Easy No Sew DIY Cushion (Bench Seat or Chair Reupholster)

Transform your furniture effortlessly with this no-sew DIY cushion reupholster tutorial for a bench seat or chair. It’s an easy way to refresh your space, add a splash of color, and create a custom, professional-looking finish for your home.

It’s so much easier than you think! This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the process.

With just a few basic supplies and some simple stapling, you can create a professional-looking cushion cover that fits your style perfectly. No sewing machine necessary.

It is ridiculously easy, fast, and inexpensive. You can do it, too. Let’s get started!

Why You Will Love this Project

You’ll enjoy learning how to upholster a bench seat or dining chair because it’s a simple and fun way to upgrade your furniture with your own personal touch.

This DIY project is enjoyable and rewarding, a great way to give your furniture a fresh look, turning an old seat into something stylish and cozy. Even if you’re a new crafter, the instructions will help you easily create a unique, customized cushion that’s functional and beautiful.

It’s an affordable alternative to replacing furniture or hiring professionals, and it offers you complete control over the design, fabric, and color.

Plus, it’s a handy skill to have for refreshing other furniture or making thoughtful, personalized gifts. You’ll love how easy it is to add comfort and character to your home!

Don’t miss all the other cushion projects on my site!

Supplies

Here are the materials you will need to cover your chair seat or bench pad.
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Upholstery Fabric
Foam or Cushion Filling
Base Board
Measuring Tape
Batting optional
Rotary Cutter or Fabric Scissors 
Staple Gun and Staples
Screwdriver
Pliers
Hammer optional

Variations

This project is a great way to let your creativity shine while transforming furniture into something truly special.

The creative possibilities are endless! Explore bold patterns, soft pastels, or textured fabrics to suit your style and decor.

Add decorative piping or trims for a polished, professional look, or experiment with (advanced) tufting for a classic, cushioned effect.

For a practical touch, you can create removable, washable covers using elastic covers, zippers, or ties, making them perfect for homes with kids or pets.

Mixing and matching fabrics—like pairing solid colors with fun prints—would make a playful statement, while including quilted panels or embroidery could add a unique, handmade touch.

Project Preparation

Below is a step-by-step guide for the first step in preparing your furniture piece and materials.

Remove Old Upholstery

If you are reupholstering a seat, you will probably need a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver, pliers, and possibly a staple remover.

Turn the chair or bench over so you can remove the hardware and disconnect the upholstered top (old fabric) from the base.

With a screwdriver, take out the screws and place them in a place you will remember.

Then, use pliers or a staple remover to remove any remaining hardware holding the top in place.

Remove the worn layers that you will be replacing. Follow below for the parts you need to restore.

Cut a Wooden Base

First, you’ll need a wood base if you do not have one. Cut it with an electric saw to fit your seat. Three-quarter-inch plywood works great.

Cut your High-Density Foam

Next, foam! If you do not have the foam cushion already, cut yours to size.

You can cut your poly foam to size using an electric knife, scissors, or a bandsaw.

There are two styles I explain below.

Top-Sitting Cushion

For the style of the seat where the foam cushion sits completely on top of the base, cut the foam slightly larger than the wood base.

Making the foam larger adds extra side softness and protection of edges.

A good measurement is making it approximately one-quarter-inch larger than your wood base on all four sides.

Wrap around Cushion Style Cushion

Alternatively, if you are using a thinner foam cushion, for example, under 1/4 inch high, you may choose to wrap that around the edges and staple it underneath the wood base.

If so, follow the directions below for stapling on the batting using the foam layer. It is an identical process.

Cut out your Batting and Fabric

If you are reupholstering, use the existing pieces as size templates for your newly cut pieces.

Cut your new fabric and batting to the original size unless you see a need to change it.

If you are starting from scratch, cut your fabric and batting to fit your cushion, plus the other materials it will wrap around.

You’ll need to measure the stack height (wood base + batting + foam cushion), so you know how wide your perimeter will be.

For the batting, I like to leave a margin of the TOTAL HEIGHT of the stack PLUS a minimum of 2 INCHES to wrap around to the bottom wood base.

For the fabric, I typically just 1/4 inch more than the batting.

You can always trim any extra batting or fabric later, but this gives you something to grab onto and securely staple.

If you’d like to fold under the raw edges of the fabric on the underside of the seat for a more finished look underneath, you may want to allow even more fabric.

With more experience, you may prefer less fabric, but if you are a beginner, more is better.

Instructions

Below are the steps to attach the batting and fabric.

Set Up

1 After cutting your fabric and batting pieces, place the fabric upside-down on your work table, then stack the batting, foam, and wood on top in that order.

Now the moment of truth. 😃

Stapling

Staple your Batting to the Wood Base

2 Have your staple gun ready. If you are using batting, first, position that in place.

You will need to staple that all around the cushion stack, keeping it and pulling it taut as you go.

Start with one staple in the center front, then one on the back.

Follow that with a staple in the center of each side before proceeding with staples on all four sides.

3 Then work outward from each center. Place a staple every inch or two until you reach the corners.

4 The next step is to finish the corners by stapling the fabric on both sides of the fold at a 45-degree angle.

Cut off any excess batting. Wrap the remaining batting over the corner and staple again.

Stapling your Fabric to the Wood Base

5 Next, for the fabric. If you have a directional print on your fabric, you should mark the front and back center before you begin to help keep it aligned.

Mark with a marker or cut a slit in the fabric to identify. This marking will wrap around to the bottom and won’t be visible.

Measure your base to find centers, then align the center front and back to your cushion stack.

Start with the middle front of the cushion. Keeping fabric in place and secure underneath, wrap to the back and staple them to the bottom of the wood base.

You can also fold the raw ends and tuck them under if you want.

Staple the fabric across the front side. Stop stapling about 2 inches from each corner.

6 After the first side is stapled, tightly stretch the other side around, adjusting the tension where necessary.

Don’t be afraid to pull it a little tighter because after it is used, it will loosen up a bit.

Try to keep the tension the same all the way around the cushion.

Now do the same with both sides. Work from the middle of each side panel out to each corner.

Reattach the cushion to the base

You are ready to put the pieces back together.

The last step is to position the newly upholstered seat on your furniture piece. Review all sides to be sure it is fitting correctly.

Turn the furniture over and screw the top and bottom together again. Use Scotchgard to protect your new masterpiece!

FAQ

Tips

Here’s a list of tips I would recommend when covering a bench seat or dining chair with DIY cushion upholstery.

Measure Twice, Cut Once
Always double-check the measurements for your upholstery project before cutting fabric to avoid mistakes.

Choose Durable Fabric
If your bench or dining room chairs will get a lot of use, choose fabrics designed for seating, like upholstery-grade fabrics, canvas or denim, or sturdy outdoor fabric to ensure long-lasting wear.

Use Quality Foam
Don’t skimp on foam—medium to high-density foam provides the best comfort and durability.

Pull Fabric Taut
When stapling, make sure the fabric is pulled tight to avoid wrinkles and sagging over time.

Work in Sections
Start stapling from the middle of each side and work your way out for an even. Alternate sides and smooth the fabric as you staple.

Batting for a Smoother Look
If you want a softer, more polished finish, add a layer of batting over the foam before stapling the fabric. It’s a quick extra step, but it’s worth it!

Use a Heavy-Duty Stapler
A standard stapler might not work, so invest or borrow a heavy-duty stapler to secure the fabric tightly.

Keep the Corners Neat
For crisp, clean corners, fold and staple neatly, like wrapping a present, for a professional look. See the two techniques above.