We used a few quick, simple upholstery tricks to add softness and texture to a store-bought bench in our family room. We finished it just in time for the holidays, and it immediately made the space feel cozier.
We found this woven bench at HomeGoods because it was the right size and had a texture we liked. Once it was home, though, the netted seat surface felt less than comfortable — not scratchy, but like sitting on a bunch of ropes. At first we threw some leftover sheepskin rugs on top, which helped right away.
The sheepskins were an improvement, but they kept slipping off, especially since the bench has become a favorite spot for our kids to watch TV. We decided it was time for a more permanent, yet very simple, solution.
Upholstering a Seat Cover
We’re not professional upholsterers, so this is a very approachable weekend project. Like other easy projects we’ve done, it mainly required patience and a heavy-duty stapler. Instead of traditional upholstery fabric, we used a sheepskin rug to get a plush, textured surface.
Step 1: Cut an MDF base to size
To have something to attach the sheepskin to, we bought a 1/4″ MDF sheet and cut it with a circular saw to match the shape of the bench seat. We made the board slightly smaller than the full seat area since the sheepskin adds bulk.
Step 2: Wrap the sheepskin around the MDF and staple
We had a sheepskin large enough to cover the entire board, so we wrapped it snugly around the edges and stapled it into place, spacing staples about every 3–4 inches. Holding the sheepskin taut while stapling took a little effort, but it was still very straightforward. After stapling, we trimmed any excess material with scissors.
Step 3: Place the finished cushion on the bench
We didn’t attach the board to the bench — it was heavy enough and the woven seat surface provided enough friction to keep it from sliding. If your bench has a different surface, you can glue, nail, or screw the board in place; just be careful that fasteners don’t poke through to the sitting surface.
The whole project took only about 12 minutes from start to finish. Before this fix, we used to spend several minutes every few days re-folding the loose sheepskins, so this solution feels like a real time-saver.
If you prefer a softer seat, add a layer of foam or batting between the MDF and the sheepskin. We found the sheepskin itself was thick and fluffy enough for our needs, but fabric upholstery will usually benefit from added cushioning.
UPDATE: It’s been over a year and the sheepskin cover has held up very well. It may need a bit of fluffing now and then, but it hasn’t shifted or stained, and the removable MDF makes it easy to lift off and vacuum underneath like a rug.
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