Ana White. Storage Sofa.

Storage SofaPublished on Ana White (http://ana-white.com)

Storage Sofa [1]Submitted by Ana White [2] on Sun, 2010-11-14 23:37

[1]Summary: A sofa that you can build with a fold out seat perfect for storing extrapillows and blankets. Based off a sleeping pad foam cushion, so seatingsurface doubles as a guest bed.

CategoriesProject Type: Chairs [3]Beds [4]Room: living room [5]

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Skill Level: Advanced [6]Style: Modern [7]Estimated Cost: $100-$150 [8]

Dimensions: I did a little tweaking on the design to decrease the costto build (my sister wanted double cushions for the look) and also toincrease the storage compartment. The legs above are shown as 2x2s,which you could do but a center fifth leg is recommended. You couldalso use store bought sofa feet. This sofa is designed around a campingpad measuring 72″ long, 30″ wide and 3 1/2″ deep. You can easily adjustmeasurements to use a different sized foam cushion, advisably 24″ wideand 72″ long and 3″ or 4″ deep.Dimensions:

1 – 30″ x 72″ x 3 1/2″ Foam Camping Pad or Cushion1 – 9×12 Paint Drop Cloth6 yards upholstery batting2 20 oz bags of pillow stuffing2 1/2 yards of burlapstaples3″ screws or 2″ pocket hole screws1 1/4″ screws

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http://ana-white.com/category/plans/skill-level/advanced

http://ana-white.com/category/plans/style/modern

http://ana-white.com/category/plans/estimated-cost/100-150


wood gluespray adhesive2 – 2×42 – 2×62 – 2×24×4 (You only need about 2 feet for the sofa legs)1 – 12′ AND 1-8′ 2×102 – sheets of 1/4″ plywood

Tools: measuring tapesquarepencilhammer (can be substituted for brad nailer with a nail punch)safety glasseshearing protectionDrill [9]Circular Saw [10]Brad Nailer [11]Random Orbital Sander [12]Staple Gun [13]LevelCountersink Drill Bit [14]

Cut List: 1 – 2×4 @ 72″1 – 2×6 @ 72″4 – 2×6 @ 24″ (Tapered as shown in step 1)3 – 2×4 @ 22″1 – 1/4″ Plywood @ 17 5/8″ x 72″2 – 1/4″ Plywood @ 72″ x 30″ (Top and Bottom of Seat)2 – 2×10 @ 72″3 – 2×10 @ 27″2 – 2×2 @ 65″2 – 2×2 @ 28 1/2″4 – 4×4 @ 5″ (Sofa Feet)

Step 1

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[15]

Back

Screw the back together with 3″ screws or 2″ pocket hole screws asshown above. Use glue and adjust for square.

Step 2

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[16]

Back

Now attach the 1/4″ plywood to the back with 1 1/4″ screws and glue asshown above.

Step 3

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[17]

Back Batting

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Now wrap the back that is not covered in plywood with the burlap andstaple in place on the bottom edge. The burlap should be tight. Thenuse spray adhesive to glue the batting to the back as shown above.Read the direction on the can of the spray adhesive for the bestadhesion.

Step 4

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[18]

Side Batting

Now glue pieces to the ends with the spray adhesive and then trim to fitas shown above. Set the back aside.

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Step 5

[19]

Storage Box

Screw the 2x10s together as shown above to create a storage box.Then screw the plywood to the bottom as shown above. Use the sprayadhesive and foam to attach batting to the front and sides (but NOT theback). I did not wrap the foam, simply cutting it 9 1/2″ tall, surroundingthe front and sides of the sofa.

Step 6

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[20]

Slipcover

Use the spray adhesive to attach the foam pad to the remaining pieceof plywood. Then use the spray adhesive to attach batting to the foamon the top, front and sides. Cut a piece of fabric 73″ long x 31″ wide. Cuttwo pieces 31″ long x 6″ wide, and two at 73″ long and 6″ wide. Sewtogether to create a box cushion (see this post for details on sewing).Place the cushion slipcover over top of the foam and staple the slipcover raw edges to the underside of the plywood, hiding edges. This isshown below.

Step 7

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[21]

That one should be easy. Now cut strips of fabric as shown in thediagram above (step 6) and sew together and staple in place aroundthe sides and front of the sofa. Should be easy to do. Turn edges underto hide raw seams.

Now the back was the most difficult part – certainly not impossible, but Ithought was the most difficult part of sewing. To make this part easier,you could simply not put a taper in the back side of the sofa, and allyour cuts are square. Anyway, cut out the side and back pieces andstitch together, and fit over the back. Turn under and staple to theunderside of the legs. Reference the diagram in step 6 for exactmeasurements.

Step 8

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[22]

Base

Build the base as shown above. Don’t worry about the 2x2s not beingstrong enough – their is no support required here (it’s all in the 2x10s).The 2×2 aprons are to keep the fabric tucked under and to give yousomething to screw your feet too. Paint or stain your base. If youchoose to use 2x4s for the legs, remember, this does change thedimensions of the legs, and adjust the 2×2 cuts accordingly.

Step 9

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[23]Step 9 Instructions: Assembly

Assembly will be easy. Start by screwing the storage box to the back,through the 2×10 back boards into the supports in the back of the sofa.Use the 3″ screws. Then flip over and screw the base to the sofaunderside with 3″ screws. Flip it back over and attach the cushion withhinges. Support the hinges with a strap to keep the cushion fromcollapsing all the way forward.

Step 10Pillows

The pillows I sewed for this sofa are square box cushions measuring 36″wide x 4″ deep x 18″ tall. Cut four pieces of fabric 37″ wide x 19″, fourpieces 19″ x 5″ and four pieces 37″ x 5″. Stitch with right sides together,creating a box, but leaving an opening to insert foam. Stuff with loosestuffing. Hand stitch open seam closed.

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[24]

If you would have asked me even a few months ago about building yourown sofa, I would have said, it's not worth it. Considering the high costof foam (upwards of $50 a yard) and the cost of fabric (at least $10 ayard for an upholstery weight) I just couldn't see the economics ofbuilding your own sofa.

But then I walked past a pile of foam camping pads at a store we havein Alaska called Fred Meyer (owned by Kroger and is kind of asuperstore) that were 30" wide, 72" long, and 3 1/2" deep. And thefoam came in soft, medium and firm weights . . . for just $20! Instantly,the wheels were turning in my head.

Then when my sister Esther mentioned that she didn't have a sofa, andshe couldn't find one that was inexpensive, square, and with storage, Iwas drawing up plans within minutes. My sister Lydia (we'vereupholstered quite a few sofa's together, but never actually built onefrom scratch) was visiting, and she was just as excited as me. So wegot to work.

And you all know how much I love using paint drop cloths for fabric. Sowith some 2x4s, 2x6s, some 2x10s, some 1/4" plywood and alot of wornout pillows and stuffed animals, my sister Lydia and I built a couch inless than 24 hours for about $120.

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[25]

And by the time we were done, both Lydia and I were making plans tobuild our own sofas. Also pictured reclaimed wood carts. [26]

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[27]

And I just might . . .

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[28]

Nice clean square design that is so popular right now. Notice the 2x4feet. Please don't notice my messy garage, I was afraid to bring thisone inside . . . my sister might not every get her sofa back! Also, the

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deep cushions are perfect for sleeping on.

[29]

It is after all made from a standard camping pad. And did anyonenotice the little hinges on the front seams?

[30]

Big enough to sleep on and with built in storage for the bedding too!This is my favorite part of this sofa. You could build it for your officeand use it as a reading sofa, then when guests are over, flip open the

seat and get your bedding out. Not shown here, but I did add straps tokeep the seat from hinging all the way open and also straps that tuck inthe seam behind the seat for easily pulling the seat up. Just used an old

dog leash.

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[31]

Ready to build your own? You can do this.

Source URL:http://ana-white.com/2010/11/build-your-own-storage-sofa.html

Links[1] http://ana-white.com/2010/11/build-your-own-storage-sofa.html[2] http://ana-white.com/users/ana-white[3] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/project-type/chairs[4] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/project-type/beds[5] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/room/living-room[6] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/skill-level/advanced[7] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/style/modern[8] http://ana-white.com/category/plans/estimated-cost/100-150[9] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/537[10] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/92[11] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/552[12] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/187[13] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/577[14] https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/237

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Ana White. Storage Sofa.

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