Chesterfield sofa - photo of a legend in furniture history

Many wealthy consumers prefer to buy Chester sofas in specialized stores that sell products from large industrial companies. Very wealthy compatriots can afford to order a sofa according to an individual project, but such work will cost about twice as much. There are quite a few reasons, one of them is that you have to separately calculate and manufacture each detail, and this type of furniture has a lot of them.

There is a third category of consumers who have the skills to perform furniture work and can make furniture themselves. Of course, they are inferior in quality to products from professional specialized companies, but this is not decisive. Everything that is made with one’s own hands always seems the most beautiful and the best.

DIY Chester sofa: drawings and diagrams

Design Features

Chester sofas are multifunctional furniture, which is especially appreciated in modern interiors. Products are always made with a low back, which smoothly turns into armrests, which looks original, comfortable, and beautiful. Many models are equipped with a transformation mechanism for organizing a berth. The design has the following distinctive features:

The height of the backrest and armrests is the same, all elements have a similar decor.
Wooden parts are made from high-quality types of wood.
The filler is horsehair.
Carriage or diamond-shaped capitonné screed. Decorative buttons are used to secure the filling.
Tall wooden legs are made from solid, expensive wood.
Curved tops. The back and armrests are made in the form of scrolls.
Upholstery made of genuine leather or high-quality leatherette.
Characteristic backrest tilt.

Modern versions of upholstered furniture are complemented by seat cushions with a smooth structure.

How to make a carriage screed for a sofa?

Carriage screed - a technique for upholstering furniture and other elements. This is a drawstring, the characteristic feature of which is buttons; when they are fastened, diamond shapes are formed.

To create it, markings are applied to the foam rubber in the form of staggered dots in several rows. Then holes are made at these points, the upholstery material is secured from the inside and they begin to move to the side.

On the back side of the tape, a hook is threaded through the hole in the foam rubber, the button lace is grabbed and tightened, pulled quite tightly and secured with a knot.

Such manipulations are carried out over the entire surface of the sofa, and at the end the fabric is attached to the frame.

Advantages and disadvantages

The elegant and graceful Chesterfield sofa has numerous advantages:

has a stylish, beautiful appearance;
looks attractive from any angle;
goes harmoniously with any interior style;
has high quality workmanship;
characterized by a long service life.

The Chester soft sofa has not lost popularity for five decades thanks to all the listed advantages. But in addition to the undeniable advantages, the model has some disadvantages. The product does not always have a comfortable sleeping place, and wide armrests are not suitable for all users. The cost of the original model is quite high, so not every buyer will choose a Chester sofa.

When choosing a product you need to approach it very carefully, paying attention to all the details, as you can purchase a low-quality analogue.

Sleek appearance

High quality

Harmony in the interior

DIY Chester sofa

When it is difficult to find a suitable option on the market or it is too expensive, you can try to create it yourself. The technology for making a Chester sofa in green or another color is simple and can be done by many people. It is important to choose the right tree, which must be durable. In addition, you need to have tools for work and purchase the following materials:

plywood;
beam;
filler;
foam;
fabric or leather.

The Chester sofa is assembled in the following steps:

Based on the drawings, all the details are cut out.
They are assembled together, connecting them with bolts and other fasteners. It is important that the resulting structure is stable and durable.
The next step is upholstery. When doing this for the first time, it is recommended to practice on a piece of plywood. The filler is applied to the armrests, backrest and lower part under the seat.
The diamond-shaped screed blank is prepared separately. Foam rubber is glued onto the material, a diamond shape is created, and a drawing is made on its basis. Select the places where the buttons will be located and make shallow holes there.
Stretch the foam rubber onto the base frame. It's better to use two layers.
Sew the buttons to the marked places and use cords to tighten them.
All cords are secured to the back with a construction stapler.
Finally, the back of the sofa is covered with upholstery.

Materials of manufacture and dimensions

For the manufacture of the Chesterfield sofa, only selected quality materials are used, which are characterized by strength, durability, and environmental friendliness. It is interesting that each company has its own set of raw materials for the production of luxury furniture. The stability, comfort, and service life of the product depend on the reliability and strength of the frame. Expensive high-quality wood is used to make the frame, armrests, and legs. Oak is best suited for these purposes - a strong, durable material. A sofa made of wood will last a long time, maintaining its original shape.

The beautiful appearance of the product depends on the upholstery. Various modern materials are used for it, but the traditional furniture option is the Chester leather sofa. It looks great in any interior and decorates various settings. The advantages of expensive genuine leather are:

high tensile strength;
long service life;
moisture resistance;
ease of care.

The disadvantages include:

flammability;
low resistance to mechanical damage;
minimum flowers.

Equally popular for upholstery is eco-leather, which has almost no inferior properties to natural material. It has a number of advantages:

resistance to moisture;
wide choice of colors;
softness and elasticity;
environmental cleanliness;
wear resistance;
ease of care.

The disadvantages are:

susceptibility to mechanical damage;
adhesion to human skin;
flammability.

Fabric velor is another covering option. The material consists of various components: cotton, polyester, viscose. The advantages are:

good air permeability;
stretch resistance;
softness and velvety surface.

The disadvantages include:

difficult stain removal;
fragility, as the fabric wears out quickly;
gentle cleansing.

Natural horsehair or modern synthetic materials are used as filler for the production of Chesterfield sofas. The first is taken from the mane and tail of the animal. Horsehair has a number of undeniable advantages:

excellent air permeability;
durable;
absorbs moisture well;
hard.

Thanks to the hardness and rigidity of horsehair, the sofa perfectly holds the human body and also follows the contours of the body.

The cheapest models use synthetic materials, mainly polyurethane, as padding. Such filler must be of high density. Then the product will not deform and collapse over time.

Genuine Leather

Eco leather

Velours

Modern Chester sofas vary in size. Two- and three-seat spacious designs are popular. The Chesterfield folding sofa can have any roll-out mechanism, easily turning it into a sleeping bed. Sofa models are produced in volume for spacious rooms, where they can be placed in the center, which is perfect for the living room. There are small sofas for rooms with small dimensions. Single products can be placed in the kitchen or office.

Double

Triple

For spacious rooms

Single for small rooms

Chester sofa – dimensions

Due to its great popularity, furniture has a wide variety of appearance and shape options. You can choose a small model that will fit perfectly into a small room, and a folding Chester sofa will become a comfortable place for a whole group to spend time. Modern manufacturers produce Chester sofas of different widths. Today you can find the following popular options on sale:

small single – 110 cm;
Chester double sofa – 144, 164 and 184 cm;
triple – 208 or 224 cm.

Color options

Traditionally, sofas were made in dark colors: black, brown, green, red. Modern models are available in a wider range of colors. You can see white, beige, blue, yellow, orange options and so on.

For small rooms with a light interior, it is better to choose furniture of the same shades, which will visually enlarge the room.

If the room is spacious, then a sofa in a contrasting color with the overall design will highlight the relaxation area. The highlight of such a room can be furniture in a bright red shade. There are approximately 40 sofa colors in total, from rich brown to silver.

Against the background of light shades, products in purple, rich blue and green colors look great. A delightful ensemble is achieved by using chocolate-colored furniture that harmonizes with many tones. A black sofa will add mystery and elegance to the room.

Which interior will it fit into?

The design of the furniture is so flexible that it looks great both in a strict minimalist style and in a new, trendy room design. The Chester sofa in a classic interior is used in traditional colors, with carved legs and bronze elements. Products that have their own characteristics are suitable for modern design styles:

Loft. In this style, characterized by a combination of luxury and poverty, furniture of English origin will add beauty and comfort. In a loft, for example, you can use a double sofa with plain black or white velvet upholstery. Bright colors are also appropriate for the design direction.
High tech. For a high-tech style, models with strict geometric shapes are suitable. The colors used are grey, metallic, black, white.
Modern. Chester is in perfect harmony with the smooth configurations and floral elements inherent in this style direction. Delicate shades are suitable: pinkish, ashy, light blue, greenish.
Country. Products in brown, natural yellowish and golden shades will fit into the rustic style. Fabric upholstery is more suitable - soft and pleasant.
Fusion Many different styles are mixed in this direction, which makes it unpredictable. If the Chester sofa turns out to be among this “mash” and “twirl,” then it will come in very handy.