Print PDF
Favorite
Email
We were converting a guest bedroom into a sewing room and didn't have space for the bed anymore. I cringed at the idea of adding the mattress and box springs to a landfill. For years we've had a sitting area made out of cushions (sort of a Middle Eastern vibe) but wanted something a little higher so I decided to see if I could convert the mattress into a sitting area/couch. My mom was forever hacking long before anyone knew what hacking was. I felt like this project was a nice way to honor her by using her mattress and her 1950's-era Singer sewing machine.
What follows is just my experience. Your mattress and situation will be different so think of this as a sketch and use it as a jumping off point. If you have a better idea that's great. My partner only decided to post this after I was finished so it's not as complete as it might have been.
The overall plan is to cut out a middle section of both the mattress and the box springs leaving two ends for each of the same size. Then closing up the ends and sewing covers for them out of canvas and upholstery fabric. The basic idea is pretty simple but it is a bit of work and requires both a Dremel tool (or something to cut the metal springs) and a sewing machine.
I used a Sealy Posturepedic Full mattress but yours will probably differ in brand, size and construction. I'm only describing what I found and did. Be flexible as you will probably have to make adjustments depending on what you discover after you open yours. I recommend a little exploratory surgery and poking around inside before you make any major cuts. But the basic approach should work for most mattresses.
Purchasing the fabric is the most expensive part of this project. I used remnants I already had so this project cost me nothing but your situation will probably be different. Note that upholstery fabric can run $30-$40/yard so keep your eye out for sales. I also used canvas for the sides which can cut your costs greatly. You can also do one side using less expensive fabric and the other in a nice upholstery fabric and flip it over for company.
Note: Don't forget to use goggles, ear protection and gloves.
Tools used:
Scissors
Dremel tool with a fiberglass reinforced cutting wheel
Hand saw
Staple gun
Sewing needle and upholstery thread
A lot of straight pins
Sewing machine
pliers
thimble
hand clamps (the ones that look like industrial clothes pins)
bee's wax (to wax hand sewing thread)
What follows is just my experience. Your mattress and situation will be different so think of this as a sketch and use it as a jumping off point. If you have a better idea that's great. My partner only decided to post this after I was finished so it's not as complete as it might have been.
The overall plan is to cut out a middle section of both the mattress and the box springs leaving two ends for each of the same size. Then closing up the ends and sewing covers for them out of canvas and upholstery fabric. The basic idea is pretty simple but it is a bit of work and requires both a Dremel tool (or something to cut the metal springs) and a sewing machine.
I used a Sealy Posturepedic Full mattress but yours will probably differ in brand, size and construction. I'm only describing what I found and did. Be flexible as you will probably have to make adjustments depending on what you discover after you open yours. I recommend a little exploratory surgery and poking around inside before you make any major cuts. But the basic approach should work for most mattresses.
Purchasing the fabric is the most expensive part of this project. I used remnants I already had so this project cost me nothing but your situation will probably be different. Note that upholstery fabric can run $30-$40/yard so keep your eye out for sales. I also used canvas for the sides which can cut your costs greatly. You can also do one side using less expensive fabric and the other in a nice upholstery fabric and flip it over for company.
Note: Don't forget to use goggles, ear protection and gloves.
Tools used:
Scissors
Dremel tool with a fiberglass reinforced cutting wheel
Hand saw
Staple gun
Sewing needle and upholstery thread
A lot of straight pins
Sewing machine
pliers
thimble
hand clamps (the ones that look like industrial clothes pins)
bee's wax (to wax hand sewing thread)
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Cutting Through the Box Springs
Calculate size of sitting area
I measured the cushions on a regular couch to find out where to cut the two ends of the box springs. I wanted an L-shaped sitting area formed by two sections but you can create any configuration you like. Look at the bottom of the box springs and see where the wood cross pieces fall. It's important to cut it so that one is left to form the new back line. This maintains the box integrity. In my case this made the bottom section slightly narrower than the mattress section on top of it. But in the end the overhang made it more comfortable to sit down and stand back up.
Cut through outer covering and padding
Use a regular pair of scissors to cut through the covering right down the center. This was my exploratory cut. See how yours is constructed before you open it up too much. Peel the covering back. You will now be able to see into the box springs. Measure the two ends and mark the cut on the springs themselves with a Sharpie pen (I used blue so I could see it better). Remember to make this mark longer so that you can bend the cut end over. You don't want the metal rod poking straight out through the fabric.
Cut springs
Using a Dremel tool with a Fiberglas reinforced cutting wheel cut down the line of springs (see photo). Make sure to wear eye and ear protection and gloves because the sparks smart. Hold the tool steady because any jerky movement will break the wheel. Depending on your mattress you may want to cut the springs longer (the height of the box springs) and then use pliers to fold the wire down forming the back wall of the new section. I tied the folded down wire with cotton rope to give it more support.
Cut wood
If it is possible cut the wood leaving a supporting crosspiece to form the back line of the new edge (see photo). If this isn't possible nail a crosspiece along the back edge.
Close ends
Close up ends by pulling covering and padding back into place. Wrap it around to the bottom of the wooden crosspiece. Staple in place and trim excess. Then pull the bottom thin fabric (looks like interfacing) and staple it back on and trim excess.
Repeat on the other end of the box springs to form the two lower platforms.
I measured the cushions on a regular couch to find out where to cut the two ends of the box springs. I wanted an L-shaped sitting area formed by two sections but you can create any configuration you like. Look at the bottom of the box springs and see where the wood cross pieces fall. It's important to cut it so that one is left to form the new back line. This maintains the box integrity. In my case this made the bottom section slightly narrower than the mattress section on top of it. But in the end the overhang made it more comfortable to sit down and stand back up.
Cut through outer covering and padding
Use a regular pair of scissors to cut through the covering right down the center. This was my exploratory cut. See how yours is constructed before you open it up too much. Peel the covering back. You will now be able to see into the box springs. Measure the two ends and mark the cut on the springs themselves with a Sharpie pen (I used blue so I could see it better). Remember to make this mark longer so that you can bend the cut end over. You don't want the metal rod poking straight out through the fabric.
Cut springs
Using a Dremel tool with a Fiberglas reinforced cutting wheel cut down the line of springs (see photo). Make sure to wear eye and ear protection and gloves because the sparks smart. Hold the tool steady because any jerky movement will break the wheel. Depending on your mattress you may want to cut the springs longer (the height of the box springs) and then use pliers to fold the wire down forming the back wall of the new section. I tied the folded down wire with cotton rope to give it more support.
Cut wood
If it is possible cut the wood leaving a supporting crosspiece to form the back line of the new edge (see photo). If this isn't possible nail a crosspiece along the back edge.
Close ends
Close up ends by pulling covering and padding back into place. Wrap it around to the bottom of the wooden crosspiece. Staple in place and trim excess. Then pull the bottom thin fabric (looks like interfacing) and staple it back on and trim excess.
Repeat on the other end of the box springs to form the two lower platforms.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
And, yes, the pooch is adorable. She or he makes everything look nice and comfy.
I agree with someone else that said, You'd be safer using a bolt cutter or metal snips or something similar, rather than a dremel to cut the springs. Less likely to cause injury or start a fire...
Third: my favorite! Look for a local "Mill End" or seconds fabric store. Frequently they have LOADS of last season or two seasons ago upholstery fabric for as little as $3-10 a yard... instead of the $30-50. Also look in your local fashion district if you live in a Large city. Basically, don't go buy your upholstery fabric from your local big box fabric store, or expect to pay through the nose... (You could also cover with heavy weight canvas, and in this case, you could cut up new clean heavy canvas drop cloths, and then slip cover in a lighter fabric that would be much less expensive).
Cool Idea. I have been looking for different ways to build my own couch since I lived in an apartment and realized how stinking expensive those things are... and how the cheap ones are rarely the most comfortable... AWESOME!!
there's lots of things you can do with old box springs... look for my box spring intractable coming summer 2010!!!
Good luck on your instructable. :)
Others may want to just use a pair of bolt cutters to clip through the spring and stiff border edge wires. A little bit safer. It helps to have someone act as the "ribspreader" holding back the peeled mattress skin while you reach in there to grab the springs. I had cut up a mattress in half for trash so that those unscrupulous mattress people don't fish it out and do some of their recycling for resale.
They sell upholstery sewing needles which are curved and heavy duty. They would be handy since you can't reach in the mattress to push the needle back out.
I would add a new layer of memory foam to bolster up my old mattress.
Is that a joke? If not, you've got a serious attitude problem.
I recently had 2 twin mattresses I wanted to get out of the house. A quick posting on CraigsList, and both were gone the same day. For free. The fellow who took them said they were for his twin girls which is great if it's true. If not and he is can resell them, more power to him. I just wanted to keep them out of the landfill.
It is not a joke.
If I went around saying "Bite Me," that would be a serious attitude problem.
Really, there are trucks and vans that trawl the streets going through the recyclables and illegally picking through the trash to get the heavy metal appliances/scrap and used mattresses on the curb (the City views it as stealing from the money they get for recycling).
A store that does sell used mattresses is supposed to "sterilize" them and mark them as used but there are news stories of a few unscrupulous retailers that just put the mattress back on the shelf. I consider a mattress in the same class as personal hygiene items. I know it is clean but for the peace of mind of knowing the mattress will not end up in the wrong hands, I will sacrifice the mattress for regular disposal. I am all for repurposing and "dumpster diving" for something but not for a used mattress.
As for Craigslist and freecycle or donation, I am not up for dealing with random contact with others that want a used mattress.
More power to ya.
In any case, back to the original post I commented on, destroying a reusable product is wasteful. Destroying it so others won't resell is is just plain <*>. Usually, reusing is much 'greener' than recycling.
First, Reduce;
Then, Re-use;
THEN, Re-cycle.
But, --- like most dogma ---- it's better to follow it yourself than to try to get others to do so.
At first I was really mad at this statement, but not so much now- I think I read it wrong- At first I thought you meant people that would take it out of your trash for scrap metal. But then I thought you meant someone is going to take it and straight up resell it as a mattress...
But either way, I think I'm still mad. You threw it away!!! Personally, I still would have taken it and recycled it. but I think what makes me maddest is that you purposely cut it in half so it couldn't be used period.
If you purchase a new mattress, you actually have to pay a charge for them to take it away. That makes me mad.
What a great way to honor your Mother's creativity. You must be a lot like her when it comes to making something out of what you have available. Thanks for giving me a great idea. Just wish I had someone with your expertise to help me.Keep up the good work! Love the Puppy.