DIY Banquette Cushions

Make your own banquette cushions to match your decor.

A banquette is a long bench-like seat built into the wall or corner of a kitchen or sunroom, often paired with a table to create an eating nook. Cushions for a banquette typically are box cushions that run the length of the banquette, and are not too difficult for the home sewer to accomplish. You can tailor the fabric of the cushion covers to complement your décor, or even use leftover kitchen curtain material, if you have it, for a really matching banquette cushion.

Things You'll Need

• Box cushion insert, banquette seat sized
• Measuring tape
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Zipper

Instructions

1. Measure the length, width and height of the box cushion insert. For example, your banquette cushion insert may be 40 inches long, 12 inches wide and 3 inches high.

2. Cut two pieces of fabric for the top and bottom of the cushion that are 3 inches longer and wider than the length and width of the cushion insert. For example, cut two pieces that are 15-by-43 inches for a 12-by-40-inch cushion insert.

3. Cut two pieces of fabric that are 3 inches longer and wider than the length and height of the cushion insert, and two pieces 3 inches longer and wider than the width and height of the cushion insert. For example, cut two pieces that are 6-by-43 inches and two that are 6-by-15 inches. These will form the sides of the cushion.

4. Fold a double 1/4-inch seam over on all the edges of your fabric pieces, so that the raw edges are completely encased, and sew them down using a flat stitch on a sewing machine.

5. Pin the two width-by-height pieces to each end of one of the length-by-height pieces with right sides together and sew each end with a 3/4-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine. This will make one long piece for the sides of the cushion.

6. Pin the ends of the second length-by-height piece of fabric to the unsewn ends of the two width-by-height pieces and sew together to create the edge for the box cushion cover. It should fit around the edge of the cushion insert comfortably.

7. Pin the edge strip wrong-side out to the top panel of fabric, also wrong-side out then sew together on a sewing machine with a 3/4-inch seam allowance.

8. Pin the bottom panel of fabric to the other side of the edge strip, wrong sides out. On one of the ends pin a zipper, wrong side out, between the edge strip and the bottom panel, then sew together on a sewing machine.

9. Open the zipper then turn the cushion cover right side out, pushing your fingers into the corners to turn them out completely.

10. Insert the box cushion into the cover then close the zipper to finish the banquette cushion.

Tips & Warnings

• If your banquette is in a corner, make one cushion that extends the full length of the longest side of the banquette, then a second cushion that extends the length of the smaller side to abut the first cushion at a 90-degree angle. For a more decorative effect, add piping or decorative trim around the seam edges of your cushion.

References

• Alternative Windows: Box Cushion Instructions