DIY Padded Armrest

Overview:

Vroom-chirp is a handy, crafty guy. This is one of his many projects aimed at making your interior more comfortable and spiffy-looking.

Difficulty: **

Time: 1 hour

Cost: less than $10

Tools:

-Phillips head screwdriver
-Razor blade
-1/4″ staples and stapler
-Heat gun or blow dryer

Materials:

-Cover material of your choice, vinyl or leather recommended
-Foam (can be bought in fabric store)

Procedure:

Pull off your arm rest by removing the two screws at the bottom holding the hinge on. Wiggle the arch out carefully. Then remove all the screws, including the one hiding under the latch.

Trace the top of the lid with against the foam, give yourself about a half inch extra on all sides, you will be trimming some off later on.

Cut it out, then trim it at an angle with a downward slope. Your razor needs to be sharp for this.

Place it on top of the lid and make sure there’s nothing hanging over the edge. Any protruding bumps or deep grooves will show through the vinyl, so cut it at clean as nice as you can.

Lay the foam and the lid down onto the vinyl and cut an over sized square around the lid to make it easier to work with.

Fold the vinyl up to the edge and roughly measure an inch to two over it. What you’re doing is cutting enough to fold and stretch into the lid so that you can staple it in there. Later you will trim off the extra.

Once you have cut your pattern out, you can begin the folding and stretching process. Gently heat one side up, pull it into the lid and staple it in, then go to the opposite side and do the same.

Once you have a staple in all 4 sides, work your way around heating and stretching the material into the lid and stapling it in.
It wont look like its gonna work at first, don’t be discouraged, it will work and the payoff is so nice.

When you have it all nicely stretched and stapled in and your satisfied with the look, screw the liner back on. This adds more strength, holding the vinyl together.

Re-install the armrest and admire your handiwork.