…. well, temporarily.
Here’s the situation: I love our dog, but she isn’t too nice to our outdoor furniture. We have a set that is super comfy, but she has gotten up onto the cushions to sleep. That has made them dingy and a little thread-bare in places.
We host Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day Brunch and before each event, I get new fabric to go with my color scheme/decor and I temporarily recover the cushions.
Back in January I was shopping for fabric for no-sew drapes I was making. Because I knew ahead of time that I wanted to use turquoise, apple green & tangerine colors for Mother’s Day Brunch, I was able to snap up this apple green paisley for about $2 a yard. Major score since I needed several yards.
To do this, you literally are going to treat the cushion as if it is a gift you are wrapping… except that you’re using fabric instead of wrapping paper and a glue gun instead of tape.
Flip the cushion upside down, so that all of the seams will end up on the bottom or back of the cushion. (just like you would when wrapping a gift…)
Figure out how much fabric you need to use, then cut it.
Now unlike a present, you will secure the “short” ends first. I do this at the front of the cushion because it creates a smoother look on the finished cushion. (by the way, I wrap the fabric right over the little velcro tabs used for attaching the cushion to the chair.)
I glue the fabric directly to the ratty cushion and just pull it off when I change the fabric. If you want to protect your cushion from the glue, just allow for more fabric and glue the fabric to itself as you wrap the cushion.
Then, like a present, fold over the corners of the fabric and secure with the hot glue. Flip the cushion right side up and pop into the chair.
Finish up the rest of the cushions. Tah-da. Better. At least temporarily.
Oh, and see the cute turquoise coffee table?
It was a roadside rescue my sister picked up for me. A few coats of Valspar’s Mediterranean Gloss spray paint and it was all better. (I think this will be the first color of many layers of spray paint for this guy.)
Anyway. Cheap. Easy. Temporary. (It’s nice to have options).
Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says
What a great post, thanks for showing us!
Glad my tutorial helped. You know what is also great if it’s something you don’t use often is a small canvas print, it covers the area perfect!
Have a great day!
Kristin
MiMi says
So I have done this before and it IS just like wrapping a present.
The only thing is that I’m a BAD wrapper.
LOL
Um. Do you spend hours linking up?? Holy crap.
The Answer Is Chocolate says
What a great way to think about it and take the intimidation out of it! Love the fabric you found!
madison avenue says
wow! love this post! i have always wanted to try this but i thought it would be too hard! thanks for the inspiration!
madisonavenue2011.blogspot.com
Erin says
Great info Vivienne, and I do love that blue table!
Sunshine and Lavender says
ok we are totally on the same wavelength… I am doing a post soon about outdoor pillows 🙂 Ca-razy…
~Alison
Maddie Kertay- The Domestic Anarchist says
Ohhhh so fresh and nice.. and to think I am sweating out hours of sewing new cushion covers.. I feel like a dumb bunny!
Maddie
Shawn says
Hot glue? I would never have thought to use hot glue, I would have pulled out the sewing machine and probably ended up throwing it away.
~Lavender Dreamer~ says
That really looks nice! Love the fabric, too! ♥
Judy says
Great solution. Perfect as a no sew. Thanks for sharing at my Swing into Spring party.
Courtney {a thoughtful place} says
Oh my gosh! WE have the exact same patio furniture. Got it about five years ago and LOVE it.
Jennifer says
Love that fabric! Love the price too! $2?!
Jen
Patti says
Just what I needed to learn – I’ll be recovering cushions like this soon…NOW, if i could only find $2.00 yd fabric like you did!!
Jayna Rae says
Great fabric. Great thinking.
katecreativesalvage says
HellO;
Great tutorial, so easy, and cute, I have the same chairs, my cushion need a new wrapping fabric, thanks,
Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com says
I’ve been waiting for this post since I’m sewing impaired, and my chairs are almost just like yours. I think I will give this a try! I would like to know how this looks on the back side of the chair backrest, though, if you don’t have it up against a wall. Does it look okay?
Good Time Charlie says
This is a relly, really clever idea. But what if you only use Gift Bags instead of wrap presents? Tell that naughty dog to stay off the cute fabric too.
Cherished Bliss says
What a great idea! My husband looks at me funny when I say “I want to change the color of this room.” One day I’m actually ganna do it : )
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
This looks great! I’m always intimidated to try something like this. Thanks for linking this up to our WAW link party.
Deneen says
Love the color of the fabric! Thanks for making it easy!
poindextr says
cutest fix ever, if I do say so. Looks perfectly perfect 🙂 ~diane
Holly says
Love that paisley fabric! Temporarily recovering the chairs is a great idea, even if they haven’t been messed up by the dog. Make it pretty for any occasion!
Tanya @ Greetings From the Asylum says
I absolutely love your fabric! I want to make something with it immediately! LOVE IT! (and your chairs look great in it too)! 🙂
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says
My kinda project, no sewing required!!!! Awesome idea 🙂
Thanks for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday!
Kelli says
Shoot…Rondell is the gift wrapper in the house.
Cozy Little House says
Great idea! I’ve tucked old antique linens on for a quick look. But wouldn’t have thought of this idea!
Brenda
Amy Gilman and Emily Lee (Sisters of the Wild West) says
The chair and table turned out great! Have a BLAST and a few glasses of wine OR EVEN A BOTTLE of wine for me! I just LOVE the idea of a girls weekend away!
Joyful Baker says
Those look great!
Myya says
I should totally try this with my outdoor furniture! I’m a great present wrapper!!!
Holy link ups!!! WOOOOW!
At The Picket Fence says
That is a SERIOUSLY great idea Vivienne! I love the fact that it is temporary so you can change it out to your heart’s content. Thank you so much for sharing another fabulous project with us at Inspiration Friday! 🙂
Vanessa
Sassy Sites! says
LOVE the paisley fabric! Thanks for linking up at the Sassy Sites Free For All party! When you get a chance, come back by and see what we’ve done for the American Crafter’s competition… and maybe vote for us too! *wink*
xoxo!
Marni @ Sassy Sites!
Holly says
Cheap, easy, options – speaking y language lady! Great fabric. My furniture so needs a massive facelift! Great inspiration.
Amy @ Positively Splendid says
SO smart!
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says
Hey I featured this on my blog today, come grab a button! http://mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/2011/05/your-whims-wednesday-8-and-features.html
Cherished Bliss says
I am in love with this green color! I am getting ready to do some outdoor curtains and this is the color I’m leaning towards! Thanks for sharing at Craft and Tell!
http://www.cherishedbliss.com
Esther is not-quite-perfect says
I must admit, I’ve done this once or many times too. It’s quick, easy, and changeable.
Al says
I just found your blog, and I am your newest follower! I love this tutorial, so quick and easy, I’ll have to try it out. Have a great weekend 🙂
http://www.skylarkmanor.com
xinex says
Nothing beats free! What a clever idea about the cushion cover. They look really nice….Christine
Kelli- AdventurezInChild'Rearing says
I bought some large “painters cloth” awhile back and have been eyeballing my couches- Now- I’m going for it! (I may use velcro for easy removal for washing- I have 3 boys)
Robin says
I love quick and easy! It’s even better when it looks fabulous when your done. Thanks for the tip.
Kelli @ RTSM says
I have been avoiding our patio set cushions because I really didn’t want to sew that much! I guess I just need to get the hot glue gun out instead:) Thanks for sharing!
The Answer Is Chocolate says
So glad you linked this up to this week’s BFF Open House! Have a great weekend!
shopannies says
thanks for the tutorial there are a few chairs that can use some touch up around here come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Funky Junk Interiors says
TOTALLY my kind of sewing project. 😉 Nicely done! Sure looks purdy.
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Jenn Erickson says
Viv, what a great idea for a quick and chic furniture facelift! I love the fact that you coordinate the fabrics to your special holiday events.
Jenn
J-ME says
I have some outdoor chairs that are just waiting for a makeover. Thanks for the inspiration!
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
I need to find some outdoor chairs to try this on! Thanks for linking this up to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
Kim @ It's a Crafty Life says
Love the new fabric! The chairs look great, thanks for linking up!
KAT says
Thank you so much for this idea pretty easy really ! I’m going to do it to my swing cushions
kat
KK says
Very very good idea! Freshening up the cushions at a great price and so easily changed.
Lindsey @ Inspiring Creations says
Another awesome transformation! Love that fabric. Thanks for the how-to, maybe now I will try to recover a cushion! You make it look so easy. 🙂
Mindy says
I used that same fabric to make couch pillows. Cute, cute!
A Lived in Home says
Much better! Beautiful fabric!
outlast blankets lowest price says
Really nice Fabric! i like the Color Combination! keep it up!
Promosyon says
Well, I have always wanted to try this but I thought it would be too hard. Your work is best for inspiration.
custom suits says
This is wonderful. It would be great at Christmas to have kids mark where they live. Artistic perfectionism is you done better than my work.
Cathy says
Wow! This is a very creative improvement on your chair. Your dog will surely be shy on ruining it again, eh.haha.
Cheers,
Cathy@adar scrubs
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