How to transform an old sofa with your own hands. The way they refurbished their old couch surprised everyone! DIY sofa upholstery ideas

A sofa is the most solid and voluminous piece of furniture. But unlike a closet, for example, or a sideboard, it is used much more intensively, and, accordingly, quickly becomes unusable. Moreover, most often the frame and the folding mechanism are quite functional, but the upholstery already leaves much to be desired.


Updating a sofa at home is not at all difficult.

decorative method

The simplest and a budget option, which does not require special tricks. At the same time, old furniture is not so much updated as decorated.

  • Pillows - the right accessories completely change the look of the furniture. They are matched to the color of the cover or, conversely, in contrast. An excellent technique is the repetition of a characteristic ornament or color combination that is already used on wallpaper or other pieces of furniture. Thus, the new design look is associated with colors rooms. In the photo - fur pillows on leather furniture.


It is important to choose not only the color, but also the texture of the fabric. If the room is made in monochrome, you can make or purchase pillows with a different texture - fur, for example, or, conversely, shiny satin.

  • A bedspread is a no less successful simple option. The choice of such products is huge, and if you wish, it is not difficult to make a bedspread. But it is worth noting that at the same time the armrests remained in sight.


Dustsheet

You can update a corner sofa or a regular one with a cover. Moreover, this can be done not only to update the furniture, but simply to change the interior. Moreover, a properly sewn cover also covers the armrests.

Lots of options:

  • elastic stretch cover - made of leatherette, for example, or a more familiar velvety texture. Due to the elasticity, the material tightly wraps around the seat and back, does not move, does not gather into folds. Product design can be very different. An additional plus of this solution: the fabric is very dense and the cat cannot scratch it;


Sewing a fabric cover at home is somewhat more difficult, but with experience you can do this job. Patterns for both corner and straight models can be found on the Internet. Here you can also find a master class on updating furniture. In the photo - a fabric sofa cover.


How to update an old sofa with your own hands

In some cases - leather sofa, leatherette model, it is impossible to restore the product without constriction. This procedure is somewhat more complicated, but it allows you to completely replace the upholstery of the old seat or back.

It is worth noting that without a reupholstering, furniture, in principle, cannot function for a long time. Furniture makers recommend doing it every 5-10 years, without waiting for frank scuffs or fabric tears. During this time, the material is stretched, and the frame wears out faster because of this.


Even if there is no experience in sewing cereals, you can update the upholstery of the sofa on your own, as well as replace the armrests. If we are talking about leather trim or leatherette, the work will be somewhat more difficult.


Update steps:

  1. It makes sense to carefully rip up the upholstery of the old sofa and mark all the details with numbers. The products will serve as a pattern for the new cover.
  2. The blanks are laid out on the fabric. Patterns are performed, taking into account the tolerance.
  3. If necessary, replace the armrests and worn-out wooden frame elements.
  4. The cut fragments are sewn on a sewing machine.
  5. Fragments are placed in their places and fixed to the frame with a furniture stapler or nailed with furniture nails. When strengthening the fabric, you need to stretch it so that the new cover sits tightly.

For reliability, it is worth watching the master class, which describes in detail how to update the sofa with your own hands.

It's no secret that over time, upholstery upholstered furniture loses its original appearance, especially if there are pets in the house, old furniture often does not fit into new interior after the repair. In this case, you should not change existing furniture for new interior items.

More simple solution there will be a replacement of upholstery fabric and soft lining of upholstered furniture. In most cases, this is not at all difficult to do. In this short review, detailed instructions how to pull a sofa with your own hands.

Self-upholstery of sofas

It is quite possible to update the upholstery of upholstered furniture on your own or with the help of professionals. When doing work on your own, you may encounter the following difficulties that are difficult to overcome without special skills:

Problems can arise at the first stage of disassembling furniture. Sometimes without special skills and tools to do this is problematic. Therefore, having decided on this work, you need to test your strength by pulling at least a stool. On this simple task, you can hone the technology and pick up a tool.

Sofa details can have complex geometric shapes. Therefore, it is difficult for them to make the correct pattern, and then carry out the correct stretch. It will be easier to make a pattern if you copy it from an old upholstery.

Pulling a book sofa, which essentially consists of two rectangular halves and two sides, is much easier than a non-folding sofa with large armrests and additional pillows, or in the case when the pattern consists of several pieces of fabric.

When restoring old furniture, it may not be enough to just replace the upholstery. Often, replacement of the filler, repair of the frame, and even replacement of springs in old sofas is required.

Antique furniture requires very careful handling, it is better to entrust its repair and renovation to professionals.

For finishing, materials difficult to work with can be used. Leather is much more difficult to deal with than fabric. For the first hand-made upholstery of the sofa, it is better to choose fabric materials.

Work performance technology

This task is time-consuming, but quite doable work. Drag the sofa at home is not difficult at all, if all the steps must be performed carefully and in accordance with the recommendations and instructions.

At the first stage, the sofa is disassembled: overhead elements, seat, backrest are removed. Fasteners are useful during assembly, so they are carefully assembled.

Next, the old upholstery is removed. This is done with an ordinary thin flat screwdriver. The cover should not be thrown away, as new pieces of fabric will be cut out according to its shape. After removing the coating, you need to check the condition of the 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, a relatively recently appeared synthetic winterizer, which has a long service life, can be used. In addition, you need to correct and check the fastening of the metal springs.

Then patterns are made from new material. They are very easy to make using the 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. Similarly, all fabric blanks are made for both pillows and for the sofa itself.

Upholstery fabric is best purchased with a small margin. Since with inaccuracies in size and calculations, it may not be enough and in the worst case it will not be possible to buy it in addition.

Depending on the purpose of furniture purchased various materials. They can be made from breathable natural but non-durable fabric ideal for sleeping in, or they can be made from hard-wearing leather suitable for long-term continuous use, such as in organizations.

Buying fabric or leather is a very responsible undertaking, so before dragging a sofa, you should study photos of various design solutions, pick up your individual style, choose the right fabric and shop.

Material selection

The choice of materials should be made with great care. It is necessary to select fabrics not only for their design and combination, but also for their quality.

Textile good quality shouldn't smell bad. The pile must be firmly fixed on the base, there should be no molting. Its consumption depends on the pattern of the fabric, since in some cases it is required to set the pattern in a certain direction.

The synthetic winterizer is also not the same and requires a choice. When buying it, you should pay attention to the fact that it must be white, odorless, durable, not torn in the hands.

Foam also comes in different quality. Main hallmark is the size of the bubbles. In high-quality foam rubber, the bubbles are small, and in lower quality material they are large. The size of the bubbles, oddly enough, determines the durability and wear resistance of foam rubber.

Upholstery with fabric is the final step and is carried out using a construction stapler and glue. This operation is easier to perform if you take photographs of the furniture before disassembly.

Self-upholstery of furniture at home is quite feasible, but requires certain skills and patience. A neatly executed hauling will bring pleasure and save a lot of money.

The sofa is one of the main elements modern interior. Under the influence of various factors, furniture can lose its attractive appearance. Often it is impractical and unprofitable to change sofas because of their cost. There are many opportunities to update your favorite thing by independent efforts.

How to update a sofa with your own hands

There are several ways to give a sofa a new look. You can use new decorative items such as bedspreads, pillows, wraps or covers. These things can be bought in many stores or made to order. More cardinal ways are hauling and changing the filler of upholstered furniture.

New cover for an old sofa

Purchasing a new case is one of the simple and quick ways sofa upgrades. It will help hide all the flaws and defects. Finished products are sold for furniture standard sizes. If the sofa does not fit into this category, then you can order individual tailoring in a specialized sewing workshop for specific dimensions. One of undeniable advantages of these products is the possibility of washing them in case of contamination.

measurements

Before buying or ordering a slipcover, you should take some furniture measurements with a tape measure. The following data is required:

  • the length of the widest part of the sofa: back or seat;
  • armrest length;
  • seat depth;
  • seat height from the floor;
  • the length of the protruding sectors on the corner sofas.

Next, according to the available data, a pattern should be made. It is better to draw it in a reduced size on a special millimeter paper, because a large amount of paper or film is needed to cut the original sizes. It is also better to think over the consumption of fabric and the location of the patterns in advance, this will allow you to correctly dispose of the material.

Select fabric by type and color

It is better to select fabric for a cover taking into account its operational characteristics. It should be well understood for what purposes the furniture is used, and where it will stand. The color of the fabric is chosen by the owner of the sofa, taking into account personal taste preferences. Properly selected weaving and high-quality stitched cover can make the sofa a real highlight of the room. Or, conversely, you can make it invisible, allowing you to emphasize other interior items. Skillful craftswomen can knit a cover.

Sewing

There are no special tricks in tailoring this product. When cutting out parts, especially if there are a lot of them, it is better to do conventions in order to follow the order of their grinding in the future. The parts are sewn together on a typewriter with dense threads and a thick needle. Next, turn the product on the front side and put it on the sofa. You can come up with a variety of decorative elements and decorations. Many craftswomen can knit a case from beautiful spectacular yarn.

Update upholstery

This method of updating the coverage is more complex and time-consuming. In the course of work, beginners may experience some difficulties with the development of patterns, as well as the dismantling of the structure.

Upholstery fabric selection

With special care, you need to approach the issue of choosing the material for upholstery. It is worth considering the indicators of wear resistance of the strength of the material, as well as its color component and texture features. The sofa should harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the apartment. The material should be pleasant to the touch, hypoallergenic and not emit unpleasant odors. You can choose washable, smooth, pile and other types of surfaces. Pet lovers choose durable fabrics that are more resistant to possible scratches. The following types of fabrics have proven themselves for upholstery:

  • cotton tapestry;
  • jacquard;
  • velours;
  • flock;
  • microfiber.

measurements

One of the main preparatory stages is taking measurements and building a pattern. For these purposes, you can use the old parts of the coating, if they were removed carefully enough. The pattern is usually drawn on a flat, clean surface. For these purposes, the floor is perfect. The fabric is straightened on the floor and pre-prepared patterns are circled. When applying, you should take into account the direction of the equity threads of the fabric, the direction of the pile, as well as the pattern. Lay out the parts according to the material should be compact, so that there are fewer extra pieces. Be sure to leave allowances of about 5 cm for further processing and joining parts. Next, the parts are cut out and sewn together.

IMPORTANT! To calculate the amount of material, add the length and width of the fabric, and then multiply the resulting number by two. More carefully calculate corner sofas. Experts recommend buying fabric with a margin of up to one meter in length.

Required Tools

To haul a sofa on your own, special materials and fixtures are required:

  • a piece of fabric or a sewn cover;
  • hex keys;
  • flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
  • scissors;
  • threads;
  • sewing machine;
  • furniture nails;
  • marker, crayon or bar of soap;
  • construction stapler;
  • side cutters and pliers and others.

Progress

The resulting parts are ground on a sewing machine with strong threads. To begin with, place all the details in their respective places. The fabric is connected to the frame using a hammer, construction nails or a mounting stapler. The edges should be folded inward. The interval between the nails should be small and be approximately 4 cm. During upholstery, the fabric should be stretched so that it lies evenly and wraps around the surface well. The filler is placed while the fabric is fixed on the part or when the fabric is almost fixed. Next, collect the remaining parts of the sofa and other parts, such as cushions, legs, removable pillows.

REFERENCE! Do not be afraid to make a mistake, because you can always get a paper clip or carnation and start upholstery again.

Content update

The filler requires more frequent replacement, unlike other parts of the sofa. This is especially true for outdated materials.

What can you do yourself

First you need to disassemble the sofa and check the springs. Dismantling is done in the following sequence:

  1. Overhead parts and decorative elements are removed from the sofa.
  2. Next, the sidewalls, backs, seat and legs are unscrewed, and the sliding elements and fastening mechanisms are removed. If parts are damaged, they must be repaired or replaced. Fixing elements should be removed in separate place so they don't get lost.
  3. Removing the upholstery is done using an anti-stapler or a flat screwdriver. It is better to save it in order to use it as patterns in the future.
  4. Spring inspection. With use, they weaken and wear out. These mechanisms are not subject to repair, therefore, new parts are most often installed.
  5. Surface cleaning from contamination.
  6. Checking the condition of the filler, which is most often used as foam rubber.

materials

A variety of materials are used as a filler, such as foam rubber, cotton wool, sintepukh, PPA and others. They are used both separately and in combination with each other. For example, polyurethane foam is most suitable for a seat, and sintepuh for pillows. A layer of batting and coconut coir is often placed on the spring part, and already covered with a layer of padding polyester on top. When choosing a filler, you should pay special attention to its brand. Usually the manufacturer indicates the density index and the stiffness index. They determine the final cost of the material and its characteristics.

Instruction

The filler also needs to be cut in accordance with the dimensions. Then it is laid on the base of each part and fixed with a construction stapler. Due to the additional layer, you can add volume to the back and armrest. But this point needs to be thought out at the stage of making the pattern. If you lay the filler in several layers, then much more upholstery material will be required. In the case when the seat is made on the basis of a spring, a dense fabric is first placed on it and fixed. Further, all the details of the filler are covered with canvas or other fabric to protect it from dirt and more to obtain a more even surface.

It is quite difficult to update the sofa with your own hands for the first time. Therefore, it is recommended to look at various master classes and training materials. Photographs can be taken at every stage of furniture dismantling. This will help in the future to repeat the location of parts and mechanisms during assembly. It is also better to make special marks on the details in order to know which side they were taken from.

ATTENTION! Before starting the repair of upholstered furniture, it is necessary to determine, if possible, what kind of work will need to be done and weigh your strength in this matter. Also, in order not to lose the sofa for several days, it is worth preparing the required tools and materials in advance.

Thus, you can update the sofa with your own hands in different ways. accessible ways. In stores you can find all the special devices and do not resort to the services of specialized companies. We hope that this article will be useful and will help give your favorite upholstered furniture a second life.

Over the past ten years, it has become popular to restore old upholstered furniture - Soviet sofa-books, dining chair seats, favorite armchairs. Reasons why people give new life old things, almost sentimental - a relic sofa brought by great-grandfather in the form of a trophy from the war, or an armchair in which grandmother knitted a lot of socks for the family in three generations.

But more often we are surprised to understand that solid Soviet furniture in terms of quality and integrity of the frame is much better than the new one, which is in the low and medium price ranges. Such furniture is often made of raw timber, cheap spring blocks, and is pulled over with cheap and low-quality fabric from above.

A great many master restorers have appeared - there are even craftsmen who can transform the appearance of an old sofa so much that it will not differ from modern counterparts in design and content. But, in fact, with minimal household skills, desire and patience, do-it-yourself upholstery of upholstered furniture is a simple and even creative task.

Do-it-yourself furniture restoration and upholstery methods

Furniture restoration allows you to completely transform old interior items

There are two ways to update the appearance of upholstered furniture: washing and replacing. Both options are quite time-consuming and technically cumbersome, but doable! All efforts will pay off when you see and feel the fruits of your labor with a sense of complete satisfaction.

This option is best suited for small pieces of furniture: chair seats, stools and small armchairs. If you like the upholstery fabric on your favorite old sofa, it is well preserved, has a unique woven pattern, and you understand that the modern analogue is not affordable, then the sofa cover can be washed.


For washing large furniture covers, it is better to use the services of a professional laundry.
  • Saving money - you only spend time with small expenses, including the cost of detergents and furniture fittings (staples, lining fabric).
  • The revival of the authentic look of the piece of furniture.

Minus one, but significant - it is likely that the cover will “sit down” or even spread when washed. Since the upholstery fabric is not designed for washing, it is not treated for shrinkage, as, for example, clothing fabrics.

Complete upholstery replacement

This path is the longest and most difficult, but true. Old and dilapidated upholstery is mercilessly thrown away, and the sofa can please you with a brand new fabric in fresh colors. It is quite possible to do a complete replacement of a furniture cover yourself at home. But be prepared for the appearance of problems hidden under a leaky cover: cracked frame beams, broken springs, a broken fiberboard or a faulty lock mechanism.

If, after opening the cover, you are disappointed to find internal breakdowns, do not despair - just the operation to replace the cover develops into a more complex, capital phase of upholstering upholstered furniture.

Padding

This relatively new concept includes not only the replacement of the upholstery, but also: a complete repair of the frame, replacement of foam rubber, locks, spring blocks, everything that is needed. In fact, reupholstering is a major overhaul of upholstered furniture, as a result of which you will receive a new interior element made to your taste.


Overhaul allows you to save even the most "killed" furniture

Necessary tools and materials

In order for the work on the upholstery of upholstered furniture to proceed comfortably, measuredly and without unnecessary nerves, you need to prepare the necessary tools in advance.

Tools d for disassembly and assembly work

  • Large flat screwdriver and pliers - hook and pull out old staples.
  • A Phillips or flathead screwdriver to fit the slot of the screws that secure the lock to the frame.
  • Set of wrenches for nuts and bolts.

Almost all upholstered furniture frames are bolted, so you can’t do without a set of keys
  • Roulette - take the necessary measurements when replacing body parts.
  • Stapler - construction or pneumatic. The second one is preferable, because, without any effort on your part, it drives long, strong staples deep into the wood of the frame, even through several layers of fabric.
  • Staples - from 6 mm to 10 mm, depending on the thickness and density of the selected upholstery fabric.
  • Garbage bags (bigger and denser).

To sew new covers you will need:

  • New upholstery fabric - the choice in stores is breathtaking, choose according to taste and cost. In order not to make a mistake with the footage, sketch out an approximate detail before buying. Consider the standard roll width - up to 145 cm (together with the edging of the edges of the canvas) and the location of the patterns relative to the pile and gloss of the matter.
  • Lining fabric for padding the back surfaces of the back and seat. It is not necessary to do this, but the lining layer will protect the furniture from dust getting inside, and the cost of the lining material is low. Therefore, it is better not to neglect this simple operation.
  • Sharp scissors, best of all special tailor's for cutting.

When cutting new covers, tailor's scissors will be simply irreplaceable
  • Crayons or thin pieces of soap.
  • Threads - no less than No. 10, and better - special reinforced for hard fabrics.
  • Meter line.
  • Pattern paper, if you are going to modify the appearance of the product: change the shape of the front, back and seats.
  • Sewing machine.

Tightening technology

Dismantling old furniture

This is the first and dirtiest stage - you have to unscrew and remove the former, locks and disassemble the frame. Then remove all the old staples with which the upholstery is fastened to the frame.


After removing the upholstery, a rather unsightly picture may open up to your eyes.

Take care of the place of disassembly - you have to stir up the "dust of the ages" that has soaked the sofa or chair. And the staples have a nasty habit of scattering across the floor and digging into the soles of slippers (or feet). If it is not possible to disassemble the sofa on the street, cover the equipment (TVs, computers, etc.) with a film, and take everything you can to another room.

Keep garbage bags handy - you will have to throw away a lot of rubbish, which has turned into the internal stuffing of the sofa (armchairs, chairs, etc.). When you finish disassembling, immediately remove all the resulting garbage from the house. In the internal dust of upholstered furniture, various muck can lurk - from allergens to dust mites.

Repair work and replacement of parts

Having removed the old cover, you can find a number of serious breakdowns under the harmless scuffs of the upholstery, do not rush to give up and throw away the sofa, calculating in your mind how much it will cost to buy a new one.

All repair problems are solvable, and parts are replaceable - the list of breakdowns and how to fix them is not as extensive and scary as it might seem at first glance.

Cracked frame beams

All old sofas and armchairs are based on frames fastened with locks and glue. This is a strong and durable system, much better than modern installation with self-tapping screws. But when the service life ends, the corners of the frames give slack and crack. Beams need to be changed. Choose dry wood, without knots, cracks and bark - bast or middle with an even straight structure. Otherwise, the beam, which carries a large load, and does not have strength and integrity, will quickly burst. A damp tree in warm and dry apartment conditions will begin to dry out and warp belatedly. It is better to repeat the lock saw - order a master carpenter or do it yourself. It is better to impregnate the joints of the frame beams with PVA glue before joining.

Broken parts made of fiberboard (pads-lintels of the seat and back frame)

Everything is simpler here - you measure the size and cut out new parts yourself with a jigsaw or make them to order in a furniture workshop. It is better to prepare separate parts of the jumpers (in old sofas there are usually three of them - the middle and two side ones), which are easier to change in case of a break. You can attach them to the frame with nails or a pneumatic stapler.


Broken springs not only impair the ammartization properties of furniture, but can also cause injuries and cuts.

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, changing the burst springs to new ones. However, there is no guarantee that after some time some other old spring will not burst 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.

Seat belt replacement


Any dense tape of a suitable width can act as belts.

Usually, the frames of the seats and backs of old chairs are pulled together with interlaced wide belts, on which foam rubber is laid. And the belts are very rarely torn, most often the junction of the belt and the frame is rubbed. 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 a width of at least 5 - 7 cm.

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 its usefulness in this parameter and has turned into dust or a viscous substance resembling sticky plasticine. Throw it away without regret and lay a new foam rubber.


It is better not to save on foam rubber - this is not only a soft layer, but also protection of the internal structure from breakage

Replacing locks

Also common problem- 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. Inspect the lock carefully, it may be necessary to change the screw or adapt a new latch spring. If not, then the lock will have to be changed - fortunately, this is not a problem, in furniture fittings stores you will be offered a large selection of modern locks.

Master class on sewing new covers

The most creative stage of work. You can leave the look of the furniture the same, in which case, you can use old covers as patterns. Before use, they should be thoroughly shaken and vacuumed.

When cutting new parts, carefully monitor the location of the weft and warp threads, as well as the direction of the pile. This is especially true for the patterns of the past and the seat-back, if the width of the fabric does not allow you to make a one-piece cover (meaning the upholstery of the sofa-book).

With your creative and sewing skills, you can transform the look of old furniture into a modern, comfortable, and personal style. The main part of the modifications is achieved by foam rubber overlays - soft rollers on the formers, backrest headrests are added. You can take into account the location of the body in a sitting position and add foam pads on the seat (under the knees) and inserts under the lower back.

When using darts, folds, figured parts, covers will get completely new form and become more modern.

In order to qualitatively and beautifully perform work on modifying the appearance of upholstered furniture, you need basic skills in cutting and tailoring. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to risk doing it yourself, but to involve a specialist in the work.

The nuances of cutting and sewing

  • Leave a seam allowance of 1 - 1.5 cm, depending on the density of the fabric.

When cutting the fabric, be sure to leave 1-1.5 centimeters for the seams
  • It is desirable to process the edges of the sewn parts with an overlock or zigzag.
  • Coarse pile upholstery should be hand tufted before machine stitching to avoid shifting of parts.
  • If the upholstery is leatherette, artificial or Genuine Leather, then when making front finishing seams as a presser foot sewing machine use a special roller. In extreme cases, you can smear the surface of the fabric under the foot with a thin layer of machine oil.
  • In the case of sewing decorative overlays into the cover, baste the folds manually.

As often as possible in the process of sewing, do fittings - foam rubber, softening a rigid spring frame, pliable material, the shape of which is set precisely by the cover.

Fixing new covers on the details of upholstered furniture

Repair work has been done, the covers have been sewn, it's time to proceed to the crucial stage of stretching the new upholstery. It must be clearly understood that the quality of the implementation of this stage depends final result and the look of your armchair or sofa. You will need patience and accuracy in your work.

At the stage of the last fitting, it will still be possible to correct mistakes - to sew in or loosen the corners a little, to alter the tucks. Do not be alarmed if the case is very tight on the frame - in the process of attaching it, you will still “shoot” it even tighter. Worse, if the cover is put on freely, because. attaching it with staples, there is a high probability of getting ugly folds and creases.

The sequence of work on fastening new upholstery covers:

  • First of all, put the covers on the parts and, while they are in a free position, straighten them as much as possible. The seams should be even and parallel to the edges of the parts, match the corners of the covers with the corners of the frames.
  • Then begin to fasten the cover with staples - holding the stapler in right hand, with the left constantly, with stroking movements, stretch the fabric from the middle of the part to the edge. Watch out for a smooth and evenly rounded bevel - this is especially true for the edges of the backs and seats of armchairs and sofas. It is better to start “shooting” with staples from the middle, so possible excess tissue will move to the edges, where they can be sutured by hand.

stapler - best tool for fastening furniture covers
  • When upholstering the former, carefully cut out the holes for the bolts with scissors and shoot the edges of the cutouts with staples. If necessary, use a hammer to drive the staples into the wood more tightly.
  • After stretching the upholstery, you need to close the wrong sides with sheets of lining fabric. Do not waste time carefully cutting and cutting out the lining with scissors. Having outlined the approximate length, taking into account the inversion of the edges of 3–4 cm on each side, make a notch with scissors and tear the fabric, the synthetic lining is torn exactly along the thread, which you will not get when cutting with scissors. Shoot the wrong side with the lining from the corners, pulling the fabric tightly.

Perhaps your house has decayed furniture that has already lost its attractiveness. However, made of high-quality wood, by modern standards it is considered an attribute of luxury and good prosperity. In this case, it may not be possible to replace old furniture with modern analogues. the best solution. There are various techniques available to everyone on how to update it.

  1. Hardware replacement

Choosing new handles for old furniture from the range

This easy way renovate old furniture does not require further explanation. Just pick up more suitable handles for your chest of drawers or bedside tables - and their appearance will change dramatically.

Rack with a variety of furniture fittings

  1. Decorating with moldings or stucco

We use moldings to decorate furniture

At the moment, there are special catalogs where a wide range of products of this type are presented, which can simply be fixed to the surface of the furniture you are restoring.

Types of decor for restored furniture

  1. Updating surfaces, changing colors and textures

Unusual chest of drawers update with repainting and replacement of fittings

The most effective solution that will help give old furniture a modern touch, making it work in a new way for interior design. It is carried out in different ways: with the help of varnish, paint, self-adhesive film and so on.

Renovation of an old furniture wall - before and after

The above methods for updating old furniture can be used together - then they will allow you to get the most interesting and attractive result.

New life for an old sideboard with film

Painted light wall in the living room before and after the transformation

Restoration of antique wooden furniture

Lacquering can give time-worn wooden products a new youth. It will not only improve their appearance, but also protect them in the future from mechanical damage, temperature changes, and the harmful effects of moisture. The result depends on the selection of varnish, a comparison of the main varieties of which is given below.

Having made a choice in favor of one or another option, you should dry and clean the restored furniture, sand it and apply varnish in two or three layers. After the composition dries, the old walls and doors will surprise you with a new fresh appearance and beauty.

Improving the structure of wood furniture using a marker, alcohol and wax

With the help of varnishes, you can not only update the furniture, but also change its color. To do this, you just need to add a coloring pigment to the composition of the coating - and the final shade of the apartment's furnishings will change.

Refurbished lacquered desk wooden

Update with self-adhesive film

Beautiful self-adhesive film for decorating children's furniture

You can simply update the furniture with your own hands with this now widespread decorative and protective material. You just need to accurately measure the length, remove from the film protective layer, stick it on the surface to be treated and smooth out irregularities with a dry cloth. And a completely new design of your interior items is ready.

Self-adhesive films for furniture with unusual patterns

Such a film is found in a variety of color variations - there are instances that imitate wood, plain, with drawings and patterns. However, imitation of natural wood flooring in this case is a mediocre solution - it usually does not look realistic enough. But plain and ornamented versions of self-adhesive films are now at the peak of popularity.

The kitchen set, pasted over with a self-adhesive film with an elegant pattern, immediately acquires an exquisite and unusual look.

Sometimes wallpaper is used for the same purpose. In combination with stucco and moldings, they give a spectacular result.

Classic and original coloring

Turning an old shelf into an interesting piece of furniture by painting and decorating the back walls

Undoubtedly, an old chest of drawers, a wardrobe or a stool will noticeably change after staining. The main types of paints used for these purposes are latex, acrylic and oil. All of the above options are bright and juicy color, which is the result.

Old chest of drawers made of wood before and after changes - painting, adding new fittings and moldings

AT classic version these paints require serious preparation of the painted surface. However, if you mix any of these compounds with warm water; chalk, plaster or building plaster, you get the so-called chalk paint. It does not require preliminary stripping and priming - you only need to remove fat from the object being processed.

Painting furniture with chalk paint to give products an unusual look

Restoration of an old chair with staining

Speaking of original ways staining, milk paint should be mentioned, which gives the furniture a vintage look. And, of course, the use of various stencils, which make it possible to obtain an interesting pattern on the restored products. For simple geometric ornaments, it is not even necessary to cut out a special stencil - you can use masking tape. It sticks to fragments that are not supposed to be painted, and then easily peels off without leaving any traces.

Original vintage style chair after painting and decorating

Alteration in decoupage technique

We update the old chest of drawers using decoupage technique for a new interior

This is another good way to effectively update your furniture. Decoupage is the decoration of objects with the help of images and ornaments from napkins, wallpapers, fabrics. The image of your choice is fixed in the right place with the help of varnish. The description of the technique sounds simple, but it has certain nuances.

How to create a new piece of decor from an old stool?

To make it clearer how to apply the above techniques in practice, consider their use on the example of an old stool.

  • Coloring in two colors

Updating old chairs with staining

A simple and fashionable transformation method is to paint the bottom of the legs of a chair or stool in a contrasting light color. This creates a visual effect of ease of construction. Looks very conceptual. The upper unpainted part in this case is usually covered with a glossy varnish.

  • colorful stripes

Do-it-yourself striped openwork stool

Another new trend, obtained with the help of bright colors and masking tape. Such stripes are applied both to the legs of the stool and to its seat. Just remember that the shades you choose must be supported by other elements of the room's design, otherwise the result of your creative work will not be in harmony with it.

  • Drawing a picture on the seat

Decorating kitchen stools using decoupage technique

Here, the decoupage technique described above is just very well suited. Although a stencil can also work in combination with a contrasting coloring composition.

How to make furniture in vintage style?

The list of things you can do with your old wall, chest of drawers or grandfather's table is only limited by your creativity. However, one of interesting options is to create the effect of a stylish and expensive antiquity. This is another possible answer to the question - how to update furniture. There are various approaches to this direction.

  • artificial patina

Antique wood furniture with patina

Using an old cabinet as an example, this method looks like this: you need to sand its walls with sandpaper, apply acrylic paint muted shades of pink or blue. After drying, it is necessary to treat the plane with a hard sponge so that the walls look unevenly painted. The final step is to re-sand the walls with sandpaper so that the tree becomes visible. Combined with the right handles, your closet will take on a truly interesting look.

  • Glaze

Artificial aging of furniture to create a certain style in the interior

This technique of artificial aging of the material is borrowed from painting. It consists in creating two levels - a translucent top and a bright bottom, translucent from under the top. This is achieved by applying a special varnish.

  • Spray

Spray technique for furniture decoration

Splashing randomly scattered droplets onto your piece of furniture allows you to get an interesting decor object, suggesting a long history of its use.

Video: How to update kitchen furniture