playroom refresh + diy pillow covers

we spend a lot of time in the spare bedroom. like, a lot a lot. it houses all of evelyn's toys, from stuffed animals to trains to push toys—a "mail cart" and a "vacuum cleaner"—to a four-foot-tall ballapalooza that santa brought for christmas. (is she spoiled? naaaaahhhh.)

jeff and i are determined that, no matter how many kids we have, we'll never let our living room turn into a playroom with toys and blankets and such sprinkled about. it will remain a grown-up space where we can entertain friends and hang out without tripping over balls and rattles. (those of you with two or three kids might be snickering at our naivety.)

since we spend so much time in this room and are completely set on maintaining our grown-up-only zones, i thought it was about time i turn the spare room into an actual playroom, a fun and energizing (and organized!) space.

et, voilà! 

many of my friends have asked me how to make simple pillow covers like the ones pictured above. if you know how to use a sewing machine (or know someone who can teach you), it's easy peezy—and super inexpensive. 

here's what you'll need:

pillow form

fabric

matching thread

scissors

straight pins

sewing machine

and here's how to do it:

{1} iron the fabric.

{2} measure the pillow form, and cut two pieces of fabric that are 1" wider and 1" taller than the form. (so, for a 12x12" pillow, cut two 14x14" fabric squares.)

{3} place one piece of fabric on the floor, right-side up, and lay the other piece of fabric on top of it, right side down.

{4} pin the pieces together, leaving a wide opening on one edge (this is where you'll insert the pillow at the end).

{5} with the sewing machine, sew the pieces together. the seam can be anywhere between 5/8" and 1" depending on your fabric type and how fitted or loose you want the pillow cover to be.

{6} cut the corners just a little bit, so they're not so pointy once the pillow is in. (i like a more fitted look.) turn the fabric inside out so the pattern is facing out.

{7} stuff the pillow inside.

{8} stitch the opening shut by hand.