All over pinterest there are great DIY ideas for upholstered headboards, ottomans, benches, and outdoor couches.  It seems like a great way to get the look you want for a fraction of the price!  So you head out to the craft store to buy fabric and foam, only to realize that you could probably buy the piece of furniture you want for less than the craft stores charge for the foam!  Well don’t worry.  I’ve found a way to buy foam, cut to the size you want, for a 1/3 of the price of craft stores.

The cheapest way to buy foam is to go to a furniture re-upholstery store.  I searched online for foam in my city and found a place that does re-upholstery and will sell you the upholstery foam by itself.  When I went down to the warehouse, I told them what size I wanted and said to just give me the cheapest stuff they had that would work for my project.  I got two pieces.  The first was 3″ x 48″ x 76″ (for a king sized headboard) and the second was 3″ x 14″ x 48″ (for a bench).  The total price for both of those pieces was $35!

If I were to have purchased these sizes from Walmart or JoAnn’s, it would have cost me well over $100 and I would have had to cut it myself!

If you live in a small city that doesn’t have a place like this, your best bet is to order the foam online.  Places like The Foam Factory (foambymail.com)** sell mattress size foam (at varying thicknesses) for less than the craft stores as well.

Don’t pay more than you have to for foam!  Look for local suppliers and online deals.  The savings are well worth it!

**I have not purchased from this site and therefore cannot speak to the quality of their product or customer care.