DIY Bench Cushion

This post will walk you through how to make a DIY bench cushion with an easy, step-by-step tutorial. Best part is: this DIY bench cushion do not require any sewing.

 

It is week 4 of the $100 Room Challenge and this week I worked on creating a DIY Bench Cushion. Please keep in mind that I am SO not a crafty sewer. Truth: I don’t know how to sew, nor do I own a sewing machine. My aunt was gracious enough to sew a seam to avoid a sideways pattern, but, if you are like me, and lack the ability to sew, you can certainly complete this project without a sewing machine; the only thing to keep in mind is making sure you have enough fabric to cover the cushion with the pattern going in the direction that looks best to you.

What You Need to Make A DIY Bench Cushion

 

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• A thin piece of plywood, also known as underlayment (mine was 5 mm thick)- A note to possibly save you some money: I went to Home Depot and they have scrap wood you can purchase for a reduced price. I got mine for under $4.00 (a 70% savings). So, check the scrap wood area before buying a whole sheet. Home Depot will also cut the wood for you; just be sure you have your measurements.
• Foam padding– This stuff is expensive! I could not believe the price. Check for coupons before purchasing. Joann’s happened to have 50% off foam, but even with that coupon, I paid about $27 for it!!! I chose to go with a 2″ foam, but 3″ is also available… it just costs more. Again, know the dimensions of your cushion so you don’t overpay for more than you need.
• Batting– When figuring out how much batting you need, remember to figure out the length of your bench + the measurement of your foam x2 + your wood x2 + 1″ extra for stapling x2. My cushion was 55 3/8″ x 17 1/4″. The batting was already wide enough, but I needed 55 3/8 for the length + 4″ for the foam (2″ on each side) + 2″ for the wood (1″ on both sides- more than I really needed, but I’d rather go over a little) + 2″ for wrapping around and stapling (1″ for each side) = 63 3/8″ needed in total.
• Fabric- I chose to go with an outdoor fabric. I feel like it’s a little more durable, and easier to spot clean since I can’t exactly throw my cushion in the laundry whenever it gets dirty. The dimensions are figured the same way as your batting. If your bench is not as long as mine, the fabric was already 55″ in one direction, so keep that in mind… ask the associate cutting the fabric what’s best. They are SO helpful!
• Staple Gun with Staples about the size of your wood. You certainly don’t want the prongs to poke through the foam or fabric… I used 1/4 inch (6 mm) staples, the shortest I could find.

How to Make A No-Sew Bench Cushion

First thing’s first. If you know how to sew, start there. As I mentioned, my aunt helped me sew a seam so my pattern would go in the direction I thought looked better. If you do not sew, that’s okay, just make sure your fabric is the right size. Once you have all your supplies, the process is actually very quick and easy- I’d say we spent a total of 30 minutes making the whole thing.

Start by cutting your foam to size. While the length of my foam was cut in the store (55 3/8″) the width was wider than what I needed. While I have heard that an electric knife is great for cutting foam (that’s what they used in the store), I don’t have one, so I used a utility knife, and it did just fine. Make sure to measure and draw a line to guide your knife.

 

Put your foam on top of the thin plywood board and wrap the batting around it. Pull it securely and staple it to the bottom of your board using a staple gun.

 

Now wrap your fabric around and pull tightly, making sure your pattern aligned. Then staple your fabric onto the bottom of the board.

 

Ta Dah!!! DIY bench cushion! In order to prevent the cushion from moving all over the bench, I laid down some rug pad gripper I had downstairs.

 

And there you have it! A DIY bench cushion.

 

The Budget

Cushion

• Fabric= $20.98 (Little story. I don’t know how to sew, so I thought I was going to have to go with a sideways pattern and, therefore, would need more fabric. A HUGE thank you to my aunt who helped sew a seam so I wasn’t looking at a wonky pattern!!! This also means I had a lot of fabric left over. If I knew how to sew, or knew my aunt could help me, I could have gotten by with spending only $11.99, but I’m being honest with the actual amount spent.)
• 2″ foam= $27.22 (After 50% off coupon) I know! Who knew foam was so expensive? If I hadn’t had my coupon, it would have been $54.44… over half my budget!
• Batting= $4.36 (After 50% off coupon)
• 5mm Plywood= $3.89 (After 70% discount for using Home Depot’s scrap wood)

 

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