Outdoor Furniture Covers – An Easy DIY Project!

Outdoor furniture covers are ideally suited and designed to fit securely over your furniture while protecting it from heavy wind, rain, snow and prolonged sun exposure. Often crafted from water resistant or weatherproof PVC vinyl material (as is the case of this particular DIY featured project), the simple slip-over design ensures that it is very easy to cover and remove. As these outdoor furniture covers are made from a highly durable 18 ounce vinyl material, the weight of the furniture cover keeps it in place even when the wind is howling.

The fabric material for these outdoor furniture covers is critical, and which is why we chose this fabric. Also, while this vinyl is weatherproof, it is somewhat breathable which means it doesn’t trap moisture underneath so much that mold spores could thrive and cause mold.

If you’re in a snowy climate, you most assuredly will require outdoor furniture covers that won’t be destroyed or buckle under the weight of heavy snow and hail. These physical properties and attributes will offer lasting peace of mind to any homeowner in knowing that these covers are incredibly durable and that, even in the worst of storms, they will not fly off.

Even though this particular outdoor furniture cover that we will be crafting does not have a zip (as there is no zipper required), it still protects wicker, steel and other metals, and wood. This also ensures that it is incredibly easy to take on and off, which means it won’t be a struggle to cover your furniture when it’s not in use. Zippers can wear out and rust, and this could eventually cause the removal and replacement of the cover to become challenging. Some outdoor furniture covers have tie around cords to keep them from coming off. Others may also have elasticized seams which also serve the exact same purpose. For our purposes here, we have decided to incorporate elastic piping into the design, which will provide just enough elasticity to constrict around the furniture for added performance and coverage of the furniture.  

Material List for these Outdoor Furniture Covers:

• PVC Vinyl fabric material
• Tape Measure
• Elastic Piping
• Sewing Machine
• Nylon thread
• Tacking pins/ safety pins

Steps to Complete your very own DIY Outdoor Furniture Covers:

1. Measure First. Accurately measure the measurements for your furniture. These values will determine how much cut yardage of the 18 ounce vinyl will be required per piece. Measure the length from the top or back of the chair/ sofa to the furthest point on both arms. Measure the length of the top to the bottom at the highest and lowest points. Simply measure exact length, width and depth of each of the piece of furniture.
2. Material List – The 18 ounce PVC vinyl material that we are using is ideal as it is very strong but not stiff, and therefore, easy to manage and work with! Sewing on-and-through this material should not be challenging at all. As defined earlier, this vinyl is already water-resistant/ water repellent, and so will not require any additional form or method of treatment, chemical or otherwise. This highly durable and tough material ensures that the cover will remain intact and in great condition for many years of use.
3. Cutting. Cut the vinyl material using your length, width and depth values (the physical dimensions), making certain that you leave enough edging to create the seams, and for the next step of Sewing. Now, as we prepare for the sewing and assembly, place all the pieces together and then gently tack them with your tacking pins (safety pins). Once all the pieces have come together as one and as the piece has been assembled, test it by draping over the furniture piece while gauging the exactness of the fit. Now is the moment where you can make any minor or other adjustments to your rough outdoor furniture cover, such as cutting new fabric pieces or re-tacking.
4. Sewing. With your pinned 18 ounce vinyl material in-hand, take the entire piece and begin sewing the seams together. We recommend a strong 69 bonded nylon thread as it works very well in outdoor applications, is hard to break and because of its inherent waterproof properties. 69 bonded nylon thread will ensure the vinyl fabric material seams will hold exceptionally well for longer, and withstand more of the elements of nature.
5. Piping. Sew the elastic piping into all of the seams, as this will ensure that the seams are protected by another layer. Additionally, as previously described, the elastic piping will allow for a seam expansion and contracting around the furniture for a solid, form-fitting tightness. The elastic piping along all of the seams of your outdoor furniture covers will also prevent tearing as you remove the vinyl cover from your furniture piece. If there is any excess or additional piping, trim off the extra just past where you have sewn your seam (just past the thread).
6. Seams. Take great care and preparation before sewing the seams, ensuring that the bottom edges of the vinyl furniture cover are sewn into the seams and so that the edges would not get torn which would cause them to fray and lose structural integrity. Now is a great time in this easy process to test the cover fitting once more, and in consideration for any minor alterations that would be needed. As has been detailed, while the vinyl fabric is water resistant, if water were to find a way in, it would do so through the seams. To counter this, adding a waxed coating along the seams would be worth considering, though this is not critical if you have sewn the seam well and good enough.
7. Repeat. This is the fun part, as you have now learned how to craft your very own custom outdoor furniture cover. With added and remaining material, move onto the next furniture piece. If you have a grill, perhaps you would like to proceed with creating an outdoor grill cover following these same and easily repeatable steps!

Winter snow, Spring rain, and Summer sun are not necessarily kind to outdoor furniture. Wicker will dry out and crack/ break, steel and other metals will rust, and wood will decay. By learning this crafty skill-set of creating your very own custom outdoor furniture covers, you will be able to protect your outdoor furniture (and grills and other equipment) for many years to come!