DIY window seat cushion

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of heavy lifting, vigorous cleaning, some stressful tears and many "is this really my life?" moments. Moving from a one bedroom condo to a four bedroom house has its challenges (a.k.a. living like a minimalist because you dried up your decorating budget faster than you can blink) but it is very rewarding to see the rooms come together slowly but surely. 

 

My Mum and sister visited us from Nova Scotia for a few days last week and I put them to work assembling patio furniture, shopping for china and helping with craft projects.  Since I was a child I've wanted a window seat so my new bay windows provided the perfect opportunity.  My Mum (ever the patient artist) and I (ok, mostly my Mum, I wasn't much help) created DIY window seats for my living room that are oh so comfy chic!

You will need:

-window large enough to sit comfortably on

-foam (we used 2 inch high density foam which holds your weight better and costs about $48/meter)

-non-serrated knife

-cardboard and tape (we used duct tape simply because I couldn't remember where I packed the other types!)

-fabric of your choosing (I bought mine at Ikea for $6/meter)

-hot glue gun or staple gun (we used the former, better if you're accident prone like me!)

-craft scissors

-iron & ironing board

Step 1: Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the window with a bit extra in case of error. If using multiple pieces, secure with tape to prevent sliding out of shape. 

Step 2: Lay your piece of cut cardboard on top of the foam as a template and use your non-serrated knife (creates a straighter line than serrated) to cut through the foam.  High density foam is thicker than regular foam and so you really need to use those muscles! You may notice the piece of cut foam above is a bit jagged, simply use a pair of craft scissors to trim off the extra.

Step 3: Pull the freshly ironed fabric taut over the foam and glue or staple gun to the back side.  If you want to add extra embellishments like buttons, ribbon or lace, now is the time to do it.  If using hot glue, allow the gun adequate time to heat up so it is more pliable.  

Step 4: Add decorative cushions to your window seat nook and prepare to spend many sunny afternoons lounging there with your favourite book. Don't worry if the fabric gets wrinkly or bunches a bit as you sit, it adds character just like linen pants!

I look forward to making another window seat cushion for my office/craft room using brightly coloured rainbow fabric!

(On a fashion related note it's monochromatic day over at Everybody Everywear.  I don't have outfit photos to share because I can't find my camera battery charger in the moving boxes so instead here is a peek at my fave blue monochromatic ensemble).