One Room Challenge: Week 7 – DIY Magic and Cushion Redemption
We are so close to the finish line, and Week 7 of the One Room Challenge x Apartment Therapy was a major turning point. After the fabric frustration of Week 5, this week felt like a total win—I finally finished the bottom cushion cover for the bench and upholstered the back cushion. Let’s just say: sewing machines were humming, staples were flying, and it finally feels like the room is coming together.
If you need to catch up on previous weeks, click here.
To see all the incredible ORC projects, click here.
The Great Fabric Saga, Continued
Remember the infamous fabric shortage from Week 5? Well, I gave it one last shot. I hit a couple more (kind of local) Joann stores before they closed their doors (RIP, sweet crafting haven), checked Joann online—still nothing. I even tried a few small, local fabric shops—no dice.
Here’s the thing: I hate ordering fabric online. I want to see it. I want to feel it. And I do not want to get stuck with five yards of something I hate, because most stores won’t take returns once it’s cut.
Then—in a flash of pure DIY brilliance—I thought, what if I just order curtain panels from Amazon?
They’re:
Cheaper
Easier to return
Available in two days
And guess what? The color is perfect. It complements the William Morris “Strawberry Thief” wallpaper beautifully and even matches my couch—like scarily well. I got four panels for about $65, which felt like a DIY miracle.
Upholstering the Back Cushion
Originally, I considered doing channeled upholstery for the back cushion. I love the texture and detail it adds—but after some honest reflection (translation: I didn’t want to measure more, cut more wood, or spend more money), I decided to keep it smooth and simple.
Here’s how it went down:
Let the vacuum-sealed foam puff back up.
Laid the foam on the floor, put the back bench panel on top, and trimmed the foam to fit—yes, the bread knife made a triumphant return.
Laid out the curtain panel fabric, added batting, then the foam and wood panel.
Pulled everything tight and stapled it to the back. Possibly used a ridiculous number of staples, but it’s not going anywhere.
Sewing the Bottom Cushion Cover
The next day, I tackled the bottom cushion cover. I wanted it to be removable (hello, kids and pets), washable, and flippable. I’ve never made a cushion cover this large before, but I made it work:
Pieced the fabric together
Added zippers to the back for easy removal
Held my breath and stitched it all up
Is it perfect? No. Is it pretty dang good for my first go at a custom bench cushion? Absolutely.
Up Next: Styling!
With the big projects behind me, the last step is my reward for making it through: decorating the shelves. I can’t wait to layer in some personality and make the whole space sing.
The big reveal is next week—and I am so excited to share the finished space. Don’t miss it!
Have you ever used curtain panels as fabric for a project? Game changer or genius fluke?