• Home
  • New? Start Here
  • About Diane
  • Contact
    • Advertise/Sponsors
    • Disclosure
  • FAQ’s
  • SHOP
  • Subscribe
    • Member Library
  • SEARCH
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

In My Own Style

Top Budget DIY Home Decorating Blog + Creative Lifestyle Ideas + Tutorials.

  • Decorating
    • DIY Decorating Projects
    • No-Sew Decorating Projects
    • Window Treatments
    • Decorating Tips and Tricks
    • Home Improvement
    • Outdoor & Exterior
    • My Current Lake House
    • My Previous House
    • Spring & Easter Decorating
    • Summer & Patriotic Decorating
    • Fall Decorating Ideas
    • Christmas Decorating Projects & Ideas
  • Organizing
  • Room Makeovers
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Dining Rooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Closets
  • DIY & Crafts
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose
    • Insta-Style
    • Free Fonts
    • Free Printables
    • DIY Projects With a Free Printable
  • Paint Anything
    • How to Paint Anything
    • How to Spray Paint FAQ’s
    • How to Paint FAQ’s Answered
    • Invaluable Painting Tips For the Home Decorator
    • Paint Recommendations for the DIY Decorator
  • Furniture Makeovers
    • DIY Faux Finishes
    • New to DIY Chalk Paint?
    • DIY Chalk Paint Recipes For Painting Furniture
    • DIY Chalk Painted Furniture Tutorials
    • Furniture Painting Tips
  • Lifestyle
    • Style Scouting
    • Travels
    • Entertaining
    • Table Settings
    • Recipes
    • Daily Life

Easy Ways to Make Indoor and Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers

May 11, 2018 · By Diane Henkler · 26 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet

Looking to replace the outdoor chair cushion covers on your outdoor patio, porch or deck seating?  Outdoor furniture cushion covers can take a beating from the weather and every few years can use a refresh. Here are 5+ DIY Ideas that will show you how to make new covers for them, some of them don’t even require sewing

How to make outdoor chair cushion covers

Also, if you want more cushion cover ideas, at the end of this post, I am listing some of my early cushion cover posts that I did here on the blog.  All of them step-by-step that will show you how easy it is to make new covers for those faded, time-worn, covered in bird droppings, outdoor chair cushions! 

Outdoor Living room complete with chairs and pretty cushions

Even if your outdoor chair cushions are in good shape like mine are, covering them using any of my easy techniques will give you options to change the color and pattern for special occasions or just on a whim.  I wanted to cover my cushions since the solid off white color gets dirty very quickly. 

Easy Sew Outdoor Furniture Cushion Covers

I found this fabric at JoAnn Fabrics. I waited to buy it until I had a 40% off coupon. It is indoor/outdoor fabric that is easy to clean and maintain.

The pillow back cushions were made using Solarium Rydell Summer.  The fabric on the seat cushions is: Solarium Dazzle Ocean

Outdoor Patio Furniture Cushion Covers to make

I made these outdoor chair cushion covers the same way I made the covers for the cushions on my DIY slipcovered sofa that I used to have in my living room. I call it semi-sewing where I still use a sewing machine, but skip the standard box cushion cover that usually has piping and a zipper.

How to make outdoor chair cushion covers the easy way

The back cushions are simply big pillows that I made really simple covers for using one long length of fabric.

How to Make Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers

If you are a seamstress or simply a better sewer than I am, then I know you will have your own way of making boxed style cushion covers for seating cushions. I never learned to sew like a pro. The only instruction I received was in 7th grade Home-Ec class where we didn’t learn a lot, only how to make an unflattering skirt that the teacher made everyone in the class make.  :-)

For anyone who may be saying, I can’t sew or I don’t have the time, I know you can do it and maybe seeing all the different types of cushions I have made may inspire you and give one a try.

supplies needed:

  • fabric 
  • thread
  • ribbon – 8 lengths cut about 12″ or longer depending on the size of the cushion you are covering.
  • yardstick or measuring tape
  • sewing machine
  • straight pins
  • Scissors
Hoe to make chair cushion covers without piping or zippers?

1. Measure your cushion (height, width, depth) and determine how much yardage you will need.  I usually eyeball this and look at the whole process as if I were wrapping a gift box with wrapping paper.

how to make covers for chair cushions

2. Lay cushion on a small table or stool. Place fabric right side down on cushion. This allows the fabric to hang down so you can easily work on all four corners.

An easy alternative to making boxed chair cushion slipcovers

3. Bring two sides of the fabric together at one corner. Use straight pins to fit the fabric to the corner. This will become a seam. Repeat on the other 3 corners of the cushion.

Step by step photo tutorial on how to make chair cushion covers

4. Cut away excess fabric at each corner, leaving about 2 inches of fabric away from line of pins.

5. Remove fabric from cushion and sew all the seams on a sewing machine. Turn fabric right side out.

Cushion slipcover tutorial that has no piping or zippers.

6. Place cover back onto cushion.  It will look like this with the corner seams going up and over the bottom of the cushion.

Easy sew home decorating with fabric projects.

7. If it fits OK, then remove again, turn right side in and sew a finished edge/hem along all raw edges.

Alternatives to using zippers when making chair cushion covers.

Place cover back onto cushion.

8. The next step is to add ribbon ties to the edges of the fabric that will hold the cover on. They will be hidden on the underside of the cushion. I have found that adding 2 ties to each side will keep the cover taut and looks like a traditionally made box style cushion cover.

How to make a box style cushion with no piping or zippers.

9. Fold over end of each ribbon to make a finished edge and pin to fabric edge as shown in the illustration above. The ribbon does not have to be exactly placed like this. You just want to se the ribbon on so each is across from one on the other side.  #3 can be up closer so it is in line with #6 and #2 with #7.

How to make a chai.r cushion without using a zipper to close it

10. Once each piece of ribbon is sewn on, tie opposite sides together so cushion cover is secure.

Easy to make chair cushion covers

I made two covers and since you never see the ties, I used scraps of black and green ribbon that I had to make the ties for the second cushion.

How to Make a Large Pillow Style Cushion Cover

How to make outdoor chair pillows.

The back cushions on my chairs are large pillows, not box cushions like the seat cushions. To make the cover for these is really easy. You can read a more detailed tutorial on how easy it is to make them in this post: How to Make a Pillow Cover Without Using a Sewing Pattern

Outdoor Cushion Fabric Resources:

Pillow Back Cushions: Solarium Rydell Summer

Seat Cushions: Solarium Dazzle Ocean

How to Take Care Of Chair Cushion Covers

One question I always receive when I post about outdoor cushions and pillows is: “Do you cover your outdoor furniture when not in use?”  In the past I have tried using vinyl covers, but found it is easier to just bring the cushions inside my house when not in use. It is not ideal and I am currently looking into purchasing this outdoor cushion storage box.  Does anyone have one of these or something similar? Does it make it handy to store cushions in when not in use and easy to retrieve when you want to use them?

If your outdoor chair cushions are in good shape and just need a little sprucing up, check out this post:  How  To Clean Outdoor Patio Cushions 

Outdoor Patio Furniture Covers

Outdoor Cushion Storage

More Tutorials: No-Sew Chair Cushion Covers

How to make a no sew cushion cover for any size seat, chair or sofa.

No-Sew Cushion Cover

No SEw Banquette Cushion covers to DIY

No-Sew Banquette Cushion Covers Made From Drapes

Easy to make no sew decorating ideas

How To Make Chair Cushions Without Sewing a Stitch

Cover stool or any chair seat with colorful dishcloths. They are fun and affordable when decorating on a budget.

No Sew Stool Seat Covers

Easy Sew Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers

Monogrammed pool chaise cushion covers DIY

Terrycloth Pool Chaise Cushion Covers

Indoor or Outdoor Cushion Covers

These can be made either for indoor or outdoor use depending on the fabric you choose.

Easy sew custom box cushions to fit any chair shape or style. Full step by step tutorial shows you how to make thick box style chair cushions that are perfect for dining chairs

Make Your Own Kitchen Chair Cushions

How To sew a simple slipcover for an ottoman cushion

Small Pom-Pom Trimmed Covers

Make this fun and flirty pom pom trim for a slipcover. The pom poms are attached in a way that can be easily removed so you can launder the slipcover and not the pom pom trim. Easy home decorating project.

Large Pom Pom Trimmed Ottoman Covers

How-to-Recover-Your-Outdoor-Cushions-and-your-Indoor cushions, too
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Decorating With Fabric Projects – Sewing, DIY Decorating Projects, Furniture Makeovers, No-Sew Decorating Projects, Outdoor & Exterior, Summer & Patriotic Decorating

Subscribe
Inspiration In Your Inbox

Inspiration In Your Inbox!

Get my latest posts, insider tips and more by email.

And don't worry, no spam and you can unsubscribe anytime.


« How To Make a Rustic Twig Vase
Interesting Lake Houses »

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Jenny Jenkins says

    08/19/2020 at 11:02 am

    Wow! I found your content here very creative and helpful. Thank you so much. I also found some great information herehttps://conservationconstructionofdallas.com/dallas-home-windows/ I will keep checking back for more great content. Very happy to read this.

    Reply
  2. Shelly S says

    05/30/2020 at 7:08 pm

    Hello This looks great and easy, I might add…lol…. How can I do this with a half moon or crescent shape seats with rectangular backs. I have three chairs in that is very costly to replace the covers so I am trying to come up with an idea to cover them myself thank you

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      06/01/2020 at 1:27 pm

      Hi Shelly –

      Can you remove the cushions on the chairs? Are they like dining room style chairs that you can unscrew the seat cushion from under the seat?

      Reply
  3. Madelein says

    04/29/2020 at 2:02 am

    Halleluja!! I have been putting it of since 2015. Didn’t want to bother with zips or buttons. Have the material. Would be my proudest lockdown project ever.
    From Jo’burg, South Africa.

    Reply
  4. Andrea says

    04/26/2020 at 9:15 am

    I’m so excited that you posted this. I’ve been wanting to redo the ugly brown chair covers that I have. I love the option to put the ribbons on so that they are washable. It’s genius! I can’t wait to try it. I really enjoy your blog.

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      04/26/2020 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks Andrea

      Reply
  5. Patricia says

    04/25/2020 at 12:30 pm

    Diane,
    Don’t forget about All About Fabrics in Williamston. Not open now but hopefully May 7,8,9 or June 4,5,6. They are predominantly decorator fabric & hundreds Sunbrella remnants at $3-$4/ yard. DIY fabric heaven!!!

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      04/26/2020 at 5:50 pm

      Hi Patricia – Thanks for reminding me. All About Fabrics is such a fun place to go. I haven’t been in awhile. Hopefully we can get back to normal soon and I can take a trip there.

      Reply
  6. Pat M. says

    06/19/2019 at 11:46 am

    My daughter has quite a few pieces of outdoor furniture on her large deck and was always so frustrated when she had to bring in pillows and cushions to keep them dry from rain. They were always all over her dining room, in the way, and as you can imagine, not particularly attractive from a decor standpoint. She purchased a large patio storage box and now she can put the cushions and pillows inside when the weather is calling for rain and the top even serves as extra seating and a serving surface when the weather is cooperating. She says it definitely relieved a great deal of stress in her busy household and she has wet cushions a lot less frequently.

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      06/19/2019 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Pat – I still have not purchased a deck box and need one badly! I saw the perfect size at Sam’s CLub. If they deliver, I am hoping to get it. It will make storing the cushions so much easier. :-)

      Reply
  7. Michelle says

    03/12/2019 at 7:58 pm

    I cheated on the storage box. I went and got a tool box for a truck. Paint it what ever color turns you on . I have all 6 chair cushions in it, plus 5 small ones that go on top of it. I got extra seating this way . We raised it up with some landscaping concrete blocks. Otherwise it was sitting right on concrete.

    Reply
  8. Vanessa says

    05/20/2018 at 9:00 am

    Diane – I followed your tutorial using drop cloth fabric from Home Depot. I was so excited to try this out, I even cut strips of drop cloth to use for the “ribbon”! ? I didn’t have any on hand and could not wait to try making my covers. I’m going to use some of the excess drop cloth and make some extra covers, but use ribbon for those.
    This method worked perfectly and I now have new covers on my antique wicker loveseat. The porch is covered/screened in but will still bring the cushions inside during our Alabama thunderstorms, never know which way the wind will blow and have a section of porch getting wet.
    I’ll eventually try to make cushions with actual zippers but I’m very pleased with how these turned out.
    Thanks a million!
    PS I’ll try and email you a pic or two.

    Reply
  9. Carole says

    05/16/2018 at 6:38 pm

    It really is easy to sew a zipper into a pillow. While the fabric is laying flat on your table you pin the zipper into one of the the seams and then sew it along each edge. (this is sewn before sewing the other sides). When you get to each of the corners where the zipper is you just sew that seam right up to the zipper. If you didn’t sew it up tight enough into each corner just tuck it into the side of the next seam. Sew the other three seams and turn it inside out. I have shown many people this technique and once they get it they agree it is really easy.

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      05/16/2018 at 11:20 pm

      Hi Carole – I know this is true… I just have to sew a few zippers into a few items a few times so it all makes sense and I get an Ahh-ha moment. It takes a lot of left brain, right brain thinking at the same time, like when having to cut compound cuts in crown molding on a miter saw. :-) Thanks for sharing the steps. I am sure if I Googled it I could even find a video over on YouTube.

      Reply
  10. Sarah Mueller says

    05/14/2018 at 10:13 am

    I don’t have a cushion storage box, but I recently purchased a GIANT deck box from Sam’s Club to store my patio cusions in. It works great! It does not have that inside liner though. I didn’t know these things existed and I may have gotten that instead! :(

    Reply
  11. MaryJean says

    05/13/2018 at 11:52 pm

    Love this post, Diane. Do you leave your pillows and cushions outside all the time? I don’t have a covered patio so they will get rained on. I usually put them in my tool shed when I think it’s going to rain, but I hate having to take them out and put them back all the time.

    Reply
  12. Chris Baum says

    05/12/2018 at 5:33 pm

    We used a storage box similar to the one you are considering for years and it really added to the ‘longevity’ of the cushions. One suggestion is to give it a good ‘bug spraying’ before winter, so that you do not find a newly established family having taken up residence over the winter :).

    Reply
  13. Vritika| Independent villas says

    05/12/2018 at 7:55 am

    I know the fabric decoration is all the rage these days, but never tried it once. I actually like this tutorial and I’m going to try this for my throw pillows on my porch sofa! Lovely :)

    Reply
  14. Betty Baker says

    05/11/2018 at 8:56 pm

    Hi my lifesaver. I cannot believe that you could make this slip now.I am at the moment planning on slip covering my cushions on my rattan chairs and love seat. Now my only problem is can I do this with the cushions that rest at the back of the chairs (they are not pillow like, they are the same shape of the seats but smaller.As far as the larger love seat I would just put more ribbons on it to draw it tight. This procedure sounds so easy. Now what about the back cushions. I am not sure if you see the back through the rattan. Anyways this whole idea is fantastic. …Betty from Ontario, Canada. P.S. I love your waterfront home.

    Reply
  15. valarie sanford says

    05/11/2018 at 8:05 pm

    You are a godsend Diane. Thank you again for such a wonderful, timely post…now to get busy!

    Reply
  16. Monica says

    05/11/2018 at 5:37 pm

    Brilliant!!!! Just like a wrapped package? Gotta try this myself!!!! Need to make a fabric store run now!!!!

    Reply
  17. Joan says

    05/11/2018 at 4:28 pm

    Your cushion covers look great, and such a pretty color. I have a large deck box for my chair cushions and it works wonderfully for keeping cushions dry and clean. No dragging them inside the house. I have had it for four years and it holds up great and my cushions look brand new. I’ve never had a mildew problem, and it holds 8 chair cushions.

    Reply
  18. Lynn W says

    05/11/2018 at 11:56 am

    Deck boxes are a great way to keep cushions dry and clean during off season. Big box stores sell them along with Costco and Sams Club. There are some really attractive ones out now.
    Love your cushion covers! Great idea :)
    Happy Mother’s Day ?

    Reply
  19. Kelly T says

    05/11/2018 at 11:09 am

    That fabric is beautiful! Looks so pretty! I do mine completely no sew, just wrap the cushion in the fabric and use duct tape on the bottom. Mine are out in the sun and only last one season so it’s an easy way for me just to use the tape since I don’t sew.

    Reply
  20. Becky in 'Bama says

    05/11/2018 at 11:06 am

    Having lived in the deep South my entire life,out-of-doors fabric has come a long way – BUT with our extreme humidity during the warm months (May through October) fabric just mildews too fast for me to bother with. If I was a stay at home wife/mother I might could deal with it – but being out of the house 60 hours a week with my job – I don’t have time (or inclination) to spend my weekend time at home cleaning mildewed and/or dirty chair cushions, patio drapes, etc… and the only way to prevent it is to drag the cushions in and out which is irksome. We are on our third summer of having a backyard pool – and the only fabric on anything out of doors is the large umbrella by the pool – which doesn’t mildew because it is exposed to the sun after getting wet – whereas – when cushions get wet – the underside stays damp and then mildew. We have two fabric covered folding chairs that we take in and out of the basement on weekends and that’s about it. We have considered nice cushioned loungers by the pool – but then I think about the trouble that I’D have to go to… and not worth it. (And all these Pinterest boards of porches with sheer and fabric drapes… in Alabama that would be another invitation to mildew. LOL)

    I applaud you for your skills at covering those cushions, and I ENVY your beautiful lake home for sure. Enjoy!

    Reply
    • Justj says

      06/29/2020 at 5:54 am

      My sister uses shoelaces for everything they are for the most part strong we are currently repurposing an ugly yello glider with ottoman and plan on using the shoelaces as the ties gifting to nephew with 4 kids so covers have to be washable thanks for your ideas

      Reply
Diane Henkler Blogger In My Own Style
I love all things creative, colorful, and DIY. It is just the way my brain is wired. I can't add 2+2 to save my life, but I can help you decorate your home in a style that you will love...YOURS! LEARN MORE
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

search

my shop page

Reader Favorites

  • How to decorate so you feel at home.
    How to Decorate So You Feel at Home
  • Before-and-After-small-Budget-House-Exterior-Makeover
    Before & After Exterior House Painting Reveal
  • adding an island to a small kitchen
    Adding a Kitchen Island to My Small Kitchen
  • Bedroom decorated using blue and white color palette
    Why I Like To Decorate Using the SLOW Method
  • Diane-and-Ed-In-My-Own-Style-blog standing by bikes on a bike tour along the Lehigh River Gorge
    How I Met My Husband Ed

Search

Categories

Archives

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disclosure

Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. InMyOwnStyle.com receives a small commission when certain items are purchased, but the price is the same for you. InMyOwnStyle.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 In My Own Style, Diane Henkler

Privacy Policy
DO NOT REPURPOSE, REPOST, MAKE SELLABLE ITEMS OR REDISTRIBUTE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
FEATURED ON: