The popularity of retro furniture has been gaining momentum lately. We, of course, will not resist such wonderful fashion trends, but will try to create beauty ourselves. In today’s article we will prove to you that restoring an old chair with your own hands is very simple, and most importantly, affordable. Do you like this idea?
Then go ahead, let's figure it out together!
Choosing chair upholstery for curtains
So, what can serve as a guide for you when choosing chair upholstery? Firstly, these could be the curtains of the room where you plan to put a new chair. Both the upholstery and curtain fabric can be the same if they are part of the same designer collection. But such things, as a rule, are not cheap and not everyone can afford them.
In other cases, the same fabric will be inappropriate because it has different requirements. Therefore, you will have to make your own decision about compatibility, taking into account the pattern and color scheme of the curtains. The pattern of the chair upholstery does not have to exactly match the pattern on the curtains. On the contrary, the most profitable combinations will be: “curtains-stripes, chair-cage”, “curtains-vignettes, chair-stripes”, “curtains-small flowers and leaves, chair-large flowers”.
Manufacturing stages based on the model
The creation of a chair must be approached responsibly and thoughtfully, taking into account the slightest nuances. Then the result will surpass the factory options, since the quality will be incomparably higher, and the product itself will last a very long time. The manufacturing process differs depending on the selected model.
Traditional
A classic upholstered chair that combines robust construction with high comfort, suitable for any home. Unlike sofas, it can be made faster and easier, but only with the right approach. Work should be carried out in a separate area where there is no expensive flooring or foreign objects. In addition, you need to take into account the formation of debris during wood processing and the need for further cleaning.
Features of placing a chair on the balcony, suitable furniture models
When the place is prepared and safety precautions are observed, you can begin the procedure for creating a chair with your own hands:
- Using pre-prepared cardboard templates, future frame elements are placed.
- A jigsaw (grinder) is used to cut the component elements along the marking lines.
- Processing is carried out with a grinder to smooth out unevenness and roughness.
- The future upholstery pattern is marked on the fabric, cut out with allowances of 1 cm, and stitching is done.
- Furniture foam rubber is divided into pieces of the required size, and the canvas is stuffed.
- The soft elements of the armrests are wrapped in foam rubber, the material is secured using a stapler. If there are decorative wooden armrests, they are attached to the top with self-tapping screws.
In order for the chair to serve for a long time even in a room with a high level of humidity, the frame must be treated with bioprotective compounds. They will prevent deformation of the material, eliminate the occurrence of fungus and the appearance of insect pests.
The finished chair can be decorated according to personal preferences if desired. For example, cover medium-sized buttons with fabric and place them on the back and seat in a checkerboard pattern. This is a standard technique, which will nevertheless give the furniture a more comfortable look.
Choosing chair upholstery to match the walls
When choosing upholstery for armchairs, you can also be guided by the color of the walls in the room. The lighter the walls and upholstery of the chair, the more spacious the room will seem, and vice versa, bright saturated colors will make the room more intimate. The most advantageous option will be when one of the tones in the upholstery of the chairs matches the tone of the walls. Then any chair will fit into your interior, even if it doesn’t match the overall style of the room.
For rooms whose walls are covered with wallpaper, you can select chair upholstery using the same principle as in the case of curtains. One of the tones on the wallpaper can be repeated in the upholstery pattern.
Manufacturing process step by step instructions
If working at home, prepare a spacious area for assembly. If possible, it is better to carry out sawing and polishing in a separate room or outdoors. If this cannot be done, then you should take the flowers out of the room and cover the furniture with construction film to protect it from dust and sawdust. When working with wood and a stapler, it is recommended to use assembly gloves to avoid rubbing calluses and to avoid splinters getting into your hands.
Important! During the assembly period, it is better to remove pets and children from the room, as they could be injured by the sharp edges of the tools or damage something.
Case manufacturing
It’s better to make the chair frame with someone, but you can do it yourself. An assistant will be needed when connecting the vertical and horizontal parts.
Housing assembly sequence:
- Based on the calculations and diagrams, the components of the frame are cut out and polished - vertical posts, middle slats, railing parts, bases for the seat and backrest.
- The sides are assembled using furniture screws. Their mirror compliance in all parameters is checked. If these parts are open, then balusters are inserted. The closed type product is sheathed on the sides with plywood.
- The backrest is attached to the rear pillars. Its size corresponds to the parameters of the seats.
- Guides are installed for the movement of the rollers. These pieces will serve as the base for the pillows.
- The bottom of the box is covered with plywood, and its top is covered with a hinged lid.
After checking the compliance of the dimensions with the calculated data, the structure is reinforced with transverse bars.
Installation of the mechanism
Products with a folding mechanism are convenient to use. Thanks to this device, the pillows are firmly fixed in the desired position. When purchasing a part, be sure to obtain installation instructions from the seller.
The frames of the base and seats are fixed in a given position. For this purpose, supports and tape are used. To be sure, it is better to take thin and long screws. When the structure is fixed, you need to attach both parts of the mechanism to it and make marks for drilling. After making the holes, the parts are bolted and lubricated at friction points.
Before further assembly, it is recommended to check the correct installation of the transformation mechanism. It should work gently, without any effort.
Sheathing
You should start by making patterns. It is advisable to first design the process. It is better to do this using two sheets of A4 paper. The canvas and parts that will be used for upholstery are cut to scale. After this, the optimal option for cutting the material is determined by trial. From the resulting patterns, covers are sewn with an allowance of 3 cm for fastening.
Then the side parts are finished. They are covered with 20 mm thick foam rubber. Fastening with brackets is carried out on the lower part.
100 mm foam rubber or 2 layers of 50 mm each are glued to the seat base. When the glue dries, the cover is pulled over the pillow. Nailing is carried out in the direction from the centers to the edges.
Decorating a bed chair
To give the finished product an original and stylish design, the following decoration options are used:
- embedding spotlights into the façade sidewalls;
- armrest trim with LED strips;
- covering with tapestries or embroidery;
- sewing appliques to covers;
- gluing mosaics to legs and balusters.
If time and opportunity permit, you can sew several replacement covers for all occasions. This option will allow you to quickly remove dirt or choose decor to suit your mood.
Source: vseme.ru
Selecting pillows and blankets for the chair
In order for the chair to fit into the interior most advantageously, it is important, in addition to the upholstery, to choose the right accessories for it - pillows or blankets. One option is to sew pillow covers from the same fabric from which the curtains in the room are made. Or sew them from companion fabric from the same curtain range.
, a fabric color can be chosen that is present in the interior of the room, but is hardly or not at all found in the chair upholstery. Such a pillow can be combined into a single chair with other elements of furniture or decor.
A black, white or gray blanket thrown over a chair will look advantageous if the room already has furniture or accessories of these colors.
When the upholstery of your chairs is made in neutral colors, then bright pillows for it should be chosen in those shades that are already in the room; in other cases, you can rely on an interesting, eye-catching pattern or an unusual texture of the pillow fabric.
Another way to freshen up the decor in a room with the help of armchairs is to place armchairs with different upholstery next to each other. This technique is used by many creative designers. A small detail brought into the seating area - a new coffee or coffee table, floor lamp or bookcase - can also give your old chairs a new look.
Required materials and tools
You can get a reliable wooden chair if you choose the right materials. The main element is always the frame - it is important not only for the chair, but also for any other furniture. Most often the base is made from:
- solid wood;
- Chipboard (chipboard);
- plywood;
- metal
Frames made of wood are the most environmentally friendly and are suitable even for allergy sufferers. The wood must be of good quality, which means that it cannot contain bark, cracks, or irregularities in geometry. With such shortcomings, the finished product will quickly become unusable, deforming under loads.
If you make the frame from high quality chipboard or its varnished version, such a chair will be very durable. When choosing, you need to focus on good density, sheet thickness, and dry texture. Natural chipboard cannot crumble. However, it cannot be painted or otherwise processed. But synthetic material is not the best option. It will quickly deteriorate, primarily due to exposure to moisture.
Plywood is rarely used for a frame, but it can become a strong base. This is possible provided that sheets with a thickness of 15 mm or more are correctly fastened and selected. Since the material is not the most presentable, it is advisable to cover it with soft upholstery.
To ensure a good appearance of the product, you can choose a laminated plywood version. It is beautiful even without additional upholstery and at the same time has a top layer that protects from moisture and minor damage.
The metal frame will be the strongest, but weighs much more than other options. In addition, to create a chair on a metal base, you will need special tools, including a welding machine. Some designs involve fastening with bolts and nuts, but their disadvantage is loosening, which, one way or another, occurs over time. As a result, the furniture begins to creak, which significantly affects the level of comfort.
The best models and designs of living room chairs, their main characteristics
Solid wood
Plywood
Chipboard
Metal
Whatever material is chosen for the chair frame, it must be assembled with the highest possible quality. This is what will give the structure the strength and rigidity necessary for durability. The upholstery should also be durable. There are several decoration options:
- flock;
- jacquard;
- tapestry;
- velours;
- chenille;
- leather (can be natural or artificial).
The selection of a specific material is made for specific conditions of use. If there is a high risk of damage, for example, if there are animals or children in the house, it is better to take wear-resistant and durable material. You also need to take into account that the parts will be cut with small allowances reserved for seams. Accordingly, it is better to take the canvas with a reserve.
For maximum comfort, you can fill the fabric areas with furniture foam. It is advisable to choose it with a density above 30, so the material will last longer and retain its shape. Typically, this procedure is performed on the inside of the backrest, seat, and armrests.
Flock
Tapestry
Jacquard
Velours
Chenille
Leather
It will be easier to make a homemade chair if you have prepared the necessary materials and consumables in advance:
- Screwdriver (welding machine, if we are talking about a metal frame).
- A jigsaw for cutting out parts from wood (a grinder will help with metal).
- Stapler for furniture.
- Sewing machine (arranges pieces of fabric for upholstery).
- Scissors.
- Chalk (dry soap will do) for marking work surfaces.
- A sander that gives the product a finished look.
- Fasteners in the form of screws, bolts and nuts that make up the structure.
The made chair is a kind of guarantee of comfort and tranquility. That is why you cannot skimp on tools and fasteners. The durability and strength of the finished product depends on them - with the right approach, it will last up to 10 years without any problems.
