I am going to show you how EASY it is to recover caravan seat cushions yourself with a fabric of your choice. First, you’ll want to read the 7 factors to consider when choosing fabric, then how to calculate how much fabric you need, how to include shrinkage and what gear you need to obtain a professional result.
The best part is, I have 10 easy steps to recover caravan seat cushions yourself, without sewing a single stitch!
Once you’ve laid out your plans for how you want your caravan space to look and feel like, you can begin!
List of what you’ll need to recover caravan seat cushions:
- Fabric of your choice (IKEA, Warwick or good fabric store)
- Fabric scissors (IKEA or any good fabric store)
- JT21 Staple Gun (from Bunnings)
- JT21 Staples (from Bunnings)
- Backing board (quality plywood about 1cm thickness, from Bunnings)
- Scotch Guard (any good supermarket or fabric store)
- If you’d like an easy way to secure your caravan seat cushions to the interior wall, you can use hook and loop velcro. (Optional) Available at Bunnings.
10 Easy Steps to Recover Caravan Seat Cushions Yourself.
Follow these steps, and before you know it, you’ll have recovered your very own caravan seat cushions.
Step 1.
Find a large, flat and stable surface to work on, such as a large table or the floor.
Step 2.
Roll the fabric out on the surface, with the pattern facing DOWN.
Fabric print facing down.
Step 3.
Place the seat foam on top of the face down fabric.
Foam on face down fabric
Step 4.
Position the backing board on the foam. Make sure the backing board is not wider than the foam. If it is, it could tear the fabric once you begin stapling.
Make sure the edge of the backing board isn’t too close to the edge of the foam.
Step 5.
Pull the ends of the fabric gently towards the backing board. If you have chosen a pattern, you will need to ensure the pattern is completely straight before you begin stapling.
Step 6.
Beginning in one corner, fold the fabric neatly and firmly over the backing board then secure in place with as many staples as needed.
Remember that no one will see the back side of the seat cushion and it doesn’t need to look pretty. But do make sure it its relatively smooth so there is no obvious bulge.
Step 7.
While pulling the fabric into position, staple along the length of the seat into the backing board until you reach the next corner.
Step 8.
Continue this sequence until all corners are complete and you should have a recovered caravan seat cushion right before your eyes!
Step 9.
If necessary, you may want to trim off any excess fabric from the back side.
Step 10.
Congratulate yourself. You just updated the interior of your caravan and you didn’t even need a sewing machine!
The whole process takes about one hour and you could easily do it a little quicker if two people are working together.
If you would like to know how to remove your original caravan seat cushions, I’ve explained how I removed mine in the blog post – The secret to reupholstering your caravan seat cushions for less than $100.
One of the most fun parts about recovering your own caravan seat cushions, is that unlike your home, you can be a little more bold, a little more wild, a little more YOU, when expressing your style.
Usually at home, you may choose to have a neutral tone on your lounge or sofa and inject some colour with cushions and throws. But when it comes to your caravan, your home on wheels that takes you and your family on memory making adventures, you can think outside the box – and dare to be different!
Need help on ideas? Read Caravan Interior Design Styles here on the blog. You can get further inspiration on our Pinterest account, where you’ll find boards dedicated to caravan renovations and loads more caravan interior design ideas.
