Replace Sofa Cushions - How to Replace Sofa Cushions by yourself

I found a great article that will guide us step by step to replace a sofa cushions. This articles wrote by Dave Donovan a freelance writer living in Atco, N.J. From his article he provide us with all the steps to replace a sofa cushions.Let us read through the rest of his articles below.

In today’s tough economy, more and more people are looking for less expensive ways to improve their lives and living conditions. Instead of hiring someone to fix the plumbing, they are doing it themselves. Instead of taking an exotic vacation, people are enjoying a few days off and rediscovering their back yards. And, instead of purchasing new furniture, more and more people are refurbishing their existing ensemble. It’s not as hard as you think and in fact, you’ll be doing the environment a favor by keeping your furniture out of the landfill. But, before you begin ripping off your sofa’s fabric, here are a few tips to help your reupholstering adventure end in favorable results.

* Take a few moments, a few hours or a few days to study the existing fabric that is on your furniture and how that fabric was originally secured to the frame. Turn it over, look at the bottom. Remove the pillows and look under the seat pillow.
* Use a camera to take a few pictures of the piece before you begin de-constructing it. This will help you have an image of how the piece should look while you are working on it.
* Take notes or commit to memory the subtle details on how the piece is put together. Look at the skirt, the buttons, the welting, the seams, etc.
* Use care when removing the existing fabric. Your reupholstering job will be much easier if you have the older fabric in one piece to use as a template for the new fabric.
* Before removing the fabric, find the section that should come off first. In most cases, this is the fabric over the back or along the bottom of the frame. Take pieces of paper, number them and pin them to each section so you know in what direction you will be proceeding next. Along with the number, write the section that it pertains to, such as “left arm side.”
* Do the best you can to not disturb the padding, stuffing or batting. Of course, if the piece is old or has had a lot of use, you may have to replace some or all of it, but if it is in decent shape, just smooth it out some to remove any lumps or bunches.
* Choose the right fabric for the job. While heavy-duty tapestry may last a little longer, it can be cumbersome and difficult to work with. For your first upholstery job, a medium-weight fabric will be easier to use, it will cost less and it will last longer than you can imagine.

The important thing is to remember to have fun when reupholstering your furniture. After all, the process is a journey, one filled with laughs, a few tears and eventually pride in knowing you did it all yourself.

Reupholstering furniture is beneficial in a number of ways. For starters, older furniture is constructed out of much higher quality materials than modern furniture is and by purchasing an older piece, you can get a great piece of furniture for a fraction of the cost of a less-quality, brand new one. But, how does one find the “perfect piece of furniture” for their reupholstering dreams? Here are a few places to look and tips on finding a great deal.

Places to Look for Antique Furniture:

* The Sunday paper
* eBay.com
* Craigslist.org
* The local Pennysaver magazine
* Garage or yard sales
* Flea markets
* Antique shops
* Amazon.com

How to Tell if a Piece of Furniture is Suitable for Reupholstering:

* First, you have to love the shape of the piece. Is the structure of the chair or sofa to your liking? You don’t want to spend the time refurbishing a wing-back chair when you don’t really like that style.
* Lift the piece of furniture. Is it heavy? If it is, then it was probably made with hardwood. This means that the frame is constructed out of very good quality materials. If it is relatively light, then it is constructed out of cheaper, low quality softwood.
* Give the piece a shake. Does it wobble? Are the legs loose? Since you can’t see through the fabric to the frame, you want everything to be tight, even and secure. The only way you are going to find out is by shaking the piece.
* Squeeze the arms on the chair you are considering buying. If they feel soft and squishy, then the chair was constructed with cheap materials which have all but disintegrated. If the arm feels lumpy, then that can easily be fixed by replacing some stuffing, but if it is squishy, pass on the purchase.
* Lastly, check the name of the manufacturer of the piece. If it was produced by a reputable furniture manufacturer, then odds are it is a good quality item. If you never heard of the name, research it online before making a purchasing decision.

I believe we can learn a lot from his article. We can make it as a good guidelines for us to try do it ourselves and save our money for another important things. GOOD LUCK !

Replace Sofa Cushions - Design Influences of Sofa Styles and Choosing the Best For You

Today's sofa styles have design influences from furniture periods dating back to the Italian Renaissance.

A variety of these period influences include adaptations of the camel back from the 18th century, to the heavily carved wood frames of the Victorian era, and simple silhouettes of the Art Deco period in the 1920's.

Ultimately though it doesn't matter what style your sofa is or if it fits into a classification. What is important is that it fits into your lifestyle and will stand the test of time, and that it enhances the style and comfort of your room.

But with so many sofa styles how do you choose?

Decide on the style of back first. No other aspect of the sofa has a greater impact on the way it looks and feels.

There are four basic back types.

A loose cushion back, is a style that has removable and reversible back and seat cushions, giving you the option of turning them over to get the most wear.

The back cushions usually line up and matches the number of seat cushions (with the exception of the bench seat) and the casings are zipped for easy removal for cleaning and replacement of the inserts.

The comfort depends on the depth of the sofa but this back style generally appeals to a lot of people.

An attached cushion back sofa the cushions are not reversible because they are upholstered directly to the inside back of the sofa. They don't require any fluffing or rearranging, always maintaining a neat look.

A tight back sofa is contoured to the shape of the sofa. A tight back sofa feels firmer than the loose or attached cushion, because you don't have any pillows to sink into, and they are low maintenance because of it.

A camel back, a channel back, and a tufted back are examples of sofa styles that fall into this category.

A multi or scatter pillow back style back on a sofa has more loose pillows than seat cushions and the pillows are smaller and usually is a more casual look.

They generally have a soft and deeper seat and are sometimes considered more comfortable because the pillows can be adjusted to persons of varying heights.
The down side is they need constant fluffing, especially if they are stuffed with down.

If this is going to be a distraction to you, you would be wise to consider the tight back, or an attached cushion.

When you are comfortable with the selection of the back, these are other key design elements to consider making your selection of the different sofa styles available much simpler.

One, two or three seats?

How many people do you need seating for?

One seat cushion or a bench seat is a clean look, and more people are apt to sit because there is no crack between cushions. Be sure the cushion can be clipped in place to prevent it from flaring up on the ends.

Two seat cushions on an average size sofa are bigger than the conventional three seat cushions.
Technically three people can sit on a two-seat cushion sofa of average length but only two will, because no one wants to sit on the crack between the cushions.

A two-seat cushion sofa is transitional, meaning it can be happy in a traditional setting or a modern one, while the more traditional sofa styles tend to have three seat cushions.

The arms on a sofa have different designs and contribute to the appearance.

A classic example being the roll arm that has a flat panel and is often outlined with a welt or cording.
Another ageless style is the English arm which is rounded with the fabric pleated at the front into sunburst pleats. A straight or slight flare parson arms are most often used in contemporary styles.

How high or low do you want the arm to be? A tuxedo sofa has the arms at the same height as the back, though if the arms are too high it may be difficult to place things down on an end table next to it.

Do you like a skirt on your sofa or do you prefer an exposed leg?
These choices are decorative in nature and purely a personal preference.

Exposed leg styles consist of a bun foot, a tapered leg or a turned English leg with or without a castor and available in a number of different finishes.

Skirts can be of a traditional or dressmaker in length, sometimes with detailing like a box-pleat, shirred on the corners or a ruffle, or even embellished with a bullion fringe at the bottom.

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Replace Sofa Cushions - Proven Techniques Help to Keep Your Furniture Clean

One of the largest investments you make inside your home is the money you spend on upholstered furniture. Because your purchase can be final for a long time it is important to choose a fabric that will suit your lifestyle and a style that will make you want to keep the furniture for many years. Dirt and oils from every day use, direct sunlight, constant wear and tear or kid's activities such as drawing crayons on the sofa can break down fibers in your upholstery and cause them to fade, look bad and wear out. Fabrics also hold on to odors so the furniture should be cleaned and maintained not only for it to look its best but also to preserve it and make it last longer. This will help the entire room smell and feel fresher as well as save thousands on furniture replacement.

By developing a regular routine of cleaning and following a few simple tips you can prevent your furniture upholstery from becoming worn, soiled and darkened by grime, grit and spills. Vacuuming your furniture every week is the most important advice you can follow. Regular vacuuming will prevent the buildup of dirt and grime as well as prolong the need for a deeper cleaning.

You can keep your furniture looking great by not eating food on the furniture. It is impossible to prevent spills and drips or stop the kids from wiping their greasy hands on the furniture and by keeping food away it makes it easier to stop the mess. When spots do appear it is important to remove them as soon as possible using a damp cloth and some mild dish detergent. The longer a spot remains in the fabric the greater the chance it becomes permanent.

One method of preventing spots from becoming permanent on your furniture is to have Scotchgard applied. Scotchgard will add an additional layer of protection to your furniture making it easier to remove any spots or spills that may occur. Also Scotchgard prevents the buildup of soil from regular use and this helps to preserve the brightness of colors.

Turning your cushions is another important part of keeping your furniture free of excess wear and tear. This will make the wear and tear more even and prevents the grime from building up in one area. Keeping your furniture out of direct sunlight will prevent the fabric from fading and preserve the beauty of your furniture.

All upholstered furniture eventually gets a buildup of cooking odors, pollution from outside or body oils from frequent use. The only way to properly remove these problems is to have your furniture deep cleaned. It is important to use a method with low moisture to prevent any damage that can be caused by excessive moisture. And remove any buildup of soiling. By following a routine of cleaning every 12 to 18 months it will increase the likelihood of being able to maintain the beauty of your furniture.

If you try to clean the furniture yourself instead of having it professionally cleaned it can be a little tricky. Make sure you only use mild cleaning agents because some fabrics are much more delicate than carpeting. Some cleaning solution act as bleaching agents and can cause permanent damage to the fabric. Also excessive moisture can cause mold and mildew issues. With such a large investment and with the proper care and maintenance you can enjoy the use and relish the appearance of your furniture beyond your expectation.

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Replace Sofa Cushions - Sofa Buying Tips

There are no set rules in buying a sofa. It's all about personal taste and preference but unless you want to replace your sofa too quickly, you have to answer these questions to determine what's right for you:

1. Sofa Size: The size of your sofa may not be determined by the space you have but by whether you live in an apartment, a house, on the ground floor or upstairs. You need to know the maximum height and width of your doors, stairs, elevator and hallway to make sure the sofa gets into your home.

Some sofa manufacturers can build around the above or supply their sofas with bolt on arms or in small pieces to be put together in situ.

Other things to consider:

2. Upholstery material (leather, fabric or PVC): Choose material that matches your life style, that looks good, can hide soils and will last you long enough to recoup money spent!

To get the best from your sofa, determine:

* How the sofa will be used?

* How often it will be used.

* Are there animals and kids around?

* What the room traffic will be (how many people will use it at any one time?)

If you answered yes to most of the above, choose textured and heavy pattern materials. These will last long and hide stains and accidents by you and the kids.

Don’t forget that leather outlasts fabrics by 4 to1.

3. Money Spent v Quality: That a sofa looks good and (or) is cheap doesn’t necessarily mean it
will give you a good return on money spent. Apart from needing to replace it quicker, a badly
constructed sofa may be bad for your health. This is particularly true for people prone to bad backs.
It’s important to check:

* The workmanship and how the sofa is constructed. You don’t have much say in mass produced sofas whilst bespoke and handmade can be specific to your needs.

* Internal components and cushion fillers used

* Quality of the upholstery. Your sofa must look and sit good. Is there enough padding? Check that patterns match the cushions and skirt, that stripes aligned at the edges.

* Warranty period offered.

4. Creature Comfort: The comfort of your sofa is paramount. Every one sits differently.
So ask your self the following:

* What’s the best sitting posture for your life style (slouch or upright)?

* Does the sofa offer the best for your sitting posture?

* Is the sofa as comfortable as you want it?

* Are the seat height, the depth, the arm height & cushion fillers correct for your life style?

Replace Sofa Cushions - Update Your Sofa With New Cushions

Got an old sofa that’s still got years of hard wear left in it – but it’s looking a little tired and outdated? If your old sofa frame is still serviceable, but the upholstery is showing a little wear and tear, updating it could be just a matter of a few yards of fabric and some comfy new cushions. If you were smart enough to choose a sofa with a cushion back and seat, you can end up looking like you have a whole new couch by the time you’re finished. Here’s how to spiff up your old sofa with new upholstery and cushions.

Cushions and Style Decisions

If your couch has an attached back, your options for restyling will be a bit more limited. Still, you can make a big difference with new fabric covering for the upholstery and a change of style for the seating cushions. It can be as simple as choosing slipcovers for the couch and cushions in a livelier, updated style, or – if you’re daring – you can go as far as cutting away the attached pillow back and replacing it with cushions.

How Many Cushions?

Traditional styles use two or three cushions for both seat and back. If you’re just replacing the seat cushions, you have a few choices. If the back of the sofa is one piece – without attached or loose pillow-backs – you can use as many seat cushions as you want. One full length seat cushion lends a sleek, modern look to an older style. Just use the same fabric as you use for the sofa slipcover to make a cover for the cushion. If you like a more traditional feel, use two or three evenly sized cushions on the seating platform.

If, on the other hand, you’ve got a pillow-back sofa, you should stick with either the same number or a single cushion for the seating. In other words, if the back as three pillow sections, use either one or three cushions on the seat base. Anything else will give the sofa an oddly unbalanced feeling.

Covering Your Cushions

The fabric that you choose for the upholstery slipcover and casings for your cushions will be the major style decision that you make. It will also be a major factor in deciding how long your new investment will last. Among the durable, natural fabrics that you can choose are cotton, wool, linen and leather. Among the synthetics, olefin is one of the most versatile fibers available. You can find olefin upholstery fabrics in weaves that mimic nearly any woven fabric – that are wash and wear easy when it comes to care. Take the extra trouble to make sure that your slipcovers and the covers for your cushions are removable so that they can be easily dry-cleaned or machine washed.

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