Furnished By Hand

Changing Rooms - Circa 1995

This show was a favourite in our home - allow we called it the show that promises to 'MacGyver your damp student halls bathroom  into a luxurious ensuite, complete with jacuzzi, using only bits of old plank, bed sheets, staples and PVA glue'.
or 
how to Picasso your walls with dried-out  left over paint from your neighbour's garage
Ahh good times. Our parents (rather unfairly) didn't allow us to try any of the projects at home. That's brought us to where we are now: DIY and crafting at every given opportunity.

The Tiny DIY Sofa

The Tiny DIY sofa was made from scrap fabric, odd ends of poly foam padding, with Dacron, upholstery cotton filling and old net curtains .
 I didn't have a plan other than finding a practical use for the surplus home decor supplies laying around. This tiny sofa is essentially a very strong cushion in the shape of a chair, it doesn't have a solid base.
The Fabric
The fabric was left overs, earmarked for a DIY ottoman project that I'd planned - that idea got canned as we don't actually have space for said ottoman (what was I even thinking?).
grey upholstered box
The Padding
polyfoam
This mini sofa was made with scrap padding left over from our DIY sofa project. I stuck the foam scraps together in a 'sort of' sofa shape.
I used spray glue (along with an adequate safety mask) to stick the pieces of polyfoam, Dacron and cotton filling  together, this method kept the padding supple  and soft.  Stronger glue would have left compacted and rigid areas on the surface.
The  Lining
Lining needs to be protective and provide 'slip' for the fabric cover to be removed or replaced.  Net curtains are versatile and have a number of uses, one of them is as cushion lining.  They are made of non-stretch (woven) fabric which helps the padding inside to hold its shape.
 Secondly net curtains have a smooth texture and light weight, which makes them the perfect 'slip' fabric.  Two net curtain panels would have worked well, but I'd already used one panel for something else. With the panel I had left, I and had to slice and sew as I went along.

What Is The Goal For This DIY Home Decor Project?

Aromas from cosmetics, cooking and sweat can build up in a small space and lead to stinky upholstery. It's a really good idea to ensure you're able to swap out fabric covers, lining and even padding for cleaning.

Goal 1  -  A New Removable Decor Fabric Cover For The Tiny Sofa

Well it's a year later and I've decided to give the tiny sofa a new jacket. I also intend to give it a minor refill, as the padding has settled, so it needs added bounce
- that's just not true, it doesn't need added bounce. I've simply decided to use up left over cotton upholstery filling, that is taking up too much space in our tiny home.

Goal 2  -  Create A Comfortable Nook Area In The Tiny Living Room

I've always liked the idea of a den, a cosy spot away from the living room, where you can relax and put your feet up - a 'lived-in' space.
Due to the tiny dimensions of our home, the best den space I could find, was this little alcove in the corner of our living room.
Comfortable nook with sofa, footstool and throw cushions
I'm going to create small bespoke furnishings for this little nook.  This is easy but will take some time so I'll craft in stages.  I'll keep you updated with tutorials for each stage. 
Stay Tuned.....
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