5 DIY Pillow Ideas You Can Make in Just a Few Hours

Rachel Valente of Phoenix used an old throw pillow from her college days to recreate this boho accent pillow after a bout of inspiration from Drew Scott of Lone Fox. “This project works on almost any pillow or pillow cover, but is an especially great way to utilize a pillow you don’t love the original design of or one made from a cheaper material, since it’s used more aesthetically than functionally,” she says. 

To make the boho accent pillow, you’ll need:

Step 1: Cut the cords

Cut the macramé cord to the desired length, and two more to this length, for a total of three cords. “Feel free to get creative with the project and use different colored macramé cords and create different patterns and shapes,” Valente says.

Step 2: Tie and braid the cord ends

Tie the ends of all three cords together. Leave enough excess cord so you can fray later. Braid the three strands together. Tie off the end on the other side once you finish, and leave enough space for frayed edges.

Step 3: Attach the braided cord

Arrange the braided cord in any way you’d like onto the pillow. Use the hot glue gun to attach it to the pillow. Brush out the ends of the cord to complete the boho look.

Note: This design is not washable because of the hot glue. As it will be used as a decor pillow, it should stay clean. But if you anticipate that the pillow may get dirty, it’s better to sew on the cord so you can clean it. A gentle laundry detergent, like Dirty Labs Hand Wash & Delicates, will keep it in pristine shape. 

Ink pattern pillow

For a beginner friendly DIY pillow, creator Annika Hinds, based in Portland, taught herself the steps for this adorable ink-patterned pillow with the help of Cricut instruction recourses and tutorials.

To make the ink-patterned pillow, you’ll need:

Step 1: Cut out the design

Cut the design out of the ink transfer sheet. Hinds used a Cricut machine, but you can also use scissors if the design is simple enough.

Step 2: Iron the design

Put the design face down on the pillow case, and make sure it’s exactly where you want it to be. Press down on the entire design with a hot iron and get all the edges. “Place even pressure on the iron and go over the entire design,” Hinds says. “Otherwise the design may be patchy.”

Step 3: Peel the sheet off

Once the ink completely transfers, peel the sheet off. “You’re left with an adorable design,” Hinds says.

Rainbow fringe pillow

Mathew Boudreaux of Mx Domestic in Camas, Washington, puts the fun in DIY pillow designs with a joyful rainbow fringe pillow tutorial. “Before beginning the sewing, it’s best to cut all of the pieces and prep the fabric with interacting,” they say. “And also get ready to have fun because sewing with fringe is a party.”