Hack a Mattress Into a Couch

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)

Step 1: Cutting 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.

Step 2: Cutting Through the Mattress

Cutting the mattress is pretty much the same as cutting the box springs except there is no wood in the mattress. So cut through the outer covering, cut the springs and sew the ends to form the two mattress sections.

Use short pieces of thread to lessen the tangling and knot often. You don't want the thread to break and a large section of your seam to unravel. It is easier to have a second person help you hold the mattress and the seam as you sew. I also folded the seam part over to have a more finished look.

Step 3: Sewing New Coverings

Measure and Cut Panels for the Mattress
Lay the fabric on the sections to measure and cut. I wanted a contrasting color for the sides so I sewed strips of brown fabric together to form one long wrap-around piece. On one short side hem a slit that will create the opening to get the cover on and off. You can see this in the third photograph on this page. I allowed the slit to wrap around the long sides about 3". You can test this to make sure the mattress will fit through this slot.

This is where all those pins come in. I anchor-pinned the brown wrap-around piece (inside out) on the mattress and laid the decorative fabric on top (also inside out). I then pinned it to the wrap-around piece. Depending on the stretch of the fabric you might want to pull it taut as you're pinning so it's not baggy when you finish. I had 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure that as you are pinning you are not pinning to the mattress itself (other than the anchor pins which you will remove later to take off the cover for sewing). I then trimmed any excess fabric. Off to the sewing machine. At the 1/2" mark I did a straight stitch all the way around. Then I went back with a zigzag around the edge. I snipped the curves to make sure that when I turned it right side out the corners were smoothly curved.

I took the cover back to the mattress (still inside out) and put it on the mattress. I flipped the mattress over and anchor-pinned the sides on to hold it in place. Then I pinned and trimmed the second side remembering to keep the fabric inside out. This is when you use the slit in the side. After you've removed the anchor pins that are holding the side panels in place slide the cover off the mattress as you would a pillow case.

Back to the sewing machine and repeat for the second side.

Slip Cover Over Mattress
Turn the finished cover right side out and slide it onto the mattress. If you made it nice and snug this may take two people. Straighten it all the way around and begin sewing up the slit.

Sew Ends
I used a thimble and needle-nose pliers to sew the ends. I also used a glover needle that has a pyramid point which is a little stronger and a little easier to grab with the pliers. You might want to pull the seams together and clamp. I used those clamps that look like industrial clothes pins. Butt the two hemmed edges together (don't overlap) and hand stitch. Wax the thread with bee's wax to both strengthen it and help it glide through the fabric. Keep in mind that each edge is hemmed so you will be pushing the needle through multiple layers of upholstery or heavy fabric. Take lots of breaks and stretch your hands. This will take longer than you think it will. As with the mattress use shorter pieces of thread to lessen the tangling and knot often. You don't want the thread to break and a large section of your seam to unravel.

Measure and Cut Panels for the Box Springs
The idea is the same for the box springs except the bottom is just wrapped around and stapled. I didn't do a bottom panel. I also only used a heavy cotton for the top panel instead of upholstery or decorative fabric since it isn't seen. Since the box springs cover is dropped on and wrapped around there is no need for the end slit.


Pile them up, throw on some pillows and you're finished. Take a well-deserved break.

Comments

[Buggybog]

king couch... nuff said

[Lucky686]

Woa! amazing I love spring mattresses

[AngelaP27]

This will work perfect for my DIY pallet patio furniture. No one tells you on the pallet furniture how hard it is to find the matching pallets and even harder finding some type of cushions for the sitting area. I am definitely going to do this! By the time I am done I will have about $30 in my out door patio decor. Thanks for posting this!

[katherine1331]

I apologize if this is a duplicate question, but how long did the mattress cutting and re-sewing take you?

[simply.alon]

Making a WINDOW SEAT/ COT. Cutting through a queen mattress. This tutorial gave me the pointers I needed. Thank you very much especially because when I searched the net every single forum was showing how to cut a box spring or screaming to buying a foam mattress and cut that instead. My belief is if it can be built, it can be dismantled and rebuilt. My dremel died so I am giving it a go with a small grinder. Nice modification! May create an instructable with credits to you on the mattress mod. Thanks again!

[caitlinsdad]

Cool, I may try this with a spare bed taking up space.

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.

[greezus]

 "I had cut up a mattress in half for trash so that those unscrupulous mattress people don't fish it out and do some recycling for resale"

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.

[caitlinsdad]

You can see my comment to mikeeve.

If you purchase a new mattress, you actually have to pay a charge for them to take it away. That makes me mad.

[zanne101]

Catlinsdad: Totally agree with you. If you're not going to use your own mattress, then don't take the chance of someone else reselling it as new. And anyone buying a used mattress is just asking for all kinds of infectious trouble. Recycling is one thing - but use your head. I don't even buy secondhand shoes - doesn't matter what shape they're in. Hygiene has to be considered when repurposing or recycling. The only thing to use on a mattress set is the boxspring IF you remove everything except the springs and the wood.

[caitlinsdad]

Sleeping in a foxhole half filled with mud and crawling bugs don't worry me any. Sleeping on a skeevy mattress bothers me a lot.

[zanne101]

It always amazes me that people will buy a used mattress, even off Craigslist etc. Yuck!!!

[mikeeve]

" 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"

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.

[Rimwulf]

They don't usually put mattresses in landfills especially because of the metal because its not biodegradable instead its recycled and the padding is cleaned and sterilized and parleyed into doggy beds and house insulation

[mikeeve]

You've got a group of different 'they' than we do.  Our 'they' is we.  Our garbage service won't pick up anything that big (unless we cut it into can size chunks) so we have to throw it into the van and haul it to the local 'transfer' station where we throw it into open trailers which are  hauled to the landfill. Much (most) of the material in our landfill is not biodegradable since we have separate recycling pickup for that. Perhaps, some companies which pickup the old mattresses when they deliver the new ones are into recycling, but I'm not sure we have the institutions here to do that. 

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.

[Huntgoddess]

Hence, the order of importance:

       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.

[caitlinsdad]

This is New York City.

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.

[mikeeve]

Ah, the Big Apple.  I really like visiting there, and googled the NYC used mattress debate. You've got some bed bugs out there!  Here is a quote I found : "NYC bed bugs have developed nerve cell mutations that make them almost impervious to the most toxins used by exterminators."   Maybe you should have napalmed your mattress!

[caitlinsdad]

Yup, no good deed goes unpunished. You do what you can. Thanks.

[ChimpyYellowCake]

Great Project! Here's the couch I built. Built shelves underneath it to hold Speakers and all the board games we have at our coffeehouse.

[fred3655]

They had a bunch of old used mattresses behind the homeless shelter. I couldn't believe my luck!