Easy Ways to Make Indoor and Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read my Disclosure Policy.
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.
In this post I am sharing my step-by-step tutorials that will show you how easy it is to make new covers for those faded, time-worn, covered in bird droppings, outdoor chair 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 mildew stains and shows dirt very quickly.
I found this fabric at JoAnn Fabrics. I waited to buy it until I had a 40% off coupon. It is indoor/outdoor fabric like Sunbrella 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
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.
The back cushions are simply big outdoor pillows that I made really simple covers for using one long length of fabric.
How to Make Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers
At the end of this post you will find a listing of all my cushion cover posts so you can choose which one will work the best for the seating cushions in your home.
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.
These are removable cushion covers that are tied onto the underside of the cushion.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
6. Place cover back onto cushion. It will look like this with the corner seams going up and over the bottom of the cushion.
7. If it fits OK, then remove again, turn right side in and sew a finished edge/hem along all raw edges.
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.
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.
10. Once each piece of ribbon is sewn on, tie opposite sides together so cushion cover is secure.
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
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 Cushion fabric – no longer in stock
How to Take Care Of Outdoor 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
More Outdoor Cushion Cover Tutorials
No-Sew Chair Cushion Covers
- Tutorial: No-Sew Cushion Cover
- Tutorial: No Sew Stool Seat Covers
Easy Sew Outdoor Chair Cushion Covers
Indoor or Outdoor Cushion Covers
These can be made either for indoor or outdoor use depending on the fabric you choose.
- Tutorial: Make Your Own Kitchen Chair Cushions
- Read the post: Small Pom-Pom Trimmed Covers
- Learn how to make: Large Pom Pom Trimmed Ottoman Covers
Brilliant!!!! Just like a wrapped package? Gotta try this myself!!!! Need to make a fabric store run now!!!!
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.
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 ?
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.
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!
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