• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

May 14, 2013

Drop Cloth Chair Skirts

drop_cloth_chair_skirt_tutorial www.atthepicketfence.com

I knew it would happen. It always does. You start working on one project and all of a sudden it leads to another project…and another project…and another project. Until you find yourself pulling out leftover drop cloth remnants and making chair skirts for your dining room immediately after having your entire house turned upside down while new flooring was being installed.

I mean, it makes perfect sense, right? Forget putting the house back together. Let’s make some chair skirts!

I’m all about the essentials. 😉

Now, I have never made chair skirts or slipcovers or anything of the kind. But after spending a huge chunk of change having new carpet and hardwoods installed there was no way I was going to be buying them ready-made. I had quite a bit of drop cloth left over from a previous project and the best part about using it is that it already has seams. Gotta love anything that lets me skip a step!

HOW TO MAKE DROP CLOTH CHAIR SKIRTS:

1) Measure the seat of the chair and cut fabric accordingly being sure to include a one inch allowance on each side.

2) Determine how much of a “drop” you want for your skirt. Measure the length of the sides and front of your seat and then cut strips of drop cloth using the “drop” as your width.

chair skirt tutorial atthepicketfence.com

3) Hem the ends of the side pieces.

chair_skirt_tutorial www.atthepicketfence.com

4) Attach the side and front pieces (similar to making a pillow where the right-sides match up) to the “seat” piece being sure to have the hems facing towards the middle.

chair_skirt_tutorial_step_2 www.atthepicketfence.com

5) Stitch each side onto the seat. This is how the skirt for the arm chairs looks. If you are doing chairs with no arms there will be only 3 straight side pieces. If you are making them for arm chairs you will have to allow for the skirts to slip between the arms by making the 2 side pieces “split” as seen here.

arm_chair_skirt_tutorial atthepicketfence.com

6) Once completed, secure the skirt to the chair by lifting up the cushion from the frame and tucking the back fabric underneath, then reattach the cushion.

7) Repeat process depending on how many chairs you have.

chair_skirt_tutorial atthepicketfence.com

Here is how the arm chair skirts will look once completed.

drop_cloth_chair_skirt atthepicketfence.com

Chairs BEFORE:

dining room chairs before

Chairs AFTER:

arm_chair_drop_cloth_chair_skirt atthepicketfence.com

This dining room set was our very first BIG purchase as a married couple. I’ve often thought about selling it and getting something more “in”. You know, weathered wood. A farmhouse table and a chippy hutch.

But, frankly, I like this set and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I love the rich, dark wood and feel sentimental every time I look at it.

drop_cloth_chair_skirt_tutorial www.atthepicketfence.com

Besides, it’s getting chippy all on it’s own!

Every single chip and scratch represents all of the family gatherings and romantic dinners for two this table has seen over the last 15 years.

There have been rowdy celebrations and quiet heart-to-hearts. There have been spills and tears and even a few forts made out of sheets using the table and chairs.

No, I don’t think this dining room set is going anywhere anytime soon!

Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today and please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about this tutorial. I tend to do my sewing projects in a “wing and a prayer” manner so I make no guarantees! 😉

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

Check out these other beautiful dining rooms:

redheadcandecorate dining room

Redhead Can Decorate

DiningChairMakeover

Celebrating Everyday Life

 Sharing this here:

Wow Us Wednesday

Swing into Spring

Be Inspired

Feathered Nest Friday

Open House Party

41 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Dining Room, DIY Tagged With: DIY chair skirts, drop cloth, drop cloth slipcover

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « There’s nothing borderline about this cute skirt! {DIY skirt tutorial}
Next Post: Place Mat Wall Art and a Bad Attitude »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maureen says

    May 14, 2013 at 12:44 PM

    I’ve been meaning to do that to my chairs for ages and your’s look so great you have inspired me to get at it!

    Reply
  2. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:03 PM

    Very pretty, Vanessa! Who says we don’t have our priorities straight? : ) I bought some dropcloth at Lowe’s that looks softer than the big regular ones and I’m hoping when I wash them they will be even softer. They are also going to be made into chair skirts. I had made white ones last year out of white tablecloths I found at Salvation Army and I’m thinking I’d like some in the oatmeal-like color of the drop cloths, too. I’m going to need a whole day to work on them, so I’m waiting for a rainy, nothing-going-on day to play around with them.

    Reply
  3. Lisa @ Lisas Creative Designs says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:08 PM

    So cute! Drop cloths can be used for soooo many DIY projects these days. I love this one!

    Reply
  4. Ashley G says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:14 PM

    Guess what? I have ADD Decorating Syndrome too! I am to constantly stop and remind myself to complete one project before jumping to another. The new chair skirts look great!

    Reply
    • Ashley G says

      May 14, 2013 at 1:15 PM

      *I have to constantly stop and remind myself* (Must proof better!)

      Reply
  5. Angela says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:17 PM

    I love these! I wish I knew how to sew!! LOL!!~~Angela

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 14, 2013 at 1:27 PM

      Thanks Angela! You know, I think that these would actually be fairly easy to make as a “no-sew” version using stitch witchery. You’d have to be careful when washing them but you could follow the same steps and use the fusible webbing/stitch witchery instead. Maybe?? Wouldn’t hurt to try! 🙂

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 14, 2013 at 1:34 PM

        Great idea!! Thank you!! I’ll let you know when and how they turn out!! Have a great day–you made mine!!~~Ang

        Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    I adore these and think they look beautiful. Your dining room table is so pretty. I wish I could sew so badly. I want to make these in the worst way but I can’t even sew a button on my clothes when needed. How sad is that!!

    Cynthia

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 14, 2013 at 1:28 PM

      Thanks Cynthia! I left a comment below for Angela regarding maybe trying to make no-sew versions! 🙂

      Reply
  7. debbiedoos says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Sweet! I love drop cloths..and these look fantastic! Pinning now:)

    Reply
  8. dawn says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    Great looking slips, nothing better than a drop cloth:)

    Reply
  9. Suzi says

    May 14, 2013 at 2:00 PM

    Seriously! Drop cloth on dining chairs? Makes PERFECT sense!!

    Reply
  10. MDR says

    May 14, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    I really like the drop cloths, Vanessa. Makes the dining set more casual (or take them off for a formal look)! Mom

    Reply
  11. Becca says

    May 14, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    I love your “wing and a prayer” projects, Vanessa! Your new drop cloth covers are genius … they look awesome on your pretty chairs! And, you know I can relate to the domino effect syndrome!

    Reply
  12. Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way says

    May 14, 2013 at 4:33 PM

    Absolutely gorgeous! Such a great project!

    Reply
  13. Gwen says

    May 14, 2013 at 4:51 PM

    I totally need to do this! I keep reupholstering my chairs because the boys are murder on them!

    How much better is this?

    Reply
  14. Amanda @ Dixie Delights says

    May 14, 2013 at 5:52 PM

    I too love our “set” now that I’ve skirted the chairs 🙂 It was such a big deal when we bought it – we felt so married and so adult-like. LOL. Love your skirts!!

    Reply
  15. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    May 14, 2013 at 6:07 PM

    Vanessa, you are reading my mind on so many levels!!! I am doing the whole one-project-leads-to-another… and we are having a wedding reception in our backyard next weekend so why not start a few more projects!!!! I know exactly what you are talking about!!!

    And THANK YOU for your dropcloth chair cover instructions. I just decided to cover a family room chair. Your great DYI came in perfect time!!!

    Your dining room table and chairs are gorgeous, I love them too!

    Reply
  16. Deborah @ Delicious Happens says

    May 14, 2013 at 6:52 PM

    I’m new to your site!! Great site ladies!! I love these chair skirts! Going to make a cup of tea and spend some time tonight reading through your great posts here!

    Reply
  17. Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says

    May 14, 2013 at 7:06 PM

    Great tutorial Vanessa! And I love your dining room set. It’s timeless!

    Reply
  18. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    May 14, 2013 at 9:53 PM

    Ha! I just cut into my first canvas drop cloth today for a post later today {well… we’ll see how it goes in the AM – lol} And these chair covers turned out GREAT!! I love them – I need to re-cover my dining chairs and they are very similar, so this is a fantastic tutorial! Thanks! xoxo

    Reply
  19. Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says

    May 14, 2013 at 10:25 PM

    The look lovely… gotta love drop cloth!

    Reply
  20. Julie says

    May 15, 2013 at 5:32 AM

    These are so darn cute! I need them for my chairs for sure!

    Reply
  21. Debbie says

    May 15, 2013 at 6:04 AM

    Beautiful! I’m currently on the hunt for new chairs for my dining room. I actually want new/old ones to compliment my set. I’ll remember this when it comes to changing out the cushions.

    Reply
  22. Judy says

    May 15, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    Great tutorial! They came out so pretty.

    Reply
  23. Sandy says

    May 16, 2013 at 3:52 AM

    Thank you Vanessa for reminding me why I should not want an “updated” dining room table. Ours is thirty-eight years old, was purchased as a house warming gift from my mother-in-law. We’ve shared thirty-two family Thanksgiving dinners at this table, sadly the past eight without our mothers. This table has its scratches here and there, but unlike any other dining room table, it shares three, second grade spelling words, printed thirty years ago by our daughter who decided to do her homework at THIS table without first placing the table pad. I do love the look of your chair skirts. Our dining room chairs are all wood without any cushions. I have occasionally switched chairs from other rooms to seat guests at the ends of our table. I enjoy reading your blog.

    Reply
  24. Suzy @ Worthing Court says

    May 16, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    Love this idea, Vanessa! I just may steal it for my own dining room chairs. I’ve put off taking them apart and recovering them – this seems so much easier and would a 1000% better. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  25. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    May 16, 2013 at 5:19 PM

    Love using dropcloths for sewing projects! Those chair skirts look amazing!

    Reply
  26. Lori says

    May 17, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    Thank you for the awesome tutorial!! I want to make these only ruffled {I think- as in may be stretching my lack of sewing skills}. I love the look and this was exactly what I needed to see!! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  27. kristin says

    May 18, 2013 at 7:27 PM

    These are adorable!!! Love the look, thank you for the tutorial, might just have to give it a try 🙂 Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!
    XO
    kristin

    Reply
  28. Kimberly Sneed says

    May 18, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    Oh I just love these! What a transformation and just for a few dollars! Thanks for sharing! xo

    Reply
  29. Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life says

    May 19, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    I love these chair skirts SO much Vanessa!! and I’m so tickled and honored to see my dining room featured too! You are SO sweet!!! I can totally relate to you needing to cover the chairs even before putting everything back together after all the work you had done – I do the same thing ALL THE TIME!!! 🙂

    Reply
  30. Debbie reFresh says

    May 20, 2013 at 5:04 PM

    Great idea! One of my favorite fabrics 🙂
    Debbie

    Reply
  31. Heather says

    May 20, 2013 at 5:27 PM

    Gorgeous! I need to recover our dining room chairs too – I love your idea!

    Reply
  32. Tina says

    May 24, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    Easy and inexpensive . . . my kind of project. They look great.

    Reply
  33. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    May 29, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    Love those covers !…and really love the way you do not have to use ties…Beautiful job!!…and the best dining room tables are the ones that have “memory marks”….I have a friend that never placed a table cloth on her table…she said that she wanted to remember all of the times of coloring, homework, etc … Now, her grandchildren are making their marks…it is a table etched with love.

    Reply
  34. Isabel Marant Sneakers says

    October 17, 2013 at 9:08 PM

    Good way of explaining, and nice piece of writing to
    get information on the topic of my presentation focus, which i am going to convey in school.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wood Floor Landing and Hallway Makeover says:
    May 22, 2013 at 6:01 AM

    […] forward almost 5 years and we finally replaced the carpet in the living room, dining room and office. But, frankly I was stumped about the upstairs hallway. You see, the bedroom carpets […]

    Reply
  2. Staircase and Entry Makeover Reveal! says:
    July 11, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    […] the living room, dining room AND stairs all got the same carpet. Yes, that’s […]

    Reply
  3. DIY Reupholstery Projects - Four Generations One Roof says:
    August 11, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    […] Drop Cloth Slipcover Skirt Tutorial […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Cozy fall fireplace decorations with an oversized chalkboard

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence