Connect with your social network account

[ason]

Hi everyone!

I’m so happy I found this forum — I am new to upholstery but I have a vision and am going to begin my first project in about a week! (Ahhhh!)

I’m hoping I can get some advice from you all.

I found an image of an upholstered bench that I want to recreate as closely as possible:



Since I’ve never done this before, I have no idea what foam shape or techniques I should be using to achieve this look. I’ve been describing it as three stacked and rounded-edged cushions. The only difference is mine will need to have legs instead of being wall-mounted as the one in the image appears to be.

I've been watching a bunch of videos on YouTube to get a handle on the basics, but I'm really at a loss on how to construct this in a way that will look like the image, and have legs underneath.

I’ve done a sketch of how I’m thinking about building it, but it's a total guess and doesn't seem quite right to me:



I was assuming I'd need to use rounded foam to get the right look - but after watching some videos on YouTube I'm not so sure that's necessary or would even look right in the end?

So, how would you go about constructing something like this? As I've sketched it now I would be stapling the fabric to the wood frame, but I am wondering if creating removable zip covers for each cushion might end up being a better way to go, it just seems like a lot more work. I wish I had that bench and could just take it apart to see how it was done! Too bad it's just an image I found online.

[John Long]

I suspect that three pieces of foam stacked will be way to soft. Would it not be best if you made the frame out of wood with a 4-6" cushion on top. The bottom two layers can have foe foam front edges making them look like cushions.

I believe it will not only be cheaper but more comfortable as well. It also will hold it's shape better.

John

[ason]

Thanks for the reply John!

I suspect that three pieces of foam stacked will be way to soft. Would it not be best if you made the frame out of wood with a 4-6" cushion on top.

It's reassuring to hear your suggestion, as that's my current plan! (It's probably just unclear from my quick sketch). One thing I'm still trying to figure out is how to best imitate the shape of the cushions in the image. Do I need a perfectly round piece of foam for the cushion to look rounded? Or will cutting notches into the foam edges suffice to make it look rounded?

[John Long]

There are many ways to shape foam. None are wrong or right if they work. You can sand it with course paper. Shape it with a course cheese grater, saw it, etc, etc. You might go to YouTube and search for shaping foam. You will find a ton of videos.

[Cody]

Albright supply sells round lengths of foam. If you bought 3 of those and had a way to split them you’d be able to use those. I’m lucky enough to have a small bandsaw. I can set the fence to a depth that is the middle of the round foam and just run it through cutting it down the middle. If you have one or a connection to one. It would be the easiest. Then glue the halves to your frame and cover.