Easy and Economical Home Projects Using Upholstery Foam

by Elizabeth Quinn
(USA)

Are your armchair cushions looking flat and dull? Do your dining room chairs look like they came from another era? Is that window seat hard and uninviting? New upholstery projects can do wonders to spruce up your home.

While major projects such as reupholstering a sofa, recliner, or wing chair, require specific skills and several hours of work, many upholstery projects are quick and simple for even an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer.

You can bring that old armchair back to life with a new cushion. For the cushion slipcover choose a fabric color similar to the chair's arms and back or choose a contrasting color. The fabric texture can match or it can be a contrast, such as a cotton or velvet cushion on a leather chair. Choose a piece of upholstery foam with the thickness and width of the old cushion; you may have to cut the length.

Bring some style back into your dining room by reupholstering the chairs. This is a quick and simple project. There are so many décor fabrics to choose from; you are sure to find one that delights you and fits your budget. For a formal dining room, choose a fresh floral such as P. Kaufman Brissac Sapphire or a rich and dark fabric such as Robert Allen Planetary Cedar.

A casual breakfast set looks great with cheery cotton fabrics, such as P. Kaufmann Ric Rac Attack Candy Cane or high quality vinyl, such as Nassimi Aqua Vinyl. If the chairs' existing cushions are sagging or bumpy, you can easily make new ones with upholstery foam.

Complete the look of your dining room or breakfast nook by making coordinating drapes or curtains. This may seem daunting if you aren't an experienced sewer, but it really is not. A variety of ready-made drapery heading tapes can help you achieve the look you want. These are simple to use and affordable.

Does your home feature a window seat? Make it cozy and inviting with an attractive covered cushion. Upholsterer's foam is available in a variety of thicknesses and lengths. There is something to suit every need. Choose a 2 or 3 inch thick foam for a comfortable window seat pad. If you don't anticipate the seat receiving much use, you may be happy with a thinner cushion. Cover the cushion with one of numerous cheerful cotton prints or a heavier upholstery fabric.

Making new cushions or re-upholstering existing ones is a quick, economical way to add style to your home. Don't be afraid to try it. Start with a small project and you will be surprised by how easy it really is.

Author Bio: Elizabeth Quinn is a regular blogger and contributing writer for OnlineFabricStore.net. She has been sewing for nearly three decades and finds that there is always something new and exciting to learn about sewing.

Easy and Economical Home Projects Using Upholstery Foam

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