Introduction: IKEA Futon Hack
I wanted an upgrade from the typical collegiate Ikea wooden futon in the living room to a bit more stylish adult living room sofa. Researching couches & sofas I found; I could get a used one off craigslist (not a very stylish selection), a new one from Ikea, or the couches that I wanted--that I couldn't afford. With plenty of student loans and not much cash on hand, I ventured into making a sofa, upcycling the well travelled futon into a new Sofa.
Besides having an old Ikea Futon, I purchased the following:
5 yards heavy duty canvas $25.00
4 screw mount blocks (for Legs) $20.00
4 Couch legs $16.00
6 Steel 4 inch L-Brackets $6.00
1 package of 1.5 inch nails $2.00
Fabric Paint $5.00
And for a grand total of $74.00 I have a new sofa!
Tools:
Saw
Hammer
Staple Gun
Scissors
(serrated) Bread knife
Sewing Machine
Marker / Pencil
Tape Measure
Hand Sewing Needles / Thread
To begin--disassemble and say your final goodbyes to your Ikea Futon!
Besides having an old Ikea Futon, I purchased the following:
5 yards heavy duty canvas $25.00
4 screw mount blocks (for Legs) $20.00
4 Couch legs $16.00
6 Steel 4 inch L-Brackets $6.00
1 package of 1.5 inch nails $2.00
Fabric Paint $5.00
And for a grand total of $74.00 I have a new sofa!
Tools:
Saw
Hammer
Staple Gun
Scissors
(serrated) Bread knife
Sewing Machine
Marker / Pencil
Tape Measure
Hand Sewing Needles / Thread
To begin--disassemble and say your final goodbyes to your Ikea Futon!
Step 1: IKEA Futon Hack
Take apart the futon and lay it out, (I saved the hardware as it is also reusable).
I decided on using the 4 panel piece for my sofa seat, the 3 panel piece for the sofa back. This left the 5 panel piece to be cut up into the sofa arm and the framing for the sofa seat.
I also carefully sawed off the rounded attachement edges, to make sure the pieces were squared off and fit together properly.
I decided on using the 4 panel piece for my sofa seat, the 3 panel piece for the sofa back. This left the 5 panel piece to be cut up into the sofa arm and the framing for the sofa seat.
I also carefully sawed off the rounded attachement edges, to make sure the pieces were squared off and fit together properly.
Step 2: IKEA Futon Hack
The 3 paneled piece used for the sofa back, I measured the depth of the sofa seat panel and left the measured amount attached for extra support when the back attaches to the seat.
Cutting the pieces to size, I nailed together the framing for the seat attaching it to the 4 paneled section as well, creating the sofa seat.
Cutting the pieces to size, I nailed together the framing for the seat attaching it to the 4 paneled section as well, creating the sofa seat.
Step 3: IKEA Futon Hack
I added the steel L-Brackets to all of the corners of the seat base for added support to the frame.
Measuring out the corners and making sure I had the position correct on the location of the sofa legs, I installed the screw blocks, from both the top and side of each block.
I then attached the arm and back panels using nails, and using the last 2 steel L-brackets for added back & side support.
Now you have the sofa frame finished!
Measuring out the corners and making sure I had the position correct on the location of the sofa legs, I installed the screw blocks, from both the top and side of each block.
I then attached the arm and back panels using nails, and using the last 2 steel L-brackets for added back & side support.
Now you have the sofa frame finished!
Step 4: IKEA Futon Hack
Next, I wanted a bit of color to my sofa fabric, and realizing my dream sofa fabric was well over $100 per yard, I opted to make my own.
Using some left over foam I carved my own stamp-replicating the street tiles in Barcelona, Spain's exiample neighborhood (done by Gaudi) and secured it to a piece of wood for my stamp base.
Then I spent hours....literally hours....stamping the pattern onto the heavy duty canvas with the fabric paint. I did this in two stages, as it needs to dry for 24 hours and 5 yards of fabric takes up a lot of space! After all of the fabric has dried, I heat set the fabric paint with an iron, going over all painted areas for 5 minutes with a hot hot iron.
Using some left over foam I carved my own stamp-replicating the street tiles in Barcelona, Spain's exiample neighborhood (done by Gaudi) and secured it to a piece of wood for my stamp base.
Then I spent hours....literally hours....stamping the pattern onto the heavy duty canvas with the fabric paint. I did this in two stages, as it needs to dry for 24 hours and 5 yards of fabric takes up a lot of space! After all of the fabric has dried, I heat set the fabric paint with an iron, going over all painted areas for 5 minutes with a hot hot iron.
Step 5: IKEA Futon Hack
Next up is cutting up the futon cushion & a little bit of sewing. I measure the seat area and used a marker to draw my measurements right on the cushion. The top layer you can cut with scissors, after the top is cut, I recommend using a (serrated) bread knife to cut the foam cleanly. I doubled the seat cushion, using two layers of the futon cushion.
Using the excess top layer of batting from the cushion, I surround the base of the seat, arm and back of the sofa, attaching with a staple gun on the back and undersides of the sofa frame.
I measured and cut the fabric pieces for the sofa frame in the same manner. Sewing the corner edges of the arm and back covers for a cleaner look and then stapling them into place, again on the back and undersides of the frame.
The last bit of sewing is the fabric cover for the sofa seat cushion, making the fabric 1 inch smaller on all sides then the cushion measurement to keep the seat firm, but comfortable. This part is similar to making a pillow, once the sewing is finished, turn the fabric right side out, stuffing the cover with the cushion foam and then hand stitching it closed. I chose the large section facing the seat back to hand stitch close.
Using the excess top layer of batting from the cushion, I surround the base of the seat, arm and back of the sofa, attaching with a staple gun on the back and undersides of the sofa frame.
I measured and cut the fabric pieces for the sofa frame in the same manner. Sewing the corner edges of the arm and back covers for a cleaner look and then stapling them into place, again on the back and undersides of the frame.
The last bit of sewing is the fabric cover for the sofa seat cushion, making the fabric 1 inch smaller on all sides then the cushion measurement to keep the seat firm, but comfortable. This part is similar to making a pillow, once the sewing is finished, turn the fabric right side out, stuffing the cover with the cushion foam and then hand stitching it closed. I chose the large section facing the seat back to hand stitch close.
Step 6: IKEA Futon Hack
Last -- screw in your sofa legs and turn the whole sofa on it's feet!
Grab a well deserved beverage and have a seat on your new sofa!
Grab a well deserved beverage and have a seat on your new sofa!