DIY: Fake Window Seat Cushions

Use a staple gun instead of a sewing machine to make a window seat cushion.

Make a cushion that fits your window seat without sewing a stitch to make a cozy place to curl up with a good book. Create the cushion on a wooden base; the heavy wood will hold the cushion in place. Foam rubber makes this seat comfortable and gives it a rounded shape. Cover the cushion with fabric which matches your curtains for a custom look or liven up your room with a bold print.

Things You'll Need

• Large paper
• Masking tape
• 1/4-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• Foam rubber
• Fabric
• Tape measure
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• Biaes tape or felt
• Hot glue

Instructions

1. Lay large sheets of paper over your window seat and trace around the edges with a pencil to make a pattern. If your paper is not large enough tape several pieces together. Newsprint or old wrapping paper both work well.

2. Use the pattern to cut a 1/4-inch piece of plywood to fit in your window seat.

3. Cut a piece of foam rubber the same size as the plywood with scissors or a serrated knife. You will be compressing this foam when you cover the seat so the edges do not have to be perfect. Concentrate on making the bottom edge even with the wood.

4. Place the foam on the wood and measure the length and width of the cushion from the bottom edge of the wood on one side to the bottom edge of the wood on the other side. Go over the top of the cushion at the widest points.

5. Cut your fabric 2 inches wider than the measurements.

6. Lay the fabric out with the right side down. Center the foam on the fabric and place the wood on the foam.

7. Fold the fabric up over the edges and staple it down 1/2 inch from the edge, starting in the center and stopping 1 inch from the corner. Pull the fabric tight as you staple. The fabric should be pulled tight enough to round the top edges of the foam.

8. Make mitered corners by folding the fabric over the corners at a 45-degree angle. Staple the corner down and make tiny pleats in the remaining fabric around the corner. Staple these pleats in place. Cut off any fabric that is more then 1/2 inch from the staples.

9. Hot glue felt or twill tape over the staples to protect your window seat from scratches.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a 4-inch piece of foam for a thick comfortable seat or a thinner piece of foam, if you want to save money or just don't like the look of a thick cushion.

• Some upholstery stores or army navy stores will cut foam to fit your pattern.

• Use an electric knife to cut the foam.