Side tables perform like supporting players with coffee tables to complete a comprehensive sofa set décor for your living room. So you can’t ignore the size and design selection of the side table for the living room sofa. If you want to estimate the exact size in terms of height and width, then you need to measure the sofa size and the size of its placement area. The size of the placement area of the living room is vital because it will also help to manage the regular flow of traffic. The size of the coffee table didn’t have a specific influence on the size of the side table, so you don’t need to worry about it. If you can manage these factors, you can easily find whether or not either side table is higher than a sofa.
Difference between end table and side table
There is always confusion between the end table and side table among people while selecting supporting items for their living room sofas. The easy tip to this confusion is to remember the meaning of the first name of these items. The end table is specifically placed at the end of the sofa and it is only used for specific purposes to hold mini décor items like lamps or vases for artificial flowers. The end table acts like a full stop to the living room sofa set décor. However, side tables are used on the sides of the sofas to hold multiple items. Side tables not only hold décor items but are also used to carry eatables and personal belongings of the person using the sofas. Side tables are also available in mini storage cabins to hold items like books and TV remotes while end tables are only available as independent stand-alone pieces. You can also use a side table as an end table but an end table can’t be used as a side table. The side table is mostly used to complement the living room sofa set décor while the end table is used to support the sofa set décor. Some interior designers also express that an end table is a specific type of side table.
The ideal consideration for the height of the side table is the same as the height of the armrest of the sofa set. The reason is that it can create suitable access to the side table for the person sitting on the sofa. The numeric values for the ideal height of the side table range between 22 to 32 inches, but it may vary depending upon the size and design of the sofa set.
In the second consideration side table is higher than the height of the armrest of the sofa set. Verbally it sounds awkward but practically it will express reasonable results. If you want to use a side table for multiple purposes like holding décor items and practical implementation of built-in storage then a side table higher than the sofa’s armrest can be the best option. The second possibility also comes into place when the sofa set design is unique and the height of the armrest is much lower than its normal height. The numeric value of the taller side table shall be 3 to 5 inches more than the height of the armrest of the sofa set.
Width of the side table
The ideal width of the side table is directly proportional to the space specified for it. The width of the side table is directly related to how you can access it while sitting on the sofa. Therefore as a general rule, the width of the side table shall be approximately 2/3 of the depth of the seat of your sofa set.
Side table depth
The depth of the side table is directly related to its design. If the presentation surface of the side table is deeper than the height of the armrest of the sofa then it may be unable to effectively accommodate the user. You can easily manage it by placing some hard items (stones) underneath the legs of the side table. But if the design of your side table is not unique and the presentation surface of the side table is equally aligned with the height of the armrest of the sofa then there is no problem for you.
While deciding living room sofa set and side table décor normally people ignore or underestimate these factors, but to be very honest without these factors you are unable to find whether either side table is higher than a sofa or not (side table size). These factors also help you counter the general rules for a sofa side table.
Living room space
The space of the living room isn’t only confined to the size of the area where the sofa set and its supporting items are placed, but the dimensions and angles are equally important in it. The size of the living room space also helps you to find the quantity of sofa sets and side tables. If the space of the living room is small in size then you may require only 1 side table for sofa décor of a corner area, and you can also manage this décor through minimalist end table decor. But if your living room space requires maximalist sofa set décor then you may go for 2 to 3 side tables.
Dimensions and Angles
You must be well aware of the dimensions and angles of the living room before selecting the side table for it. The dimensions and angles of the living room space help you to find the best seating arrangement for sofa sets for living room décor. If you fail to discover the best sofa set seating arrangement then you will not be able to find the suitable size and quantity of side tables. It means the sofa set seating arrangement has a direct impact on the side table size, and without a suitable seating arrangement, how could you find that either a side table is higher than a sofa or not? These dimensions and angles play a vital role in finding the best space proportions and placement for side tables in your living room.
The sofa or couch of your living room represents the overall expression and the feel of the space. If the cushions and throws are not clean, they destroy the look of your living room. So, if you want to keep updated and refresh the overall vibe of your living space, you need to take care of cleaning and maintaining sofas and their pairing items like sofa tables, etc. If you are struggling with the question, “Can sofa cushion covers be washed?” The answer to that question is complex because of the multiple factors discussed later in this blog post.
Factors helps to decide“Can sofa cushion covers be washed or not?”
1. Read the label
If you are wondering whether sofa cushion covers be washed, the first and most important step is to check the label to see if they can be cleaned by washing. These labels are attached to the different spots of the sofa to which the cushion cover belongs. Most of the time, these small labels are attached under the seat cushion of the sofas. However, these labels can guide you on how to clean or wash these sofa cushion covers.
2. The fabric of sofa cushion covers
Sofa cushion covers are available in different types and textures, so it depends on the type of fabric whether these sofa cushion covers be washed are not. Here, you also need to be well aware of the key element, which is whether the fabric of the cushion cover of the sofa is shrinkable or not. If the fabric of your sofa cushion cover is shrinkable, then it is hard for you to reuse it. Some fabric ideas relating to sofa cushion covers are given below which help you to evaluate the right fabric type that belongs to your sofa cushion cover. Knowing the fabric type can also help you to wash sofa covers without shrinking. Few example of sofa fabric are given below.
Velvet sofa cushion covers
This sofa cushion cover is loaded with lush texture. It can be washed but not preferred to be washed in a machine. You can wash it out of the machine with your hands.
Cotton sofa cushion cover
It can be washed with water, maintaining the temperature from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. You can get idea of cotton sofa cushion with the following picture.
Image credit : Pexels
Polyester sofa cushion cover
Normally, it can be washed in machines, maintaining the temperature from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. However, the fabric types mentioned above may vary based on the textures, so the best way to clean or wash them is to follow the label information attached to them.
3. Cleaning Codes
There is a tag attached with the name of the label code to each type of fabric, also known as the cleaning code. These cleaning codes are the best and easiest way to evaluate “Can sofa cushion covers be washed or not?” because the product maker knows well about its product's pros and cons. Let's dive a little more into the details.
W
W is the first letter of the water alphabet, which indicates that you can only clean the sofa cushion cover with a water-based solution. There are many products available in the market for cleaning sofa cushion covers. So, don't take the risk of cleaning it with a dishwasher or hand wash.
S
This alphabet indicates that you can only clean this sofa cushion cover with a liquid-based solvent without using water with it. The ingredients of this solvent typically contain some value of alcohol.
S-W
These alphabets create more options for you. You can clean your sofa cushion cover with a water-based solution or a solvent-based solution, or you can use a combination of both liquids.
X
This code indicates different impressions according to its presentation. It means you can't have the option to clean the sofa cushion cover with any solvent; you can only vacuum it or brush it.
The above-mentioned detail indicates that if the sofa cushion cover has cleaning codes attached to it, then you don't have the option to wash these covers. The only choice is to clean them, but sometimes cleaning codes are labeled to guide you. If you want to clean the cushion cover, then follow these codes. Otherwise, you also have the option to wash them. If you conclude that cushion covers belonging to your sofa can be washed then other questions will be raised as given below.
Image credit : Pexels
How to wash sofa cushion covers through the washing machine
Once you have decided that your sofa cushion covers are washable, the next question that comes into mind is how to wash these sofa cushion covers. Following are the best and briefly explained ways to wash or clean the sofa cushion covers. Every sofa cushion fabric is not washable or machine washable, but, if the fabric belonging to your sofa cushion cover is machine washable then you can easily wash it by following the below given professional cleaning steps.
1. Vacuum the sofa
In the first step, you need to vacuum the whole sofa, especially the sofa cushions after putting off their covers. This step is useful in removing unnecessary crumbs and loose threads and avoiding them getting stuck in the machine.
2. Remove and put these covers in the machine
In the second step, you just need to put off the sofa cushion covers and then throw them into the machine. In the next step add dye-free cleaner and use a gentle cycle to wash these covers.
3. Put the covers back on the cushions
Once you have washed the covers with the machine, in the next step you need to put them back on the cushion after drying them. The step is normally ignored or people become lazy with this step, but if it is not timely followed your whole effort may be wasted. The drying process will be explained more in the next heading.
Image credit : Pexels
Can sofa cushions be dry in the dryer?
If you want to dry your sofa cushion covers in the dryer then you must be well aware of the label attached to these cushion covers. This is because some fabrics of the cushion cover may shrink, and you can’t be able to put them back on the cushion. However, there are two types of dryers commonly used, if the label attached to the cushion prohibits you from using a dryer, then you may use an air dryer to avoid shrinking the fabric of the covers.
How to wash sofa cushion covers without a washing machine?
You can easily wash the sofa cushion cover outside the machine. Infect this method is the most recommended method. This method is proactive because there are fewer chances of damaging the fabric of the cover in this method. By using this method, you have more chances to preserve the original texture of the cover fabric. You must know the fabric type before washing because it is impossible to brush every type of fabric (wool) while washing without a machine.
In this process you need to dip down the sofa cushion covers in the laundry tub for approximately 30 to 45 minutes by adding relevant laundry cleaner. Then in the second step, you may brush these covers if required, otherwise, wash them with fresh water. As a last step, you can either dry them through a dryer or you can dry these covers in your home-based gardening space. This same process is recommended for you to wash couch cushion covers without a washing machine.
Final thoughts
If you put some effort timely into maintaining the cleanliness of the sofa cushion covers, then you don't need to wash these covers for a long-term period. It is compulsory not to ignore these cleaning labels attached to the sofa cushion covers before deciding whether these can be washed or dry-cleaned.
If you observe the use of sofas in the living room, you notice that sofa cushions mostly have face suffering like stains, dust, cuts, and eatable spreading. This means sofa cushions occasionally require a cleaning process after every quarter of the year to maintain their original condition and style. When you feel that your sofa cushion requires cleaning treatment, the next question may come to your mind, "Can sofa cushions be dry-cleaned or not?" I think before diving deep into the topic, you must have comprehensive knowledge about the dry cleaning process.
What is dry cleaning Treatment?
Cleaning is a broader term, and dry cleaning is a specific term. It is one of the popular cleaning methods for cleaning clothes, rugs, curtains, sofas, and many other items in your living room. The Greeks and Romans introduced dry cleaning to clean textile-based products without using water. Professionals use special solvents like chlorinated solvent, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethylene to remove the unbearable stains and spills of textile-based fabrics.
As time passes, industries are manufacturing tons of new types of fabrics due to modern changes in the industry of textiles and fabrics. However, these solvents have also changed with changes in the field of chemicals, and mechanical industries have also introduced a variety of new types of equipment that make this dry cleaning process compatible with this innovative world. This brief understanding of the dry cleaning process will help you compare the dry cleaning process with different washing methods and guide you on whether sofa cushions can be dry cleaned or washed.
[caption id="attachment_251" align="alignnone" width="950"]Image credit Youtube[/caption]
Determination of Important factors before dry cleaning your sofa cushions.
If you haven’t gone through these factors, you must be unable to make the right decision about your sofa cushions, whether they can be dry cleaned or washed to clean them. It mean these factors are expert enough about dry cleaning of sofa cushions and also applicable about washing of sofa cushions without shrinking.
1. Understand the type and material of sofa cushion fabrics.
Cotton
It is a natural material-based fabric. If the fabric of your sofa cushion is 100% cotton made, then you have both options of dry cleaning or washing, but if it is a blend of synthetic material and cotton, then the best option is to dry clean it.
Linen
This fabric is made from natural material and is considered a stylish and casual option for sofa cushions. And you can dry clean or wash linen-based sofa cushions. Dry cleaning is preferably the best option.
Velvet
If you have a sofa cushion with luxurious and refined velvet fabric, you are recommended to dry clean it. However, some limited types of velvet fabric are machine washable. I discuss it later in this blog post which velvet-based sofa cushions can be dry cleaned and which are machine washable. A sofa customized with velvet fabric is given below in the picture.
Image Source : Pexels
Leather
If your sofa cushions are made of leather fabric, then the only cleaning option you have is to dry clean them through the wiping out method.
Polyester
This sofa cushion fabric is a mixture of artificial synthetic material and can be cleaned through a washing process. However dry cleaning of polyester fabric is not prohibited but not recommended.
Chenille
This is a soft and plush texture-based sofa fabric with options for dry cleaning and washing.
Wool
This sofa cushion fabric is highly durable and resilient and preferably be cleaned through the dry cleaning process. However, it can also be washed in a machine through a careful and gentle machine cycle or even better to wash with hands.
Microfiber
It is also a synthetic material-based fabric that can be washed in a machine or dry cleaned.
Acrylic
In normal circumstances, acrylic sofa fabric is made from artificial or synthetic material, but it can also be made with a combination of synthetic and natural materials. The durability and resistance of acrylic sofa fabric are not only confined to its texture but also its color which is vibrant for a long-lasting time period. You have both cleaning options like dry cleaning and washing for this appealing sofa fabric.
2. Examination of fabric cleaning codes attached to sofa cushions
The manufacturer of the product is the best person to inform you how to take care of the product while using it. If you order a custom sofa, then you must have the option to request the manufacturer to get cleaning codes otherwise, it was already attached to your sofa. Following the cleaning codes is the simplest and most professional method to decide whether sofa cushions are allowed to dry clean or not. These cleaning codes are briefly explained below, also proven as a best source to identify cleaning of cleaning of couch cushions without washing machine.
W (Wet)
As the name indicates, it is a water-based cleaner, which means you can clean your sofa cushions with a water-based liquid cleaner. Please don’t confuse this process with washing sofa cushion fabric with a machine or hands. In this process, you identify the stains from your sofa cushions and then clean them through liquid water-based cleaners. These cleaners are easily available in the market like shampoo or foam loaded with liquid. Special brushes are also available in the markets. These brushes are used with shampoo as a liquid cleaner for the sofa cushions.
S (Solvent)
If your sofa cushions contain "S" as a cleaning code, then you only need to clean them using solvent. These solvents are available in different types of chemicals like carbon tetrachloride and easily suck the dirty stains from your sofa cushions. These solvents are normally liquid-based chemicals but do not contain any drop of water and are also known as specific dry-cleaned material.
W/S (Wet/Solvent)
If this cleaning code applies to your sofa cushions, you can use solvent or water-based liquid to remove stains and spills from their fabric. However, you can also use a mixture of solvent and water-based cleaning liquids. This method is normally considered the easiest because it offers multiple cleaning options.
X
This cleaning code indicates, you can only clean your sofa cushions using a vacuum machine or fabric cleaning brush. This means you should not use any solvent or water-based liquid cleaner to clean the spills from sofa cushions. Sometimes the tag attached to your sofa cushions speaks to you that you can only dry clean your sofa cushions or it is loaded with these cleaning codes. This means these tags are important in deciding whether sofa cushions are dry cleanable or can be cleaned by other methods like cleaning codes or washing processes.
Final verdict
The dry cleaning process is vital today because it is not only confined to wearing clothes but is useful for cleaning plenty of home decor items. But it doesn’t mean you can blindly apply the dry cleaning process to expensive furniture items like sofas or couches to clean them. The best approach while cleaning your sofa fabric is to follow the above-mentioned step-wise guide, and luckily this guide may also be applicable to wearing laundry items. If you want to clean a couch cushion that has been peed on, you must be well aware of this dry cleaning guide....
The question “Can you dye sofa fabric” sounds very simple, but the solution is not that simple. This question comes to your mind when you want to furnish or update the look of your living room; however, in this modern age, there are multiple solutions to this. But if you want to dye sofa fabric, you must understand plenty of factors to make the right decision.
Significant factors to decide about “Can you dye sofa fabric or not”
1. Type of fabric
It is the first step you need to take that helps you to find out whether you can dye sofa fabric at home or not. However, some popular sofa fabrics are discussed below with their brief dyeing process detail.
Natural sofa fabrics
Natural sofa fabric is made of natural materials and includes different types of fabrics like cotton, silk, linen, and wool. You can easily dye each type of fabric, but wool-based sofa fabric requires a special temperature to better perform the dyeing process on it. However cotton and linen-based fabric can easily adjust with the color of new dye, but wool and silk-based fabric require some special care before and after dyeing them. It is because cotton and linen-based sofa fabrics are very good at reacting to the shades of the dye but others take time to interact with the dye. . You can easily dye your sofa fabric at home if it belongs to natural texture. It is one of the best fabrics to dye for your sofa.
Synthetic sofa fabrics
Synthetic sofa fabrics are considered artificial fabrics; because they are made from human-made materials like plastic. These sofa fabrics also belong to three major types: polyester, acrylic, and nylon sofa fabrics. Nylon sofa fabric is comparatively easier to dye than polyester and acrylic sofa fabrics but requires special care after the dyeing process. On the other hand, polyester and acrylic sofa fabrics are hard to interact with new dyes and require special kinds of dyes. The dyeing process for the acrylic and polyester sofa fabric needs a special temperature. The dyes compatible with acrylic and polyester fabrics are expensive; so you need to evaluate the budget to decide to dye these synthetic fabrics. . It means if your sofa belongs to synthetic fabric then you can dye your sofa fabric but with special care.
Blended sofa fabric
There are different types of blended sofa fabrics, but cotton and polyester blends are most commonly used as sofa fabric. The dyeability of blended sofa fabric depends upon the percentage of the natural and synthetic material blended in it. If the percentage of natural material is higher in the final blended fabric, then you can easily dye it. If the percentage of the synthetic material is higher, then it can take more time and expenses to dye.
Leather sofa fabric
Leather sofa fabric is different from natural sofa fabric like cotton but made from totally natural material like the hide of sheep or other animals. You can dye the sofa fabric with leather based texture with totally different types of dyes. These dyes mostly belong to alcohol and oil-based materials. There are also plenty of options for conditioners and restorers to increase the durability of leather sofa fabric after dyeing it. Let’s say you have black leather sofa, then you can dye a black sofa fabric with dye spray. Dye sprays are one of the most popular options used to dye leather sofas. you can get idea of leather sofa febric from the following picture.
Image credit : Pexels
Velvet sofa fabric
You can dye a velvet sofa fabric, but its dyeing process must vary because of the basic making material. It can either be made with 100% natural material like linen, or it can be made with the blend of natural and synthetic (polyester) material. It is easy to dye velvet fabric if it is made from natural material as compared to the synthetic material.
2. Printed or Multi-colored sofa fabric
It is risky to dye multi-colored sofa fabric, but not recommended to do it by yourself. It is easy and the best option for you to hire a professional to dye your multicolor sofa fabric. If the multicolor sofa fabric is made with a blend of different materials, then the risk of lacking desired results is high. The risk is that you are unable to maintain the harmony and independence of the different shades of the fabric. Even if you want to dye your multicolor sofa fabric, you can do it by using spray, paints, and upholstery dyeing methods. If you want to dye your multicolor sofa fabric with dyeing spray, then you need to take care of other shades of the fabric. If you can use patch tape while spraying the fabric, then it will be helpful for you.
Paint dye is an easy method of dyeing because you can easily control the process through a paintbrush, and you don't need to worry about spreading paint like spray dye. The upholstery method is comparatively more durable but requires extra expertise to clean and dye the fabric. So, my suggestion is to hire a professional for the upholstery dye of your sofa fabric. So in simple words you can dye your sofa fabric based on multicolor options, but my suggestion is to hire a professional for this job.
It is again tough to dye printed sofa fabric, because of a unique combination of the base of the fabric with its prints. The basic problem in dyeing the printed sofa fabric is to maintain the significant difference between the shades of colors of the base and the print of the sofa fabric. However, dye with paint is the most convenient and reasonable option for dye-printed sofa fabric. A sofa chair with multicolor fabric is shared below.
Image credit : Pexels
3. Deep examination of your sofa fabric
Examine the texture of the fabric
In this process, you need to check the texture of your sofa fabric, whether it is smooth or rough. It is because the smooth fabric can easily interact with the dye and give back a surprising finished product to you. But on the other hand rough fabric is very hard to respond to the dye and usually gives you faded results as a finished product. In this method you can also check whether the fabric that belongs to your sofa is shrinkable are not. This is because the shrinking of the fabric can also affect the result of the finished product.
Examine the stains on the fabric
You need to carefully check your sofa fabric either it contains stains on its surface or not. In the second step, you need to check the type of satin, either it comes from some food items or the original fabric has lost its color. This test will help you repair the original shade of the color before taking it to a new and refreshing dyeing process. If you want to change the color of your fabric sofa then don’t worry about stains because it will easily cover through new shade.
Perform a little dye test
You can do this test on some hidden area of your sofa so that it can’t affect the main area of your sofa. The reason behind doing this test is to check how the fabric of your sofa responds in its current condition. If the result of the dye test is vibrant, then you can dye the whole sofa fabric otherwise it is useless to dye the sofa fabric. Performing a dye test is one of the best and professional ways to evaluate whether you can dye your sofa fabric or not. It also helps to find the best fabric dye for your sofa. The practical example of dey test is given below.
If we talk about home décor, people always try to fantasize about the experiments in the arrangement of different home décor items to bring some refreshing change to their homes. When we talk about sofa beds it may sometimes be confused due to their multifunctional use. This confusion mostly hits if you are struggling with space consciousness for home décor in small-size apartments. This means you must look for the best home décor items to maximize the space in your small house. In a small apartment house, you always prefer a sofa bed in the guest room so that you can use it for both purposes when you have guests in your house. This decision will always burn a question in you are sofa beds comfortable to sleep on? The comprehensive solution to your question is given below in the detail of this blog post.
Difference between an actual bed and a sofa bed
A sofa bed is specifically designed for the dual purpose of sitting and sleeping while the actual bed is only designed for sleeping purpose. This means the technical mechanism is different in both items.
The sofa bed looks congested in size because it has to satisfy both sitting and sleeping purposes, but the actual bed is available in single, double, and king sizes according to the size of your bedroom.
The technical mechanism of a sofa bed is flexible, while an actual bed is made with a single wooden or metal frame specially designed to address the comfort of a sleeping person.
The mattress in a sofa bed is normally less firm than the mattress available in an actual bed because in terms of sofa bed designers need to focus on both purposes.
As an actual bed is made with a single frame and there is no flexibility practice like a sofa bed, therefore durability factor in an actual bed is longer than a sofa bed. However, sofa beds may suffer more wear and tear due to flexible mechanisms.
Detailed explanation of sofa bed mechanism
If you want to understand whether sofa beds are comfortable to sleep on or not then a detailed analysis of their making mechanism will be a good approach for it. These factors also guide you to know whether you can permanently use a sofa bed to sleep on or not.
A single frame mechanism (Convertible sofa beds)
In this mechanism, you need to unfold the back support of sofa cushion seats to convert into a flat sofa bed. It is available in limited sizes therefore it holds small space. It is also designed with a less thick mattress therefore convertible sofa beds are not comfortable to sleep on. However, you need to take care of the stability of the frame while converting it into a bed.
Sofa bed with Click-Clack mechanism
This sofa bed works based on a hinged backrest which is an adjustment tool. The hinged backrest is practically useful for adjusting the reclining, upright, and flat positions of sofa beds. In this mechanism, you need to push the hinged backrest until a click sound hits your ears, and then pull this backrest to its flat position. This mechanism is normally practiced in futon sofa beds. The Futon sofa bed is practically designed with a lightweight and comparatively thick mattress without any option of extra cushions to enhance comfort while sleeping. Therefore futon sofa beds (with flat surfaces & thin mattresses) are not considered comfortable enough to sleep on.
Sofa bed with lift and Pull-out mechanism
This sofa bed mechanism is very simple to implement, you just need to lift the seats from the front side and pull this seat in a parallel direction to make a bed. It indicates that in this mechanism there is already a prepared bed-based surface that makes a complete bed with an upper surface that is used as a sofa seat. It is also known as a sleeper sofa. However, lift and pull-out sofa beds are mostly available in smaller sizes but the built-in mattress is comparatively thicker than a futon bed. Therefore sleeper sofa beds are moderately comfortable to sleep on as compared to futon sofa beds.
Pull-out sofa bed
In this mechanism, an extra mattress is stored on a pattern of built-in storage within the frame of the sofa bed. In this mechanism, you need to pull the hidden mattress from underneath the sofa cushion seats and convert it into a bed. The extra built-in mattress is normally made with memory foam which is normally known for its high comfort. Pull-out sofa beds are also available in spring coil-based frames. However, sofa beds with pull-out mechanisms are more comfortable to sleep on than sleeper sofas and futon sofa beds.
These sofa beds are mostly available in L – shaped sofas. These sofa beds simply follow the mechanisms of sleeper sofa (Lift and pull out sofa beds) but with an extra section of folded mattress. These type of sofa beds are considered as most expressive and spacious as compared to the other sofa bed options. Sectional sofa beds are heavy in weight and require extra space for presentation. However, the extra pull-out mattress with reasonable space is a clear indicator that sectional sofa beds are the most comfortable to sleep onas compared to other options in the market.
Additional factors that have an impact on the comfort of sofa bed
Seat depth
The depth of the seat is an important factor to evaluate whether sofa beds are comfortable to sleep on or not. You can measure the depth from the front of the seat to the back cushions of the seat. The depth of the seat also has an impact on the body structure or postures of the person using the sofa bed, which is why the ideal depth of the seat can vary from person to person. However, the manufacturers suggest a shorter seat depth for good sleep.
Mattresses
The mattress belonging to a sofa bed is schematic as compared to the actual bed mattress. It indicates that a sofa bed mattress is less thick (8 to 10 cm) than an actual bed mattress (25 to 35 cm). It means the sofa bed mattress didn’t have enough padding that exposes reasonable comfort for the user. Another important factor is the weight of the person to evaluate the comfort of the sofa bed while sleeping. If the person is overweight then it is impossible that sofa beds are comfortable to sleep on, infact it may disturb him if he uses the sofa bed to sit for a longer time period.
Factors like body structure or posture, age, and weight of the users play important roles in understanding whether it is healthy to sleep on a sofa bed or not. Sofa bed mattresses are specifically designed to adjust with the built-in system of the sofas therefore it is impossible for the manufacturer to add 25 to 30 cm thick mattresses to increase the comfort for the user. However, the mattress types with their comfort levels are discussed above in the mechanism detail of the sofa beds.
It is commonly observed that the ideal and sweet spot for family gatherings is their living room. It means your living room sofas always strike with more traffic in terms of use. Television is another reason that forces the audience to stay in the living room longer. It is also found that your living sofa is not just confined to your guests and family members as a favorite spot, but it also attracts your pets for the same purpose. This is one of the most common reasons that your living room sofa starts facing lumps, wrinkles, and sagginess over time. In simple words, your living room sofa cushions must face changes in shape and lose their original condition because of the continued use.
Now, you must be looking for the best solutions to restore the original shape or sitting of the saggy sofa cushion, or you may think of replacing it with a new sofa cushion.There are some easy and effective ways based on expert knowledge to fluff your sofa cushions, and will be discussed in detail in this blog post.
Best ways to prevent your sofa cushions from sagging
It is quite impossible to prevent your sofa cushion from sagging because it is part of the life of its use cycles. However, you can extend or slow down its time spam of sagging by taking reasonable precautionary measures. The first and easy tip is the timely flipping of your sofa cushions. This technique is explained in detail below in this article. A sofa topper is considered as a modern way to prevent your sofa cushions from sagging. Sofa toppers look like throw blanket belongs to your sofa, but these are fluffier and firmer than throw blankets but less than original sofa cushions.
There are plenty of sofa cushions toppers available in the market that you can easily select according to your demands and budget. These sofa toppers not only prevent your sofa cushion from sagging but also increase the firmness and comfort of your sofa. By adopting these precautionary measures you can easily keep away your couch cushions from sinking. You can get idea of sliver grey sofa topper styled on a blue sofa in the picture attached below.
Discover ways to fluff your sofa cushions as an expert
1. Occasionally flip or reverse your sofa cushions
It is one of the simplest methods to revive the drooping shape of your sofa cushion. You can align this process of flipping of sofa cushion with cleaning or dusting of your living room. Here, the question arises of how flipping of sofa cushions helps in regaining their original shape. The answer to this question is very simple when a sofa cushion is consistently used after flipping, then its internal filling will be redistributed on automatic patterns. This redistribution of stuffing material is the key element to help your sofa cushion maintain its original shape. It means the occasional flipping of sofa cushions not only helps to regain their original shape but also assists in maintaining it for a reasonable period.
2. Hammering the hard stuff inside the sofa cushions
It is one of the interesting methods to fluff your sofa cushions because beating to the cushion may feel like doing a catharsis of some bad memories. In this method, you need to find the hard stuff from inside the filling of your sofa cushions and beat it towards the sides of the cushion. You can also beat the sides of your sofa cushions with punches or smashes after doing it with the hard portion. You need to continue this beating process until you feel that inside filling stuff is equally dispersed with your sofa cushion. The hard wooden stick or tennis bat are useful as a beating tool to fluff your sofa cushions.
Once you have processed your sofa cushions from flipping and beating methods, then you are required to refill some extra stuff to your existing sofa cushions. It might confuse you as to why you shouldn't purchase a new sofa cushion instead of purchasing new filling stuff. The solution to your confusion is that refilling of whole sofa cushion is still an economical option than purchasing a new sofa cushion. So, in the next step, you just need to find the same filling stuff that can easily match the existing filling of your sofa cushion. If you require feather filling as a new stuff, then you can easily decide its quantity by considering your requirement. If you have stuffed extra filling as compared to the required quantity, then don't worry it will adjust with time.
Sofa cushions belonging to your living room may be nonremovable, because of the sewed sitting covers. Here, the question arises of how you can fluff these fixed sofa cushions. The answer to your question is very simple, you can't apply all the above-mentioned methods to fluff your sofa cushions, but two methods are still applicable. You can still apply the beating method with the above-mentioned techniques to fluff your fixed sofa cushions. The flipping technique shall not apply to fix the plumpness of your sofa cushion, but refilling new stuff can also be used in fluffing your sofa cushions. However, refilling new stuff is not only useful in fluffing your sofa cushions, but it can also be applicable to fix sofa cushions that are attached as well as fluffing up the couch cushions that are attached.
Final words
Every day to day things demand repair and maintenance with time. So, If you take precautionary measures on a timely basis to avoid sagging of your sofa cushions, then you can easily avoid the headache of fluffing your sofa cushions.
People used to spend a lot of money to clean their fabric sofas through private or professional dry cleaning services. The reason is that they misunderstood that DIY cleaning of fabric sofas at home is very tough. But the reality is totally different and cleaning a fabric sofa at home is very easy and comparatively cheaper than professional dry cleaning. So don’t worry even if you have a sofa with the fabric of silk, microfiber, velvet, leather, linen, and synthetic material, because our DIY cleaning techniques will help you a lot. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to clean fabric sofas naturally at home by using simple home-based cleaning products.
Gather necessary cleaning tools
Distilled or dilute water in a well-cleaned bowl
Soft or lint brush
Cotton or microfiber cloth-like rugs (3 to 5 mini pieces in light shade)
Bleaching free detergent (optional)
Mild dishwashing soap/liquid
Vacuum cleaner
Distilled or mild white vinegar
Baking soda
Steam cleaner
Spray bottle
How to clean fabric sofas naturally
Following are the best ways to clean fabric sofas naturally (DIY).
1. Carefully study the fabric cleaning codes
Checking of cleaning codes attached to your sofa is an underrated but very important step before start cleaning your fabric sofas naturally. These cleaning codes provide you the professional guidance to initiate your cleaning process are mentioned below.
W
It indicated that you can use only water-based liquid to clean your fabric sofa. In this process, you can dip the soft cloth in the water-based cleaner and rub it on the sofa fabric to clean it.
S
It means you can use solvent-based liquid to clean your fabric sofa. People normally confuse it with the first one but it is quite different. Here solvent-based liquid means it has the capacity to absorb the stain-based material from your fabric sofa.
W/S
It indicates that you can use any one of the above-mentioned liquids on your fabric sofa for cleaning purposes.
X
It indicates that you have only the option of vacuum cleaning your sofa fabric, which means you can only clean a fabric sofa without water.
First of all beat or fluff your sofa cushions with your hands or a wooden stick, which helps you to remove plenty of dust from your sofa with minimum effort. In the second step deeply vacuum the frame of your sofa before placing the sofa cushions back to these frames. When you place back these sofa cushions on the frames then carefully vacuum the whole fabric sofa again. While vacuuming your fabric sofa make sure to deeply clean the pet hairs and crumbs from the arms of the sofa. It is quite impossible to clean a sofa at home without a vacuum cleaner.
You can apply this stain-cleaning process on your sofa fabric only if the cleaning codes of W and W/S are attached to it. You can start this cleaning process by taking 2 to 3 cups of distilled or boiled water and then mixing 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of mild white vinegar in this water. After that, you need to dip a tiny piece of microfiber into this mixer and try to put this piece of soft cloth for a few seconds on the stained portion of your fabric sofa. You can also rub this piece with very soft hands if the stain looks tough to handle, but be careful so that the rubbing process can’t lead to any damage to your fabric sofa.
In the third step, you need to apply another piece of soft cloth which is just wet with distilled water to the same portion of the fabric sofa so that it can soak the remaining impact of vinegar and soap liquid. As a fourth step, you need to apply a dry piece of soft cloth on this wet area which helps to refresh this cleaned area of your fabric sofa. In the final step, you need to dry this specific portion of this fabric sofa by using a mini table fan. This step is also an indicator ofhow to clean a fabric sofa with vinegar.
This process is easily applicable to any type of fabric sofa or couch, as it is used to deodorize or refresh the whole fabric sofa like an air freshener. First of all, turn off the fan in your living room, and then sprinkle the baking soda with the balanced quantity on your whole fabric sofa. After sprinkling the baking soda spare your sofa or couch for 15 to 20 minutes so that baking soda can properly do its job. After that carefully vacuum your fabric sofa and it will ultimately sanitize your complete sofa. This step also answers your question abouthow to clean a fabric sofa naturally with baking soda.
5. Deep cleaning the whole sofa fabric
For deep cleaning your fabric sofa you need to make a special cleaning liquid by using the above-mentioned ingredients. This process is only applicable to sofa fabrics having labels of W or W/S cleaning codes. The quantity of every ingredient is mentioned below which also depends upon the size of your sofa or couch. These ingredients are also helpful in making a home remedy for cleaning a sofa.
2 to 3 tablespoons of mild white vinegar
2 to 3 tablespoons of mild or bleaching-free detergent
2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda
2 to 3 cups of distilled water
When you have completed the making of the cleaning liquid, you need to repeat the same cleaning cycle of the fabric sofa if it is stained which is explained in detail in the above-mentioned subheading number 3. If we talk about the cleaning of stained fabric it is only confined to a limited portion of your sofa fabric but the deep cleaning of the sofa or couch belongs to the complete sofa or couch. So it is difficult to repeat the whole process by using multiple pieces of soft cloth again and again, that’s why you can use a spray bottle to easily manage the deep cleaning process.
6. Steam cleaning the fabric sofa naturally
Steam cleaning is normally applicable to fabric sofas having cleaning codes W and W/S attached to them. However, the best way to make a decision about steam cleaning is to perform a spot test on the specific hidden portion of your sofa fabric. In this process, you can apply the steam cleaner to a hidden area of the sofa fabric and check whether it works or not. However, in steam cleaning the instructions by the manufacturer of the steamer also guide you to make suitable decisions even though he will also suggest you the best settings for steam cleaning your whole sofa or couch. In this process, you can also use the same liquid prepared for the deep cleaning process.
This process is practically very simple; you can start this process by cleaning through a simple vacuum cleaner. After doing vacuum cleaning you can apply a steam cleaner with a moderate time period to every specific portion of your sofa or couch. In the final step, you need to take care of drying the whole sofa by using a high-speed fan, otherwise, the steamer may leave stains on your fabric sofa.
A sofa throw is like a piece of a blanket normally used to add flavor to the sofa. It is considered a classic option to groom the overall expression of the sofa. This cozy little blanket is made from various colored fabrics like velvet, silk, wool, and cotton. The different color options make this blanket more versatile to style any type of sofa. The size of the corner sofa is a considerable factor in deciding the size of the throw. However, the color and texture of the fabric of your corner sofa are also important in choosing the perfect throw. I hope this guide will provide you with the best help to dress a corner sofa with throws. Styling or dressing a corner sofa with throws practically looks very casual but requires a little bit of attention.
Following stylish ways are all about, “How to dress a corner sofa with throws?”
1. Hanging on the side of the corner sofa
It is a casual method to dress a corner sofa with a throw.So, for practical purposes, you need to fold the throw into three pieces and hang it from the back of any side of your corner sofa. A corner sofa is slightly different in structure as compared to a simple sofa set. So, you can also hang it where your corner sofa turns to the horizontal or vertical angle. The hanging place of the throw depends on your taste. You need to make sure that the throw is lifted enough from the floor of the front of your corner sofa. However, if the fabric and color of the throw are compatible with the cushions, then it glamorizes the overall look of your corner sofa. If you hang the throw in the center of the corner sofa it will create a waterfall look for it.
Image source : Pexels
2. Hang it on the arm of the corner sofa
This is very simple and easy but similar to the above-mentioned method of dressing a corner sofa with a throw.In this method, you just need to fold the throw into three pieces and place it from its center to the arm of the corner sofa. If your corner sofa is near the entrance of the door, then using the same arm of the sofa creates a stylish impact for your living room.
3. Using Footsies space to dress a corner sofa with throws
If you have styled your living room with a corner sofa having a chaise, then you can also use it to dress an eye-catching throw. This simple option only needs your tricky interest to implement it. You just need to fold the throw lengthwise into three pieces and drop it diagonally from your arm's distance.
4. Fold on the seat
If the fabric of the throw is narrow or thin, then this formal technique will help create a decent look for your corner sofa. In this approach, you need to fold the throw lengthwise, then fold it again widthwise, and then put it formally on your corner sofa. The placement of the throw is a key element in this technique. So, in my suggestion, place the throw near the arm of the corner sofa and make it a trio with a cozy cushion. This formal technique also helps you understand how to dress a sofa with throws and cushions. Green folded sofa throw is displayed in the following picture.
Image credit : Pexels
5. Imperfect way to dress a corner sofa with throws
In this method, you have different options about how to dress a corner sofa with a throw.In first option, you just need to randomly spread out the throw on the favorite side of the corner sofa and stylishly arrange the cushions. When we talk about second technique, you need to loosely fold the throw from its center and drop it from the back of the corner sofa. The third useful technique is to pinch the throw from its middle length and again drop it casually from the back of the corner sofa but from its one specific corner. Here, the key element is that you need to take care of falling down the throw from the sofa.
6. Use the basket
In this technique, a fully decorated basket plays a main role to dress a corner sofa with the throw.This technique consists oftwo steps.So, in the first step, you need to purchase a fancy basket from the market, and then just roughly put the throw from the corner sofa and fall into the basket. In the second step, randomly select a corner of the throw pull it from the basket, and hang it over the top of the basket. In this method, you can dress multiple throws with the corner sofa of your living room.
7. From back to front
This technique belongs to the placement of your corner sofa. If one side of your corner sofa faces the entrance of the room, then it will create a very unique and attractive option to style a throw on it. In this technique, a throw with embroidered edges is a plus point for you. In this technique, you need to widely fold the throw and place it in the center of the sofa from its middle. If you place two cushions on both sides of the throw like peeking from the front, then it will boost the overall look of your corner sofa.
Imgae credit : Pexels
Final words
If you want to make your sofa look better with a throw, then all the above-mentioned tips and methods will help you a lot in it. The Couch is just like a modern sofa name because both furniture items are used interchangeably in the living room. So, all these techniques are happily applicable to decorating a couch with a throw blanket, as well as dressing a leather sofa with throws.
DIY making of a sofa cushion is not only an interesting thing to do, but it is a great opportunity to refresh the look of your living room. If you go to the market to buy a new sofa cushion then you may face challenges like fabric difference and color mismatch etc, but making a sofa or couch cushion by yourself will be an easy job to design or customize a perfect sofa cushion for your living room sofa. If you want to change the entire cushions of your living room sofa because of updated interior design then you have a wider playground in terms of fabric type, color, and texture according to the latest trends. So this article is all about how to make a sofa cushion(DIY) through easily applicable steps that are discussed below in detail.
A brief anatomy of sofa cushion
1. The first component is the internal filling or stuffing material. However foam, down feather, and fiber fill are the popular options used as internal stuffing material.
2. The second component is the batting material. Batting is the external layer wrapped on the stuffing foam to add extra coziness and firmness to the final product of the sofa cushion.
3. The third component is sofa fabric. It is normally used tomake a sofa cushion cover. Leather, velvet, cotton, and polyester are commonly used as sofa cushion fabric and are also considered the best material to make cushion covers.
5 Practical steps to make a sofa cushion from scratch
1. Arrange relevant material
Fabric to make cushion cover
Foam as filling stuff
Batting material
Scissors
Common pins to hold the fabric
Measuring tape or ruler
Sewing machine
Thread best matched with the fabric
Zipper
Marking pen
Piping material (Optional)
Adhesive spray
Some of the material items are displayed in the following picture.
Image credit : Pexels
2. Cut the Foam
The first practical step is cutting the foam according to the size of your sofa cushion. You may avoid the step of cutting of cushion foam if you manage to carry the exact measurement while purchasing foam from the market. It is because you may get your required size without additional effort, but most probably you have to compromise on the raw measurement of foam.
However, you need to take care of the density while shopping for foam from the market. You also need to keep in mind the space of 1" to 2" for padding material while deciding the density of foam for the cushion. So before cutting the foam, you need to measure the required size of the cushion. In the last step, you can use a sharp scissor to cut the foam, but it requires little attention otherwise it may cause wasting of foam due to cutting on the wrong pattern.
3. Sewing of sofa cushion cover
Before sewing the cushion cover you need to decide the pattern or design of the cover. Two popular styles are mostly used, one is the cushion cover with zipper and the other is the envelope style cushion cover. However, some people also like to use Velcro while sewing the cushion cover. This decision will help you to arrange the right material and the further sewing process like fabric cutting for the cushion cover.
Out of the all steps, the sewing process of covers for the cushion is the most crucial and tricky step to make a sofa cushion. However, you can get a detailed analysis of the sewing process through this blog post. When you comprehensively study the article on the sewing of the cushion cover, then you will be competent enough to find out how to make a sofa cushion cover. However, if you want to sew a couch cushion cover by hand then this process also helps you a lot, because more than 70% of the process is similar to it.
Image credit : Pexels
4. Attach Batting material with the foam
Batting material is available in different types like cotton, memory foam, etc. The purpose of using Batting material is to make the sofa cushion fluffier and soft, which means it helps to increase its comfort. To add batting material with the foam you need to cut it on the same pattern and size as you have cut the foam. The foam cutting is described in detail in the above-mentioned step.
Once the cutting of batting material is done, then you need to wrap it throughout the whole foam that is already prepared to make a cushion. In the second step, you need to do adhesive spray by putting on the batting material with one hand and then placing it back instantly. After that, you need to repeat the whole process with all sides and dimensions of the foam. When batting material is attached to the foam, then spare the foam for a few minutes so that the adhesive spray can properly do its job. It will also help you in DIY sofa cushion replacement of the foam.
This final step is very easy in making a sofa cushion. In this step, you just need to put on the sofa cushion cover to the foam and finish it by zipping it up. After completing this process you are required to place back and adjust your new sofa cushion on the sofa frame. This step is commonly practiced that you put off the cover for washing and then place it back on the sofa cushion, so this final step is 100% similar to it.
Final Verdict
The upholstery of a sofa is a very viral question because it is commonly asked by people when they have decided to refresh their living spaces. However, if you have comprehensively understood the process that how to make a sofa cushion, then don’t worry you will be competent enough to reupholster a sofa cushion by hand. It is because both processes are 70% to 80% the same, and if you want to make a couch cushion cover without a zipper, then this blog post also practically helps you in this process.
Your sofa cushion may look awkward, down, or less firm with time, and it is an alarming indicator for you because it can drop down the whole look of your living room decor. Sofa cushions may lose their original shape for different reasons, such as low-quality filling material, long-term sitting by overweight persons, and other general wear and tear problems. Here, the question arises of how you can revitalize the original shape of your sofa cushions. You can either purchase new sofa cushions or re-establish their existing condition by refilling process. Now, another question comes to your mind how to refill sofa cushions in productive and easy practical ways? It is good news for you that you can easily (DIY) refill your sofa cushions by following the easy and effective steps described below.
Image credit : Youtube
Inspection of removable or nonremovable sofa cushions
Two types of sofa cushions are normally used to design all kinds of sofas. The first one is removable, and the other is a nonremovable sofa cushion. You can easily detach filling from removable sofa cushions, but it is comparatively hard but not impossible to detach filling from nonremovable sofa cushions. So, during this step, you just need to identify whether the sofa cushions belonging to your living room are removable or nonremovable. The inspection process also helps you to explore how to restuff couch cushions that are attached.
Inspection of filling type
This step can help you to identify and arrange the right filling stuff for your sofa cushions. There are plenty of durable and cozy filling options available in the market that are briefly discussed below. It also helps you to discover What is the best filling for sofa seat cushions.
1. Polyester filling
This filling is very economical as compared to other natural material-based filling options available in the competitive market. In normal circumstances, it is available as a combination of synthetic material with a minimum percentage of natural material like cotton. A limited percentage of natural material (cotton) is used to improve the softness of the sofa cushion. However, polyester filling is also available in the form of synthetic material, but it is less durable and not recommended.
2. Feather filling
It is one of the most expensive filling types because it is totally made with natural material like down feathers. The down feather filling is quite similar to a cotton-based filling and mostly used in bedroom pillows. It required more care to maintain its original shape.
3. Foam filling
Foam filling can either be available as a combination of synthetic and natural material or as synthetic filling. The prices of foam fillings vary according to the type of material used in it. Memory foam filling is very popular because of its durable and soft texture, and it is also very expensive compared to other foam-based fillings. It is also considered the best option for back pain patients, toddlers, and pets. Memory foam-based filling is one of the convenient options for you to refill your sofa cushions.
4. Cotton filling
This filling just looks like a combination of tons of threads used to refill a sofa cushion. cotton filling is totally generated from a very popular plant of cotton, which means it is completely made from natural material. It is highly soft and fluffy in use but requires special care to maintain its original shape and condition. It is also very expensive compared to other available options.
Once you have discovered that your sofa cushion is removable with its filling type, then refilling your sofa cushion is not a hard task. You can also refill another type of filling as compared to the existing filling that you have separated from your sofa cushion. It means if you have discarded feather filling from your sofa cushion then you may refill it with memory foam filling. Now, as a first step, you need to detach or remove sofa cushions one by one from the sofa frame, and then put off their covers by finding the zipper. If your sofa cushion holds a stitched cover instead of a zipper, then you can easily rip it by using the relevant tool from the sewing kit.
In the second step thoroughly vacuum the sofa frame and sofa cushion covers. In the next step, you need to re-stuff the filling into the covers of sofa cushions. But let’s say you have decided the foam filling as a new stuff then you have to carefully use the sticky spray to wrap the wadding layers of foam to its best position. As a last step, zip up the cover of the sofa cushions and set them back to the sofa frame. You can also sit down on sofa cushions to test the comfort before finalizing the whole refilling process. If you have ripped up the sofa cushion covers for the refilling process, then you can easily sew these covers by hand-based process.
Re-stuffing or refilling of nonremovable sofa cushions
In today's modern world, every product is made more convenient for the users, that’s why you will mostly find removable sofa cushions as a top trend in the market. But, if you have discovered that sofa cushions belonging to your sofa are fixed just because of unique or customized design, then you don't need to worry about how you can refill your nonremovable sofa cushions.
If you critically observe the lower sides of your sofa cushions, you must find a hidden zipper probably at the back of your sofa. So, as a first step, you need to find the hidden zipper and reveal the already stuffed filling by opening the zipper. Now, the rest of the refilling process is as similar as the refill of removable sofa cushions. In the second step, you need to refill the ploy fill within the center of the foam, considering the position of layers of the foam. You need to continue the re-stuffing of polyfill until it looks fluffy and comfortable enough for your future use. In the last step, you have to carefully zip off the zipper of your sofa cushion covers. The new refill of your sofa cushion may take a few days to adjust or reach its original shape, so don’t worry about it.
Final words
The timing and method of use of a vacuum while refilling any type of sofa cushion play a crucial role in the presentation of your sofa cushion as a final product. So, carefully use the vacuum while re-stuffing any type of filling to your sofa cushions. However, above mentioned techniques can easily be applicable to restuffing couch cushions without zippers.
Image Source : Pexels
