a diy question about joining two sofas...

[HeartShapedSaw]

Ok, I have two sofas from IKEA, quite similar to this. The arm section comes off completely and is attatched with bolts.

What I want to do is take the arm off one, slide the other one next to it at 90 degrees, and bolt them together so they create a corner sofa. I have gotten as far as thinking I will use the bolts from the arm that has been removed to bolt the bottom side of one to the front side of the other. The wood panel at the bottom of the front (still with me?) is only about an inch thick so it would be easily enough done. All I would then need to do is use the upholstery from the spare removed arm to make another back cushion and technically its all good.

Now, am I overlooking something obvious as to why this wouldnt work? Anyone done anything like this?

[Selks]

Well done you!

I like a bit of re-use and up-cycling

[HeartShapedSaw]

I have done it! Was easy to be honest.

Took one arm off, made new legs with scrap wood (old bed legs) which I screwed in from the side. Used the holes the arm was bolted on with to mark two holes on the front of the second sofa and used the same bolts to bolt them together. So there are 4 legs supporting the corner section now.

Then I used the fabric from the removed arm to make another back cushion for the sofa. It looks fab! I might take off the arm from the end to make it into a chaise type section, using the foam and wood and fabric from the spare arm to tidy up the end.

I wanted a corner sofa for ages, and now I have one and it was freeeeeee!

[FarrahFawcettsFlick]

I've got both the corner sofa version and the sofa chaise one. Have been thinking about this myself - to buy an extra sofa to replace the chaise section.

However, looking at my corner version it has a separate corner seat with legs to support it. Then you bolt the sofa sections (each side) onto it. Your 2 straight sofas together wouldn't have the support underneath the bolted bit/new corner.

Could you use the legs from the spare arm and buy a couple more and attach underneath the corner section. You might have to screw a board underneath to attach legs. Just to give it support, rather than relying on the bolts alone. The bolts won't give but the (quality) timber might ;-)

Let me know how you get on - please.

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

Sounds good to me
Would save you a bomb too!

[HeartShapedSaw]

Oh I forgot to say, the feet are all bloody connected to the arm piece, so would I need to remove all eight feet, bolt them onto batons and then screw and glue these batons back underneath the sofa when I am done? They all need to be the same height etc and the underneath of the sofa is recessed.