Do It Yourself : Chic Chair Cushions

We recently renovated our dining room and discovered three things when it comes to the seating area:

1.    Chair cushions can make quite an impact in a very easy and inexpensive way.

2.     The cushions on the market are largely frumpy and boring.

3.     Photos inside the table are a great conversation starter.

Let’s start at the beginning…

A simple way to add a pop of color or pull together the colors you’re already using in the room is through a set of chair cushions. We were so disappointed with our options while searching for cushions that would coordinate with our new color palate! 

Sure, we found a few fabulous chair cushions in the stores– but they cost over $50 per cushion. That was our entire budget for the cushion project and just one chair cushion for the room would look a little off, no?

So, we decided we’d try our hand at making our own cushions and it turned out to be inexpensive and very simple. Here’s how we did it:

1     Find a set of pillow that you like. The key is to have the shape of your pillows match the shape of your chairs. IE: Square chairs need large square pillows. You also want pillows that are stuffed with foam or a substantial amount of batting. Down pillows don’t hold their shape when you sit on them.

2.     Sew two ribbons, measuring 6-10 inches* on the back two corners of the pillow (2 ribbons on each corner).

3.     The third step is optional but encouraged. Sew (or hot glue) buttons on top of the point where you attached the ribbons to the pillow. This gives the cushion a nice “finished” effect.

4.     Attach the cushions to your chairs by tying the ribbons into bows around the slats that make up the back of the chair.

*If your chairs have a solid back with no slats you can sew one ribbon (that is approximately 2 feet long) onto each of the back corners of the pillow. Use the two ribbons to tie a large bow around the back of the chair.

Now, onto our third discovery!

While moving into our humble abode, we ran out of wall and shelf space for our photographs. In search of an extra display spot, we decided to get a glass table with a hanging rack for our dining room.

 This way, we can display our beloved photos for all to see and protect them from spills. We recommend that you only do this on tables with a hanging rack or secondary surface that is separated from the glass. With the open space between the glass and the photos, liquids won’t seep beneath the glass and destroy your pictures.

WHAT/ WHERE:

Basic Cushion à Solutions

Pillows à West Elm

Ribbon à M&J Trimming

Buttons à M&J Trimming

Table à Ikea