with your own hands, throw away such material without regret and lay new foam rubber.

Replacing locks

Also, a common problem encountered when repairing upholstered furniture at home with your own hands is locks that have become unusable:

Over time, the steel mechanism of the lock becomes loose, a play appears in it or the springs fly off, snapping the lock into the “sitting” or “lying” position.
If this is the reason, then simply change the screw or fit a new latch spring.
If the matter is in the castle itself, then it is better to change it. Today this is not a problem, in furniture fittings stores you will be offered a large selection of modern locks.

patterns

Before you do your own upholstery of furniture, store fabric must be washed and ironed. After wet-heat treatment, it will shrink and lie flat on the surface. And we don’t throw out the old fabric - on its basis we will make a pattern:

We pass the upholstery that has become unusable with an iron to smooth out all the creases and folds. This will allow you to accurately repeat the dimensions.
Then we apply the details to the new material and circle with chalk or a thin bar of soap.
We add another 1 or 3 cm to the already existing seam allowances. This value depends on the thickness of your new upholstery.
We cut the blanks, cutting the fabric exactly along the lines.

It is worth sewing new parts in the same order in which the old ones were dissolved in order to exactly repeat all the contours:

It is desirable to process the resulting seams on an overlock or a zigzag stitch so that the fabric does not crumble and does not bloom.
Upholstery fabric with a large nap in the process of upholstery of upholstered furniture with your own hands before machine stitching must be manually swept in order to avoid displacement of parts and so that the lint does not get into the seam, otherwise you will end up with ugly joints.
If leatherette, artificial or natural leather is selected for upholstery, then when making facial finishing seams as a presser foot sewing machine use a special roller. In extreme cases, you can coat the surface of the fabric under the foot with a thin layer of machine oil. Only then will your seams turn out to be even and the same.
In the case of sewing decorative overlays into the case, all folds must first be sewn manually.
Try on as often as possible during the sewing process. Foam rubber is a very voluminous material. If you neglect this advice, then your new case may not fit.

Often, when restoring upholstered furniture with your own hands, you have to stretch the fabric not only on the frame, but also on the pillows. So let's take a closer look at this point:

Measure the height, width and length of the pillows. These parameters will be needed for the pattern.
Repeat the contours on paper or immediately on new fabric. The main thing - do not forget to add 5 cm for allowances. Then cut out the details.
Then straighten old upholstery, flip it front side down, place a pillow on it and tuck the fabric on all sides so that it lies flat against the pillow.
After that, fix the result - fix it with furniture nails to the sofa frame. The distance between the sofa brackets in this case should not be more than 4 cm. To make things easier, it is recommended to fix the fabric in several places, then you should fix the opposite edge of the fabric, which is not processed.

Important! Remember that the fabric must be pulled tightly and gradually, otherwise the result will be worse than you expected. In addition, the fabric deteriorates from poor-quality pulling.

In the same way, do-it-yourself upholstery of upholstered furniture is done on other pillows. By the way, it can be applied to the remaining parts of the sofa, armchair or other furniture.

Do-it-yourself furniture upholstery - master class

Consider a few more options for updating furniture so that you can accurately imagine the entire amount of work in different situations.

Chair restoration

Professionals advise you to start your journey as a restorer with something smaller than a sofa. For example, from a dining chair or pouffe. They require less time and materials. And the fear of spoiling something is not so great:

First, we disassemble our chair or stool for details. If you want to change the upholstery and the seats and backs, then first unfasten them from the base. Don't forget to remove the staples from the old upholstery.
Then we get down to drawings. This will require 3 measurements - height, width and length. We measure the back separately, the seat separately.
If the seat of your chair has an oval shape, then we take measurements at the maximum protruding points.
On a sheet of paper we build a pattern that will follow the contours of your furniture.

When the pattern is ready, we do the hauling of furniture with our own hands according to the following instructions:

We lay the part on the foam rubber, outline its contours, carefully cut it out.
Next, cut out the same part from the main and draft materials.

Important! It is better to apply markings on the wrong side. Do not forget to make allowances for the hem - as a rule, it equals the height of the seat + 7-9 cm.

First, we take a piece of foam rubber, apply it to the back or to the seat, if necessary, align the edges. Then we attach it to the base with glue.
Next, apply a layer of rough fabric. We wrap the edges inward, ensuring a snug fit to the foam rubber, and also fix it with glue.
All work is done from the center to the edges. So the material will be stretched sufficiently and the surface will be perfect.
We work in the same way with the main material.

Important! The same algorithm for repairing upholstered furniture at home with your own hands should be repeated already for the finishing fabric, but staples from a large stapler become the fastener. At the end, they are knocked out with a hammer so that they do not fly out by accident. Excess material, if any, must be cut off.

To facilitate the process of fixing the finishing fabric with staples, you can use a simpler algorithm:

First stretch the material and fasten it in the center on each opposite side, working crosswise - from above and below, and then on the sides.
After that, moving away from the center, add 1 staple on each side, constantly keeping the fabric tension under control. This scheme of work allows you to avoid distortions of the fabric and get a flat surface.

Important! When you finish upholstering upholstered furniture with your own hands, the finished surface should be treated with a special preparation that protects it from external influences and left to dry for 24-36 hours. After that, the parts are screwed back to the chair.

footage

As you can see, such a task as hauling upholstered furniture with your own hands, well enough for everyone. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions and take into account the nuances that professionals willingly share. And do not forget to “rehearse” on smaller furniture to avoid mistakes.

Over time, the upholstery of the sofa becomes dirty, stains that cannot be washed off appear, as well as holes that cannot be sewn up. This process is accelerated if there are small children in the house. Furniture is no longer an interior decoration, and the owners prefer to take it to the dacha or throw it in a landfill. But not everyone has the opportunity to buy a new one every time it gets dirty. In this case, you can do the constriction yourself. To drag the sofa with your own hands, you need to know the step-by-step steps.

Advantages of self-upholstery sofa

Do-it-yourself furniture restoration has several advantages:

Choose any material you like.
The ability to repair the frame and springs if necessary.
Saving money.

In addition, old pieces of furniture are much stronger and better made than modern ones. Restoration allows you to use the sofa for a long time.

The design of the sofa has a complex mechanism that is not easy to disassemble.
It is difficult to make a pattern of individual parts that have elements of complex geometry.
The seat has been used for over 10 years. In this case, you can not do without repairing the frame and replacing the filler.
The sofa is an antique and requires careful handling.
Upholstery material is leather or leatherette. Problems may arise when working with them.

In all other cases, you can carry out the hauling of furniture at home.

There is a huge selection of materials for upholstering sofas, the main thing is to choose the one that suits you

Material selection

First of all, it is required to decide which fabric will be used for the hauling. The table describes the advantages and disadvantages of each material.

Material	Advantages	Flaws
Leather	noble look; easy to care for; long service life	cracks if the quality is poor; high price
Cotton	natural material; harmless; absorbs moisture well; inexpensive	quickly wrinkled and rubbed
Jacquard	will last a long time; has a dense base; does not fade in the sun	quite expensive
Flock	ideal for pet owners as it does not leave claw marks; environmentally friendly material; pleasant to the touch (similar to velvet); easily removes stains	strongly electrified; collects dust
Tapestry	adds elegance to furniture	burns out in sunlight; quite high cost
Velours	outwardly similar to velvet; cleans well	wipes off quickly
chenille	hypoallergenic; well cleaned and washed; does not lose color	requires dry cleaning without the use of aggressive cleaning agents; fabric is prone to tangles
Arpatek	looks like leather, but cheaper; very durable material	high price; difficult to care for

Required Tools

After choosing the fabric, prepare the tools:

screwdriver;
staple remover for removing old staples;
wrench (8-19 mm);
side cutters;
screwdriver;
stapler for furniture and staples;
scissors;
glue;
meter;
metal ruler;

How much material to buy

After the material has been selected, it is necessary to calculate how much it needs to be purchased. The easiest way to calculate the amount of fabric is to add the measurements for the length and width of the sofa. Double the resulting amount. For example, a sofa measuring 2.5 x 1.8. In this case, you need to purchase about 7 meters.

To make the calculation as accurate as possible, it is recommended to follow the following instructions:

Make accurate measurements of all elements of the sofa. At the same time, you need to measure the longest and widest parts of the back, seat, armrests and pillows, adding a few centimeters for seam allowances.
Draw a sofa schematically, be sure to monitor the correct arrangement of parts.
Add all vertical values and divide by 100. The resulting value is approximately equal to the required length of fabric in meters.
To determine the width of a piece of fabric, you need to take the widest part from the horizontal part.
For a more comfortable cut, it is recommended to add 1 meter to the resulting length and width for every 5 meters.

The approximate material consumption depends on the type of sofa:

2-seater - about 10-14 sq. m;
3-seater - up to 15 sq. m;
kitchenette - up to 6 sq. m;
corner sofa - about 22 sq. m.

Material consumption increases if a complex pattern is applied to the fabric, which must be selected when connecting the elements of the sofa, in the absence of a project and pattern.

Step-by-step instruction

To pull the backs and seat of the sofa with your own hands, you must:

Disassemble the soft part into separate elements.
Remove the upholstery and repair the necessary parts.
Open a new one.
Fasten the fabric.
Collect all details.

Each item has its own characteristics.

Stage 1

Disassembling the soft part is much easier than putting it back together correctly. Therefore, all actions are recommended to be performed slowly and carefully. You can record the whole process on video:

Detach the sides.
If there is a seat and backrests, remove them.

Modern upholstered furniture is produced taking into account high maintainability, so this stage does not cause difficulties.

It is advisable to put all fasteners (nuts, screws, bolts) in one place so as not to lose them, since they will come in handy during assembly

Stage 2

At this stage, the following actions are performed:

Worn fabric must be removed carefully and slowly, as it will be needed when cutting new material.
Pull out the fastening clips carefully so as not to damage the old upholstery.
It is recommended to check and, if necessary, repair metal parts, springs, filler. If this is neglected, then in the future, perhaps, they will cause new upholstery defects.

Internal cavities should be cleaned of dust and debris

Stage 3

A quality result can only be achieved if the details are cut correctly. For this you need:

Lay out the new material on a flat horizontal surface.
Circle the elements of the previous upholstery with chalk, while adding 3-4 cm on each side for a hem.
Cut out the details strictly along the marked lines.

Pattern of details - the most important stage of the sofa upholstery

Stage 4

In order to fix a new fabric, you need to perform the following steps:

Put the prepared patterns on the details of the sofa.
Evenly stretch the fabric, tucking the edges, otherwise the material will bulge and look sloppy.
Initially fasten with several staples furniture stapler.
With building staples or special nails at a distance of 3-4 cm, fix the fabric completely.

Stage 5

Armrest padding

Armrests are the most polluted and vulnerable place. Their repair will be inexpensive and time-consuming, since you do not need to disassemble the entire sofa. As a new material, it is recommended to choose eco-leather, genuine leather or any other dense fabric that matches the upholstery of the main part.

You should pay attention to the shape of the armrest. If there are bends, try to repeat them when attaching a new fabric. If this is difficult to do, then it is recommended to contact the masters.

In simpler cases, to drag the armrests of the sofa with your own hands, you need to follow the instructions step by step:

Remove armrests.
Using a knife, screwdriver or staple remover, remove the old upholstery. It is important not to damage it in order to use it as a pattern.
Attach the new fabric to the armrest using a furniture stapler, paying attention to the location of the pattern in relation to the upholstery of the back and seats.
Check tension. The fabric should be tightly stretched.
Attach the armrest in place.

Back padding

Replacing the material on the back of the sofa is carried out according to the same instructions as repairing the armrests. Cut out a piece of fabric required sizes and fix with a stapler. Set it in place.

Rookie Mistakes

The most common mistake is the incorrect calculation of the required amount of material. When buying it, you need to take into account the hem, seams and folds. It is better to buy fabric with a margin, and if there is too much left, then sew decorative pillows. In the worst case, the store may run out of this material, or a new batch will have a different shade. Experienced craftsmen give the following advice:

Before starting work, make sure you have all the necessary tools.
When constricting, it is recommended to use a synthetic winterizer, which is laid on foam rubber. Thanks to him, the fabric will stretch better, and during operation it will not come into contact with the foam rubber, which increases the life of the sofa.
The disassembly process is recommended to film or photograph each action. This will help during build.

If before this time it was not necessary to stretch the sofas, then it is recommended to pre-train on a stool.

Pulling a sofa at home is easy. You just need to choose the right material and prepare everything necessary tools. The result is an updated piece of furniture that will last for many years to come.

During use, upholstered furniture often becomes unusable, which manifests itself in the form of worn upholstery and sagging foam rubber. In this case, hauling furniture saves the situation. Replacing spring blocks and re-upholstering a sofa or chair is not difficult, it is important to have the necessary tools. We offer a closer look at the process of updating furniture.

To begin the first steps of replacing upholstery and other components, it is important to choose the right suitable materials. These include the selection of fabric, the choice of filler: synthetic winterizer and foam rubber, as well as other components. Repair of upholstered furniture is easy to carry out on your own, because this does not require special skills.

Starting the selection of upholstery material, be guided by the existing interior, so that the updated furniture is harmoniously written out in style and design in the environment. Pay attention to the recommendations:

material for furniture upholstery should not shed or be too rough, therefore, in addition to aesthetic options, also consider the practicality of the fabric;
check that the pile on the fabric is firmly fixed, otherwise during operation these areas will wear out faster;
material of increased thickness will help to hide some flaws when fitting a sofa or chair at home, if this is done for the first time.

A private country house is usually equipped with expensive furniture with luxury upholstery. good option becomes a tapestry, but it has a high cost and is unlikely to be suitable for the first experience in upholstery. It is better to give preference to companion fabrics, which are represented by two variations: plain material, and a fabric with a pattern on the same background.

In order for the restoration of furniture to be of high quality, it is necessary to choose good synthetic winterizer. It is placed instead of foam rubber or used simultaneously with it. In addition, it is suitable for upholstering sofa cushions. Below are the criteria that determine the relevance of raw materials in order for the upholstery of furniture to pass without problems, you should take care of the choice of material:

The color of the material indicates its quality. It should be white, and if there are impurities of other colors, then it is recyclable;
the synthetic winterizer should be tight and not torn in the hands at the first attempt to stretch it;
there should be no gaps on the canvases;
the smell of synthetic winterizer is practically absent, but if it exists and has a sharp shade, it is better to refuse to choose such a material - it is necessary to drag the furniture only with high-quality fillers.

Another important component is foam rubber. It has many markings and varieties that differ from each other in the characteristics of density, rigidity and elasticity. Do-it-yourself furniture upholstery involves the use of foam rubber that is suitable for the purpose of the items. For example, for sofas, materials with a thickness of at least 10 cm are used; for chairs, it would be appropriate to use a material of 5 cm.

In addition to the specified raw materials, you will need a special felt that is laid between the layers of foam rubber, as well as batting - when hauling old furniture with your own hands, this material helps to soften the structure of the foam rubber. Sometimes it is used instead of synthetic winterizer.

Necessary tools for the job

To perform the tightening procedure on your own, you need to have a number of tools in your arsenal that are important for obtaining an effective result:

screwdrivers, screwdriver, spanners- all the listed devices will be needed in order to dismantle old furniture. Before the hauling, all furniture parts must be twisted and disassembled, because each element is updated separately;
pliers or round-nose pliers, as well as a chisel or a special puller for furniture staples. Having disassembled the furniture, it is necessary to remove the upholstery, which is fixed with brackets. Pulling them out of a sofa or chair, you need to help yourself with pliers;
upholstering of upholstered furniture at home is carried out with the help of a furniture stapler and staples of the appropriate length. When choosing this tool, give preference to the mechanical option if you plan to fit a small number of products. If large-scale work will be done, it is better to purchase an electric stapler.

In addition to the listed devices, sharp scissors, a construction knife, a hammer and a tape measure will come in handy. Immediately after selecting the tools, proceed to the repair of furniture - hauling one medium-sized product will not take much time.

Stages of work

Before proceeding with the process of furniture upholstery, the photo sequence of which is presented in our article, it is necessary to carefully inspect the products for wear and tear. It is important to identify the main problems that arose during operation. Answer the question: what made the furniture unusable, and which areas should be given the most attention. All stages can be clearly seen in the video tutorial on the implementation of the waist.

The procedure itself consists of the following steps:

disassembly of furniture items;
removal of old upholstery;
replacement of springs and filler;
pattern of details from fabric;
upholstery details;
final assembly.

Do-it-yourself upholstering of upholstered furniture is carried out according to the specified plan, so each of the steps of work must be considered in more detail.

Furniture disassembly

The process of dismantling old furniture depends on its design. If we are talking about a soft sofa, then the side backs and headrests, as well as additional equipment, are first twisted. Further, wherever you can unscrew the mechanisms, you need to remove them from the sofa. After that, disconnect the main part of the product from its frame.

In the case of chair seats, it won't take long. Here it is necessary to remove only those parts that will be dragged. In order not to get confused in the sequence of work, watch the video that is posted in this article, it will help you fully understand the order of tasks.

Disassemble carefully and slowly so as not to accidentally damage the mechanisms and fasteners. If the product has not been disassembled before, it will not be superfluous to mark with a pencil seats fasteners. During the final assembly, you don’t have to look for places for fastening parts for a long time.

Foldable side backs and headrests

Unscrew all mechanisms and hardware

Removing old upholstery

A good tip for beginners in this business is to carefully remove the upholstery for later use as patterns for new fabrics. Updated furniture is also refreshed with leatherette, which has a more affordable price than elite leather. During the process, you will need to perform the following steps:

using a screwdriver, thin chisel or file, carefully pry off all the staples;
pull out the staples using wire cutters or pliers.

Make sure that not a single fixing element remains, because it is easy to get hurt about it when repairing furniture with your own hands. In order not to contaminate the floor surface, it would be appropriate to lay a film or old newspapers. Often, unusable foam rubber begins to crumble from under the upholstery, which is difficult to clean in the future.

Before you drag the furniture, check the quality of the old foam rubber: here you can see which places need to be reinforced.

When performing this range of tasks, it is necessary to comply with the technologies that were incorporated into the furniture by the manufacturer. If innovations are used instead, there is a risk of a complete reconfiguration of the product, which may affect its quality in the future.

If the springs are still in good condition, then they are repaired. This is done with the help of improvised tools, by bending the devices in the right direction. When the material is damaged, it is better to purchase a new spring block that pleases all users with its elasticity.

The banner of old furniture is carried out taking into account the replacement of the filler, which is foam rubber, synthetic winterizer, felt or batting. Foam rubber is used constantly, only its elasticity and thickness differ. For armchairs and sofas, thicker material is used, and for chairs and upholstered stools, raw materials of lower density are used.

Structurally, first a spring side is laid, after which foam rubber is placed, sandwiched with felt for reliability. Before upholstering the product, it is covered with batting or synthetic winterizer, which serves to prevent slipping. In order to clearly understand how to drag upholstered furniture, study a special master class that helps you understand all the stages of the procedure.

Pattern of fabric details

For the pattern, use the old upholstery: it will be easier to get the right sizes. Remember to leave 2-3 cm in allowances, in case the fabric does not lie flat.

Before you make an independent pattern, you must thoroughly measure all the dimensions of the fitted part and carefully develop a drawing. Doing it yourself is difficult and time consuming, so it is still recommended to use old material templates. Therefore, do not tear or cut, and even more so do not throw away the canvases that have just been removed, but leave them for the subsequent stages of work.

We measure furniture

We prepare tools and materials

Cut out the details

upholstery details

To upholster furniture with your own hands, you will need a stapler and a new fabric material cut out according to patterns. Start by upholstering the simplest pieces, such as the armrests or square-shaped side panels. Pay attention to the recommendations:

test the stapler with staples on an unnecessary piece of fabric and wood;
correctly select the depth of the staples so that the new upholstery is firmly fixed to the frame;
pull the fabric tighter to avoid warping the pattern;
if upholstery is done for the first time, use materials with ordinary embossed ornaments - it is better to refuse complex patterns that require docking.

If the sofa book is dragged, after updating the main part, check its viability. Fold and unfold the sofa to see if the upholstery is slipping and what places need to be corrected.