Home Decor Sewing & Design Guides

Ripped, broken, and sagging cane are common problems with antique cane chairs. Fortunately, there are ways to replace the cane. There are 2 types of cane chairs. They can be hand caned or have pressed cane. You can easily tell which kind you have by looking at the way it is attached.

Looking for a fun Valentines Day Project? This decorative burlap heart pillow is great for Valentine's Day as a gift or décor. Craft burlap can be used for a bunch of different projects but its loose weave makes it the perfect material for weaving in the ribbon. This pillow can be made with any color canvas and ribbon like grosgrain ribbon or satin ribbon. You can also create other shapes for holidays or even monograms.

I have here a chair which has seen better days, so I'm going to make a slipcover for it. You can use many different fabrics like denim, twill, canvas, or home décor fabric. The techniques in this tutorial can be adapted to many other styles of chairs and couches. One of the great things about slipcovers is they're washable. Whether you're covering ugly or stained upholstery or want to protect nice upholstery, making your own slipcovers is inexpensive and practical.

Sewing your own decorative throw pillow is a great DIY project for all sewing levels. There are many different styles of pillows, this one is a basic throw pillow that's sewn closed. It's easy to make and a quick way to update your decor with the fabric of your choice.

By making your own tablecloth you can get exactly the look and size you want. You can make tablecloths out of many different fabrics. Gingham, oilcloth, and flannel backed vinyl are great for casual eating or themed parties. For lightweight tablecloths, try broadcloth or cotton prints. Linen is classic and works for many styles and many events.

Learn how to make a no-sew valance that has pleats at the corners and an accent band at the bottom. This simple design will go with many décor styles. You can also make variations with box pleats or add decorative trim to make it your own. Add this valance to existing curtains, sheers, or blinds, or make matching custom curtains!

Many of our curtain tutorials have been at more of a DIY level, but for these inverted box pleat curtains, we're going to take it up a notch. The difference is that with professional looking curtains, you won't see any visible topstitching on the front and more of the work will be done by hand. This takes more time, but still, any patient DIY-er can do it. You can use these techniques with any other heading style to create many different kinds of professional looking curtains. Take a look at our other drapery tutorials for more ways to make curtains.

We picked up this industrial wire basket at the world-famous Brimfield Antique Flea Market. This is a basket from Kaspar Wire Works, but you can find this type of wire basket many places. I'm going to weave strips of fabric through it to make a unique decorative storage basket. This is a no sew project that's great for using all your old scraps of fabric on. See what else we found at Brimfield.

This simple DIY floor cushion makes for comfortable seating for the living room, bedroom, or playroom. The optional zipper opening makes it easy to switch out the pillow form if it starts to get flat.

I'm going to make a simple flanged pillow sham with an envelope back. The flange refers to the extra fabric around the edges. You can use quilting weight cotton, sheeting, or décor fabric. Customize your pillow sham in any way you want. Want to make a matching duvet cover?

If you can't find the exact duvet cover you want, make it! You can use quilting weight cottons, sheeting fabric, broadcloth, pre-made flat sheets, or decor fabric. Choose different fabrics for the front and back if you want it to be reversible. Or you can use a flat sheet on the bottom and a more decorative fabric on top. Making your own duvet cover may not necessarily be cheaper that buying one, depending on the fabric, but you can get exactly what you want.

Pencil pleats are thin, even pleats used in drapery headings, valances, and bed skirts. Using shirring tape makes creating these pleats simple. You can control how tight or loose you want the pleats. Like the fabric used in this project? Drapery fabric isn't just for decor.

There are many creative ways to take an inexpensive piece of furniture and turn it into something unique. I'm going to be transforming an Ikea side table by covering it with vinyl and adding a decorative nail head trim. Adding nail head trim is a great way to add interest to an otherwise plain piece of furniture from headboards to chairs to tables.

Shag rugs add a fun, decorative look to bedrooms, playrooms, and more. I'm using different colored fabrics, but you can use just 1 color if you prefer. Jersey cotton is best to use because it doesn't fray, but other soft fabrics will work well too. It's also a great way to recycle old t-shirts.

Roman shades give windows a clean appearance that goes well with many styles from traditional to modern. There are many ways to make Roman shades. With the method shown here, there's minimal stitching visible on the front for a professional look. This shade is made with wooden dowels (as opposed to the mini blind method). If you plan on raising and lowering the Roman shade a lot, it's worth using a cord lock and pulleys so it operates smoothly and easily.

This no sew fleece pillow is a quick and easy project. The one I'm going to make is a 16 by 16 inch kid's pillow. Stretch knit fabrics are also great to use because they don't fray and they tie well. These pillows make great gifts and you can make them any size you want.

This no sew fleece dog bed is perfect for a small to medium sized dog, but can easily be customized to match the size of your pet. You can also use pillow inserts instead of stuffing if you prefer. Other materials that will be more durable than fleece are outdoor fabrics and medium to heavyweight cottons.

A tree skirt adds that finishing touch to your Christmas decorations. This tree skirt is an easy project that doesn't require any sewing. The ruffled burlap is great for a rustic yet refined look. But if burlap's not your thing, you can use any other material, like muslin, canvas, décor fabric or cotton prints to create a look that will compliment your other holiday decorations.

With leftover scraps of fabric you can create this fun, decorative throw pillow. No machine is required, just hand stitching. You can stitch the shapes closer together or farther apart depending on how full you want the pillow to look. It's a great way to use up those leftover scraps of fabric and re-use them. Samples of fabric will also work too.

Poufs are a trendy and functional décor item, but they can be pricey. By creating your own, you can save money and make it exactly how you want. You can use your pouf as an ottoman or foot rest, as extra seating, or as floor pillows. They're especially great for kids' spaces.

Pocket organizers are handy to hold many different things for many different ages. Kids can use it for toys and storybooks, teens can organize homework by subject, and adults can use it to brighten up their cubicle or office. You can add more pockets or change the size to meet your organizational needs. This one is perfect for the office or work space because it is sized to fit file folders. You also have the option of adding clear pockets for labels.

The fabric cork board I'm gong to make involves no sewing or stapling, making it fun and easy. For displaying options, you can hang the cork board, or place it against a wall. They're great for tacking notes or pictures to.

Today I'm going to make double sided napkins with mitered corners. A mitered corner is when two sides forming a corner come together at a 45 degree angle. You can use this technique to create a polished look on many sewing projects, like tablecloths, blankets, quilts, and curtains.

Today I'm going to turn a plain, boring, white lampshade into a snazzy, fabric covered lampshade. This is a quick & easy, no-sew project that you can customize to your style.

In this tutorial, I'm making a storage bin made out of fabric and cardboard, with an optional chalkcloth label. I'm using a Premier Prints décor fabric for the outside and broadcloth as the lining. This bin is perfect for storing all sorts of stuff, like toys or sewing supplies. You can make these storage bins in a wide range of sizes to suit your needs. Using your bin on open shelving adds both storage and style to your space.

If you want a traditional look for your curtains, pinch pleats, also known as French pleats, are a great option. These triple pleat curtains may look intimidating, but using pleater tape and hooks makes this project simple for sewers of any level. You can also easily add a drapery lining to these curtains. Cut the lining the same size as the finished curtain and tuck it under the hems and sides before sewing. For more information on drapery lining, see How to Pick Drapery Lining.

Making fabric wall art is an easy and inexpensive way to add color and pattern to your home decor. You can hang a single canvas, or create a whole gallery wall of fabric art.

Are you looking to make your own custom curtains with your favorite drapery fabric? It's easier than you may think! There are many different styles of curtains that are simple to sew, including rod pocket curtains, back tab curtains, grommet curtains, and tab top curtains. This tutorial shows you how to make tab top curtains. They slide open and closed easily, drape nicely, and tend to have a relaxed, casual feel.

If you can't find the perfect look or size for your shower curtain, why not make your own? You can use just about any fabric for shower curtains but outdoor fabric works particularly well because it's mold and mildew resistant, perfect for damp places like bathrooms.

Transform your fabric from boring to beautiful using fabric spray paint and painter's tape to create a unique design. Find out how with this project where I mask and paint an ottoman. I'll also add additional padding to make it more plush. This masking and painting technique can be used on many other pieces of furniture and on other surfaces, like wood.