DIY Guide: Custom Covers and Paint for Your Poäng Chair
Transform your Ikea Poäng chair by sewing new cushion covers in your preferred fabric, or refresh the frame with oil-based or latex paint. This guide covers the chair's background, materials, and step-by-step instructions.
By Reese Wilson
How to Make Your Own Cover for a Poang Chair
The Poäng chair from Ikea is a timeless design and a perennial bestseller. Many owners appreciate its blend of comfort and understated style. Designed in 1970 by Noboru Nakamura of Japan alongside Ikea's Lars Engman, the Poäng is known for its curved back, cantilevered seat, and bentwood frame. With millions sold annually, a common project among owners is creating custom covers.
Poäng Chair Basics
The entry-level Poäng models start at $89, while versions with headrests or rocking bases cost more. Ikea also offers matching footstools, children's Poäng chairs, and additional cushions. The standard cushion runs from the seat bottom up the entire back, but separate seat cushions are available for those who want extra comfort.
Cushion colors are largely standard: beige, gray, black, dark blue, and yellow, with a few other options possibly available. The covers are a mix of cotton, polyester, linen, and viscose, filled with polyurethane foam and a 100 percent polypropylene filling. Some covers have zippers for removal. These covers are not machine washable; instead, clean them with a vacuum attachment and then wipe with a damp cloth.
Making Your Own Poäng Covers
Poäng chairs have a simple design, so if you sew, you can make new cushion covers to replace worn ones or to add personal flair. The following instructions are for a cover that includes a head cushion. Begin by choosing a durable fabric you like and cutting three pieces: 12 by 23 inches, 36 by 23 inches, and 71 by 27 inches. Align the pieces centrally and pin them together, using the original fabric as a guide.
Next, hem the ends by folding the fabric over half an inch and sewing straight lines. Lay the fabric inside out and fold the 36-inch piece over about 10 inches past the edge. Then fold the 12-inch side of the shortest piece over 3 inches past the edge. Starting at the middle of one side, pin the edges together, adjusting as you go. When you reach the fabric ends, keep the line straight, leaving 2 inches of extra on the top piece.
Now sew the last two lines. Begin 1 inch from the end and stop 1 inch before the fabric's end. You can tuck in the corners when done. Turn the cover right-side out and insert the cushion through the envelope opening. Finally, tuck the fabric inside the two creases at the back of the head cushion and seat.
Painting Your Poäng Chair
Another way to refresh a Poäng chair is by painting it. Take off the old cover and cushion and set them aside. The frames are made of layer-glued bent birch, a durable plywood that can be painted. Use oil-based or latex paint for this project. If you find any cracks, fix them with wood glue and sandpaper before painting to avoid damaging the new finish.
Wipe away any sanding dust or glue with a damp cloth, adding a drop or two of dish soap if needed for a thorough clean. Let the chair dry completely, then apply one coat of primer. Follow with two thin coats of paint. Once dry, you can put on your newly covered cushions and add a matching pillow or two.
