The master of the living room is, of course, the sofa. You can do without everything else, but not without a sofa. The options for its location in the living room are varied. In a large room, an “island” or “peninsula” positioning of the sofa is possible. This means installing it across the room - closer to the center of the room or with the side to the wall. This layout is used for zoning: a sofa standing across visually separates the living room area from the kitchen area, bedroom, office, etc. In small rooms, the sofa is usually placed with its long side against the wall. If there is a window behind it, no additional decor is required - curtains and the view outside the window are enough. If the sofa is placed against a solid wall, you need to think about its design. How to decorate the wall behind the sofa? We bring to your attention 15 ideas.
Accent trim
If the area behind the sofa is initially highlighted with decoration, additional decor may not be required. To create an accent wall behind the sofa, wallpaper, moldings, stone, wood, photo wallpaper, etc. are used.
Options for decorating the wall behind the sofa
Collage or gallery
Collages and galleries above the sofas are usually formed from small posters, paintings, photographs and mirrors. Framed objects are often used.
Decorating the wall above the sofa: galleries and collages
You can hang photos, paintings, and mirrors at once. There are numerous options for the arrangement of elements. Parts can be placed symmetrically or asymmetrically, in even rows or randomly. If in doubt, use ready-made schemes from decorators.
How to place decor above the sofa? Collage and gallery templates
To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to carry out a preliminary “trying on”. To do this, you need to cut out parts from paper of the same size and shape as the decorative items, and place them on the wall, securing them with tape or pushpins. Having created the optimal composition, you can begin finishing the design.
Complete transformation of an old sofa
The easiest way to quickly transform an old sofa is to buy new beautiful pillows. If you don't have the money to buy a lot of new pillows, decorate the old ones with appliqués and new fabric. You can also try cutting pieces of textured or patterned fabric and sewing them onto the pillows. Search online or visit home decor retailers to find pillows on sale that will match your sofa style and room decor.
And if your sofa is starting to sag, it's time to restore the cushions. Don't try to stuff your pillow with polyester stuffing, it will just make a mess. Remove the pillow cover and wrap the foam in polyester or cotton wadding, or purchase new foam inserts.
If the back cushions are squashed and unattached to the sofa, you can add extra fiber filling and create a bun with strong thread, buttons and an upholstery needle.
New foam seat inserts and tufted lining will update the sofa.
We also recommend changing the color of your sofa to give your old sofa a new lease of life. If your sofa is in good condition but the fabric is faded, this may save the sofa. Look for fabric dyes and paints to update your old sofa. If your worn custom cover doesn't need a color boost, use regular fabric dye to extend its life.
Related article: Unusual uses of shaving foam in the interior
Leather sofas dry out, crack and wear out over time, but you can stain leather upholstery. Various dyes are available in aerosols or liquid form. Light colors will not completely cover dark skin, so use a dark color for best results.
Also, to completely change the old sofa, you should update the legs. Small changes are very effective, we recommend simply replacing the old legs. Choose a different color, outline and material. Many new sofas can have legs that can be unscrewed, making them easy to transform. If you can't find new legs that match your sofa, simply paint the original old ones. We recommend choosing new antique metal fittings; they give the sofa a stylish look.
Don't throw away the old Soviet sofa (1 video)
Restoration of a sofa (9 photos)
Single piece of art
Large format paintings and posters are self-sufficient. One such detail is enough to rid the wall behind the sofa of emptiness and bring additional nuances (color, “characteristic,” thematic) into the living room.
To decorate the wall in the upholstered furniture area, not only paintings and posters are suitable, but also stained glass panels, decorative panels, tapestries, etc.
A single element is usually placed strictly above the central point of the sofa.
How to remove cat scratches from a leather sofa?
So, you have seen traces of the pet’s vigorous activity on the eco-leather upholstery. How to fix the problem, how to repair a leather sofa from animal scratches?
As a rule, when selling leather furniture, a small piece of leather is included. Save it, you will need it later. In the meantime, let's look at the simplest ways to restore a sofa.
Olive oil
It is not at all necessary to take expensive varieties that you use for cooking. To restore leather furniture, you can buy the cheapest:
- Apply a little oil to the piece of skin mentioned earlier.
- If the surface of the material has not deteriorated, then you can proceed further.
- Apply a little oil to the scratches themselves and the areas around them.
- Rub the oil into the upholstery with cotton swabs.
- Wait about 40 minutes for the oil to dry and evaluate the quality of the work.
Important! If the scratch is shallow, it will disappear from exposure to oil. For deep scratches you will have to do the same manipulation 2-3 times.
Iron, textiles and oil
This method is suitable for deep damage:
- Apply olive oil to the damaged area.
- Place a piece of cotton cloth on top and wait until the oil is absorbed.
- If the scratch is still noticeable, place a damp cloth over it and iron it with a warm (not hot!) iron.
- The duration of contact between the iron and fabric is no more than 10 seconds.
Important! Do not hold the iron in place, but move it across the surface. Otherwise, you will completely ruin the upholstery. If necessary, repeat again. Moisture and heat promote better oil absorption.
Shoe polish
The hardest thing here is to choose the right shade. There are a variety of cream colors available for sale.
Important! If you can't find the right shade, mix two creams of different shades.
However, this method can be used for small and shallow injuries. Apply a little shoe polish to a piece of cotton wool and rub it into the scratch. If you were able to choose the right shade, the scratch will be camouflaged very well. If you were unable to select the exact shade, use this technique on inconspicuous parts of upholstered furniture.
Important! If an animal has not only ruined the upholstery with its claws, but also marked it, use the effective products from our selection to remove the smell of cat urine without a trace.
Be sure to read the post about which litter box is best for a cat.
Rubber glue
The best option to repair a leather sofa from animal scratches is rubber glue.
Important! Make sure it does not contain acetone, as this substance will corrode leather upholstery.
Apply glue to the scratch. Once it is completely dry, apply a color cream in the same shade as the upholstery. Of course, you will have to tinker with the selection of colors.
Nail polish
A scratch on black upholstery can be carefully painted over with nail polish of the same color. In this case, it is important to draw a very thin strip so that the varnish does not stand out too much. Matte varnish works well for matte products. Compared to glossy, it will not be as noticeable.
Geographic map
Modern or aged, black and white or color, framed or unframed - a geographical map is beautiful in its most varied incarnations. A special harmony reigns in its relationship with interior elements in the colonial style: for example, with a leather sofa, a rough wooden chest instead of a table, a globe-shaped lamp, a wicker chest of drawers, etc.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a map
How to remove cat scratches from a leather sofa?
So, you have seen traces of the pet’s vigorous activity on the eco-leather upholstery. How to fix the problem, how to repair a leather sofa from animal scratches?
As a rule, when selling leather furniture, a small piece of leather is included. Save it, you will need it later. In the meantime, let's look at the simplest ways to restore a sofa.
Olive oil
It is not at all necessary to take expensive varieties that you use for cooking. To restore leather furniture, you can buy the cheapest:
- Apply a little oil to the piece of skin mentioned earlier.
- If the surface of the material has not deteriorated, then you can proceed further.
- Apply a little oil to the scratches themselves and the areas around them.
- Rub the oil into the upholstery with cotton swabs.
- Wait about 40 minutes for the oil to dry and evaluate the quality of the work.
Mirror
A large mirror behind the sofa is a beneficial solution for a narrow living room. A reflective object on a long wall can visually expand the room. To enhance the effect, the mirror must be positioned horizontally.
A mirror in an elegant frame looks luxurious above the sofa. If you wish, you can create a mirror wall here - for this you will need a large mirror sheet or reflective tiles.
Large wall clock
This decor is typical for living rooms with vintage motifs. A huge clock, similar to a street or station clock, gives the living room a special touching quality, but at the same time gives it the energy of movement.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a watch!
Fabric for a sofa bedspread name and photo
What fabric for a bedspread on a sofa will look as noble and festive as velvet? The material can be with or without a printed pattern. Made from silk, cotton, wool and viscose. It looks luxurious and expensive in the interior, but gets dirty quickly and requires special care.
Thick and abrasion-resistant fabric for a sofa bedspread, the name of which translates as “velvet”, has a velvety surface with short pile. It does not wrinkle when washed, is easy to care for, practical and durable. 3. .
Soft and pleasant to the body, fleece is not called “sheep’s wool” for nothing. This synthetic material has the same properties as natural wool, but never causes allergies. It is lightweight, durable, soft, has excellent thermal conductivity even when wet, is breathable and has a pleasant texture.
The fabric for a bedspread on a sofa, a photo of which is presented in our article, looks very beautiful, expensive and elegant in the interior. This material is the most durable and wear-resistant, and any dirt can be easily removed from its surface. This material is used to make both curtains that are resistant to direct sunlight and covers for upholstered furniture. Therefore, an interior in a tapestry style will always look advantageous.
6. Natural or faux fur.
Gives the interior chic and makes the sofa more voluminous. Such a cape on furniture provides high psychological comfort, but in terms of practicality it is in many ways inferior to other materials. It is impossible to clean fur from dirt at home, so you will have to use dry cleaning services regularly.
We will talk about this in the general section.
Nothing demonstrates the atmosphere of home comfort better than covers on upholstered furniture. These accessories are the center of attention today. To properly decorate a room, you need to know what fashionable bedspreads for sofas and armchairs are worth purchasing, taking into account the characteristics of their material and fashion trends.
Wall shelves
Typically, shelves are placed along the length of the sofa - straight or in steps. They are filled with books, decorative items, and souvenirs.
An observant guest will certainly pay attention to the contents of the shelves. This wall design can be a kind of business card. Books will characterize the owners as reading people, cups and awards as strong-willed and successful, and the fruits of creativity or collection items as enthusiastic.
Lamps
Cute wall lamps are appropriate everywhere, including behind the sofa. However, there should be no wires “crawling” along the wall, unless, of course, this was intended as part of the composition. It is better to make the decision to install sconces before renovation - this will allow you not to disturb the aesthetics.
Most often, one or two lamps are placed above the sofa. If the room is large, you can hang many more sconces, creating a gallery or “light wall” out of them.
"Liquid skin"
The easiest option to repair a scratch is to use a product called “Liquid Leather”. Tubes of it are sold in sewing stores, and are also often found where they sell goods for repairs and decoration. This product is excellent for caring for relatively expensive or recently purchased leatherette products.
- Apply it to the damaged area.
- Wait until it dries.
- After some time, the place where the defect was will look the same as the undamaged surface of the product.
Niche
This method of decorating the sofa area also needs to be planned before renovation and finishing work. Niches can be either purely decorative or functional, playing the role of an exhibition shelf.
How to decorate the wall above the sofa? For example, make a niche
Themed decor
If the interior design has a theme, the original decor above the sofa can match it. For example: there is a steering wheel above the sofa in a marine living room, in a chalet-style interior there is a skin or antlers, in a room with African motifs there are exotic masks, etc.
Required materials and tools
Materials and tools needed for manual work
For the sofa cover you will need:
- about 11 skeins of yarn, 100 g each (100% acrylic, 100 g/210 m);
- if you decide to knit for chairs, then another 4 skeins per cape
- a complete motif requires approximately 55 g of yarn;
- Along with decoration you need about 2 kg of yarn.
For knitting a cape, a hook of medium thickness, for example, No. 5, is better suited.
Multi-colored patterns with knitted patterns
Molded rosettes
For interior decoration, heavy gypsum stucco is rarely used, preferring lightweight ones, for example, polyurethane. It sticks to any surface without any problems. Medallions randomly scattered across the wall are an element of playfulness that is quite appropriate in a modern interior.
Mix
If the sofa is large enough, it is possible to use several decor options at once. So, the wall behind the sofa can be decorated with a large mirror, a photo gallery, and sconces.
Decorating the wall above the sofa is a creative process
However, it is important to know when to stop. The sofa area should not look too heavy and cluttered.
Author: Natalia Gorodets
Use a cover or trim
Over time, your sofa's upholstery will wear out in spots, and stains from pets, children, food, and wine are likely the result. If your sofa is still durable and comfortable, don't even think about buying a new one. Check out slipcovers that you can change depending on your mood, color palette and room design . They can be easily removed, washed, and put back on before guests arrive.
To find the right size for an inexpensive single slipcover, measure the dimensions of your sofa. Place the cover on the sofa following the instructions and tuck it in to create a snug fit.
A simple sofa can be decorated with nail trim, an excellent option when a solution with a cover is not suitable. Adding accents to your sofa will create a modern design. Decorating with nails is a chic way to decorate, will add shine, and is also quite easy to do yourself. Depending on the color of the leather or fabric of the sofa, you can choose warm or cool tones, from brass, brushed nickel, bronze, gold, silver or rubbed to antique.
If you are unsure where to place your nails, take your time and determine the ideal placement. Before you begin, make sure you have a strong base to secure the upholstery in place.
Related article: DIY crib bumpers for newborns: tips and instructions
Finishing with nails will make almost any sofa stylish and fashionable.
