Reupholstering a Sofa with Polyurethane Foam

Written by: The Foam Factory

Polyurethane foam is one of the most versatile substances used in modern manufacturing, and it’s an excellent material for a hobbyist to use in sofa foam replacement for the home. Reupholstering projects are simple, and they cost significantly less than buying a new couch. All you need is some custom cut foam shapes and new fabrics for the couch. You would also benefit from some sewing skill, but iron-on zippers are available for covers. The project takes a solid weekend’s worth of work, but the end result is something completely different for your space. After you’ve tried one, you’ll probably want to do the whole house.

Clean the Couch

Before you deal with couch foam, give everything a very thorough cleaning. Especially if the couch is a garage sale or roadside couch. You don’t want to attract creepy crawlies in your space, so don’t be afraid to get into the nooks and crevices. Strip the fabric from the couch, you can use a seam ripper, and take measurements for how much you’ll need.

Why Polyurethane Foam is the Way to Go

Sofa cushions made of polyurethane foam have small pockets of air that compress as force is applied. In other words, air is released from the cushion as you sit down. This causes the foam to tense up and provide the support you need to sit down and relax. Foam can be altered as well, creating hard Styrofoam we know from packaging or flexible foam we find in memory foam mattress toppers. This is the same kind of technology we find at work on memory foam mattresses, but it’s a fraction of the cost. You can also purchase foam at different densities, giving you that softness you crave.

Polyurethane also tends to be highly resilient under stress, which is excellent for something that people will sit on for a prolonged amount of time.

Final Thoughts

Choose fabrics that match the décor of your home. Leather is difficult to reupholster, but not impossible. It may be worth it for sentimental pieces, but it might be just as well to let them go for the costs. Over all, reupholstering projects are excellent for a discount living room that has your own style. You can even bring foam sheets outdoors to patio sets, where foam cushions make excellent replacements for patio chairs and lounges.