How to Make a Bumper Pad for a Coffee Table

Kids are famous for falling and getting hurt especially when they first start walking. One real danger for little kids is a coffee table. Since coffee tables are low to the floor, and are not upholstered like some of the other furniture pieces, they pose a real problem for little kids trying to get around the room.

It’s easy to make a coffee table bumper pad that can be placed on the coffee table for protecting the child but easily removed when baby’s not in the room. For the pad you’ll need two to three yards of fabric, depending upon the size of the table. You’ll also need two to three yards of foam which is generally sold in sections rather than by the yard. You’ll be able to find the foam at an upholstery business or a store that sells foam or upholstery supplies. Purchase two packs of seam binding tape as well.

Measure the length and width of your coffee table. Since coffee tables are all made differently you will decide on how tall you need the bumper pad to be. After deciding on that measurement cut four fabric pieces the size of the length measurement (plus three inches) by the height measurement (plus two inches). Cut four more pieces to the width of the coffee table (plus three inches) by the bumper pad height measurement (plus two inches).

Cut two foam pieces the length of the coffee table by the desired height of the bumper pad. Cut two more pieces the width of the coffee table by the height of the pad. Put one piece of the fabric onto a table with right side facing downward. Position the proper piece of foam on the fabric making sure there’s a sliver of fabric showing on each side of the foam. Now place the other piece of fabric on top of the foam, right side upwards, aligning it with the bottom piece.

Stitch around all four sides and trim to a quarter-inch from the stitches. Follow these steps to cover all four foam pieces with fabric. Now stitch them together beginning with one long piece stitched to one shorter piece. Next sew on the second long piece and the second short piece.

Measure off about twelve inches of binding tape, leave it dangling, then start sewing the binding tape onto the pad edge. Fold the binding tape in half, over the edge of the pad, and stitch all the way across all four pieces. When you get to the end back-tack and leave twelve inches of binding tape dangling. Trim. Do the opposite side the same way, making sure you leave twelve inches of binding tape dangling on each side.

When ready to use wrap the bumper pad around the coffee table and tie shut with the binding tape strips. You can make bumper pads for end tables in the same manner, only smaller. The bumper pads will give you a little peace of mind when the little ones are visiting or up playing.