If you’re the kind of person who obsessively collects fabrics and textiles—a vintage mudcloth here, an embroidered swath of salvaged kimono silk there—you’ve likely run into the very common conundrum of how best to display your treasures on a daily basis. (After all, a girl can only sew so many throw pillows.) With this easy upholstered bench DIY, you can turn your favorite piece of fabric into a functional piece of custom furniture that’s simpler and more affordable to make than you might think. The best part? No sewing or carpentry skills are necessary—if you can use a staple gun, you’re golden.

For this project, it’s best to start with a piece of plywood that’s pre-cut to your desired size; because most upholstery foam maxes out at 24 inches wide, you’ll want to keep your wood slab within that range, too. Make sure that whatever fabric you’ve chosen is at least 10 inches longer and wider than your plywood base.
You will need:
- ¾-inch plywood, cut to your desired dimensions
- 2-inch upholstery foam in a similar size
- Fabric
- Ruler
- Fabric marking pencil
- Fabric shears
- 4 hairpin legs
- 8 washers
- 8 wood screws
- Power drill with drill bits
- Staple gun
- Felt-tip marker
Step 1: Trace the base
To get started, position the plywood on top of the foam and trace its outline with a marker.
Step 2: Cut the foam
Cut the foam along the line with a pair of fabric shears.
Step 3: Measure and cut the fabric
Center the cut foam over the fabric. Use a ruler and a fabric marking pencil to mark off a rectangle of fabric that is five inches wider than the foam on each side. Cut the fabric along the lines you’ve drawn.
Like the indigo fabric used here? Find similar materials on Etsy.
Step 4: Layer the foam and fabric
Flip the fabric right side down and center the foam on top of it.
Step 5: Add the wood

Place the plywood directly on top of the foam, making sure that all three layers of materials remain centered.
Step 6: Begin stapling
Starting at the center of one of the longer sides, fold the fabric up and over the edge of the wood so that it conceals the layer of foam. Pull the fabric taut toward the center of the wood, and staple it directly to the wood about an inch from its edge. Repeat at the center of the opposite side. Continue stapling along each longer side, working from the center to the edges and alternating between the left and right sides as you move outward. Note: Leave the last few inches of fabric at the corners unstapled—you’ll secure those sections last.
Next, staple along the shorter sides of the wood, starting at the center and working toward the edges as you did before. Stop before you reach the corners.
Step 7: Staple the corners
To finish a corner, pull the fabric taut toward the center of the wood, then staple it in place. Next, fold in both sides of the remaining fabric to create two even pleats. Carefully hold each pleat in place as you staple them to the wood. Repeat on all four corners, then trim away any excess fabric.
Step 8: Attach the legs
While the bench is upside down, use a ruler and pencil to measure and mark a spot two inches in from each corner to position the hairpin legs. Use the legs’ mounting hardware as a guide to mark drill holes, then drill a pilot hole with a drill bit a few sizes smaller than the wood screws you’re using (this will make driving in the wood screws easier). Position a washer between the screw and the leg base, then attach the legs with the drill and wood screws.
After you’ve secured all four hairpin legs in place, trim away any remaining excess fabric.
Process photos by Erica Chan Coffman.
38 comments
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 2 years ago
Great idea! Thanks for sharing:)
DeUno from DeUno said 2 years ago
Looks great! Thank you for sharing!
Patti Trostle from PattiTrostle said 2 years ago
Great idea! Thank you!
Francine from HomespunHeartofMine said 2 years ago
Wonderful project!!! Thanks for the easy to follow tutorial....will have to try this one for sure!!! :)
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 2 years ago
Very nice. Thank you for sharing :)
One Stop Steampunk Shoppe from OneStopSteamShoppe said 2 years ago
Very creative! Thank you for sharing your ideas! : )
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 2 years ago
Cool concept, especially after scoring an abandoned curb side furniture piece worthy of restoration!! Love that this step by step feature allows for varies textiles!! TFS!!
Nicole from Crackerjackarma said 2 years ago
Wow that looks beautiful ! Thanks for sharing the idea !
cindy Q. from mrsakarn said 2 years ago
Very pretty, thanks for sharing!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 2 years ago
A nice, simple project. Thanks for the tips.
LovablesShop from LovablesShop said 2 years ago
Great idea! thanks for sharing<33
Renee from RandMhandmade said 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing!!
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 2 years ago
Awesome idea. Thank you Erica of Honestly WTF.
jaymiescrafts from jaymiescrafts said 2 years ago
Beautiful project and most excellent detailed instructions I have seen with links that were so very helpful! Thank you so much!
se99hite said 2 years ago
THANKS Etsy, you read my mind; I do have lots of fabrics that need projects. LOVE the easy to understand and execute tutorials. Rugs can make a great cover as well and are very durable. If you have cats, I'll bet they'd love their very own bench covered in a natural, nubby jute rug.
Catherine Modschiedler from veryvintagecath said 2 years ago
Very stylish. Thanks For sharing. I do have some kimono silk just sitting in a drawer.....
Merryliza said 2 years ago
You can finish the bottom with a piece of black vinyl cut big enough to cover the edges of the fabric and staple it in place at the edges of the vinyl thus creating a professional finish which prevents fabric from raveling and hides the plywood.
Nicolets from ShopNicolets said 2 years ago
wow that is beautiful i love it!
Antonella Natalis from italianmarinepainter said 2 years ago
Oh super nice!!!!
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 2 years ago
Wow! You made this look so simple...Adorable!
Ardyth Elms from AreaCreationsStore said 2 years ago
What a great bench! I am looking forward to trying it. Thank you for sharing.
sjdowns13 said 2 years ago
Good, clear directions with corresponding photos. Thank you for a good idea and instructions that are easy to follow.
Valerie from VintageVallure said 2 years ago
Just a quick tip for those that would like to complete upholstery projects. An electric carving knife is great for cutting foam!
Michelle G said 2 years ago
Amazing DIY bench! Where did you buy the legs? Love them!
Helen from Gem2theiVintage said 2 years ago
Great idea for any space!! Thank you for sharing!!
Rachel Bingaman from BingArt said 2 years ago
Great project idea!
Renee from RandMhandmade said 2 years ago
Love this!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Ellie from EverbluePress said 2 years ago
that fabric! <3
Suzanne V. from MyVintagePersuasion said 2 years ago
thanks -- Good idea and would work with many sturdy fabrics. I'd turn fabric under a turn before stapling I'd definitely use pinking shears so there's never a fear of fabric unraveling. Another quick improvement would be to just make a simple turn on the edge for a hem, which would make it less likely to fray and would also look much better.
sharon from ELDUpholstery said 2 years ago
Beautiful! As a diy'er upholsterer myself, I also cover the bottom so it's just not plain wood (even though it's not showing I feel even the out of sight should be pretty too, ha!) This can usually be coordinating or contrasting vinyl or fabric.
laurenpfisher99 said 2 years ago
My parents made me this over the weekend. Super easy and came out AMAZING!
Elvia Perrin from ElviaPerrin said 2 years ago
Erica - love the project & thanks for featuring my etching "Vault" above your lovely bench !
Eva Relinde from fetewonderful said 2 years ago
Could you tell us the size of the bench featured in this post? It's the perfect size and I would love to know the details :-)
WING SUM YIM from fabricAsians said 2 years ago
easy and nice
Anisa Ali from Kuchidesign said 2 years ago
Very creative!Thank you for sharing!!
Sadia Khan from Gemsandjewells said 2 years ago
Good Ideas !! Thanks :)
Ian Shepherd from ThewoodpeckerRegalos said 2 years ago
great to see your work . thanks for sharing