DIY TV Cover From Upcycled Pillow Case
I know there are some people who don’t like the whole TV in the bedroom thing, but I’ve always been ok with it. I think these things are a personal choice and there’s no right or wrong here.
Sometimes, as in our case, it’s just a logistical choice. Because we live in an old house, which doesn’t have a finished basement, we don’t have a rec room. And our living room is directly at the bottom of the stairs below the bedrooms, so TV noise could be an issue there. Plus our living room layout is rather strange, not really meant for lounging. More of a large walk through really. So for us the bedroom is the best choice for a second TV. And the fact that it was already wired for one when we moved in made the decision an easy one.
But just because I’m ok with it doesn’t mean I want to see that screen all the time.
I don’t mind seeing the TV in our family room because that’s where we watch most of the time, which I’ll admit as we’re getting older is actually less and less. But there are still things that we like to watch, and sometimes they’re on at the same time.
You can find more upcycled and repurposed DIY projects on my blog, Color Me Thrifty, here.
It was always meant to be just a back up, but when I was working full time I’d turn the bedroom TV on at the end of a stressful day and watch before I went to bed. That’s not what it was meant for, but it was just too easy to grab the remote and veg in front of the screen until I got sleepy. Not a good recipe for a good night’s sleep. I had gotten away from reading, which I’ve always loved to do, because the TV was an easier choice.
What I needed was something to interrupt my habit. A simple cue to my brain that reminded me of what I didn’t want to do, which was turn on the bedroom TV at bedtime.
Supplies needed for this project
- pillow case
- sewing machine
- scissors
- thread
This TV is 29″ by 17″, with a 2″ space to the dresser. I cut a thrifted throw in half and used that as a cover for a few years, and it really worked. Whenever I came into the bedroom at night I would look at the TV and the cover provided a simple barrier, and that’s all I needed to stop reaching for the remote and get back to reading.
But, when I repainted the bedroom pink a while back the throw no longer did it for me, so I needed to find a more colorful solution.
And as often is the case, a thrift store provided me with the perfect find for my new TV cover; a $2 handmade pieced-together pillow case in just the perfect color combo. And just the right size, 31″ x 21″.
I have to admit that I don’t often sew, but when I do my antique Singer sewing machine can sew a straight line beautifully. And for this easy TV cover that’s all the skill needed.
Creating a TV cover from an upcycled pillow case is really super easy. You just need to cut along one long edge to open it up. My pillow case was only sewed on one long edge, so that’s the one I cut open, discarding the stitched section.
Then I created a hem with an iron. No pins required.
And then I just let the machine do the work.
Because my TV is located in my DIY combined dresser shelving unit I left the pillow case open end open, to make it easy for the cover to slide on and off.
When the cover is on you can’t even tell the one end is open. This upcycled pillow case TV cover fits beautifully, and is such a simple solution. And I have to say that it looks so much better than the cut up throw.
I hope this project has inspired you to create an easy TV cover of your own. It looks so much nicer than a blank black screen, and the fact that it helps with dust is just a bonus.
You can find more diy home decor projects on my blog, Color Me Thrifty, here.
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