Storage Sofa

Published 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 extra
pillows and blankets. Based off a sleeping pad foam cushion, so seating
surface doubles as a guest bed.

CategoriesProject Type: Chairs [3]

Beds [4]
Room: living room [5]
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Storage Sofa
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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 cost
to build (my sister wanted double cushions for the look) and also to
increase the storage compartment. The legs above are shown as 2x2s,
which you could do but a center fifth leg is recommended. You could
also use store bought sofa feet. This sofa is designed around a camping
pad measuring 72 long, 30 wide and 3 1/2 deep. You can easily adjust
measurements to use a different sized foam cushion, advisably 24 wide
and 72 long and 3 or 4 deep.
Dimensions:

1 30 x 72 x 3 1/2 Foam Camping Pad or Cushion

1 912 Paint Drop Cloth
6 yards upholstery batting
2 20 oz bags of pillow stuffing
2 1/2 yards of burlap
staples
3 screws or 2 pocket hole screws
1 1/4 screws
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Storage Sofa
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wood glue
spray adhesive
2 24
2 26
2 22
44 (You only need about 2 feet for the sofa legs)
1 12 AND 1-8 210
2 sheets of 1/4 plywood
Tools: measuring tape
square
pencil
hammer (can be substituted for brad nailer with a nail punch)
safety glasses
hearing protection
Drill [9]
Circular Saw [10]
Brad Nailer [11]
Random Orbital Sander [12]
Staple Gun [13]
Level
Countersink Drill Bit [14]
Cut List:
1 24 @ 72
1 26 @ 72
4 26 @ 24 (Tapered as shown in step 1)
3 24 @ 22
1 1/4 Plywood @ 17 5/8 x 72
2 1/4 Plywood @ 72 x 30 (Top and Bottom of Seat)
2 210 @ 72
3 210 @ 27
2 22 @ 65
2 22 @ 28 1/2
4 44 @ 5 (Sofa Feet)

Step 1

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Storage Sofa
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[15]
Back
Screw the back together with 3 screws or 2 pocket hole screws as
shown above. Use glue and adjust for square.

Step 2

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Storage Sofa
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[16]
Back
Now attach the 1/4 plywood to the back with 1 1/4 screws and glue as
shown above.

Step 3

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Storage Sofa
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[17]
Back Batting

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Storage Sofa
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Now wrap the back that is not covered in plywood with the burlap and
staple in place on the bottom edge. The burlap should be tight. Then
use spray adhesive to glue the batting to the back as shown above.
Read the direction on the can of the spray adhesive for the best
adhesion.

Step 4

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Storage Sofa
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[18]
Side Batting
Now glue pieces to the ends with the spray adhesive and then trim to fit
as shown above. Set the back aside.
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Storage Sofa
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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 spray
adhesive and foam to attach batting to the front and sides (but NOT the
back). I did not wrap the foam, simply cutting it 9 1/2 tall, surrounding
the front and sides of the sofa.

Step 6

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Storage Sofa
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[20]
Slipcover
Use the spray adhesive to attach the foam pad to the remaining piece
of plywood. Then use the spray adhesive to attach batting to the foam
on the top, front and sides. Cut a piece of fabric 73 long x 31 wide. Cut
two pieces 31 long x 6 wide, and two at 73 long and 6 wide. Sew
together to create a box cushion (see this post for details on sewing).
Place the cushion slipcover over top of the foam and staple the slip
cover raw edges to the underside of the plywood, hiding edges. This is
shown below.

Step 7

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Storage Sofa
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[21]
That one should be easy. Now cut strips of fabric as shown in the
diagram above (step 6) and sew together and staple in place around
the sides and front of the sofa. Should be easy to do. Turn edges under
to hide raw seams.
Now the back was the most difficult part certainly not impossible, but I
thought 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 all
your cuts are square. Anyway, cut out the side and back pieces and
stitch together, and fit over the back. Turn under and staple to the
underside of the legs. Reference the diagram in step 6 for exact
measurements.

Step 8

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Storage Sofa
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[22]
Base
Build the base as shown above. Dont worry about the 2x2s not being
strong enough their is no support required here (its all in the 2x10s).
The 22 aprons are to keep the fabric tucked under and to give you
something to screw your feet too. Paint or stain your base. If you
choose to use 2x4s for the legs, remember, this does change the
dimensions of the legs, and adjust the 22 cuts accordingly.

Step 9

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Storage Sofa
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[23]
Step 9 Instructions:
Assembly
Assembly will be easy. Start by screwing the storage box to the back,
through the 210 back boards into the supports in the back of the sofa.
Use the 3 screws. Then flip over and screw the base to the sofa
underside with 3 screws. Flip it back over and attach the cushion with
hinges. Support the hinges with a strap to keep the cushion from
collapsing all the way forward.

Step 10
Pillows
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, four
pieces 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 loose
stuffing. Hand stitch open seam closed.

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Storage Sofa
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[24]
If you would have asked me even a few months ago about building your
own sofa, I would have said, it's not worth it. Considering the high cost
of foam (upwards of $50 a yard) and the cost of fabric (at least $10 a
yard for an upholstery weight) I just couldn't see the economics of
building your own sofa.
But then I walked past a pile of foam camping pads at a store we have
in Alaska called Fred Meyer (owned by Kroger and is kind of a
superstore) that were 30" wide, 72" long, and 3 1/2" deep. And the
foam 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, and
she couldn't find one that was inexpensive, square, and with storage, I
was drawing up plans within minutes. My sister Lydia (we've
reupholstered quite a few sofa's together, but never actually built one
from scratch) was visiting, and she was just as excited as me. So we
got to work.
And you all know how much I love using paint drop cloths for fabric. So
with some 2x4s, 2x6s, some 2x10s, some 1/4" plywood and alot of worn
out pillows and stuffed animals, my sister Lydia and I built a couch in
less than 24 hours for about $120.

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Storage Sofa
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[25]
And by the time we were done, both Lydia and I were making plans to
build our own sofas. Also pictured reclaimed wood carts. [26]

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Storage Sofa
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[27]
And I just might . . .

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

[28]
Nice clean square design that is so popular right now. Notice the 2x4
feet. Please don't notice my messy garage, I was afraid to bring this
one inside . . . my sister might not every get her sofa back! Also, the

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Storage Sofa
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[29]
It is after all made from a standard camping pad. And did anyone
notice the little hinges on the front seams?

deep cushions are perfect for sleeping on.

[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 office
and 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 to
keep the seat from hinging all the way open and also straps that tuck in
the seam behind the seat for easily pulling the seat up. Just used an old
dog leash.
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Storage Sofa
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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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Storage Sofa
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[15] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-18
1.jpg
[16] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-19
1.jpg
[17]
http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-91.jpg
[18]
http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-81.jpg
[19] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-20
1.jpg
[20] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-23
1.jpg
[21] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-24
1.jpg
[22] http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-21
1.jpg
[23]
http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/build-your-own-couch-diy-71.jpg
[24] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-3.jpg
[25] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-an.jpg
[26] http://ana-white.com/2010/09/vintage-crate-carts.html
[27] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-17.jpg
[28] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-14.jpg
[29] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-13.jpg
[30] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-15.jpg
[31] http://ana-white.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/build-your-own-c
ouch-diy-24.jpg

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