There are times where we have a lot of spare items lying around. Learning how to make a chair cushion with foam is a great way to use these spare items and turn them into something valuable and beautiful.
The main items that you need for this project are a piece of foam and some cloth, which depends on the size of your project. All you have to do is follow a set of steps that mainly involve cutting, sewing, and sticking things together. In the span of a few hours, you will have cushioning that will add more personality to your home.
Are you interested in recycling your extra foam or want a do-it-yourself project that will make your seating more comfortable? Read on to learn the tools and the steps you need to make a unique chair cushion.
Materials You Will Need
For this project, you need a piece of foam, cloth, spray adhesive, measuring tools, needle and thread (or a sewing machine), and a pair of scissors. You can also put in piping and zippers for the cover, but those are optional.
For this project, you should strive to have enough foam to at least have a two-inch-thick cushion for maximum comfort.
Making A DIY Chair Cushion With Foam
Step #1. Measure the chair seat
Of course, the very first step is to measure your seat using a measuring tape. This will help you discern if you have enough foam for your chair.
Step #2. Prepare the foam insert
Once you have enough foam for the cushioning, you have to cover it in a piece of cloth like muslin. It would be best if you did this so that the foam and the inside of the cushion’s cover will not cause friction that may lead to damages.
To wrap the foam insert with cloth, spray the foam lightly from top to bottom with adhesive. Afterwards, wrap it in the cloth.
Press the fabric and cut off any excess. Let the foam dry before proceeding to the next step.
Step #3. Cutting the sides
Get your cloth ready by cutting them into pieces that would match your foam insert. Cut a piece for all four sides and another two for the top and the bottom.
The cloth pieces should be an inch bigger in all dimensions. For example, your foam is 2 inches x 20 inches x 18 inches. Your top and bottom pieces should be 21 inches x 19 inches, and so on.
Sew together the side cloth pieces with a ½ inch seam to create the side assembly.
Step #3.1. Adding in piping (optional)
If you want to, you can add piping to the cover to help give your cushion a shape and form. You can purchase packaged piping or make your own.
Add the piping to the cushion by pinning it to the cushion top. Clip in some allowances to help it bend on the corners.
The edges of the cushion should meet the raw edges of the piping. Let the edges of the piping meet and overlap, and then pin them together to the cushion top. Do the same pinning and stitching of the piping to the cushion bottom.
Step #4. Finishing the cushion
The last step is to connect all the cushion cover pieces. Sew all the pieces together, leaving a ½ seam joining the top and bottom parts to the sides. Sew all three sides first before flipping the cover inside out so that the seams are all inside.
Insert the foam into the cushion, and then close it up completely. Afterward, you can place your homemade cushion into your chair, and you can even bring it around with you everywhere you go!
Adding a zipper (optional)
You can opt to add a zipper to your cushion cover so that you can easily separate the cover and the foam for cleaning. Adding a zipper changes step 3 onwards and takes a bit more effort, but the payoff is worth it.
The bottom cover’s piping should only be attached to one long side and two short sides, leaving the ends hanging off the other long side. Match the long side of the side assembly to the side of the bottom cover without the piping.
Stitch a ½ inch seam using a regular stitch, and baste the seam. Press the seam open.
Place your zipper on top of the basted seam and stitch the zipper tape to the seam allowances. Flip over the cushion, stitching the zipper right side down. Afterwards, open the seam over the zipper using a seam ripper.
You can continue with step #4, as usual. The only difference is that now you can stitch all sides together before adding in the foam insert. After sewing all sides together, put the foam insert through the zipper.
Conclusion
Learning how to make a chair cushion with foam recycles your spare items and saves you money. All you need is to measure, snip, and sew, and you will end up with a beautiful yet useful work of art that is tailor-made for your furniture.