1915 House

Inspiration for Life. Home. Health.

how to update a pillow cover with paint

10 Minute Quick and Easy Pillow Cover Update

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Can we have a moment of complete honesty here? Sometimes I get tired of looking at the same things in my home all the time. I mean, there’s nothing *wrong* with them (and so I can’t justify buying something new) – but it all just feels…BLAH.

You get that way too? So glad it’s not just me. 😉

Here’s the thing: I don’t always have the time (or money) to “really” give the space a whole fresh new look. So I got creative! And I’m loving the results.

Quick and Easy Pillow Cover

A 10 minute update with just paint and a plain pillow cover!

If you’ve got just 10 minutes and a few super simple supplies, then you can give a tired old pillow a really quick update – and sometimes a fun new pillow is all you need to “happify” a room. (That’s a word, right?!) 😉

Join us the last Friday of each month for a different Inspired Makers Challenge

Follow along with #InspiredMakers and #InspiredMakersChallenge to see more amazing projects every month!

July Challenge: $10 and Under Projects with:

Kimm @ Reinvented | Denise @ My Thrifty House | Suzanne @ Shop At Blu
Sam @ Raggedy Bits | Toni @ Small Home Soul | Susanne @ Pearl Street Designs
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim | Anika @ Anika’s DIY Life | Janice @ Sawdust Sisters
Kim @ Farmhouse Made | Sarah @ 1915House | Lisa @ The Purple Hydrangea

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Full disclosure here.*

Ever since we moved to 1915 House, I’ve discovered how much I love throw pillows. Like…LOVE them. Honestly, I used to think of them as unnecessary pieces of added fluff, and I wanted nothing to do with them.

I knew they would just end up as weapons (albeit soft weapons) for my four boys – being launched, hurled, whipped and otherwise tortured into sad, squished, mauled little lumps that lay on the floor. The very real result of the joyful, boy-mayhem that is my life. And I was right. That is, indeed, how they end up pretty much every day.

Pillows that can Withstand Abuse and Still Look Great

But here’s a little secret that I’ve discovered. If you choose *feather-filled* pillows (these are my favorite pillow inserts here) – no matter how sad or manipulated they become, with just a few flips and fluffs of your hands, they become like new – perfectly fluffy and full. (hooray for natural pillow stuffing!) So always try feather insert whenever possible – you’ll be glad you did.

I’ve done lots of different DIY pillow covers, but this one has been my quickest fix yet.

I literally took

  • one of these pillow cases,
  • my desired paint color,
  • a paint brush,
  • some cardboard
  • and a paper plate.

In 10 minutes, I had a new pillow cover. (insert dance of joy here) 🙂

A quick and easy pillow cover DIYQuick and Easy Pillow Cover Update

Unzip the pillow case and inserted the cardboard pieces to prevent any paint from seeping through. Though this event is highly unlikely, you don’t want to take any chances.

Dab a bit of paint onto your paper plate and work the bristles of your brush into the paint until it’s moderately loaded on both sides.

Paint fun dashes on a pillow cover for a quick and easy update!

Then just go to town applying fantastic dashes randomly all over your pillow cover – in any pattern or design your little heart desires. You could even do a mix of colors if you wanted to be more exciting than my grey. Maybe pastels for Spring? Bold primary colors for Summer? Autumnal hues for Fall? Or pull in whatever color theme you have going on in your home! Anything goes here – just have fun with it! 🙂

Paint dashes on a pillow cover for a fun accent - with whatever colors you like!

Once you’re happy with your new dashes, set aside to dry. I waited a couple hours for mine to dry completely then just placed my pillow insert inside and voila! Your living room couch has a new fresh look – and for way less than you’d pay at any home decor store.

My cover has washed up beautifully. I just turn it inside out and wash in cold water. Tumble dry and re-stuff. Thank goodness for low-maintenance pillow covers. Lord knows life’s too short for fussy pillows… 😉

So grab that paintbrush and let’s make some new pillow covers! 😀

A quick and easy pillow cover update using only paint and a spare pillow cover! Let's make some in every color for all the seasons...

Looking for more inspiration? Check out these great ideas from my friends!

We’ve come together to share ideas with you for fun projects – all UNDER $10! Creating a beautiful home you love doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. I hope these ideas inspire you, sweet friend!


 

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Comments

  1. I can totally relate to that feeling of ‘blah’ when I look at some of my decor. While it’s still beautiful, I’m not always ‘feeling it,’ you know? That’s why I loved your DIY idea – it’s quick, it’s easy, and it adds that bit of interest to a space. Great idea!

  4. Those look great and I need to start getting crafty a little more often! I’d love for you to come share at Let’s Party! We look forward to you sharing!

  5. Great idea and so so pretty! I was just thinking yesterday that I “need” new pillow covers…now I know what to do 🙂

  6. We all get bored with our decor after a while and this is such a clever way to change it out. Thanks for the great idea Sarah!

  7. You are so talented! I still have drop cloth I have cut to make pillow covers, I may have to try painting one…you inspire me! 🙂

  10. Oh my, I love this so much. Simple and graphic is my favorite. I’ve kind of given up on throw pillows because of the dog hair. I think you’ve inspired me to given them another chance. 😉

  11. Another INCREDIBLE tip for decorating my daughter’s college dorm! Y’all I’m gonna save so many bucks! All of the bucks! Haha! Love this project!

  13. I am new to your blog,what fun l I am also enjoying a cup of coffee with you, we happen to be in the coffee business so we love to start the day with a cup..thanks for sharing your talent,

    • Hi Axlyn, So fun to have you stop by – and thanks for taking the time to comment! 🙂 I’m a raving coffee fan – I’d love to hear more about your business! Are you a shop owner? or online sales?

  15. Beautiful pillows! I too loved feather pillows. I only recently saw a video how the feathers are collected from live birds. I’ll let that be the only detail.,,
    Never occurred to me how the feathers we gathered for my pillows?
    Please research.
    I am now on the hunt for faux feather like inserts that keep the ‘punch’ we like in feather pilllows☺️?

    • Oh, my!! I’ve never thought about how the feathers were harvested before! Thanks for the heads up. Glad to have you here – and thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope you’ll come back soon… 🙂

  16. love the chair idea. The flour sack curtains are fantastic – would look great in a kitchen!
    They could be painted also, couldn’t they, or tie-dyed, if someone likes that look.

    • Hi Judy! Absolutely! A person could do anything they wanted with the towels to get the desired look. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment – I appreciate it. Hope to see you here again soon – 🙂

    • Well thanks, Meegan! I’d love to see your finished product once you’re done! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment – happy to have you here.

  18. Love the pillow that you did. I have a lot of those still in the wrapper plain covers and though I may be timid to do it as boldly as you, I could see me doing a stencil to get something like your moose or deer pillow…love the update, love pillows too!

    • Thank you so much, Debbie! I’d love to see your pillows if you end up doing something with them! The antler pillow is one I made as well, just haven’t gotten it posted on the blog yet. ? Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

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