There’s no need to throw away your favorite recliner just because it’s beginning to look a bit sad! With a bit of knowhow and some craft supplies, you can quickly and easily make yourself a DIY recliner headrest cover!
It is a great way to add a pop of color to your living room, without overwhelming the space. In terms of fabric and color, you can use anything that you prefer… even faux fur or leather! You could also use upcycled fabric and make this project entirely free.
Here, we will discuss how to make recliner headrest cover at home.
Why do i need a Recliner Headrest Cover
I am certain that many of you are also like me, who tend to find that the best use for a favorite chair is to toss a few naps in it. However, at the end of the day, you find yourself with a dirty and unpleasant piece of fabric under your head. With the help of a headrest cover for recliner, you can help prevent stains, dirt, and general wear and tear on your chair.
There is nothing more comfortable than recliners, which have very comfortable headrests. However, they are heavily etched with sweat, dust, and dirt. By using the headrest covers, you can easily avoid these contaminants.
How to make a recliner headrest cover?
It is possible to make a recliner headrest cover according to your own style and taste. There are a variety of fabric designs you can choose from that will suit your personality or complement your home decor. You can easily measure and cut the cloth for your recliner cover by yourself with ease.
Which fabric will be best for the headrest cover?
Your recliner headrest cover can be made out of many different types of fabrics, but you should choose one that is durable. The best option is to choose something that will stand up to frequent use and will not stretch out easily.
I have made quite a lot of headrest covers and I know which fabric type will be best for a headrest cover based on the following conditions:
- It’s important that the fabric be strong enough to withstand the weight of the foam padding inside the headrest.
- The fabric recliner headrest cover must be washed weekly in a washing machine.
- Because the fabric will be in direct contact with the skin, it must be comfortable for the user.
Cotton – Since cotton is a natural fiber, it’s fairly breathable and durable. Despite it not being as fancy as suede or leather, the fabric is a great option for everyday wear and tear such as a towel cover for recliner headrest. The good thing about cotton is that every color you want can be found, and it won’t take long for it to break in.
Leather – Although leather looks great, it’s not that comfortable when it’s brand new. In order for leather to be comfortable enough for most people, it takes a significant amount of breaking in to reach that point. However, the fact remains that leather has the potential to be a warm material, but this isn’t always the case.
Suede – Suede is breathable, but less durable than leather. When you sit on a suede couch, you need to take special care about what you are wearing since it will show stains very easily. As suede wears down more easily compared to other materials, you might want to avoid this material if you’re a rough user of your furniture.
Microfiber – The microfiber material is extremely soft and stain-resistant. It is for this reason that microfiber couches are extremely popular, because they can last a long time without becoming dirty or dingy. Alsp, Microfiber breathes fairly well.
Can you use leather for the headrest cover?
Having used leather recliner headrest cover myself, I can personally vouch for their durability and style. I did not experience fading or tears as I did with other covers.
I have been using this leather cover for more than a year now without any evidence of fade or tear. You should not worry about the material tearing easily since it is very thick and sturdy. Furthermore, the material doesn’t absorb water, so you don’t have to worry about getting wet or wearing it out.
Why cotton fabric is good for headrest cover?
Cotton is a natural fibre that is usually woven into fabric. It is soft and absorbent. With cotton, you will get breathability and flexibility. Cotton fabric has good insulation properties and it can reduce sweating.
Cotton fabric is easy to wash and maintain. You can use it for other purposes too. Cotton fabric will be strong enough to hold the headrest cover in place. You can go for cotton upholstery fabric as it would be more durable. You can get different colours in cotton.
How do you measure a recliner for a cover?
Taking accurate measurements of your chair and following the instructions carefully are the most important things you need to do.
Get These Measurement Tools
You only need to have these tools:
- Measuring tape
- Permanent marker
- Pen or pencil
- A piece of paper or notebook to note down all measurements.
Once you have these tools, follow these steps to get the measurements of your recliner:
- Take measurements of the headrest’s length and width. The total measurement should equal the length and width of the headrest added together.
- Measure the length and width at the bottom of the headrest and add these together for a total of inches.
- Measure around two sides of the headrest to find its perimeter (for example, if it is rectangular, measure two sides). Add this number to your first measurement to find a grand total of inches in yardage needed. Convert both yardages into yards by dividing by 36. Round up any fractions to add an extra 1/2 yard as a safety margin when buying fabric. These measurement instructions are very important to avoid making an extra large recliner headrest cover.
Things needed for headrest cover
- Fabric
- Coordinating thread
- 1/2 inch elastic or drawstring
- Scissors
- Chalk pencil or pen
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Sewing machine
Steps for making a headrest cover
Step 1- Choose your favorite pattern!
Using the measurements you took earlier, sew two pieces of fabric together according to the pattern you chose. If you don’t like the fit, adjust the pattern and try again until you get something that feels right. If you want to keep things simple, skip recliner headrest cover pattern and just cut out a rectangle that’s 6 inches taller than the headrest and 2 inches wider than the bottom edge of the headrest on each side.
Step 2 – Cut Fabric for Sides and Corners.
Cut out two pieces of fabric for the front and back side. The two pieces should be identical in size, but cut according to your measurements of the recliner’s headrest width and length. Cut out four pieces of fabric for the sides and corners, with each piece measuring according to your measurement of the recliner’s headrest sides and corners.
Step 3 – Sewing fabric pieces into a cover.
With right sides facing each other, place one side-and-corner piece of fabric on top of one end of the front fabric piece. Connect the three edges by sewing along them, leaving one short edge open so that you can turn them right side out later. Place a second side/corner fabric piece over the short edge of the second short edge and repeat the process a second time.
Step 4- Sew a Casing for a Drawstring
To make a recliner headrest cover, you will also need two drawstrings that are long enough to be pulled through the casing. Sew a casing for the drawstring at one end of each piece, but leave enough space open so that you can insert the drawstring inside it later on.
Step 5- Insert the Drawstring
Insert the drawstrings into the casings and tie a knot at both ends so that they won’t come off easily. You can skip this step if you dont need a fitted headrest cover for recliner.
Step 6- Attach the new headrest cover to the headrest and enjoy!
Your new recliner headrest cover will protect your recliner from spills and wear and tear, as well as give your favorite chair a little flair!
How to cover up a peeling spot in the headrest of my leather recliner?
The best way to cover up a peeling spot in the headrest of my leather recliner is to simply sew a button on it. This works especially well if it’s a small area.
If there are larger areas that are peeling you can cover them with fabric tape. You can purchase this at any fabric store or craft store.
If none of these options work you can always buy a new piece of leather to sew on top of the headrest.
How do you make a slipcover for a Lazy Boy recliner?
- Take the measurements of the recliner and make sure to get the measurements of each piece separately.
- Make a pattern out of these measurements.
- Take your fabric and pin your pattern to it.
- You will want to make sure that you are doing this on a large enough surface to be able to cut all pieces out at once.
- Cut out all pieces needed for the slipcover. Sew all pieces together and then place them over the chair.
Final Thoughts:
Just follow the steps given above to make cover recliner pad headrest furniture protector in easy way. After all, with just some basic sewing skills and an afternoon to spare, you’ll have a cool and comfortable headrest cover that you can use on you recliner. Practice makes perfect and once you get started, you will have no problem finishing it. Furthermore, it is cost effective too because you don’t need to spend money in buying readymade covers.
