Sofa with orthopedic base and orthopedic mattress

Everyone knows that the frame of a sofa is the main structural element on which the durability and ease of use of the product depends. Previously, only wood was used to produce the frame, and the quality of the future sofa could be determined by its grade and type. The developments of modern manufacturers have added more options, which has made it possible to expand the range and attract more buyers. Now in the “Frame Material” column you can see the following options:

1. Tree;
2. Plywood;
3. chipboard;
4. Metal;
5. Combined.

Let's take a closer look at each of the listed materials.

Sofa shapes

Sofas are:

• straight;
• corner;
• with ottoman;
• modular;
• island.

Straight sofas are a classic. There are a lot of variations. There are any sizes and colors.

collectmoments/Flickr.com

Straight sofas, like corner sofas, are usually placed along the walls and are often equipped with built-in tables, a minibar and folding shelves. It is comfortable to sleep on such sofas.

jiva/Flickr.com

Corner sofas should not be identified with sofas with an ottoman. In the East, this is the name of a type of wide soft ottoman. In our furniture industry, an ottoman is understood as the protruding part of a sofa. Often without armrests, but with a storage niche.

Modern sofas with an ottoman in the interior successfully serve as corner sofas, saving space in small rooms, and often serve as the main sleeping place for the owners.

Maxim Kachurovskiy/Flickr.com

Island sofas can be round or semicircular, oval and rectangular. These are expensive and status sofas. As a rule, they do not sleep on them. They are placed in the center of spacious rooms to create a relaxation area. It is desirable that the “island” be approached from all sides.

Modular sofas consist of several parts and can be combined in different ways. Modules can be used as separate furniture elements. It may contain a module with a sleeping place, but most often such sofas are designed for beauty and relaxation.

Thanks to their versatility and variety of shapes, modular sofas are perfect for studio apartments.

Scott Allen/Flickr.com

Do-it-yourself corner sofa - step-by-step instructions

Making a corner sofa with your own hands is not at all difficult. Using these step-by-step instructions, you can make a classic model in a standard size.

To work, you will need the tools specified in the previous paragraph of the article, and the following materials:

• timber 50 mm thick (frame);
• Fiberboard (bottom);
• Laminated chipboard (base, armrests);
• plywood (frame covering);
• foam rubber 100 mm thick, padding polyester;
• agrotextiles, upholstery fabric;
• fastening screws, self-tapping screws, corners, nails;
• legs (stable, low);
• furniture glue, nylon thread.

Stages of work:

1. Draw a drawing indicating the dimensions of each design detail.
2. Cut out the side parts from the fiberboard and cut the timber.
3. Align the two sides of the long part of the sofa, attach horizontal and vertical bars to them using fastening screws. Each post must have four attachment points.
4. Using the same principle, assemble the short part of the product.
5. Sheathing of frames. All elements are fastened with self-tapping screws. Attach laminated chipboard to the backs. Cover the seats with plywood, the bottom with fiberboard sheets.
6. Assemble the armrest frames, attach them to the main structure with corners, and cover them with chipboard.
7. Attach four legs to the bottom of each part using corners.
8. Cover the seats and backs with foam rubber. Sidewalls - one layer of padding polyester, armrests - 3-4 layers of padding polyester. For strength, stitch the joints of the seal with nylon thread.
9. Upholster the product with agrotextiles. This will prevent premature wear of the sofa surface and foam rubber. Then attach the main fabric.

The whole process can be clearly seen in the video below:

Note! When upholstering, it is important to ensure that the material is evenly stretched and the pattern matches.

Basic mechanisms of transformation

The transformation mechanism is the way the sofa is laid out. There are many options.

When you first come to the store, your head is spinning from the variety of transformation mechanisms and their fancy names. It's actually simple.

Mechanisms can be divided into folding, rolling out and unfolding. The first include “book” and “eurobook”, as well as “click-click”. The second ones are “telescope”, “tick-tock” and “dolphin”. The unfolding mechanisms are an “accordion” and various “clamshells”.

The rotary mechanisms stand apart. They are used in large corner sofas: one half turns towards the other, forming a wide sleeping area.

Sofa with swivel mechanism

Book and Eurobook

Book
Book sofas have been familiar to everyone since Soviet times. We raise the seat a little and get a rectangular berth. To unfold such a sofa, you need to move it away from the wall. The space under the seat is usually used to store bedding and other items.

Eurobook

"Eurobook" is an improved "book". Everything is the same, only the seat moves forward on runners. A simple, reliable mechanism, suitable for everyday use. This sofa does not need to be moved away from the wall.

Click-clack

Click-klyak
This is also a modernized “book”, which, in addition to the “lying” and “sitting” positions, has intermediate options: “reclining” and “half-sitting”. The “click-clack” sofa is made on a metal frame with wooden armor, which often breaks under heavy load. It is better to use it in a nursery or for rare overnight guests.

Lit

Sofas with the “lit” mechanism are very similar in appearance and principle of operation. The difference is that they do not have a reclining back - only armrests.

Telescope (retractable)

Telescope
The sleeping place of the telescope sofa consists of three parts. Two of them form the seat, and one forms the backrest. To unfold it, you need to pull the bottom of the seat, fold the backrest forward, and fill the space between them with a mattress. Disadvantages: low sleeping area and scratches on the floor due to frequent use.

Accordion

Accordion
This transformation mechanism is based on the accordion principle: the sleeping place also consists of three parts, one of them is the seat, and the other two form the backrest. To unfold the “accordion”, you need to move the seat forward and place the backrest in the same plane as it.

Sofas with this mechanism are produced on wooden frames with ordinary metal hinges and on all-metal frames with wooden armor. It is better not to lay out the former often, while the latter are suitable for daily use.

Tick-tock (pantograph)

This transformation mechanism is very similar to the “Eurobook”. Only the “tick-tock” seat moves forward using a spring mechanism. This is a more expensive, but also more convenient option: there are no wheels, nothing scratches the floor. “Tick-tock” is perfect for those who plan to use the sofa as a bed.

Dolphin (kangaroo, microlift)

Dolphin
This is a very popular transformation mechanism. Especially in corner sofas and sofas with ottoman used for sleeping every day.

The principle of operation is simple: when unfolded, a platform rolls out from under the seat, which is then raised using a special elevator mechanism, forming a single berth. The more reliable the lifting mechanism, the longer the sofa will last.

French, American, Belgian and Italian folding beds

French folding bed
The French folding bed is a tri-fold folding bed. During transformation, the berth is turned forward and placed on arches. But sleeping on such a sofa is quite hard. It is not suitable for daily use. This is a guest option.

American folding bed

The “American folding bed” is a little more comfortable. There are only two folds, and therefore the mattresses are thicker, sometimes even with spring blocks. But for daily sleep it’s still not the most convenient option.

“Belgian clamshell” is not so much a type of transformation mechanism as a sign of the manufacturer. The French-Belgian furniture company Sedac-Meral produces two- and three-fold folding beds with foam and spring mattresses of different heights. This is the “Belgian folding bed”.

Italian folding bed

The “Italian folding bed” has two folds and unfolds together with the soft elements of the sofa. Unlike other “folding beds”, some “Italian” models have small containers for storing bedding.

Decide what you need a sofa for: for sleeping or for relaxing? In the first case, it is better to take a “book”, “Eurobook”, “tick-tock” or a good “dolphin”. Everything else is guest options.

Here is a table that clearly demonstrates the pros and cons of various types of sofas.

Sofa design: main elements of the internal structure

There are only three main details of the internal structure of upholstered furniture, which most strongly affect its strength, durability and performance characteristics.

• Inner frame
• Soft fillers
• Spring block, if available.

In addition to the listed elements, various built-in devices can be located inside the sofa. For example, a linen drawer or a transformation mechanism. In addition, some modern models have built-in music systems, bars, and safes. But still, such pieces of upholstered furniture are rare and are more likely to be considered funny curiosities.

In addition, some sofa models may have not only an internal, but also an external rigid frame. In this case, metal or wooden parts form a decorative, and sometimes quite functional, “external skeleton” of the product. In addition, the external decorative frame can be wicker.

You can read in detail about the different types of soft fillers here. But we’ll talk about frame materials and different types of spring blocks now.

Frame

In the production of sofas, metal and wooden frames are used, as well as frames made of wooden blocks with chipboard.

Metal frames are reliable and durable, provided that the connections are made by welding and not bolts. Any upholstery matches a sofa with a metal frame. If necessary, it can be replaced.

The service life of a wooden frame depends on the type and quality of the wood. This also affects the price. The most expensive sofas are made of oak, beech, walnut and ash. More budget options are frames made of birch and coniferous wood.

In a wooden frame, the main thing is that the wood is smooth and dry. The fewer potholes and knots, the better.

A combination of wooden blocks and chipboard is the cheapest option for a sofa frame. But if the production technology is followed, and the chipboard elements are treated with special paint, such a sofa will also last for many years.

Types and materials.

The frame of the sofa can be made from a variety of materials. Most often, the parts that make up the “skeleton” of the sofa are made from:

• Wood or plywood;
• Metal;
• Plastic or plastics;
• Exotic materials (rattan, wicker, grass, stone).

These materials are selected for strength and can last for many years. For classic folding sofas, metal or wood is used. Some sofas can be assembled on plastic or polymer frames. Designer pieces are made from natural stone or even such valuable material as ivory.

Furniture manufacturers have developed a large number of different designs of sofa frames. Each of them has its own characteristics and advantages.

At the same time, the most valuable are sofas made from natural wood of valuable species: oak, pear, cherry, beech, ebony and mahogany. The price of these products corresponds to their quality, and their service life is calculated for decades.

Mass-produced, conveyor products (from the IKEA store) are made from cheaper types of wood (pine or spruce) and often have a metal base. The cost of such sofas is not high, but they do not last more than ten years.

Filler

Back, seat, armrests - each element of the sofa has a filling. As a rule, these are foam rubber and polyurethane foam. Latex and springs are also available.

Sofas with only foam inside are the cheapest, but least durable. A sofa with padding made from a single piece of foam will retain its shape for as long as possible. But in three or four years it too will sag.

Most manufacturers prefer polyurethane foam padding. It is almost the same in price as foam rubber, but lasts much longer.

Polyurethane foam can be block (sandwich) and cast. From the first, the seat, back and other elements of the sofa are simply glued together. When they talk about cast polyurethane foam, they mean that at the factory it was poured in liquid form into a mold and at the end they received a cast back or armrest of the sofa.

The most durable, environmentally friendly and expensive filler is latex. Thanks to its high elasticity, it follows the contours of the body and instantly restores its shape. At the same time, it does not electrify, is resistant to mold and does not cause allergies. Latex is usually used in expensive orthopedic furniture.

It is worth mentioning separately about spring blocks. Their presence in the sofa not only adds points to convenience, but also makes the sofa more durable and wear-resistant. Of course, provided that very high-quality individual spring blocks are used.

The best option is sofas with multi-layer filling and different density coefficients in different areas. The bottom layer is the densest, on top there is a thin soft material for maximum comfort.

What is an orthopedic base

If you look inside, you will see a huge difference between a regular sofa and an orthopedic one. The design of the latter uses an unusual base, which consists of springy lamellas (boards) slightly curved upward. They are usually made from steamed wood - this technology increases the elasticity and service life of the armor. In different models, the lamellas may differ in width and also be located at different distances from each other.

The lattice structure becomes an ideal support for an orthopedic mattress, improving its anatomical characteristics.

Lifehacks for those who choose a sofa

1. Decide where the sofa will be. Draw a plan on paper. This will make it easier to navigate the store. Calculate whether there will be enough space for walking when the sofa is unfolded.
2. Decide on the function of the sofa: guest or for daily sleep. Also think about who will sleep on it: a child weighing 40 kg or an adult man for a hundredweight. Based on this, choose a mechanism.
3. In the store, carefully examine the transformation mechanism. Its metal parts must be thicker than 3 mm, carefully painted and securely connected to each other.
4. Sit or even lie down on the sofa. Estimate the density of the filler. Pay attention to the sounds the sofa makes when you move. Creaking is a sure sign of a poorly glued frame.
5. Pay attention to the evenness of the seams and rows of staples. These are the nuances that distinguish a conscientious manufacturer from an amateur. Look at the back of the sofa. If you plan to place it not against the wall, but in the center of the room, it should also be neatly upholstered.
6. If the manufacturer's warranty is less than 18 months, choose another one.

DIY sofa bed

As a rule, such models are chosen in studio rooms or when it is not possible to fit a double bed in the bedroom. Comfortable, healthy sleep can only be ensured by a product that has orthopedic properties. Therefore, it is better to buy ready-made mattresses for a homemade sofa bed.

The choice of method for transforming a model into a full-fledged sleeping place depends solely on the wishes of its creator. Using the example of making a sofa with the easiest-to-use “Eurobook” mechanism, you can study the main stages of work.

For this you will need the following materials:

• two mattresses;
• beam;
• Chipboard, fibreboard, plywood;
• thin foam rubber, synthetic winterizer;
• legs;
• agrotextiles;
• upholstery fabric;
• glue;
• fasteners, nails, screws;
• folding mechanism (2 pcs.)
• tools.

First you need to assemble a rectangular base box from fiberboard. Attach the legs and timber guides to the inside of the sidewalls, close to each other. Install a fiberboard spacer in the center of the box and cover the bottom with plywood.

Next, the frame of the retractable part is made from timber, the surface of which is covered with a sheet of plywood. Support bars are attached to the structure, and legs are attached to them. At the corners of the inner part of the frame there are small bars up to 10 cm long that prevent it from jumping off the base. A mattress is placed on the frame, its edging is connected to the surface using a furniture stapler. The seat is ready.

Then the upper parts of the folding mechanisms are screwed onto strips of fiberboard measuring approximately 15x30 cm with self-tapping screws. Four through holes are drilled in the corners of the boards.

To attach the resulting parts to the back, you need to “open” the mattress upholstery from the sides, gaining access to its spring blocks. Using a strong wire, the fiberboard is connected to the internal elements of the mattress. Now the lower parts of the mechanisms can be secured to the base.

At the final stage, the wooden parts are covered with foam rubber and synthetic padding. Next comes upholstery with sealing and decorative fabric. A seat is placed on the base. That's it, the sofa bed is ready. For convenience, the model is equipped with large pillows and armrest bolsters.

Note! This sofa can be made with armrests. To do this, you need to build two low boxes, cover them with foam rubber and fabric, and attach them to the box.

DIY sofa made from plastic bottles

Designers manage to create unusual, comfortable models from various available materials. For example, you can make a sofa with your own hands from plastic bottles.

Important! All bottles must have screwed caps!

To do this you will need: identical bottles, tape, scissors or a carpenter's knife.

First, half of the bottles are cut exactly in the middle. Then the resulting bottom is put on the upper part of the whole bottle, and the neck is put on its lower part. The joint is sealed with tape. Such manipulations are done with the remaining elements.

Next, blocks consisting of 4 pieces each are formed from the obtained elements using adhesive tape. Then, as from the parts of a construction set, a base of the required size is assembled. If 1.5 liter bottles are used, then two tiers will be needed to seat the sofa.

All components of the structure are held together with several layers of tape. Then the back and armrests are formed from the parts. The result is a plastic sofa that needs to be made soft. To do this, the entire structure is covered with foam rubber and covered with fabric.

You can make a sofa of any size and shape with your own hands from plastic bottles. For example, a minimalist model with wide sides that are used as a tray stand.

A product with a high back can be given a solemn look by using noble fabrics and carriage screed for upholstery. This sofa will fit into the interior of a classic-style bedroom.

How to convert a bed into a sofa

Outdated or tired furniture is perfect for making a new piece of furniture. By being smart and giving free rein to your imagination, you can create real hand-made masterpieces.

So, how can you make a sofa yourself from an old bed? First of all, it is necessary to inspect its design. Determine how strong the base is, whether the mattress is worn out, which parts need to be replaced and which need to be restored. If the mattress is placed on a solid surface or frame, there is not much work to be done.

In addition, you should purchase the following materials: chipboard, foam rubber, plywood, self-tapping screws, nails, screws, fabric. If the mattress is unsuitable, you will have to spend more money on purchasing it.

First, you should cut out a piece of chipboard that matches the dimensions of the bed base. Connect these parts with furniture screws.

For the backrest you will need a sheet of chipboard approximately 1 m high, with a width equal to the length of the future seat, which is also attached to the base.

The next stage is making 3 back cushions. You need to make 3 rectangles from plywood, the width of each of which is equal to 1/3 of the length of the seat. And the height is chosen at your discretion. Thick foam rubber is glued to the front parts of the blanks.

In addition, you can make sidewalls for the sofa. This is done by analogy with pillows, only the sizes change.

Now you should upholster each element with fabric using a stapler, and install the pillows to the back of the sofa.

Making a sofa with your own hands is a rather troublesome process, but quite doable. To summarize, I would like to note the main thing:

• design a sofa;
• draw up a diagram of all the components with dimensions;
• select building materials, sealing, upholstery, folding mechanism, fittings;
• strictly follow the step-by-step instructions.

The result of painstaking work and effort will be an exclusive, stylish sofa that will decorate the bedroom and make it more comfortable.

I hope my material will inspire you to create original furniture for sleeping and relaxing. Ask any questions you have in the comments below. Special thanks to those who repost or give 5 stars for my efforts.

DIY transforming sofa

Sofas that can easily be transformed into other pieces of furniture are perfect for one-room apartments and studio rooms. There are quite a few varieties of them, but not all of them can be made independently. The model consisting of individual elements is considered the easiest to implement and most convenient to handle. The sofa modules can be rearranged in any way. The result will be a full-fledged sleeping place or two separate sofas, several armchairs, a coffee table, and poufs.

The modules have different shapes and sizes, but their surface is usually perfectly flat. Using the example of making a transforming sofa consisting of squares, the principle of creating such sofas with your own hands is based.

To work you will need:

• beam;
• plywood or fiberboard;
• laminated chipboard measuring 1m x 1m;
• screws, furniture fasteners;
• thick foam rubber, synthetic winterizer, upholstery fabric, any dense material for the bottom (tarpaulin, eco-leather);
• pillows;
• tools.

First, a frame is made from beams 0.5 m high, 1 m wide and 1 m long. It is sheathed on all sides with plywood or fiberboard.

Foam rubber is glued to the surface of the resulting module, and padding polyester is glued to the sides.

A cover is sewn from fabric (without a bottom), put on the product, and secured to the bottom using a furniture stapler.

Dense material is nailed to the lower part. For our model we need to make 5 more such modules.

If desired, you can attach low backs to several segments of the sofa. This should be done at the frame manufacturing stage. But this type of model leaves fewer options for transformation.

The function of the backrest will be performed by 3 large pillows measuring 1 m x 0.7 m. Covers with zippers are sewn for them from upholstery fabric. Armrests can be made from bolster pillows, for which you will also need to sew covers.

Ready-made modules can be installed in any way you like: line them up in an L-shape, arrange a spacious sleeping place, two chieftains, place one cube in front of the sofa, put a sheet of chipboard on it and get a coffee table.

DIY wardrobe-sofa-bed

A bed that disappears from the room is a great way to solve the problem of lack of space. It’s even better when a sofa appears in this place.

It is quite possible to make such a multifunctional design with your own hands. Of course, you will have to put in quite a lot of effort and spend time, but the result is worth it. In addition to saving space, a hand-made model, made to the required dimensions, will fit perfectly into your bedroom-living room. In addition, it will cost much less than factory furniture.

Such multifunctional furniture is suitable for any modern style. Additionally, the model can be equipped with shelves instead of bulky bedside tables.

You need to start making the model from the cabinet. It is usually a tall shelving unit with closed shelves and a niche for a bed in the middle.

Then a box for the mattress is made, which is equipped with furniture slats or a spring mesh and a pair of legs.

A lifting mechanism is attached to it. It is better to choose a piston type mechanism. It is much more durable than other analogues, and also completely prevents the bed from spontaneously falling out. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about your safety when you’re near a closet or sitting on the sofa.

Then the cabinet is connected to the box, installed on the wall, and securely attached to its surface. The mattress is placed on the frame and tied with strong straps.

After the main part of the structure is ready, they begin to create the sofa. This can be a frame model or a frameless specimen. A soft back of the sofa is attached to the lower part of the bed box from the side of the room. It can be replaced with pillows of any shape.

DIY frameless sofa

Frameless products appeared more than forty years ago. Currently, they are considered a trend in modern furniture fashion. Such sofas and armchairs are original, practical, quite durable, and easy to maintain. It is very comfortable to sit and lie on them, as the products completely follow the curves of the body. The design options for frameless furniture are endless: from classic models to ultra creative ones.

Making a frameless sofa with your own hands is very easy. There are two main options for such furniture: made of polyurethane or covers with filling.

To create a model that holds its shape, you will need 3 layers of polyurethane, thick braid, and fabric. The seat is made of two layers of sealing, which are connected using belts or strong tape.

The back is one layer of polyurethane. According to the sizes of both parts, it is necessary to sew covers with zippers around the perimeter of the back part.

To fasten both parts of the sofa, you should sew two detachable zippers on the back edge of the large cover and on the small cover at a height equal to the height of the seat. Then the covers are put on the seal, the back and seat are connected together.

The second method of making a frameless sofa is even simpler. The inner and outer covers of any shape are sewn from thick fabric. They should also be fastened with a zipper. All kinds of patterns can be found on the Internet or come up with yourself. Next, the inner bag is inserted into the outer bag and filled 2/3 with filler - foam balls with a diameter of 4-6 mm. If necessary, the “filling” can be added or replaced with a new one.