Hey there!
Have you ever been on the hunt for the perfect outdoor furniture cushions that fit your style and budget? I recently scored a BEAUTIFUL vintage rattan sofa from Facebook Marketplace, but the cushions were awful. Finding the right cushions turned into a real struggle, with my options either being too expensive or not quite the right size or color. So, I decided to make my own. Here’s the catch: I can’t sew. Not a stitch. Today, I am going to show you a quick and easy way to make outdoor furniture cushions, proving that creating custom cushions for your outdoor space is doable even if you can’t sew!
Vintage Rattan Sofa & Chair
This project began with a Facebook Marketplace find (as most of my stories lately do), and I fell instantly in love! I couldn’t round up my husband and truck fast enough. We drove to pick it up, had a lovely chat with the owner, and loaded it onto the truck.
Once home, I was excited to get it set up on the cottage’s new covered porch, but once I finally sat on it, I couldn’t believe how uncomfortable the cushions were! They were also not outdoor-friendly, a major “Eeek!” moment. I’m not talking a little uncomfortable (scratchy and way too firm), but seriously, it was one of the worst seats ever! I wish I had captured a picture of the metal frames of the cushions—you wouldn’t believe it!
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DIY Patio Cushions
I had two issues with the cushions. My seat cushion sizes were slightly off from the readily available ones you can buy. Plus, the vintage cushions on the sofa were one piece; the metal base, foam, and fabric were all attached, which meant I was going to have to “make or build” my cushions from scratch instead of simply recovering them. Some vintage pieces have woven material that holds the cushions, but mine didn’t have anything for support except the original cushions themselves.
Step 1. Choosing Fabric
I was looking for something that would look pretty against the cottage’s bright green. I wanted something that would be bright and happy and hold up outdoors. I also wanted something fast, so I didn’t want to order online and wait for shipping.
After scouring our local Joann’s and Walmart (I had no idea they sold fabric) I wasn’t finding anything I loved. Then one day while popping into Hobby Lobby I found a pattern I liked from Covington Fabrics.
I needed ten yards of fabric for the four sofa cushions and the chair.
I prewashed the fabric and Ironed it before starting the project.
Step 2. Finding Foam for Outdoor Cushions
I wanted foam specifically designed for outdoor use, which means it would be resistant to mold and mildew. I had trouble finding it locally. Most of the foam filler I was finding was not dense enough or very expensive.
While shopping at TJMaxx, I bought cushions for my porch rockers. When I got them home, I realized their size was very close to what the sofa needed.
The price point was decent so I decided to deconstruct one of them to see what type of foam was used.
The foam was not as dense as what I had seen while shopping, but it was holding its shape well, so I decided to see if I could make this work.
Once the base was on, it was time to assemble my cushions.
Step 3. Making Outdoor Furniture Cushions
I started by measuring (thin) 1/8-inch plywood to the size the cushions needed to be, which is 18.5 x 21. The plywood will give the cushions additional support.
The foam from the TJMaxx cushions was bigger than I needed, so I also needed to cut it down.
I used 3M spray adhesive to adhere the foam to the plywood.
The foam came in pieces that were stacked on top of each other, and I wanted to make sure they wouldn’t slide around, so I also used spray on those.
The next step was using an electric knife to cut the foam pieces to size.
The knife cut through the foam like butter!
Super easy so far!
Now, it was time to wrap the fabric around the cushions.
I wrapped them like I would if I were wrapping a gift.
Then, carefully pulling the fabric taunt, I stapled the fabric to the plywood. I used a pneumatic nail gun with staples for this process.
That was it! Next up was making a base for them to sit on.
Step 4. Building the base
I used 3/4-inch plywood for the base. We measured the plywood to fit inside the sofa’s grooves, which will hold the cushions.
Once the base was in it was time to try the cushions.
Yay! They fit perfectly.
My original plan was to make some no-sew lumbar pillows for the backs. I wanted something that was low enough so you could still see the rattan on the backs. I grabbed a couple of pillows I was using for another outdoor sofa and loved them so much that I decided to go with those for now. I definitely have a thing for the color lime green. 😉
You can shop some of my porch decor below.
How do you waterproof patio cushions?
I didn’t shoot pictures of this, but even with water-resistant fabric like Sunbrella, it’s a good idea to add an extra layer of protection to your cushions. I like to use a spray-on waterproofing treatment on outdoor fabrics. I used Kiwi Camp Dry on these, but I also like the Scotch Guard brand.
So there you have it! With a little persistence, you can create custom patio cushions that are both stylish and affordable. I hope you decide to give these DIY patio cushions a try. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. I’m happy to help!
Here is a pic of the chair!
Until next time,
-Libbie
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