AT reader Tracy had an IKEA Poang chair which she wanted to customize with a bit more personality. Fortunately, she had some extra roman shade fabric and a DIY moxy:
I decided to rent a small office for my freelancing, and then immediately got all giddy with the possibilities of decorating it. Of course, I'm on a budget, so I knew I'd have to make do a bit, but I really wanted a chair and ottoman. I had one of those Ikea Poang chairs at home (who doesn't?) and decided it would be the best thing to use, but the pad on it was their neutral green pattern and didn't match the primarily red scheme that was emerging in my office. I looked at the other pads they had for sale, but none of them inspired me and I didn't want to spring for something I thought was so-so. Then I considered covering the pad, and realized it would be a cinch. I remembered the fabric I'd bought for an (abandoned) roman shade project, just sitting in a cabinet. It would do perfectly.
Tracy's DIY Roman Shade IKEA Hack Chair
Here are the basics:
Essentially, all you have to do is sew pillowcases. Seams straight up and down the sides and straight across the end, with the top ends open for putting them on. Once they're on, you can just tuck in any poking-out corners on the bottom and it looks nice and squared away.
Special considerations I encountered: I ended up sewing my patterned fabric to a thicker liner layer, because the patterned stuff wasn't thick enough to hide the pattern of the original cover. But all I really did was make a double-layer fabric and work with that - still simple. The red stripe up the middle came from the fact that the fabric had already been cut to size for the shades project, and didn't wrap all the way around the cushion. Instead of expanding it with pieces of the same fabric, I realized I had these red strips left over from trimming some (also Ikea) curtains a long time ago. They made up the extra space perfectly.
As far as closures went, I learned as I went along, and tried two different kinds. For the top of the main pad covers I just hemmed them and did a thing with Velcro on either side, then folded it like the end of a wrapped present. (ikeahack_chair_top_closure.jpg) I wanted to leave it straight-up-and-down open to make for easy removal, but I still felt the need to sew one side of it just slightly into present-wrapping formation so that it'd be the right shape when closed.
When I got to the little pillow, I got lazier, and just made a tab (ikeahack_pillow_unfolded.jpg) to tuck in (ikeahack_pillow.jpg). I didn't make allowances for the leather straps that'd need to come down into it to snap the pillow in place, but even without that it tucks in pretty okay.
To keep the pads in place on the chair, I just bought adhesive Velcro and put one side of it on each pad, to match the Velcro that comes attached to the chair frame.
That's pretty much it. I just thought, with all those Poang chairs out there, people might want to know how easy it is to give yourself some nice, original variation for very little work or cost. :)
Love the results...it's sort of an IKEA meetings mod-racing stripes effect and great example of IKEA customization. Thanks Tracy for sharing. Keep 'em coming!
Comments (7)
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Thank you Tracy! So very timely for me, as when I went to pick up a craigslist item, the owner gave me a chair like this minus the foot stool and little head pillow for free. I thought I would do a recover on the chair with my chosen fabric and that would allow me to recreate a little head pillow with that fabric cover, too. I was just in the process of trying to figure out the easiest way to approach sewing the cover---when alas, you've done it and shared it! Thanks again.
view youngbloop's profile
Glad I could help! :) And *do* make the little head pillow - it's such a small thing, but I find the chair isn't nearly as comfortable with out it. Best of luck!
view TallulahJean's profile
i really like that stripe!
we are probably going to get a poang chair soon... my hubby sat in one for the first time a few weeks ago at ikea and fell in love. its the only lounge/reclining chair that hes said met his comfort standards and wasnt a hideous plush lazy-boy type recliner.
view erinpearce's profile
Nice job. Love the red stripe. You kept the look simple and bold. The Poang chair is so comfortable perhaps that's why it is ubiquitous. I have had mine for years and bought the red replacement cushion. However, now that I see I easy it is to make my own covers, I will make one to change every now and then for looks. Thanks for the illustrations.
view click212's profile
Thank you so much for posting this! I have a Poang chair at home (a remnant of a year spent in NYC) with an ugly (but comfy) bright blue suede cover. I've desperately wanted new cushions but balked at the price. I've been contemplating figuring this out while you've gone and done it for me! Great work!
view walkintherain's profile
Oh, but it looks like there may be pictures missing. Any chance those could be posted?
view walkintherain's profile
@Walkintherain: No, they posted all the pics I sent them.
view TallulahJean's profile