Modify leather sofa for more back support... newbie help!

[greyscalefade]

Hello, I'm a low level or "newbie" DIY-er. Over the years I've repaired cheap furniture (fixed a few IKEA couch frames), reshaped and reinforced some warped MDF furniture, etc but have never done anything complicated.

Anyhow, I recently purchased an Italian leather sofa via Craigslist that is nearly unused and beautiful... but somewhat uncomfortable! It's mid-century inspired and as such the seat and the back are not as ergonomic as more modern designs. They're pretty straight.

After about 15 minutes sitting upright, you get some discomfort in the lower back and need a pillow or a folded throw blanket to relieve the tension.

I'd like to fix this at the source!

My idea is that I could either tilt the back cushions a bit more using some sort of hidden "shim" so they hit you more in the lower back, or actually open up the cushions themselves and insert some additional shaped foam to round out the lower-back area.

The way this sofa is designed, none of the cushions are removable; they are sewn to the canvas that covers the frame beneath the cushions.

I could easily get to the seams with a seam ripper or blade, but I cannot fathom how I could re-attach them without doing it by hand, which would be cumbersome and not nearly as sturdy.

So this is a two fold question:

a) Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bolster/improve the lower back support of a fixed-cushion couch, internally?

b) Any advice on how I could re-sew the cushions once the frame is modified? (How on Earth did a machine get into those crevaces in the first place?!)

Thanks all!

[Shadeladie]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
All I can tell you is, if upholsters need to remove attached back cushions, they don't reattach them. The make new, loose ones to fit. You can't reattach it once they're removed.

[greyscalefade]

Thank you for the reply! And sorry for posting to the wrong forum, I realize now that this belonged in upholstery rather than woodworking/furniture

Are they unable to be re-attach cushions because of the way the unit was put together initially? The area they are sewn to behind the cushions is cloth, if that makes any difference.

I'm going to rethink a strategy and re-post with more details and maybe pics

[Shadeladie]

It's originally factory made and either very difficult or a huge pain at the very least, to reattach, so upholsters will always choose to redo with loose cushions. If they have to stay attached, then they will work around them rather than remove them.
They'll always be sewn to some sort of fabric so that makes no difference.