DIY Network

Swing-Out Sofa This swinging sofa saves a ton of space. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-305

Like most teens, Kennedee wants a cool place where she can hang out, enjoy her creativity and avoid her kid brother. Host Karl Champley helps her and her dad build a cool hideaway sofa where she can kick back and relax. Also in this episode, Karl also shows how to finish out the attic walls and ceiling, install carpet tile and create a space-saving recessed bookcase.

This comfy sofa...

disappears on demand.

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Swing-Out Sofa

Materials: 2x4s for framing 3/4" birch plywood wood glue nails stick-on skidders sand paper primer and paint metal hinges screws for the hinges wood trim, moldings drawer pull or handle

Tools: carpenter’s pencil level nail gun table saw straight edge safety glasses paint trays, rollers, brushes

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Measure and plan. Clear out the room, measure and sketch out a plan for the space. For this project, Karl built a knee wall under the angled ceiling; the sofa will swing out from this wall. Determine the size of platform to hold the sofa and make sure it will have room to swing out fully (Figure A).

• Frame the knee wall. Frame out the knee wall with 2" x 4" lumber. Start by nailing a long 2x4 across the angled ceiling joists to define the top of the knee wall. Attach a vertical 2x4 at each end of the wall and at the edges of the openings for the swing-out sofa and recessed bookcase (figure B). Attach 2x4s to the floor to complete the frames, avoiding the openings for the sofa and bookcase.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a saw or a nail gun.

• Install OSB. Cut OSB sheeting to fit the newly framed knee wall, with openings to accommodate the sofa platform and bookcase. Attach to the frame with nails.

• Cut lumber. Wearing safety glasses, cut birch plywood pieces to form the swing-out sofa platform.

• Assemble platform. Spread wood glue on the first joint in the platform, tack the pieces together with nails, then reinforce with screws (figure C). Repeat this process for all joints in the platform.

  Tip: To keep the main piece of plywood from bowing, push and hold it in place while driving the nails.

• Finish as desired. Sand, prime and paint the platform as desired. Attach plastic skidders – often used for moving large furniture – to the bottom of the platform so it will pivot more easily across the carpet (figure D).

• Install the platform. Attach the platform to the knee wall frame with two heavy-duty metal hinges. Make sure the platform is level and plumb, and that the platform fits properly in the opening when closed.
  

  Figure E

• Install trim and hardware. Install a handle or drawer pull on the outside of the platform to make it easier to swing out into the room. Use nails to attach wood trim around the platform opening.

• Hide the gap. The swinging end of the sofa platform can't close up flush with the opening: If it did, the platform would crash into the wall every time someone tried to open or close it. So, Karl trimmed out and painted a strip of wood, added hinges and attached it to the edge of the opening. This mini-door opens to allow the sofa platform to swing out, but closed to cover the gap (figure E).