Easy holiday placemat pillow
December 03, 2013
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This easy table linens pillow hack has a Christmas twist. It’s SO easy to make decorative pillows for cheap!
In the past couple of years I’ve fallen in love with holiday-themed pillows this time of year. I just think they’re a festive addition, and all you do is toss. Toss, toss! (Name that musical.) Throw one or two on a sofa or chair and the room instantly feels Christmasy.
The past couple of after Christmas sales I’ve picked up a few more placemats to make my favorite pillows EVER.
If you’ve been around for awhile, yes – I’m making more of these. Yes, I’m obsessed. It’s SO stinkin easy people. Even if you don’t sew I promise you can do it.
You need a placemat that’s double sided, so two pieces of fabric sewed together. A seam ripper makes easy work of making a hole in one side:
I usually open up about five or six inches, enough for me to comfortably get my hand inside to stuff it.
I use this poly-fil stuff:
You just pull clumps out and stuff it in the placemat. I used to kind of fluff up the filler before I stuffed but I don’t anymore. It take less than five minutes to get it stuffed – just make sure you get some into the corners.
I like them pretty fluffy so I use about 3/4 of that poly-fil on one. Then just sew up your hole:
Yes, I know – this involves a needle and thread. But I believe you can do this. :) It took me two minutes to whip that back together. It’s not perfect but I promise you no one will notice.
When you’re done you have a super cute, super cheap accent pillow for the holidays:
I have this whole process down to ten minutes now. :)
My pillow form (aka placemat) was $2 on clearance after the holidays and my filler was $2 and some change (with a coupon). Less than $5 for a fun little splash of Christmas!:
I think the selection of placemats and napkins is way cuter than most pillows I’ve seen. You can see here how I’ve done this with Pottery Barn linens to make much cheaper versions of their pillows.
And last year I used one of their placemats to knock off one of my favorite holiday pillows from Pottery Barn too:
SO much cheaper!
There you go – I may have a bit of a problem (I shop the linens section more than the pillow section), but it’s so much cheaper! Whoot! Have you tried this little trick?
SOOO cute & easy! I don't have any Xmas pillows because I hate making the investment if they're only going to be used for a few weeks. I'll be making these asap!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea, thank you so much for sharing! I will be making some as well.
ReplyDeleteI love your pillows! I also really like pillows and holiday pillows but can never justify the cost when they will only out for a month or so. Place mats are such a great idea, I need to go hunting for some place mats. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteTammy @ thecoloreddoor.blogspot.com
You are so creative! What a neat idea. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for holiday place mats now.
ReplyDeleteLOVE it!! =)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, love, love, love this idea! Will definitely be on the hunt for placements. What a GREAT gift idea, too! Thanx so much for sharing!
ReplyDeletewhat what what! that's kinda genius!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteThe musical is WICKED- my favorite!! :)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Super cute project. I especially love the mat you have on the top in your first pic with the branch & holiday leaves. I would love to see that one when its done too!
ReplyDeleteAnd no, not one stitch of Christmas has made it into my house yet, so sad. But, my parents place looks great due to a decorating frenzied weekend. I love Christmas. It will hopefully happen later this week at my place.
Janeane
www.designwithj9.wordpress.com
Brilliant. Seriously. I gasped at the prices of holiday pillows yesterday and I was at Marshall's!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting such a great and inexpensive idea. I too have looked at holiday pillows and even with the discounts i just cant bring myself to spend that kind of money. On a super tight budget over here. I will have to visit my goodwill and thrift stores and see if i can find placemats on the super cheap. BTW love love how you have decorated your home! Wish i could have you as a neighbor.
ReplyDeleteToo cute!! Never thought about doing this. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteUm yes, that is flippin' genius. And I will be promptly stealing the idea, thankyouverymuch. :)
ReplyDeleteI started decorating after Thanksgiving and am still workin' on it. Slow but steady wins the race, right?
why didnt I ever think of this!!!! *palm to forehead...you are a genius!
ReplyDeleteI totally do these now after seeing your previous posts on these! They are so affordable:)
ReplyDeleteHoly Wow!!! I get so frustrated with myself when others think up something so simple, so genius!!! Why, why, WHY didn't I think of this?? Of course, I don't use place mats, so that must be it, lol. I'm very happy you did think of it, though! Thank you for the wonderful idea - I'm pretty sure I'll be implementing this for other throw pillows, too!
ReplyDeleteI love using placemats to make pillows! I made a gorgeous pair last summer for my guest room: http://www.wifeinprogressblog.com/easy-peasy-placemat-pillows/
ReplyDeleteJenna @ Wife in Progress
I love this idea, I just did some myself and on the back where it was plain I even used an iron on transfer. They came out great and it was so fun and easy. Thanks for sharing this today. Have a blessed day! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is the best holiday décor tip I've read so far! Can't wait to find some placemats! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGenius!!
ReplyDeleteThat is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be shopping the after-Christmas clearance looking for placemats! Fun!!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea!! Took my 10 and 12 year old daughters to Wicked this summer - they loved it and have perfected their hair tosses!
ReplyDeleteSo cute!!! Now I need to find some Christmas placemats.
ReplyDeleteAren't you smart! I've made pillows out of two cloth napkins, but I never thought of this idea.
ReplyDeleteI will to see what placemats I can find. Great idea. Thanks!
I love those! Such a great idea! I need to find some placemats!!
ReplyDeleteI am going to Homegoods tomorrow! I've never seen a diy so easy and so creative! Thank you. I've been searching for a couple holiday pillows, too, and didn't want to spend the money for a short time. I go pretty crazy with Christmas as it is. Glad you said you got a couple trees up. I've done 3 large and 2 tabletop. Love it. I'm sharing this post. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI always love an easy, no sew, inexpensive project! (Except I hot glue mine shut! I can't even be bothered with needle and thread. Ha!!) Your reindeer pillow is so cute! :) By the way, are y'all having the Christmas link parties? I've been checking, but if you mentioned it, I've missed it. Have a great week!!
ReplyDeleteI love thinking outside the box. I perused PB a few months ago and picked up a few clearance items. Two items were red and white placemats that I have yet to turn into pillows. Today I racked up a good bill on some frames and some clearance. My favorite find was a soft sweater like knit euro sham in cream for $14.99. I haven't decided if I use the zipper there and make a long pillow for the front of my pillow stack on my bed or two squares (with different fabric backs). On the same page my lady!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously awesome craft...even for those that are not so crafty. Brilliant!! Can't wait to go shopping for placemats after the holidays!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret @ Live Like No One Else
What?!!!! You are brilliant! I will be making some a.s.a.p! Never would have thought to stuff the dang thing! I am sooooo behind. Not one Christmas decor out. I am hard core about Thanksgiving but I start on the Friday after. Well we went out of town till Sunday. Before we left, I decided to repaint the living room and dining room....yeah....great timing. I will be fantastic for Christmas though! Finishing it up today and on to the decor!!
ReplyDeleteOMG! That is brilliant! I am doing this soon! And I love your gray chair. So so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThose are adorable and brilliant!! Thanks for the fun inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteHow clever of you!! The idea is fantastic. Good grief I could start stuffing right now :-) Marisa
ReplyDeleteLove it! I've done this with the hanging samples of expensive material from JoAnn fabrics...now must keep eye out for placemats! I am SOOOOOO far behind in any decorating. Will feel accomplished to just get the main tree up and decorated! A couple of well-placed recent crises put much in perspective for me for this year! So the tree it will be!
ReplyDeleteGenius!
ReplyDeleteSo, now I want to make new pillows for every room in my house...they are so expensive!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea..really for all seasons!! I can't wait to go placemat shopping! (This is great because I see cute placemats all the time but I don't use them on the table. Now I can do something fun and I only need one!!)
ReplyDeleteOk, well that's pretty much genius. Thank God for people like you who can think out of the box. I never would have thought of doing that but what a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteUmm.. Where has this idea been?? I am going to use this for regular decorative pillows. I have been searching for some cute inexpensive pillows as my little ones are not the most gentle creatures with my pillows. This is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteSarah, would it be OK with you if I share this on my blog? I would like to use a picture and an excerpt, then direct them to your blog to read your post. Check me out here: http://www.lovemydiyhome.com. This is such a cool project. I will definitely do this one myself for this Christmas season. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteEasy for sure, and quite cute too! Thanks for this wonderful idea!!
ReplyDeleteIf you find single thickness place mats you love you can sew (or use fabric glue) inexpensive fabric on the back. It adds a bit to the cost (use cheap sheets) but it is still super easy. Just remember right sides together.
ReplyDeleteI just shared your post on my blog. BEST pillow DIY I think I've ever seen. Thank you soo much for the inspiration.
ReplyDeletehttp://jaclyncolville.com/2013/12/08/diy-xmas-pillows/