You Can Revive Saggy Old Sofa Cushions on the Cheap.
Let’s face it, our butts don’t like our sofa cushions. Over time, they leave an indelible and not-so-cute imprint on our favorite resting places, squeezing and crushing the once-bouncing softness of our pillows into a flat, rumpled mush. But if you’re not quite ready to give up your sofa or favorite chair, there’s an inexpensive DIY solution to make it look and feel comfortable again.
How to make sofa cushions plump again
For one of the easiest and least expensive ways to breathe new life into furniture cushions that have seen better days, all you need is some Poly-fil craft store (exactly what it sounds like: durable, mildew resistant and elastic polyester filling), spray adhesive and quilt batting . (Before embarking on this project, make sure the seat cushions and backrests have zippers so you can open them and get inside.)
For the seatbacks: Unzip the seatback covers and grab a generous helping of polyfill – more than you think you’ll need. Start stuffing the Poly-fil behind any foam or pad inside so that the smoothness of the original foam is front and center, supported by the less structured Poly-fil at the back. Be careful to hammer the Poly-fil far into the corners; if you find it difficult to reach, you can make your own stuffing tool from a ruler, a remote control, or a long-handled spoon covered with a washcloth. (Hey, we said it’s DIY.)
Things, things, and more things until you think the seat cover can’t hold one more piece. (You want it to look crowded first, as the fibers shrink over time.)
As for the pillows themselves: first remove the cover completely and vacuum the remaining foam rubber. (An optional step here is to spray the foam with all-purpose glue to keep the quilt batting in place.) Wrap the foam with several layers of quilt batting and, if possible, get a helper to help you move the inflated batting. pillows back to pillowcases. Expect and welcome a tight landing that will take some effort to maneuver.
An alternative, slightly more expensive option is to attach 2″ thick high-density foam to the top of your existing pillows. Follow the same process above, but instead of wrapping your pillow in quilted batting, cut a piece of high-density foam to fit under your pillow. Spray the existing foam pad with spray adhesive and attach the new high density foam to it. Let dry according to bottle instructions, then place inflated pads 2 inches higher back into zip covers. See here for a tutorial.
Consumables Note: While a store-bought polyfill is already affordable (see this 5-pound box for just over $30), you can also visit thrift stores, garage sales, or a group of friends, as many people find that leftovers after completing a small project like this.