Types of designs and schemes for the manufacture of linings for the armrests of the sofa
Armrest covers are a convenient and functional addition to upholstered furniture. They allow not only to increase the comfort of using the sofa, but also to dilute the interior in an original way.
What is the sofa armrest pad
Armrest covers are portable tables in the form of shelves that can be put on the armrest of a chair or sofa. This allows you to create a surface for glasses, cups, glasses and plates, as well as other small items that you need to keep close at hand.
These fixtures are especially popular for living rooms with home theater installations, as they allow quick access to drinks and snacks. The pads can be equipped with pockets in which it is convenient to store little things like a book or a remote control, so as not to waste time looking for them. The product can also be equipped with a small table lamp, creating a cozy place for reading or writing.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following advantages of overlays can be distinguished:
- Surface protection. The pads cover a large enough area of the armrest to protect furniture from dropped snacks and spilled drinks. In addition, the likelihood of the formation of other dirt and abrasions of the armrests is reduced, which makes it possible to extend the life of the sofa.
- Saving space. The use of overlays allows you to abandon coffee or coffee tables, which, although they have a large area, take up more space. For this reason, overlays are most relevant for small studio apartments. They are often designed with sections and compartments for storing newspapers, magazines, and a TV remote control to keep the space more organized.
Note! A number of models are equipped with hidden channels for wires and have built-in holders for gadgets with a place reserved for charging. This allows you to add ergonomics to the resting place.
- Mobility and compactness. The product is removable, which allows you to change its location or completely remove it if necessary, for example, when using a sofa as a sleeping place. Also, unlike similar surfaces built into the armrest, the linings can be easily replaced if damaged or obsolete.
- Ease of maintenance. The pads do not need any special care. They are resistant to dirt and easy to clean.
- Stylish design.The cover can be made of various materials, have almost any color, size and shape, which allows you to choose the right model for the design of any living room. The product can both organically fit into the interior and become an accent element of the room.
The disadvantage can be considered the need for individual selection of the lining, since for convenient use, one should take into account the size and shape of the armrests, the upholstery materials of the furniture and the dimensions of the model.
Varieties of linings and stands
Simple overlay for cups
The most common option is a simple, rigid table. It does not differ in its original form and is rarely decorated, being a minimalist frame. For this reason, such models are the most durable and stable. It is also the best option for drinks and food, since the surface is not only practical, but also solid, which allows you to reliably protect the upholstery.
Wooden armrest pad
Wood is the most popular material for onlays. Special mention should be made of products made on the principle of a mat. They look like a set of movably connected planks that protect the upholstery and do not spoil the appearance of the sofa.
Note! When choosing such a model, you should carefully consider the width of the armrest, since it determines the size of the space that can be used as a stand.
The mats work well for soft, rounded armrests, decorating and protecting them from dust. At the same time, this model is not optimal for sofas with graceful armrests, as it hides most of them.
It should be borne in mind that particles of food and drinks easily pass between the plates of the lining, so you should not use the product as a table for eating. The advantages of the models include a wide range of colors and styles, as well as low cost. Such products are compact and take up little storage space.
Side table
The side table on the armrest of the sofa is a more compact alternative to a coffee or coffee table and allows you to more efficiently organize the space in a small apartment. It is used as a tray, gadget stand, or a place for creativity and writing. A number of models offer the possibility of height adjustment of the table, which is especially convenient when working with a laptop.
A type of side table can be considered a tray on struts. It locks onto any width armrest and allows you to keep a book or a cup of tea close at hand. To avoid spilling drinks on furniture, the trays are equipped with high sides.
Textile organizer pockets
Textile covers are part of the folding tables. They have a hard surface, often with sides, and a pair of reclining textile pockets, usually sectional. Such tables are convenient not only for the usual use, but also for needlewomen, who can place all the details of their work in the armrest organizer.
Note! This type of tray organizer is the easiest to make on your own. The product can be sewn from pieces of fabric using patchwork technique.
Surface mounted stand with shelf
Onlays often have various pockets and shelves that increase the functionality of the product. This type of product includes curved tables, which will be optimal in an Italian-style living room due to their unusual shape. They are made in such a way that there is a miniature shelf at each bend.
Diagrams and drawings for self-production
Before you start making the lining, you should draw up a diagram of the future product. It is necessary to indicate on it all the elements, their sizes, places, order and connection methods. In general, the scheme will include:
- a board equal in width to the armrest;
- a board equal in height to the armrest;
- a board that sets the height of the additional pocket (if any);
- a board that sets the width of the pocket and is its bottom;
- a board that bounds the pocket on the second side.
Note! It is convenient to calculate the size of the board based on the content that you plan to store, for example, a laptop. In this case, add five centimeters to the width of the laptop.
How to make yourself
For self-production of a wooden overlay for the armrest of the sofa, you will need the following materials:
- wooden boards of the required dimensions;
- screws;
- corner brackets;
- sandpaper with 240 grit;
- glue for wood;
- paint for wood;
- putty for wood;
- aerosol glue;
- brushes 50 mm and 25 mm wide;
- cork fabric;
- decorative nails for furniture.
The order of work is as follows:
- Connect the boards corresponding to the width and height of the armrest. They should first be glued, and then additionally fastened with screws to ensure a stronger fastening.
Note! To keep the outside of the pad intact, the boards can be fastened from the inside using corner brackets and screws.
- Fasten the boards forming an additional compartment. Mounting is carried out in the same way.
- Connect both parts together. This can be done with glue and screws from the outside or corner brackets from the inside.
- Apply putty. This procedure is necessary if the parts were connected to each other with screws from the outside and they need to be hidden. When using corner brackets, no filler is required from the inside, as the outer surface is already flat. When screwing in the screws, their heads can enter the tree, forming small indentations, which are removed with a putty. After processing, the surface is smoothed with emery paper, which allows the filler to move into the level with the wood.
- Paint the stand. The color of the paint is chosen according to personal preference. If desired, the structure and natural color of the wood can be varnished if desired. You can paint both the entire stand and only the outer side. When fully stained, the paint should be applied in several steps to leave the side on which the stand will stand. If painting is carried out only on the outside, then masking tape should be applied from the inside to protect the surface from paint.
Note! When painting, at least two coats of paint must be applied to thoroughly coat the surface.
- Attach the cork paneling. To do this, cut the cork fabric along the width of the board located on top, leaving a slightly longer length. The fabric should be wrapped under the board, glued with aerosol glue and secured with decorative furniture nails.
Using the sofa armrest allows you to make the sofa more functional and comfortable, while using a minimum of space. A simple overlay can be easily made by yourself, making the living room design original and unique.
Video: wood stand for the armrest of the sofa